LEE TZE YUNG, FIONA 369973
STUDIO AIR
WYNDHAMCITY WESTERNGATEWAY DESIGN PROJECT
INTRODUCTION I’m a third year Architecture student, and this subject is the fifth studio i take in my undergraduated course. I have been using few digital software such as Sketch-Up, AutoCAD and Photoshop in my previous project. I took some intro lessons on Rhino and In-design in Visual Communication last semester. Still remember in the very beginning, I mostly used free-hand or traced drawing to express architectural components. This has undeniably enhance my drawing skills and understanding of structure. However, it’s kinda time-consuming and inaccurate. For simple design those technic can still moderate easily, but it going to be a really hard job for detailed and large projects. The first digital software I came accross was sketchUp, it is easy to use and allow me to express architecture in a 3D format. It provides perspective view which allows me to understand the building easily. After that, I start using AutoCAD, it makes life much easier as it provide accurate scale and dimension. Although it takes time to pick up with those software, it is worthy and valuable. Not a beginner but an elementary learner of Rhino & In-design. Honestly, I was quite desperate as this subject expected us to digitalize our model by using a software which I am unfamiliar with. I realize Rhino was an important and profession digital software which frequently used in the architecture industry. I can see how many benifits i can gain if i am able to master these software well. Therefore, I will definitely pay more effort and hopefully achieve a great improvement in my Rhino & Grasshopper skills after 12 weeks studies.
WEEK 1
PREVIOUS WORK
Architecture Design Studio Water
THE BOATHOUSE The project is about exploring the formal rules, compositional and aesthetic principles of an architect – Richard Meier . After observing and analyzing Meier’s work, try to follow his style and design a boathouse in the manner of the master.
WEEK 1
The boathouse was design in a free structured building. Using the idea of pilotis, I placed columns in grid style to enlarge the horizontal openness by lifting building off ground. Size of shape of floor plans were shaped in different ways.
It enabled me to create a two or three story voids in my design, it propose a changeable reading of space and volumes during the daytime through sunlight. Public place were usually seated in enclose area yet serving place were bounded by walls.
All these helps to create a great contrast of public & servinig area as well as solid & void.
THE YAS HOTEL Architect: Asymptote
Location: Abu, Dhabi
THE TOPOGRAPHIC VEIL Although the veil only had one surface and one edge, it was actually preserved under a continuous deformation of objects. Deform by stretching, the veil comprised two hotel towers and a link bridge, and acts as a tunnel- like sculpted shell above the Formula 1 track to let cars to pass through. The well use of topological space in the architecture inspires me a lot. I will try texting on stretching, twisting, bending a simple shape to combines different elements together and see if I can link building and external environment together.
ARCHITECTURE AS DISCOURSE
THE YAS HO Architect: Asymptote
Location: A
On the other hand, the complex geometric structure and its unique outline shaping gave people a delightful impression. The pixelated lighting designed by Asymptote creates a dynamic appearance at night, with colors flowing smoothly across the double curved surface and create a stunning picturesque style of architecture. The well use of lighting and reflection in the architecture brings a dramatic effect to the design as a whole. This gives me an insight on the following project that the architecture may convey different message and express various kind of feelings in day and night times. I shall do further investigation on lighting effects afterwards.
ARCHITECTURE AS DISCOURSE : THE IRREGULAR C
THE BEIJING NATIONAL AQUATICS CENTER
Architect: PTW Architects, CSCEC, CCDI, Arup Location: Beijing, China
CUBE
The Water Cube shows a discourse of generating various geometry structure. It’s not only visually striking but also shaped in a simple regular form with a vary complex geometry. Behind the irregular, organic patterns foam bubble structures, it was supported by digital technology. The digital device facilitated the translation of geometrical information to the fabrication machine. It significantly breaks the constraints of the grid. Therefore, the geometric pattern was independent from the internal structure grid. This give me an insight that every kind of shapes had a potential to form a building structure. Aside from the limits of regular grid structure, more opportunity can be discover during designing process. And the parametric software and digital fabrication will be a powerful tool of expression.
Computer has became an unavoidable part of human life, as well as the architectural discilpline.
Better presentation of idea.
Computer presents data graphically and numerically. It had the ability to avoid arithmetical mistakes as well as storing heaps of information. This not only convenient designers a lot but also ensure the accuracy of design outcome. Computer can do things quickly and repeatedly, furthermore able to alter mistake in much easy way.
Breaking limitation
Architect could adopt a design process that would ensure that their creation met the design goals, abided by craftsmanship’s constraints and reduced the likelihood of errors. It could help fabricate and construct the resulting building which was very time consuming by doing this by hand. Besides, computer was a multi-function tool, it can do multiple works in the same time.
Insight to problem
Computation in architectural design was known as a problem analysis, also feasibility analysis. With computer, it expanded access to information, for example, site condition. Using these information as starting point, it make things much easier for architects to determine size of building, use of material and estimate develop process. All of the above attempts to forecast the effects and problem may appear during design process. Computation can definitely help in discover possible side effects and afteref-
The MĂśbius House by UN Studio, Het Gooi, Holland (1993-1998)
Computers in Architectual design process. People move – Architecture stops. People desire – space defines. The designer as spatial programmer collects movements and desires and releases them into the conception of building. (Anderson, 2011) Digital modelling has greatly affected the design method. Digital generated forms are not design in conventional ways, new shapes and forms are developed. This can be illustrated by the Mobius House in Netherlands. The house was shaped in a 3-dimensional torus and strip shape. And it was created by generative processes based on topological concept. Design of architecture can be more creative and complex since the information can be extracted, exchanged and utilized with far great facility and speed.
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, U.S. (1999–2003)
It provide a better presentation, since the digital model was cohesive and complete enough to contains all the information necessary for designing and producing a building. The digital model of the Walt Disney Concert Hall was express in four-dimension. It not only clear enough to show the plans, sections, and elevations of building but also the volume and spatial relationship within the architecture. The four dimensional model also shows the interior structure of the building, this allow audience to figure out the circulation, flow of journey and orientation of building much easier than simple looking at 2D plan and section drawings.
Architects: Jacques Herzog, Pierre de Meuron Location: San Fransico, Carlifornia, USA
DE YOUNG MUSEUM Performative Architecture Performative architecture is a kind of architecture that building performance is a guiding design principle as an emerging approach to architecture. The emphasis on building performance is redefining expectations of the building design, its processes and practices. De Younf Museum by Herzog & de Meuron is a remarkable revival of a building that has been badly damaged in the past earthquakes. To help withstand future earthquakes, the new design of the building was able to move up to three feet due to a system of
ball-bearing sliding plates and vicious fluid dampers that absorb kinetic energy and convert it to heat. The designers were sensitive to the appearance of the building in its natural setting. The landscape was designed to create a pleasant, functional environmental that would allow visitors to enjoy California’s welcoming climate. The rest of the landscapes design focuses on creating a link between the building and its surroundings through historic elements from the original museum.
How parameter patterns are used? The perforated skin. The emphasis on building performance is redefining expectations of the building design, its processes and practices. The outside skin of the De Young Museum was clad in a copper panels covered with abstract pixelated patterns derived from over 650MB of images. The complex covering process was produced by mechanical process and sheet metal skills came from A. Zahner Co. Computation make architect’s life much easier as digital softwares allow them to iterate the extraction process as many times as needed, giving them complete artistic freedom. The software made it possible to accurately and efficiently manage the massive amount of data, fabricate the panels correctly, and ship them halfway across the country while making it easy to install the in a correct order. The abstract texture of canopy was created by mapped highconstrast digital images onto the building surfaces and pixelated into a finite set of depths or diameters.
Only possible to create by computer. Federation square was one of the most complex and ambitious construction projects undertaken in Australia. Federation square was form within a triangular pinwheel grid, the fractal façade and surface was combines with small and fragment component unit, the complex design contains connection of thousands little segments and patterns which was only possible to create by computer.
In other words, It has successfully break the pass limitation and expressed the advantages of digital architecture by expressing more possibilities of forms and effects. It’s a kind of invention that digital programmes helps to deal with a variety of configuration and arrangements. With the help of computer, unique patterns, figurations and surface qualities can be developed.
FEDERATION SQUARE
Architects: Donald Bates, Peter Davidson Lab Studio Location: Melbourne, Australia
It allows the grid and building patterns to treated in a continuous changing and visually dynamic way. It not only proposed a new language which the traditional architecture elements such as plans, elevations and sections cant express but also allow a better presentation of idea.
Parametric modelling / Project One: Architects: Zaha Hadid Location: Guang Zhou, China
GUANG ZHOU OPER
Advanced computational technologies were required in the structural design of the Opera House. Organized by scripts of the dynamic systems of parametric design, the auditorium was represents in a NURB surfaces, the organic shape helps to form a continuous, seamless surface. Meanwhile, the faceted structural skin was covered in triangular tiles made of glass and granite. It combines parametric geometry with traditional methods, such as the sand-casting of the main structural steel nodes, and it is vaulted off of a separate, interior volume of concrete that houses the opera theatre.
RA HOUSE
Parametric modelling / Project
Sagrada Familia Architects: Antoni GaudĂ Location: Barcelona
The Sagrada Familia church had a protracted period of construction since 1883, building was completed between 10 and 100 years. During the time, the building access was constrained and information are hidden within the building fabric. By adapting parametric modelling, Gaudi designs the columns by varying sizes and shapes and treating the initial shapes as parameters. It allows types of transformation and design creates were consistent with the historical information on the church and able to test different design solutions and find out the most potential one.
_____________________ As a parametric models generation system, the possibilities for application of the design procedures are absolutely boundless.
Parametric modelling systems pose a challenge to expend the design process beyond current limitations by Offering more flexible to design parts and assemblies of complex nature Provide reliable system to test instances of designs from a single model Expand design exploration of at the initial stages of the process Parametric modelling requires rigorous thought in the process to build a model that is appropriate for the needs of the designer and a very sophisticated structure. Even it can be time consuming, a good parametric model has the advantages to provide a solid structure that will act as a container of information of the design history.
CASE STUDY 1.0
McCormick Tribune Campus Center [ OMA ]
_______________ GRASSHOPPER ADAPTION With a parameter space of grid of circles surface. I taken the definitions and create new works from them. 1 - 3 Images are always 2D and made up of numerous pixels. By using the image sampter in grasshopper, i tried to associate the size of circles with the image by adjusting the radius of circle and the number of rows and columns of the grid. Density and quantity of circles were change according to the brightness of image, In the process of modifying the surface i can see how the circles develop and the surface outcome was getting more likely to the input image. 4 - 5 Than i start to change the plane of the surface by transform it from 2D to a 3D surface. A+fter baking all the commands, i select control points from different portions and adjust their Z value. This was a kind of mapping skil 6 I tried to create new work by adding vertical lines to the surface, and the different height of the vertical lines also creating an interesting outcome, which may contribute in mapping and landscape making.
Taichung metropolitan opera house Architects: Toyo ito Location: TaiChung, Taiwan
“ Building such a structure containing three-dimensional curved walls was generally thought impossible but we are making the impossible possible.� Wu chun-shan, president of lee ming construction
Geometry deals with shapes, but in actually handling these shapes. Geometry deals with the construction and representation of free-form curves, surfaces, or volumes. The language and knowledge of geometry chitecture.
has grown and developed giving a view into a fabulous world of pure order. The expression of these ideal forms in the world as structure and ornament and continues to be an activity of architecture.
Geometry in Taichung metropolitan opera house.
It is formed with several connecting curved walls, inlaid floors, inlaid interior and exterior walls. The freeform geometry was express in a rational and efficient manner, the continuous surfaces in an open structure which actively engages its surroundings in all directions and creates great opportunities for artists and visitors, stage and auditorium, interior and exterior. Wyndham city gateway project The Taichung metropolitan opera house give me an insight in applying geometry theories in the Wyndham city gateway project. With the prominent site location and open landscape, it would be very interesting to applied continuous structure and open structure. Initially the open structure could help to maximize the accessibility of the wide public and conventional lighting. Besides, with the geometric approach, the shape could be freeform and abstract, it can seat to unite three site of the Gateway installation together as well as provide a great viewing from all directions.
___________________ CASE STUDY 2.0
MVS Harbour Study & Corner Study
M I N I M A L S U R F A C E S is a surface which has zero mean curvature at all points. The mean curvature of a surface is an extrinsic measure of curvature that comes from different geometry and locally describes the curvature of an embedded surface in ambient space. an equipoise of tensions.
These two studies were trying to explore a type of minimal space and sort out the equipoise of tensions to its maximum potential. Developed by continually subdividing a precursor, gravitating the gradients to their lowest energy configurations, it’s noticeable that the surface could still retain their ability to develop, to link and extend continuously.
REFLECTION Parametricism has its roots in the digital animation techniques of the mid1990s, it has only fully emerged in recent years with the development of advanced parametric design systems. The structural framework composed of a mesh constructed with linear steel members, the joint conditions is particularly complex as it receives multiple linear elements from varying angles and pitches connecting to one point. The different dimension of steel and connection angles in the architecture reveals that parametric design allows element to change flexibly and result in interesting outcomes.
_______________ GRASSHOPPER ADAPTION
_______________ RE-ENGINEERED OUTCOME
S I M I L A R I T I E S D I F F E R E N C E S Creating the model by continuously mirroring a single surface, the surface enables a continuous surface with sidedness remained. Both projects were likely a subtracted structure, however the re- engineered model was more symmetry between different faces and less abstract compare to the real project. The result shows varied density and perception of distance and depth can be achieved. Having different variations is essential to produce the most ideal outcome that can be best performed my design criteria in the Gateway Design Project.
_______________________ MATRIX EXPLORATION
WEEK 6
These definitions are created by combining inputs, outputs and associations together. After attempting different methods, we explored some particular combinations which can give rise to innovative design solutions for the Wyndham Gateway Project.
G E O M E T R M I N I M A L S U R F A C I N T E R C O N N E C T I F R A M E L E S
Y E N S
Our development are trying to incorporate the main focus of geometry and minimal surfaces in a matrix format. Hopefully provide us a starting point from which we can further develop in the gateway design. “ The starting point for many design methods has been the notion that design is a process of searching for a solution that satisfies a given set of goals and constraints.� Yehuda E. Kalay Kalay seems to suggest that playing around with various shapes and producing different outcomes are always preferable in starting a design. Architectural design typically uses a combination of search methods and we are engaging in this process through this matrix exercise. The exercise was concededly stimulative. By exploring different combinations and forms of matrix, it helps us to brainstorm our ideas and explore possibilities of our design.
_______________________ MATRIX EXPLORATION
SINE TOWER This definition takes a closed curve and creates a single surface tower via sine scaling. The outcome was in a minimal surface, spiral shape.
FLEXIBLE MODULES
WEEK 6
DYNAMIC SURFACES
After exploring and analysing various matrix combinations, we discovered that grasshopper is an exciting and evolving modelling platform, the numerous combinations our group attempted had develop a range of geometric examples to explore the potential of minimal surfaces. The intent visual effects that our group wanted to achieve are illusion, movement and uncertainty of inner and outta space. The chosen design had not only created an indefinite spatial boundary of exterior and interior, it also shows an interconnection of minimal surfaces. The arch was fabricated with various polygons arranged in descending size. Each component was features with a unique stretch system. Acting as an entry for the municipality, such combination creates a sense of mystery and richness to the gateway.
__________________ CONCEPT BREAKDOWN 1. Take any surface input
2. Generates a system of interconnecting panels
3. Breaks the surface into modules and creates a series of components that
4. Combines together efficiently to form a cohesive experience allow flexibility in final outcomes
______________ DIGITAL TO PHYSICAL The They Co. and Commissioned by Two Bridges Neighborhood Council.
Mulberry Street Btwn Houston and Prince, NYC
From the digital model to the physical model, difficulties occurred in the way. Organic shapes such as flutes and funnels has attached in the design. The fabricate process involves altering and reforming, It is not possible to create it by simply stretching the fabric material without any framework or constrained. The solution was let the stocking penetrated the ring in middle and pinned them in several fixed points to create minimal surfaces. The advanced fabrication process was originally inspired by the San Gennaro North Gate. The architecture was in a weaved and stretched structure. We found it was quite innovative that the structure was actually defined by a few points rather than fixed curves. The way of overhanging and unevenly place of point has express the sculpture itself is abstract. This stimulated us to represent our physical model in an aesthetic form, it can be an ornament, a freeform minimal structure with flexible framework.
__________________________
FABRICATION
OUR INDIVIDUAL CREATIVITY IS THE INPUT, AND OUR MODEL PROVIDES THE PARAMETERS.
TOGETHER THEY PRODUCE PARAMETRIC RESULTS...
STRETCHING Stretching are ideal for compound or organic forms, as they allow the interior framework to push through the fabric to create stalactite-like shapes. Acting as both walls and ceiling elements, the organic shape defines a tunnel space. The elastic capabilities of stocking are used to their full potential, creating not only unique forms and shapes but interesting shadowing effects caused by the unusual architecture.
Stretch fabrics, such as stocking we used in our model, are also ideal for flutes, funnels, or other organic shapes. By pinned the stocking on different location of the Perspex, shape can be easily modified or distort, this helps us to shape the interior with dramatic effect and surprising ease. Nevertheless, the fabricated stocking can be any colour and different degree of transparency. Hence, light will go through the sculpture from different layers and display an ever- changing visual effect and makes the pattern appears to be 3-dimensional which is necessary for the visual aesthetic we desire.
______________ FABRICATION
_______________________ CUT-CASE MODEL
DESIGN VISION Motorists can experience the dynamic change of space and movement while traveling high speed. Meanwhile, the sculpture was abstract and eye catching enough to catch visitor’s attention and curiosity to check out and experience the interior. The outcome has successfully translated and re-emerged the idea of minimal surfaces into an individual component. Nevertheless, the iconic appearance had undoubtedly inspired and enriches the municipality with his modern design intent behind.
REFLECTION At first I was confused about what a minimal surfaces is and how it was related to parametric architecture, but as time goes and spending time goes through the readings and materials provided on LMS every week makes me have better understanding on the logic of minimal surfaces. It was roughly about a surface that is not limited to various constraints, had a continuous structure with unreferenced boundary. However, as I look in some of the cases deeper, some minimal surface architecture existed in reality were just look like but not actually an minimal surfaces. Such as the FRAC Centre, the organic and nature structural
network creates various opening within a sensation of enclosure. Although the spatial environment was undefined, the curvature was broke up in singular elements, being unrolled and cut out, eventually fabricated by combining all flat pieces together. By using fabric for the small scale modelling in our EOI mid-semester presentation, it had successfully define and separate spaces. In the following weeks our group will develop this idea more and try to merge it together with the structural elements in our gateway design, from floor to wall , wall to column, column to ceiling, and hopefully achieve a stunning outcome.
THE FRAC CENTRE Marc Fornes (Principal), Jon Becker, Peter Nguyen
FUTURE PLANS
You Yangs Melbourne rydges
After the mid semester presentation, I considered how our design can be actually built in site. I start thinking about the material used, lighting and construction techniques of our design. Often mentioned as a pioneer in lightweight tensile and membrane construction, the Munich Olympic Stadium in Germany had gave me an insight of what our design can actually does in reality.
SITE The overall form can reference aspect from the surrounding landscape. The You Yangs are a series of granite ridges rise above the Werribee Plain. The landscape was clearly identifiable and iconic from nearby Geelong, Melbourne and beyond. The undulating roofs may act as a continuous of natural landscape, together with the dramatically sculpted earthscapes, all elements were unify in one. Both inside and out among the tunnel, mo-
Munich Olympic Stadium / Frei Otto & Gunther Behnisch Munich, Germany
STRUCTURE After spending time go through the feedbacks from tutors and cleared up all the question in mind after the mid semester presentation. I realize the Perspex frame used to fixed the stocking had actually constrain the maximum potential of expand and spread of minimal surfaces. In Munich Olympic Stadium, polyester fabric was suspended on hangers independent of the cable net. The supporting masts held the main cables in tension, thus providing the necessary support for hanging roof areas. Therefore, instead of bounding the minimal surface in a box, we decided to expend the surface outwards and create a frameless structure.
MATERIAL The canopy of tunnel was to symbolize the new, iconic entry to metropolitan Melbourne, we want to make it visually and technically impress. A translucent fabric material will be desirable. As it will be able to avoid rigid, rectangular shapes emerging from the design process yet the material had their own reaction to the variance in sun light. Translucent fabrics screen out harsh light and bring texture or pattern to light coming into the interior. Tensotherm, as the world’s first and only translucent and insulated tensile fabric roofing material, It’s an innovative thin insulated composite roofing material created from proven PTFE tensile membrane fabric, with the most efficient insulation material .