Design Portfolio - Isaac Seah

Isaac Seah Simulation Research Design

Portfolio

2016 - 2017

Content 1.

Collage || BIM || Simulation

6

2.

L - Systems,

18

3.

Placey,

24

4.

Algorithmic Volumes,

30

5.

Green Roof Performance Index

38

6.

Big Tops,

44

Computing Landscapes of Inhabitation

Virtual Reality for Architecture

Satellite Building for Robart’s Library

Parametric Structure and Surfaces

Hello, I’m Isaac, a third year undergraduate student from the University of Toronto, pursuing a multi-disciplinary education in architecture, computer science and GIS. This portfolio is a representation of my interests in the built environment, observing it from a 21st century perspective where digital footprints can be found to be embedded in many facets of the world. Employing my technical skills and curiosities, I’ve spent the last 3 years exploring the unique intersection between technology and our built environment. I hope this portfolio speaks to my abilities and that you enjoy reading it.

Last but not least, I hope I can put my skillsets to good use in your esteemed organization.

Sincerely, Isaac

Education Sep 2015 - Present Toronto, Ontario

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO Candidate for Bachelor of Architectural Studies + Minor in Computer Science , Minor in GIS.

Work Experience Sep 2017 - Present Toronto, Ontario

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO, 3D Printing Lab Technologist Assistant - Assist users in the preparation of 3D models for rapid prototyping.

- Weekly maintenance of a fused deposition modelling rapid prototyping system, digitizing arm and 3D scanners.

- Gain competence in fabrication technologies and assist students in the production of physical 3D models.

May 2017 - Sep 2017 Toronto, Ontario

PERKINS+WILL, Architecture Student Intern - Created concept plans for provincial transit expansion projects spearheaded by Metrolinx.

- Programmed building layout and created renders for feasibility studies.

- Employed computational tools to design recognition wall for donors whose contributions range from $25, 000 to $5, 000, 000 and above.

Sep 2016 - Sep 2017 Toronto, Ontario

PLACEY, Co-founder, 3D Modeler Devised a virtual reality solution for existing architectural workflows. Responsible for product development, business development and creating architectural environments. Currently undergoing product validation with 2 AEC Firms.

May 2016 - May 2017 Toronto, Ontario

VARSITY PUBLICATIONS INC., Web Developer Web Developer for the the oldest newspaper on campus. Responsible for handling website crashes, creating new web templates using javascript, css and html.

Apr 2016 - Sep 2016 Toronto, Ontario

UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP HATCHERY, Fellow Identified a problem within the architectural industry, hypothesised a solution for the problem, created a prototype using Unity, Revit and Blender and emerged as one of top 14 teams to present to prospective investors.

Apr 2016 - Sep 2016 Toronto, Ontario

GREEN ROOF INNOVATION TESTING LAB, Research Assistant Ensured that data collected by laboratory sensors are accurate, allowing systematic collection and storage of green roof performance data. Assisted in graphic design and Implemented the performance index, a web tool for AEC industry to understand collected data.

4

5

Collage || BIM || Simulation Designing the Image Instructor: Dan Briker, dan.briker@daniels.utoronto.ca

In this project a public plaza for a new town was designed through the action of composing. Starting off with a base image, various architectural elements were to be composited into the image by applying an iterative approach through a process of trial and error. The architectural elements that were required to be in each iteration included a plaza populated with people, instituional/cultural buildings, a mid-rise office with commercial ground floor, a mid-rise residential building, the skyline of a future town and landscape features of the environment.

In the 20th century, forward-looking architects like Superstudio relied mainly on the medium of image collaging to envision spaces that could be created in the future. When observing the present, the act of envisioning spaces has evolved.

Instead of simply examining and designing the aesthetics of architectural spaces, architects work with the service systems of their projects, as much as with the facade of buildings. This phenomena of becoming an “overseer” of the entire building, down to the mechanical systems may be attributed to the emergence of Building Information Modelling where the architectural designer and his fellow consultants can collaborate on a single digital model and comprehensively understand the consequence of every single design decision.

Finally, the simulation iterations cast us into the future where design decisions are no longer simply made based on big data collected from the BIM model. Rather, we can digitally experience the designed environment before committing to the design.

Entire cities can be experienced with technologies that allow for environmental simulation and virtual reality for spatial immersion.

This final segment builds upon one of the previous iterations, where the “designed” public space, created through the act of collaging becomes an architectural project in itself. By referencing the image, measurements and dimensions were subsequently derived to create plans and sections to create a 3D manifestation.

Going beyond the asks of the project, stylistic choices had to be considered and factored to convey a comprehensive exploration of the systems beyond the surfaces of the architectural environments that people experience in urban spaces. The Pompidou, as well as the underground systems, presents a commentary of the hidden service layer and the complexity of the environment that surrounds us.

6

7

In the first phase of the project, the story of an iconic space is reintepreted and recreated through various means of visual manipulation.

The key element in question is the Salk Institue, often acclaimed by architecture critics as one of the world’s boldest structures. Instead of accepting the Salk Institue in its default state as a research lab, this project abstracts the building’s architectural elements and casts them with alternate identities.

8

A rainy day at the Salk Institute

Salk Institute transformed into a shopping arcade.

9

The second part of the project explores the act of designing through an assemblage of images. Architectural design has always been embedded deeply into the world of representation, where representation is a means of reproducing an idea. The 9 iterations above each explores the idea of representation to varying degrees, composing scenarios and environments based on found images online. While representation ideas shift in every generation of architects, my explorations delve with the relevance of technology in architecture.

10

Collage

Simulation 2

11

Superimposed Plan and Underground Systems While most plans depict the space that users will experience in every architectural design, the design process often starts from the site constraints - the systems that are hidden underground. This plan seeks to make that connection more obvious by relating how the electrical systems in the environment are linked to the city’s infrastructure. The Pompidou in this case, plays a duality by not only showing the systems as a form of aesthetics, but itself as an integral piece of infrastructure.

14

Section

Elevation

15

16

17

L - Systems Floor Patterns, Computing Landscapes of Inhabitation Instructor: Nicholas Hoban, nicholas.hoban@daniels.utoronto.ca

The asks of this project include algorithmically generating spatial division using a geometrical logic. Taking inspiration from Digital Grotesque and the Arabesque wall by Michael Hansmeyer and Benjamin Ellenburger, where geometric logic and recursion were used to create surfaces and solids, I desired to create a pseudolandscape that would be geometrically elegant, yet composed of multiple complex mathematical components that would come together to create an emergence of patterns.

Knowing this, there are 3 avenues in which I could develop my ideas upon: L systems, Stochastic Fractals and possibly the extrusion of lines to develop the Z-axis component of this design. The composition of the idea for the project closely referenced Hansmeyer’s published project, the L-Systems.

In the diagram below, the generic geometry being recurred upon in this instance appears to be the “Dragon Curve� set. While it is not immediately clear to me if Hansmeyer did indeed implement a Dragon Curve set, I had set my mind to implement a similar form of geometrical application, to be more specific, the Penrose Tiling.

With the Penrose Tiling as my axiom and recurrence logic, what then should be the medium for recurrence? As this juncture, I decided to test out two different implementations, one with simple lines and the other with Euclidian geometry. The results are detailed in the following pages.

Hansmeyer: The L-Systems

18

Penrose Tiling with Lines

Penrose Tiling with Euclidean Geometry

19

Fractal Tree Axioms, Rules and Actions

The most basic components of a Lindenmayer system includes an axiom and a set of rules. In its most basic form, with each recursion, the axiom is extended based on a given rule. As each character within the axiom is processed, a specfic action can be associated. In the world of computational design, this can exist as translation, rotation or scaling in 2/3D space.

Axiom X

Variables X, Y

Constants [ ]

Recursions

Axiom State

0

X

1

Y[X]X

2

YY-[Y[X]X]-Y[X]X

Rules Y = YY X = Y[X]X

Action X : Draw dead-end line [ :Fix position, rotate left 45 deg Y : Draw line ] : Release position, rotate right 45 deg

Illustration

“-� has been inserted for clarity of understanding

recursion 0

recursion 1

recursion 2

Modified Penrose Tiling Axioms, Rules and Actions

Axiom [7]++[7]++[7]++[7]++[7]

Variables 6789 Constants []+ -

Rules 8 = -61++71[+++81++91]9 = --81++++61[+91++++71]--71 7 = +81--91[---61--71]+ 6 = 81++91----71[-81----61]++

1 = none

Action 7 : Draw a rectangular plane, extruded in the X-Z direction, draw a line of 1 unit, and translate by 2 units.

6 : Draw a line of 1 unit and translate by 2 units. Draw a triangular plane, extruded in the X-Z direction.

+ : Rotate by (angle) - : Rotate by (-angle)

8 : Draw a line of 1 unit and translate by 2 units.

9 : Draw a line of 1 unit and translate by 2 units. Draw a triangular plane, extruded in the X-Z direction.

[ : Fix position ] : Release position

Recursions

Axiom State

0

[7]++[7]++[7]++[7]++[7]

1

[+81--91[---61--71]+]++[+81--91[---61--71]+]++[+81--91[---61--71]+]++[+81--91[---61--71]+]++[+81--91[---61-71]+]

2

[+-61++71[+++81++91]- ----81++++61[+91++++71]--71 [---81++91----71[-81----61]++ --+81--91[---61--71]+ ]+]++[+-61++71[+++81++91]- ----81++++61[+91++++71]--71 [---81++91----71[-81----61]++ --+81--91[---61-71]+ ]+]++[+-61++71[+++81++91]- ----81++++61[+91++++71]--71 [---81++91----71[-81----61]++ --+81--91[--61--71]+ ]+]++[+-61++71[+++81++91]- ----81++++61[+91++++71]--71 [---81++91----71[-81----61]++ --+81-91[---61--71]+ ]+]++[+-61++71[+++81++91]- ----81++++61[+91++++71]--71 [---81++91----71[-81----61]++ --+81--91[---61--71]+ ]+] 20

Angle: 36 Radians

recursion 1

recursion 2

recursion 3

recursion 4

21

Angle: 60 Radians

recursion 1

recursion 2

recursion 3

recursion 4

22

Angle: 45 Radians

recursion 0

recursion 1

recursion 2

recursion 3

23

PLACEY Virtual Reality in Architecture The Entrepreneurship Hatchery Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, University of Toronto Team Members: Amin Azad (Ba. Eng), Freddy Zheng (Ba.Sci)

As digital technologies get integrated into design processes, virtual and augemented reality seems to be an easy solution to overcome the communication barrier that exists between designers and their clients.

Placey is a collaborative project that seeks to develop virtual reality solutions for the architecture industry. The project first started in the Summer of 2016 and the team has since presented to various prominent architecture firms including G Architects, Mizrahi Developments and Perkins + Will. Some features of the solution include VR environments that can be explored using low cost digital devices as well as interactive environments that assist in making design decisions on the fly and design communication.

Instead of relying on guesses and complex design expressions, Placey seeks to bring clarity to the design process, allowing designers and their clients to maintain a consistent understanding of the proposed design. From a larger perspective, the integration of visualization technology is a way for designers to prototype their ideas rigourously before “shipping� them out to their clients.

The prototype is developed on the Unity Game Engine for the Google Cardboard and Samsung Gear platforms. When the project started in 2016, documentation for developing in virtual reality was largely lacking and the team had to piece together developmental information from various avenues.

Freddy testing the VR platform - Low cost mobile device and a regular laptop, perfect for client presentations.

24

Environment allows for quick change of materials, encouraging greater design flexibility.

25

VR Production Workflow 1 Conversion of floor plan into digital model.

Digital Blueprint

Converted Digital Model

26

VR Production Workflow 2 Mesh optimization to allow for increased performance of VR environment in mobile environments.

This step is eventually followed by the application of materials.

Original: 39, 373 Vertices; 73, 337 Faces

Post Optimization: 638 Vertices; 1, 051 Face

27

This image illustrates the interior of the VR environment looking out of the balcony. The lighting conditions of the environment have been carefully curated to reflect natural lighting.

The benefit of virtual reality is that we can simulate external environments and vantage points from buildings that have yet to be constructed. The result is both realistic and convincing for both designer and client.

28

This diagram illustrates the level of quality that Virtual Reality can provide. From whole apartment environments to small scale bedrooms, the solution is easily adjustable and scalable.

In comparison to the living room diagrams, this diagram illustrates how lighting differs in each environment.

29

Algorithmic Volumes Satellite Building for Robart’s Library Instructor: Elizabeth George, elizabeth.george@daniels.utoronto.ca

This project involves designing a small satellite building that extracted architectural qualities from the prominent Robart’s Library at the University of Toronto. While doing so, students were asked to consider the spatial qualities of the environment, the accessibility of the site as well as the different vantage points to the site.

My proposal extracted the fractal qualities of Robarts library, where the Sierpinski’s triangle was used prominently. Likewise, the proposed building would reflect the rigorous mathematical logic employed in Robart’s library, reflecting the qualities in the interior spaces as well as the facades. Through the implementation of voids in various aspects of the interior, rectilinear spatial divisons were ultimately created, superimposed with a formative circulation path that brought the user through the various spaces of the proposed building.

On a more personal goal, this project also allowed me to delve deeper into the designs of facades through computational means, understanding how we can use experimentation to derive fascinating geometries and aesthetic qualities.

1

3

2 4

1

2

3

30

4

31

On Site Circulation

Robart’s Geometrical Logic

A passage was created between the preliminary idea to facilitate pedestrian traffic. Triangular panels were created using Grasshopper to create a shading system for direct sunlight from the West.

The Robarts Library has an extremely strong geometrical logic that gives it the brutalist form that it is famed for.

Likewise, I sought to explore a recursive form that could express a similar geometrical logic. Whilst Robart’s employed Sierpinski’s carpet, the above geometry was Sierpinski’s Cube, a close mathematical relative.

32

Combining Circulation and Geometrical Logic

The Final Product

The final result is a merging of the lightness of the first iteration and the algorithmic exploration of the second one. By pinching the corners of the second iteration, the skirts of the building is drawn up, revealing the activites below it.

The final product’s perforated facade provides an optical effect of revealing the activites happening within the building as a pedestrian grows increasingly curious and his eyes are drawn towards the middle of each facade piece.

33

Level 3

Level 2

Section A

Section B

34

Section B

Section A

Level 2

Level 3

35

Green Roof Performance Index Green Roof Innovation Testing Laboratory (GRITLab) Research Director: Liat Margolis, liat.margolis@daniels.utoronto.ca Team Members: Vincent Javet, MLA; Andrew Hooke, MLA

The Green Roof Innovation Testing Lab is located on the roof of the University of Toronto’s Architecture Faculty building. It is a state of the art facility that investigates the environmental performance associated with ‘green’ & ‘clean’ technologies such as green roofs, green walls and photovoltaic arrays. In a bid to gain comprehensive understanding about impacts of Toronto’s Green Roof Construction Standards, the GRITLab constructed an experimental setup to continuously monitor green roof systems that were configured to the aforementioned standards.

The GRITLAb research facility includes 33 test modules which were observed for data which includes solar radiation, temperature, rainfall, humidity and wind.

Other dependent variables include plant cover, density and canopy height, which were manually recorded from May to September each year.

To represent this information in a visually digestable format, the team redesigned the Green Roof Performance Index, correlating four green roof design parameters (growing media composition, depth, planting, irrigation schedule) with plant growth, water retention and thermal cooling performance.

Function-wise, the Performance Index presents imagery of each of the test modules on a weekly basis, in combination with a diagramatic infographic that expresses the environmental data asscoiated with each imagery. http://grit.daniels.utoronto.ca/green_roof_image_index/

38

39

Pin-Frame for Measuring Canopy Biomass Components of the

PERFORMANCE INDEX

Plant ‘touches’ recorded at 4 heights along pins

Document Summary

60 cm

An interactive infographic, this tool compliments the photographic documentation of the 23 green roof test beds. It provides time series data on

45 cm

temperature, water and plant growth in May through August from 2014 to 2016. The tool correlates four green roof design parameters (growing media

30 cm

composition, depth, planting, irrigation schedule) with plant growth, water

15 cm

retention (runoff reduction), and thermal cooling performance. Users are

0 cm

able to sort according to design parameters and compare test beds seasonally and annually using the timeline. Temperature and rainfall data (input) was recorded via an onsite weather station. Irrigation volume was added to rainfall data. Local temperature, water runoff, plant cover and canopy height / biomass (output) were recorded via thermal sensors, rain gauges, and pinframe tool.

GROUND COVER: Proportion of pin touches out of 16 total; 2x per bed PLANT GROWTH: Number of pins touched by vegetation at four equal heights up to 60cm

Global Variables sels; activeDate; inBrowseMode; activeFilter; showTime; firstOver; dataType; timeoutId; current; allSettings; sortSettings; draggable;

DENSITY: Number of touches for all 16 pins per height (Touches are quantified by plant material that is in contact with the pins)

Functions parsefolder(); clear(); hideInst(); showInst(); showTime(); imgClicked();

Plan View

25% Cover

comparisonMode(); browseMode(); menuSel(); swapImage(); swapPic(); openNav(); closeNav();

Programming Languages, Platforms, Plugins 0% Cover 100% Cover

50% Cover

Wordpress, JavaScript, draggability.js, mixitup.js, php

Grass Density

Filter Labels

55% Cover

Wildflower Density

[[“”,”SEDUM”,”NONE”,”3cm VYDRO-4cm ORG”], [“ORGANIC”,”MEADOW”,”NONE”,”10cm”], 60% Cover

[“”,” WET MEADOW”,” TIMER”,”3cm VYDRO-12cm ORG”], [“FLL”,”SEDUM”,”NONE”,”15cm”], [“ORGANIC”,”MEADOW”,”MOISTURE SENSOR”,”15cm”],

75% Cover

[“ORGANIC”,”MEADOW”,” TIMER”,”15cm”], [“FLL”,”MEADOW”,”MOISTURE SENSOR”,”10cm”], [“FLL”,”MEADOW”,” TIMER”,”15cm”], [“ORGANIC”,”SEDUM”,”NONE”,”15cm”], [“ORGANIC”,”MEADOW”,” TIMER”,”15cm”], [“ORGANIC”,”MEADOW”,”NONE”,”15cm”], [“FLL”,”SEDUM”,”MOISTURE SENSOR”,”15cm”], [“”,”SEDUM”,”NONE”,”3cm VYDRO-4cm FLL”], [“FLL”,”SEDUM”,”MOISTURE SENSOR”,”10cm”],

Bed Labels

[“ORGANIC”,”MEADOW”,” TIMER”,”10cm”], [“ORGANIC”,”SEDUM”,”NONE”,”10cm”], [“FLL”,”MEADOW”,” TIMER”,”10cm”], [“”,” WET MEADOW”,” TIMER”,”3cm VYDRO-12cm

Bed: Bed Number Configuration: Plant / Media Type, Depth /

ORG”], [“ORGANIC”,”SEDUM”,” TIMER”,”15cm”], [“ORGANIC”,”MEADOW”,”MOISTURE

Irrigation

SENSOR”,”10cm”], [“FLL”,”SEDUM”,”NONE”,”10cm”], [“FLL”,”MEADOW”,”MOISTURE SENSOR”,”15cm”], [“FLL”,”SEDUM”,” TIMER”,”15cm”], [“ORGANIC”,”SEDUM”,”MOISTURE

[Input] Ambient Temp: °C (Monthly max) [Output] Bed Temp: °C (Monthly max) Difference: +/-°C

SENSOR”,”10cm”], [“FLL”,”SEDUM”,” TIMER”,”10cm”], [“ORGANIC”,”MEADOW”,”MOISTURE SENSOR”,”15cm”], [“FLL”,”MEADOW”,”NONE”,”15cm”], [“”,” WET MEADOW”,” TIMER”,”3cm VYDRO-12cm ORG”], [“ORGANIC”,”SEDUM”,” TIMER”,”10cm”],[“”,”WET MEADOW”,” TIMER”,”3cm VYDRO-12cm ORG”],[“FLL”,”MEADOW”,”NONE”,”10cm”],[“ORGANIC”,”SEDUM”,”MOISTURE SENSOR”,”15cm”],[“ORGANIC”,”MEADOW”,”NONE”,”15cm”]];

[Input] Water: mm (mm rainfall + mm irrigation ) [Output] Runoff: mm Difference: % retention, % runoff Wildflower Biomass: %, %, %, % (Cover)

40

DATE

Infographic Legend

[Input] Water: mm (mm rainfall + mm irrigation ) 0mm [Input] Ambient Temp: °C (Monthly max) 0°C Grass Biomass

Wildflower Biomass

45-60 cm 30-45 cm 15-30 cm 0-15 cm

[Datum]Toronto Standard =50% of [Input] Water 0mm [Output] Runoff: mm *To read more about Toronto’s Wet Weather Flow Managment Guidelines, click HERE

0°C [Output] Bed Temp: °C (Monthly max)

[Datum]Cooling threshold =[Input] Temp

Exceeds datum Below datum Equal to datum

BED PLANT COMMUNITY IRRIGATION SCHEDULE # MEDIA COMPOSITION, DEPTH 41

Intended Impacts of the Green Roof Policy

Current: 400, 000 sq. ft. of green roofs

Mid Term: 1,400,00 sq. ft. of green roofs

Long Term: 10,000,000+ sq. ft. of green roofs 42

Difference in Growth due to Irrigation Methods Plant Growth/cm

60

45

30

15

May 2014

June 2014

July 2014

August 2014

May 2015

June 2015

Watered daily at 0900 for 2 minutes

July 2015

August 2015

May 2016

June 2016

July 2016

August 2016

July 2016

August 2016

Beds monitored for moisture levels, watered only when dry

From the above results, we conclude that beds that are monitored for moisture levels generally grow more than the beds that are watered daily for only 2 minutes.

Difference in Growth due to Soil (Growing Medium) Depth Plant Growth/cm

60

45

30

15

May 2014

June 2014

July 2014

August 2014

May 2015

June 2015

15 cm Media Depth

July 2015

August 2015

May 2016

June 2016

10 cm Media Depth

From the above results, we conclude that beds that have a thicker growing medium depth tend to outgrow beds that have a shollow growing medium depth.

43

Big Tops Parametric Structure and Surface Instructor: Nicholas Hoban, nicholas.hoban@daniels.utoronto.ca

This project builds up from the geometrical landscape generated in the Floor Patterns project. Using algorithmic means of design, the project asks to generate a roof enclosure for the plan made in the previous project. The roof enclosure is expected to have a panelised enclosure system, a supporting column system and a clear structural system.

The inspiration for the form of the stadium was largely derived from the Bird Nest Stadium by Herzog and de Meuron in Bejing, China. Like the stadium, my chosen geometrical landscape was mostly circular, hence the corresponding envelope would be circular in nature as well.

The design of the parametric form took place in 2 different stages. First, a truss system was envisioned that would allow for structural support of the cladding system. This was most efficient if the trusses cross each other in the middle. Secondly, it was desirable to have leave the center of the parametric structure open so that the interior of the structure could be easily understood even when looking from a bird’s eye view.

The rest of the design gestures were mathematically abstracted to ensure a high degree of parametricity, allowing for quick configuration of the form. All parts of the paramteric structure was generated automatically upon given a circle as an input. The width of cover, height of cover and thickness of trusses were some of the parameters that can be easily adjusted.

44

45

Geometrical Logic 1

Building off from the Penrose Geometry explored in the previous project, we number the different vertices which will serve as the beginning and end points of the trusses.

1 2

10

3

9

4

8

5

7

6

A circle is divided into 10 segments. Each column is then connected to a column with an index offset of 4.

46

Geometrical Logic 2

Offseting point, this serves as one of the bezier curve points.

Point 1 is the start of the curve.

1

5

7

Point 5 is the end of the curve.

Point 7 is the end of the curve.

47

Setting up the points by dividing input circle.

A single truss member from the Bezier Curves.

Creating coordinates for establishment of bezier curves

10 truss members implemented.

48

Criss-cross for horizontal load.

Generating structural connections between curves and orthogonal lines

Structural Support

Generation of envelope

Creation of Canvas based on criss cross pattern and points used to generate the geometry.

49

Output

Thank you. (+1) 647-783-2770 isaac_seah@hotmail.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/seahisaac/