ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO AIR HAMISH BARTLETT 388124
CONTENTS
PART I - CASE FOR INNOVATION INTRODUCTION ARCHITECTURE AS DISCOURSE COMPUTING IN ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIGITAL AGE PARAMETRIC ARCHITECTURE PART II - CUT PROJECT CASE STUDY 1.0 CASE STUDY 2.0 PARAMETRIC PROCESS MATRIX VARIATIONS STUDY MODEL MID SEMESTER REFLECTION & EOI PART III - GATEWAY PROJECT SITE ANALYSIS DEVELOPMENT + SITE INTEGRATION FINAL PRESENTATION COMPETITION PANEL
PART I - CASE FOR INNOVATION
Introduction
Personal Projects
Architecture as Discourse
Computing In Architecture
Architecture In The Digital Age
Parametric Architecture
PART II - CUT PROJECT
Argument For Responsive Parametric Architecture
CASE STUDY - 1.0
Articulated Cloud - Ned Kahn
CASE STUDY - 2.0
Da Vinci Tower - David Fisher
PARAMETRIC PROCESS
INPUT
SYSTEM
OUTPUT
Matrix Variations
1
2
3
Study Model We combined the elements of the first and second to generate an idea that possessed the two major design elements of both the articulated cloud and the Da Vinci tower. It has a facade that is moulded by the wind, and each level can rotate independently of one another as a wind turbine would, thus allowing it to potentially generate electricity. The idea was fabricated in order to test it’s effectiveness under
simulated wind conditions. The images on the right show this model and it’s ability to allow different levels to rotate independently of one another. The model succeeded at being a potential electric generator however despite the incorporation of elements from both precedent studies, the design failed as a road side attraction. The design was somewhat under-thought and too much of a direct application of
multiple elements into an equation that produced a chaotic structure. We realized that we had to focus more on the aspect of creating an experience for motorists. We also conducted studies of the site and realized that there are few power consuming complexes nearby. This lead us to completely alter our interest and design intent.
“FAILURE IS SIMPLY THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEGIN AGAIN, THIS TIME MORE INTELLIGENTLY “ HENRY FORD
Design Intent With that in mind, I decided to step away from my original design intent. I am interested in the use of Responsive Parametric architecture. The ideas that can be generated through responsive parametric architecture are exceptionally dynamic and can respond to variations in environmental conditions such as light and wind. It seemed appropriate to design a dynamic sculpture that would respond kinetically to the strong prevailing winds on the site, as the rapid changes in shape that could be seen in such a sculpture would be symbolic of the social growth within Wyndham itself. The
movement of components due to wind, combined with an organic structural form, creates the illusion of marriage between natural and manmade elements. The aim is to bring them together to create an experience for motorists that conveys the rapidly changing populous that is Wyndham, through the use of dramatic yet consistent changes in color and volumes of space. The ever-changing forms that the structure can take will create a constantly changing experience for it’s consumers. This will allow greater appreciation for the project as an art piece in its lifetime.
PART III - GATEWAY PROJECT
N
WYNDHAM
SITES
MELBOURNE
Site Analysis The site is relatively flat and has several highways passing through it. The only major considerations which could influence our design were the directions of traffic to and from Wyndham as well as the strong North/South prevailing winds. The images on the right show these in relation to the available sites. The image on the left shows the relation of the sites to major cities/towns.
N
Site C
Site A
Site B
Direction of Prevailing Winds
Direction to Wyndham
Design Process At the end of the first precedence study, We were able to determine that the frame and panel arrangement would not be as engaging when motorists drive past it. (as the time traveling through the site is extremely short.) It is not long enough to allow the consumers to fully appreciate the beauty of the project. We had to find a way to integrate a moving component similar to that of Kahn’s
Articulated cloud that would be far more engaging and one that creates a direct experience for motorists. This lead us to create a suspended panelized component that would face motorists, and be suspended from above. A panel had to be designed to be near frictionless, and more effective at moving rapidly under variations in wind conditions, when joined to a supporting structure.
This idea to allow a series of suspended panels to engage a motorist directly also created the problem of devising a structural system to connect the site to this moving component. We wanted to design something that followed curvatures seen in nature and created the illusion that our project grew out of the earth. (in order to further emphasize the growth within Wyndham itself). We looked at several biological systems including the cell cycle and the graphs of cellular mitosis and size regulation in yeast. The graph that represents this process of cellular growth revealed a promising base shape for our project’s structural form.
Cell Size Mitosis
Time Cell Growth And Size Regulation In Yeast
Linear
Frequency
Curvature
Sine
Cosine
Exponential
Logarithm
Curve from Graph
Building A Frame The grass-hopper matrix on the left shows experimentations of curvatures using different mathematic functions. The selected curvature of the graph was explored and abstracted along side a second grasshoppergenerated curve to create a perfect structural form that could be repeated along an appropriate length of the site. The two were combined to create a series of fins that varied in size but
each had a long enough base to be grounded to the earth adjacent to the road. It also has a section that could hang over the road allowing the panels to ripple while facing the motorists. The variations in fin size also allowed us to create dramatic yet consistent changes in volumes of space. The diagram on the following page shows the parametric modeling process used to achieve a final structural form
Curve from Grasshopper Matrix
INPUTS
Curve
Divide Curve
North Boundary Line
Curve South Boundary Line
Line Divide Curve
Split Curve
Move
SYSTEM
Interpolate
Isocurve
OUTPUTS
Rotate
Loft
Extrude
Fins
Divide Curve
Interpolate
Wires
Extrude
Panels
Materiality The image on the left shows the resulting structural framework from the above design process. It’s materiality was then explored. Reinforced concrete fins would be used. Each with a steel spine that would also connect to the adjacent panel curtains. A near - frictionless aluminum panel was then designed to work with the framework. (Images on the right). This design would achieve our design goals however we felt that something more was needed to further emphasize the themes of dynamic change and the illusion of a marriage between nature and man-made components. Wh also wanted to create a variation in the panels to work alongside the variations in volumetric space experienced by motorists.
Introduction Of Color In order to create a connection to nature, we aimed to color the panels in such a way that we could create the effect that the frame has refracted sunlight into the entire color spectrum. Essentially creating a rainbow above the motorist as they drive through the site. Color is understood to be a highly influential element in almost all facets of design, with various colors gaining equally varying
responses.. Therefore a variation in color would be appropriate for c re a t i n g a v a r i a t i o n i n t h e consumer’s experience. At the speed at which a motorist travels through the site we understood that a rapidly changing experience would further emphasize the dynamic change through our sculpture. (Motorists will experience roughly 9 different colors per second).
Site Integration The location chosen was best fit for the project as it allowed motorists to and from Wyndham to directly experience it. Also the panels are at 45 degrees to the North / South prevailing winds which in theory should create a similar ripple effect as seen in Ned Kahn’s Articulated cloud, while allowing the motorists to face the panels throughout the journey through the structure.
To Wyndham
Direction Of Prevailing Winds
South Elevation
East Elevation
West Elevation
50m
Physical Model
Rendered Model
COMPETITION PANEL