Content Personal Work Week 1: Architectural Discourse
P. 6-8
Week 2: Contemporary Computational Design
P. 9-11
Week 3: Contemporary Scripting/Programming Cultures P. 12-13 Week 4: Matrix Experiments
P.14-15
Week 5: Case Study
P.16-19
Week 6: Model Making
P.20-23
Group Work Design Brief
P.23-27
Site Analysis
P.28-29
Group EOI
P.30-31
90 Matrix
P.32-35
Model
P.36-37 2
Week 7– 12 Work Critics & Reflection On The Mid-Term Presentation
P. 38-39
Further Research And Developing Ideas
P. 40-45
Developing the Design
P. 46-47
Final Presentation
P.48-51
Critics & Reflection On The Final Presentation
P.52-53
Redevelop The Failed Part
P.54-57
Final Design
P.58-65
Learning Outcomes and Reflections Learning Outcomes
P.66
Project Reflections
P.66-67
Further Work
P.67
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Introduction: This journal is use to record the progression of each week’s work, which eventually will develop a installation for the gateway project. I will try to drop down some inspirations from each week, and see whether they will be applicable on our group design.
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Design Diary: Week 1: Architecture—Spatial Expression (My EOI) Week 2: Use of lighting to create strong visual expression and hence create the spatial expression Week 3: A strong design theme need to be maintain through the whole design process no matter it is classical culture or modern high tech culture Week 4: Options within options = infinite outcomes Week 5: Materials creates visual/spatial expression Week 6: When giving up laser cut, you need a laser hand to do a parametric design model. Week 7: Finding ourselves a bit confuse with the original theme, the model is made, but the theme is weak. Week 8: After the presentation, we are advised that we need to bring in more features, and pull ourselves much further from the Shanghai Expo Axis, as we are like reproducing it. Week 9: New construction method? Redefine the model on Rhino. Week 10: Failed to 3D print the model as it costs more than $1000, and so we need to handmade the Two model. Week 11: Hell-like Week 12: Bad presentation and a lot of work to do to reclaim marks. Week 13: Somehow when I look back at this tiny diary, I realized that our primary problem is mentioned in week7.
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Week 1 01 March 2012
EOI Journal: Architectural Discourse When I first understood the word ‘Architecture’, I thought Architect = Building Designer Architecture = Building Styles but than a few projects changed my thought.
Project: Andalucia Museum of Memory Architect: Alberto Campo Baeza Location: Granada, Spain
I am very amazed by the arrangement of the building, as it will be definitely a surprise for all the visitors when they get to see the center of the building. The rectangular and dull facade actually amplify the visual effect of the center part of the building. Everything is arranged around a central courtyard, in elliptical form in which circular ramp rise, connecting the three levels and creating a very interesting spatial tensions.
“The new building, silent in its forms, is resounding in its elements to communicate the messages of the new millennium in which we are already immersed” - Baeza 6
Project: Blur Building Architect: Diller + Scofidio Location: Neuchatel lake, Switzerland
“BLUR is not a building, BLUR is pure atmosphere, water particles suspended in mid-air. The fog is a dynamic, phantom mass, which changes form constantly . . . .”
The design theme of this project is very interesting that the architects want to construct a cloud with the help of technology. It is also remarkable that the focus of this design is trying to put visitor out of focus, creating the blur experience of the visitors.
“BLUR is a spectacle with nothing to see. Within BLUR, vision is put out-of-focus so that our dependence on vision can become the focus of the pavilion.” - Diller
Project: Rasapura Masters Architect: FARM Studio Location: Singapore The space is designed as an open layout which is divided into “islands”. It is interesting that although there is not a physical division between the spaces, the division is very clear with the aid of the wavy ceiling design as well as the different floor patterns. The design details and other features reflect the atmosphere of eating street food and Asian cuisine. Different types of traditional floor tiles, ironmongery details, furniture and traditional glass pendant lamps are used and mixed throughout the space in a nontraditional sense to create unique pockets of eating corners and spaces. The resultant of these is a tactile and everchanging spatial experience!
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After looking at these three projects, I realized that designing a building is also at the same time designing a space. In my previous design, I always look at the design with the perspective of a designer, modifying it in Sketchup, Rhino or AutoCad just to make it look good, but sometimes easily forget the viewing perspective as a visitor, how the feel when they first see the building, how the feeling change when they enter the building, and what message am I actually giving them. Therefore I had change the definition of architect and architecture as :
Architect = Someone who design ‘experience’ Architecture = The experience of the visitors feel on that particular space
I hope in my future design, I would be able to emphasize the important of spatial expression, and this will also be my person express of interest for this course.
Sources: http://www.wayfaring.info/2009/10/14/andalucia-museum-of-memory/#more-13854 http://www.dillerscofidio.com/blur.html http://www.carywolfe.com/16.3wolfe.html http://knstrct.com/2012/03/13/rasapura-masters-singapore/
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Week 2 08 March 2012
EOI Journal: Contemporary Computational Design This week I am going to look at several design that is using advanced technology to create unique spatial expression.
Project: Amplitude Architect: rAndom International Location: Rome
The design is concentrate on the direct and physical relationship between the viewer and the installation. The spatial experience changes through movement by the audience, and the viewer is drawn into the light itself. The lighting create a very strong movement which I suggest you can take a look through the below youtube link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQO2Bi_RBrA
Project: MEGAPOV Architect: Teddy Lo Location: Singapore The design is a High Tech Led flash, it can project symbols which will draw the viewer’s attention . Again, light is the element that used to attract people, this make me interested to have a deeper research on lighting.
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Project: Shanghai Expo Axis Architect: SBA GmbH Shanghai Location: Shanghai, China The Expo Axis is the world’s large membrane roof, the high funnel vaulting of the membrane roof and open sides create the illusion of being outside. In day time, the funnels act as solar siphons, directing natural light into the lower levels of the pavilion, it also aid the natural air flow, circulating the breeze around the space. In the evening, funnels are illuminated with colour-changing lights that bring the structure to life and reflect off the pool beside it.
Project: Absence Of Light Architect: Hans Moor Architects Location: Rotterdam The design theme of this project is creating the illusion of the bridge resting on the water. The lighting in the pedestrian section is design differently in pace and movement of the traffic. This gives a strong and diverse spatial expression for both the pedestrians and the motorists which may give inspirations on the Gateway design project.
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Project: Stay down champion, stay down Architect: Woodbury University Location: California I like this design a lot, as it appears as a combination of matrix, lighting, movment and spatial expression to me. With this installation, the floor is now break away from the planar to compose a flowing and colourful interior landscape that guests can navigate through on foot. I like the idea that the landscape is created by gradually elevating the handmade tiles on transparent acrylic supports, a simple idea but a dramatic and inspirational outcome for me.
To conclude this week, I would say lighting and spatial expression is closely related. I think for my gateway project, our group can starts from some simple and interesting ideas and developed it. I found the Shanghai Expo Axis’s design is very inspirational, as for a design, its function varies in different time, and I would like to put this theme in my gateway design.
Sources: http://www.virtualart.at/index.php?id=62&no_cache=1&type=323&tx_vafe_pi1[work] =2478&tx_vafe_pi1[imageid]=4705&cHash=37f5c034c19c2992c4e2056f9c0ad31d http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQO2Bi_RBrA http://www.akshardhool.com/2012_02_17_archive.html http://inhabitat.com/shanghais-stunning-sun-valley-pavilion-boasts-the-worlds-largest-membrane -roof/sba-expo-axis-shanghai3/?extend=1 http://www.architecture-page.com/go/projects/absence-of-light__all http://inspir3d.net/2011/01/15/stay-down-champion-stay-down/ 11
Week 3 15 March 2012
EOI Journal: Contemporary Scripting/Programming Cultures During this week, we are looking at the conflicts between original/classical architecture culture and the contemporary computing cultures. While many argue that the modern computing culture has create many “meaningless” buildings which only has a good outlook or complex structure, I still believe that if the Architect is talented and treat the new technology as a tool that increase his working efficiency or as a decorative tool, their works are still very creative. Unless some Architects who are totally depends on these software and without a clear design scheme, their work will become meaningless. The below are some projects that I found very interesting which are related to the contemporary scripting cultures.
Project: Minimal Surfaces Architect: Vlad Tenu Location: London The term “Minimal Surface” was first introduced to me by my tutor Paul. Although it is totally a computing work, the outcome is still very stunning. The network produced was cell– like, although I cannot tell the design intension of it, but this kind of computing work is not quite possible to done by hand and the theme “minimal” maybe applicable for some projects.
Sources: http://www.fabricate2011.org/ http://microrobotic.wordpress.com/bix-facade/ http://www.evolo.us/architecture/capital-gate-parametric-design-results-in-worlds-steepestleaning-building/ 12
Project: Pixel Tattos Architect: Batista, Korda, Princic & Stormajer Location: Austria The design has a very strong visual expression with the dynamic lights and reflection. The theme of this design is to create a “conversation” on the skin of the building. This design inspire me whether we will be able to create a conversation between our design and the motorists in our gateway project. For example, the skin of our installation will be able to tell the motorists the traffic density nearby, or the weather in the surrounding area. The below is a youtube link to show you the Pixel Tattos design in movement: http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=QEutOiwJuIw Project: Capital Gate Architect: RMJM Architects Location: Abu Dhabi
This parametrically designed tower sitting at 160 meters featuring a leaning façade of 18 degrees off horizontal. This is a very good example for proving my argument earlier. Although this design used a high degree of computing generated components, the main theme of this design remain very clear and outstanding. The leaning effects as well as the middle structural loading part is only able to be done by complex calculations.
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Week 4 22 March 2012
EOI Journal: Matrix Experiments During this week, I had tried different inputs, associations and outputs , the below are the 30 Matrix I had done.
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I found the input: Boolean Patterning actually is able to create many different interesting surface features. I also realized that even with the same input, association and output, the outcome can be varies with different settings. So I pick one of the matrix to do a further experiment.
After this week’s experiments, I realized how powerful and creative grasshopper can be, I will try to use these matrix to find a similar desire shape of our group’s design.
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Week 5 29 March 2012
EOI Journal: Case Study Our group will look at the BANQ restaurant, and I will also look at another restaurant that is inspiriting
Project: BANQ Architect: Office dA Location: Boston
Spatial Expression of BANQ: The restaurant interior offers unique experience for guests. The ceiling of the restaurant is a striated wood-slatted system that conceals the view of the mechanical, plumbing, and lighting systems on the longitudinal axis, while offering a virtual canopy under which to dine. The columns and the wine storage, in the middle of the hall, serve to uphold the fiction, and appear to be suspended from the ceiling. Spacing between the visible ceiling ribs is variable; compressing and releasing to maintain visual densities of the overall surface as seen from different angles.
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The longitudinal axis emphasizes the seamless surface, and the lateral views offer striated glimpses into the service space above, and demystify the illusion. To underline this strategy, certain areas of the ceiling “drip” and “slump”, acknowledging the location of to place exit signs, lighting features, and other details. Below the ceiling, the functional aspects of a dining space are fabricated with warm woods and relaminated bamboo amplifying the striping affect already at play throughout the space. Striations of the ground, the furnishings, and the ceiling all conspire to create a total effect, embedding the diners into the grain of the restaurant.
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Project: Tang Palace Architect: FCJZ Location: Hangzhou, China
Spatial Expression of Tang Palace: The restaurant take advantage of the storey height and create some private room that are suspended from the roof. There is an interactive atmosphere between the upper and lower levels, thus enriching the visual enjoyments.
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The waved ceiling of the lower level creates a dramatic visual expression within the hall. The bamboo walls helps to divided the spaces and create privacy for the customers.
I think this restaurant is very well design, with diverse materials and layers, the spatial expression is very strong and remarkable. I especially like the bamboo stick wall which has very strong culture characteristics, but at the same time well functional as a semi-transparent wall. The relationship between different space is also very interesting, in/out, top/low, big/small.
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Week 6 05 April 2012
EOI Journal: Model making After all these weeks, our group had decided to use the Shanghai Expo Axis as the inspiration, and try to modify it and add in other features. The below is a few attempt of the digital model, as well as the final physical model.
Attempt 1: I am trying to create the basic form with grasshopper, by extruding circles and lofting them.
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Attempt 2: I am trying to developed a more defined shape by creating more layers of circle, and edit their values.
Attempt 3: My group mate edit the surface of it with the assiociation : Maths Function, and we decided to make the physical model by hand!
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The Physical Model
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The top and bottom are transparent cells, and the middle part with be laminated in colours in night time. My group mates also research on the materials as well as construction methods. The below is the imagine picture if the installation is installed.
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Critics & Reflection on The Mid-Term Presentation
Comments on the presentation: 1. Make diagrams to properly document your siting and site analysis. 2. You should document your form generation. 3. Research old vegetation of the site. 4. Acoustic, will this work? 5. Look at Tonkin Lui’s Project —> Can the project make noise? 6. What is cone shape for? What is the lighting—> LED? 7. You need to move forward with your design and be brave with it!
Other suggestions by the guests: 1. Remove the coloured part 2. The connection between the circles need to be redesign 3. Need to show the whole layout of the project by digital modeling or smaller scale physical models on a site model.
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Responses to the critics: 1. A clearer layout and mode dimensions will be drawn. 2. Research on the construction details. 3. Research the vegetation on the site. 4. Research on Tonkin Lui’s Project. 5. Showing the form generation . 6. Coloured part will be removed. 7. Our group decide to make 2 models to show the “tunnel” effect. 8. Making a video with the software “Lumion” to show the whole layout. 9. Installing a LED light inside the model.
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Further Research And Developing Ideas Research On The Vegetation
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Research On Tonkin Lui’s Work
The Singing Ringing Tree. Part of the Panopticons Project. Designed by Tonkin Lui it overlooks Burnley at Crown Point. The pipes are tuned so as the wind passes across them it emits haunting tones.
After researching on the vegetation and Tonkin Lui’s work, our group founded Tonkin Lui’s work is very interesting, however making noise in the freeway seems to be kind of annoying to the drivers, and so we want to add some other features that can draw attention from the drivers. As we found the site is really flat, we want to create something large to have an opposite effect. We decided to use the “transparent tree from” as the concept and add lighting features, the trees which are like glass tower will glow in the dark with changing colours.
Sources: http://www.flickr.com/photos/calydel/379187826/ http://www.world-architects.com/en/Brine/en/ http://www.viridans.com.au/Climate%20Change%20and%20the%20Mallee.pdf http://www.viridans.com/INTRO/urbanweed.htm
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Further Research And Developing Ideas Research On Lighting
If we are going to add a lighting effect inside the model, the pattern of it will be the map showing the connection between Wyndham City and Melbourne.
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This Lighting Cover can also be designed by local artist or from a art design competition specific design for this installation, this can help to raise the reputation as well as public attention of this installation.
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Further Research And Developing Ideas Research On The Materials ETEF ( updated: we know this materials is not working after the final presentation) Advantages: 1. A luorine based plastic which was designed to have high corrosion resistance and strength over a wide temperature range. 2. for the covering of electrical wiring used in high stress, low fume toxicity and high reliability situations exhibits a high-energy radiation resistance and can withstand moderately high temperatures for a long period of time 3. thermal insulating, high transparency, high durability, light wright – compared to glass 4. only 1/100 the weight of glass Disadvantages: 1. transmits more sound than glass, and can be too noisy for some places 2. usually applied in several layers that must be inflated and require steady air pressure 3. Working with ETFE is too complex for small residential projects
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Polycarbonate panels Advantages: 1. Polycarbonate is lightweight and easy to work with, which do-it-yourselfers may find helpful, and when properly treated with UV stabilizers, you may get anywhere from 10 to 20 years of useful life out of the panels. 2. Polycarbonate panels are also available in a wide range of twinwall and triple-wall panels, so you can use polycarbonate in many applications where insulation is important. On the downside, like any plastic, polycarbonate will eventually degrade from UV exposure. 3. The benefit of polycarbonate is that it approaches the durability of glass though it is about one twelfth the weight, which makes it much easier to handle and install than heavy glass panels. Disadvantages: 1. polycarbonate panels will begin to yellow over time, which may be an aesthetic concern for home greenhouse applications
Our group decide to use the ETFE as its advantages suits our installation very well. We plan to draw out the construction details to show a clearer connections between panels.
Sources: http://www.etfe.com.au/home.html http://polycarbonate-panels.net/ http://www.ehow.com/facts_7780368_polycarbonate-panels.html http://www.pati-films.com/en/products/products_for_industry/etfe-architecture-buildingsd410.html 45
Developing The Design
Our first changes made is unify the number of circle on each layer. We are now having 9 circles changing in size to create different sizes of ring (layer). The reason we changed this is to make the model’s shape developed in only one variables. The circles are metaphors of different kind of people in different time holding hands, and from the society. The installation is to remind people that a city’s success is a contribution by all the people.
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We also try to show the details of the construction by making a 3D digital model of the joint. We are going to use a steel bar to connect the circles with the upper/lower layer. For the connection between circles in the same layer, we will connect them with aluminum bars.
We also try to make a video to show the layout of the project, however due to the fact that I am new to this software, the video turns out not to be really impressive. The below are the links for the two videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6ag-3AkeS0&feature=relmfu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRJkhyesBTE&feature=relmfu
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Final Presentation
The two models here show part of the whole installation which are the largest size amon through. Although the two models are very fragile in the physical model, ,we believe the
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ng the three sizes. The two “trees� will form an imaginary tunnel for the driver to drive ey will be able to stand steadily with the real joints.
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Critics And Reflections On The Final Presentation
Comments: 1. I really think that your need to apply yourselves far more in your design work. 2. Look at good example of architectural graphics, see what works and what doesn't and redesign your panels accordingly. 3. Come up with a really reason for using the trees as a symbol or drop them. 4. Make sure that if you are presenting a model it is strong enough to stand up. 5. Discuss and develop the effects that your installation could produce - these are far more important than the symbolic value of the trees. 6. If you are going to talk about detailing make sure that you do proper research into what is possible in terms of material and joinery. 7. If you provide a very comprehensive analysis of your project in your journals you may be able to reclaim some of the marks that you really need. 8. The installation is not going to stand with our construction methods. 9. Wrong materials. 10. The installation is huge.
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Responses to the critics: 1. Redesign the construction methods. 2. Research on materials. 3. Reinforced the concept. 4. Take better photos. 5. Research on Evolve Skyscraper’s panel. 6. Redesign the panels. 7. Scale down the model.
Reflections: After the final presentation, we are shocked that we are actually far away from success. The models were fallen right before the presentation, and the A1 panels was not up to standard. The tutors and guest’s critics actually remind us we are on the wrong track, and the modification made during these few weeks are not obvious. With the remaining time, we decided to make a new model and panel to give it another go.
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Redevelop the Failed Part Redesign the construction methods
We make a new model with the stacking method, in this case, the model is far more stable and make sense.
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Research on materials The carbon fibre vinyl sheet will be used as the main material for the actual design on the site. As the proposal project is rising gradually by containing nine circular forms in each layer, therefore when it getting higher the entire object will tend to be heavier. For this situation, the light weight and transparent material have to be used instead of the normal glass. Carbon fibre vinyl sheet is the ideal material where it got extremely light weight. And also, this material is super strong which is five times as strong as steel and two times as stiff, yet weights just about two-thirds less. It contains water resistance which allows it to be lasting in the outside area for a long time. As the installation will be putting on the road side, so is avoidable to be dusty especially on the transparent surface. However, the carbon fibre vinyl sheet is able to be cleansed with water so this kind of problem can be solved easily. Examples:
Sources: http://vi.sualize.us/loopph/carbon%20fibre/ http://www.lazyforums.net/showthread.php?t=47214 55
Redevelop the Failed Part Reinforced the concepts
Cultural Benefits: An Iconic Reflection of City History The City of Wyndham has a significant immigration history as this place was originally occupied by aboriginal people. During that early period, the aboriginal people formed a healthy social network (the bottom layer). However after the huge crush of population immigrated, there was a serious conflict between immigrates and aboriginal residents, which disturbed the harmony and the further growth of society (the middle layer). Several years after the disaster, people gradually realized that the only way for social growth is communication and cooperation. Thus the conflict reduced and new opportunities of social development finally appeared (the top layer). Social Benefits: A Metaphor of Cooperation between Individual and Community
Throughout the design brief, this getaway should aim to make connection between residents and the Wyndham City. So several small circles are designed to be intercepted and constructed the large whole building structure. This is actually a metaphor of individuals who cooperated and worked with each other for the sustainable growth of both community and society. Also since the general shape of this building is quite similar to a tree, motorists who travelled through Princes Hwy would be reminded to another Getaway project of Wyndham City with leaf structure: the ‘Seeds of Change’. Making this new getaway as a continuous serry with the previous ones will develop a strong positive iconic for the City of Wyndham. Environmental Benefits: A Sculpture Landscape of Sustainable Development for the City Future For the light effects at night, there are lightings in the middle bottom of each building. The lighting system will use solar energy for the sustainable concerns. Meanwhile, the new getaway is eye-catching and unique by its sculptural transparent appearance. This applies to the ‘sculpture landscape’ in the design brief as well. It inspires a motivation of growing feature as the structure performs upward, which also suggests the rapid growth of Wyndham City in the future.
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Research on Evolve Skyscraper’s Panels
After looking at this winner’s panels, I realized a nice poster consist with larger high quality photos. These poster are all able to communicate well just by the photos, and the details are all well shown and understandable. As we are going to redesign the panel, we would first like to take better photos of our new model. After that, we need to create a much better version photo montage.
Sources: http://www.evolo.us/architecture/winners-2012-skyscraper-competition/
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Final Design
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Photo Montage
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Learning Outcomes and Reflections Learning Outcomes As an architecture student: This subject let me earn a lot of knowledge, including parametric design, software like Rhino, Grasshopper and Lumion 3D. I also feel much more confident to use photoshops and to make models. Although I have to say that due to the time limits, I am not able to master these software, but these software shows me more possibilities, more options to produce professional digital models. More importantly, this subject correct my view on presentation panels and importance of research before designing. As a group mate: This project is my first studio that requires group work, it is really very different with working on your own. You have share ideas, communicate with your group mates. I found it is especially hard to let your group mate to fully understand your concept and combined the ideas. This subject allows me to foresee in the future how will it looks like to work with other architects. I really treasure this opportunity.
Project Reflections During this projects, our group faced a lot of difficulties, and we were so desperate when we were doing bad in our final presentation. I found that one of our critical mistake is that we did not consult both tutors. This make one of our tutor had no idea what is going on with our group until the final presentation. To be honest, I really want to thank both of them as the failure during the final presentation actually made me learn a lot. Apart from that, I also realized that a good concept is very important, our group was too rush at the start, we made the model once we had come up with some good ideas. As we did not really thought through all the details, turns out more 66
and more problems appear when we carry on with our design. We should have put more time on the concept, form and layout. With this mistakes, although our group had work on the 4 models (yes..we handmade 4 models circle by circle), the effort was wasted. I will also pay much more attention on the material selection as this is really important to the real installation’s structure. I really hope I will do much better in the coming studio, and practice what I had learn from this studio again.
Further work before the model can be completed in real life 1. Although the material is selected, the construction details still need to be researched. 2. The concept is stil not clear to be shown on the model, more design work should be done on the circles, for example, adding some surface on it instead of transparent. 3. The size and number of the “tree� need to be more related with the concept and the site analysis. 4. Produce small scale model on a site model to show a clearer layout of the whole installation.
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Eric Tse Fong Yik (346136) Design Journal for ADS 3
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