STUDIO AIR 2015, SEMESTER 2, SONYA HOI YIN HO
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About Myself
Being able to design and fabricate, make my ideas and dream realistic is what I enjoy the most. Being a third year student of Architecture studying in a foreign city, I am treasuring every single project as a great learning opportuntiy, and also to explore my potential and myself in general, as a designer. In previous architectural studios I have done, I have been using Rhinoceros as the main 3D medelling tools, and been reaching for simple, organic form and geometry. While in another Digital Design & Fabrication subject, also using Rhino, I explored myself into grid shell geometry and notching sfdystems, which I learnt more about what digital design really is: complex form finding with precision. To me, digital architecture is about using a new and modern type of design process to create and explore the ideal and optimal solution. Also, with the assistant of computational technology, mistakes and failure can be reduced. Before the start of university, I learnt AutoCAD while working in an architecture firm for 3 months, and after years of practice through subjects in university, I gained more confidence in using it. I also had experience with Rhinoceros, V-ray rendering, and also Adobe Photoshop along the way of my design journey. I have experiences in using fabrication tools such as laser cutting and also 3D printing.
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FIG.2: GRID FORM LAZER CUTTING TEMPLATE
FIG.1: DIGITAL DESIGN AND FABRICATION PROJECT WITH EMMA KE
FIG.3: RHINO MESH OBJECT FOR 3D PRINTING
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A.1 Design Futuring
Due to all the deconstruction and overuse of non-renewable resources, worrying issues about human future is raised. As Fry [ ] suggested, in order to secure our future through design, designers will need to change their way of thinking and the method of designing. Designers will also need a clear understanding and direction to development sustainment.
Architectural design is no longer about the aesthetic or symbolic elements, it is more about improving and linking human-human and human-nature relationship. New systems are needed to satisfy human needs in spatial context, and also in the environmental context to reduce pollution, or even ideally, to contribute to the environment.
The following precedents are design examples of how structural and material systems are designed to, or aiming to contribute a better future.
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Presedent Project Case 1: The Gherkin - Swiss Re London, 30 St Mary’s Axe, London by Foster + Partners As seen in Fig 1, the Swiss Re tower has an appealing and distinct appearence comparing to it’s surrounded urban context. In fact, it is London’s first ecological tall building. It is designed by Foster + Partners and completed in 2004, aiming to create a humanising workplace, allow people to communicate within the building with a structure that saves energy. [1] It raised attention on how high-rised office building can be energy concious, and at the same time focusing in providing better interior working environment. This is achieved by its form, steel framing and continuous triangulated skin that allows flexible interior space without columns, great
amount of natural light and also broad views. [2] Interms of computational approach in order to achieve the requirements and aims, a specific perimeter ‘diagrid’ structure was developed to generate the steel structural solution.By using 3D modelling and parametric approach to the design, not only the building’s unique shape, ventilation system that saves energy, and it’s skin that is different from normal glass glazed building was made happen, but also proved the ability of structural steel. [3]
FIG.1: THE GHERKIN IN LODON URBAN CONTEXT. FROM HTTP://WWW.FOSTERANDPARTNERS.COM/PROJECTS/30-ST-MARY-AXE/
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FIG.2: TRIANGULATED GLASS GLAZING ALLOWING VENTILATION FROM HTTP://WWW.FOSTERANDPARTNERS.COM/PROJECTS/30-ST-MARY-AXE/
FIG.3: INTERIOR COMMUNITY SPACE, LIGHT SOURCE AND VIEW. FROM HTTP://WWW.FOSTERANDPARTNERS.COM/PROJECTS/30-ST-MARY-AXE/
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Presedent Project Case 2: The Japanese Pavilion, EXPO 2000 Hannover, Germany by Shigeru Ban (and Otto Frei) Shigeru Ban, different from the previous presedent, does not prefer form finding unless he has to as said so by himself. His focus is more on how the building material can self sustain and also be reused, hence can minimise the waste production while constructing.[4] Enable for him to achieve his goal, he designed buildings with fabricated paper rolls that is cheap and able to recycle, this new invention and practice in ‘paper architecture’ lead him to win the 2014 Pritzker Price. [5] This pavilion is the world’s biggest paper built architecture built by paper tubes without the use of nails, cement and heavily fabricated joints. It is built and dismantled, meeting his pursuit on producing structure
that is easy to assemble and disassemble, and be reused in future projects, such as emergency shelters. [6] He explored new possibilities of future architecture interms of material and also the ‘after life’ of architecture. Due to the need of large interior space for exhibition, form finding and 3D modelling allowed Shigeru Ban to produce a structure of three 3D gridshells, making sure the geometry is self supporting and reduce the chance of structural failure.[7] With the use of computation, his idea is able to push further to create architecture spending such large area.
FIG.4: THE INTERIOR OF THE JAPANESE PAVILION. FROMHTTP://WWW.ARCHITECTMAGAZINE.COM/DESIGN/14-PROJECTS-BY-SHIGERU-BAN-ARCHITECTS_O
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FIG.5: EXPLOADED STRUCTURE FROM HTTPS://CLAREWASHINGTON.FILES.WORDPRESS. COM/2012/12/JAPANESE-PAVILLION_2.JPG
FIG.6: MODEL OF THE PAVILION FROM HTTP://D13UYGPM1ENFNG.CLOUDFRONT.NET/ARTICLE-IMGS/EN/2013/05/10/AJ201305100015/AJ201305100016M.JPG CONCEPTUALISATION 11
Exploring connection methods with recycled materials
In this exercise, I was exploring ways to connect plastic cups. The first method I went for is gluing three popsicles sticks pointing to 3 different angles to form a triangular joint. Then I cut holes at the base of the cups and slot them into the joint. Immediatly it became like a modular structure that can be repeated to form. The wider circular and planar surfaces of the cups’ opening can easily connect with each other. Another feature I discovered is that the molecule can stand by itself. The variable for this molecule can be the number of popsicle sticks, hence the shape of the molecule, and also the depth of the plastic cups are slotted into the sticks.
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The second method I went for is piercing holes at the bottom of the plasitc cups and linking them with a string, also forming a molecule. Different form the rigid structure of the first method, this is very soft and flexable and cannoot stand by itsel. I intentionally alternate the direction of the cups so that they will not stack together. There are more variables in this molecule, for example the string can be replaced by rigid ring and change the number of cups. Another interesting feature I found is that with the transparant cups, we can see how the string is formed into a shape or geometry in the process of linking the cups.
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A.2 Design Computation
Computation, one step ahead of computerisation, allows designers to process more information and to generate more complex order and forms as an outcome. In computation, architects not just use softwares and tools, they are developing and creating digital tools themselves have more opportunities in design process, fabrication and construction [ ]. This shows that computation is not just the use of a computer, but is a way of thinking and the use of computer as a tool to facilitate and stimulate problem solving. The process of designing is faster and potentially providing more inspirational as more unexpected results will be generated in the design process.
Another important feature of computation is that it makes interaction communication with other professionals, such as engineers and the environmentalists, easier with all the data and informations.
The following precedents shows how computation is used to find the optimal form in situation where there are too much information and constrains, and how computation allow the perfect combo of architect and engineer to co-work and create the ideal solution.
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Presedent Project Case 1: Beijing National Stadium, Beijing, China by Herzog & de Meuron. The constrains and structural requirements for building a huge public stadium that holds multi competitions and 91,000 audience is much greater than that of a pavilion, therefore, computation definetly came in handy in this project. Firstly, computation softwares are used to study the defined parameters such as environmental criteria and geometric constraints, this must be done before any intial form can be generated. After understanding the requirements and setting the main goals, which is meeting all the standard stadium requirements and providing the best experience for the competitors and audiences, the team, both architects and structural engineers then start working together building 3D model. []
Other than using as researching tools, building infomation modelling (BIM) and parametric design, the team brought the use of computers into the next level. As the structural steel frame is the facade, structure and interior all together, the geometry is too complex and complicated that the team developed their won modelling software to calculate the optimal form [],[]. Throughout the design process, computated drawings has been the media of communication for architects and engineers. Softwares also allowed the team to explore and test options by adjusting variables to find the optimal solution.
FIG.1: BEIJING NATIONAL STADIUM, FACADE,STRUCTURE AND INTERIOR. FROM HTTP://IMAGES.ADSTTC.COM/MEDIA/IMAGES/5643/52F4/ E58E/CE94/E500/00DE/LARGE_JPG/BEIJINGNATIONALSTADIUM_1__COPYRIGHT_ARUPSPORT.JPG?1447252711 16
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FIG.2: DIGITAL MODELLING AND DETAILS. FROM HTTP://WWW.CIVILAX.ORG/WP-CONTENT/UPLOADS/2014/10/DRAWINGSAND-ANALYSIS-FILES-OF-NATIONAL-STADIUM-BEIJING-CHINA.JPG
FIG.3: CLOSE UP OF STRUCTURAL STEEL CONNECTIONS. HTTP://WWW.BUDGETTRAVEL.COM/PRINT/849/
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Presedent Project Case 2: Sendai Mediatheque, Sendaishi, Japan by Toyo Ito Computation design in architectur is not only about form finding but, is the linkage of form generation and performative form finding in response to environmental context []. Sendai, Japan in general is highly prone to have earthquakes, however, given this environmental context, not every single building in Japan is designed to withstand the destruction of the natural force. For this building, Ito aimed to design a high transparancy and light weighted building yet can fight against earthquake, partnering with an equally creative engineer made this happen and the building successfully survived a magnitude9.0. The engineer, Mutsuro Sasaki, was able to transfer Ito’s sketches into a constructable structure by creating innovative
systems such as steel sandwich floor plates and structural hollo steel tubes in the form of spiralling lattices.[] There is no doubt that a lot of calculation and experiments are constructed in computer softwares to design the systems, their connection and their performance when there is earthquakes. Together with Ito’s design analogy of ‘floating seaweed’, of how materials transfer between twisted, hollow and light-weight structure, the team was able to take good use of computation to opt for the ideal solution, hence achieving both ideal performance and form.
FIG.1: SENDAI MEDIATHEQUE AT NIGHT. SHOWING TRANSPARENCY OF BUILDING’S SKIN, HOLLOW AND SPIRAL TUBE ACROSS LAYERS. FROM HTTP://REST.EJ.BY/NEWS/2014/07/16/NATSIONAL_NAYA_BIBLIOTEKA_BELARUSI_PRIZNANA_SAMOY_KRASIVOY_V_MIRE.HTML 18
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FIG.2: FROM FREE HAND SKETCHING TO 3D MODELLING. FROMHTTP://TRAAC.INFO/BLOG/WP-CONTENT/UPLOADS/2010/02/ AAC018_IMG_7.JPG; HTTPS://S-MEDIA-CACHE-AK0.PINIMG.COM/736X/ F8/C4/5A/F8C45ADF4435F550B0504D051E8FE17D.JPG
FIG.3: INTERIOR, EVERY SINGLE HOLLOW COLUMNS ARE DIFFERENT. FROM HTTP://WWW.SMT.JP/EN/
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