AIR
How I Got Here. When I was 15, I started doodling on the back of exam papers and dancing in front of my mom’s full-length mirror, and from there, my interest in the arts slowly grew. The idea of creating something new and original really appealed to me and when I moved to Melbourne from Malaysia, and was presented the opportunity to do art-based subjects in high school, I quickly grabbed hold of this. Registering into the architecture course was a rash decision at the end of Year 12 but in two years, tertiary education has greatly shaped my mind and made me perceive architecture, art and design in a new light. I now understand the interdisciplinary nature of systems, am aware of the conflict within concepts and recognise the potential of integrating digital means to design. Studying architecture has made me passionate about combining my creative interests with real-life issues in search of effective solutions that do not simply solve a problem, but also instigate a new form of design. I realise that having a good command of digital tools is essential in achieving this as our world is becoming more tuned in towards digital means. The digital world also now serves as a platform of getting ideas out there, not just in terms of creating a design but in sharing them with others too. In saying that, I have been experimenting with various softwares since starting school here, such as the Adobe Creative Suite programs, Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator, the 3D modelling program, Rhinoceros, and am now looking forward to add the Grasshopper plug-in to the list.
MOMA/P.S.1 CANOPY Queens, New York by nArchitects Canopy was a temporary structure set up for the 2004 summer installation program at MoMA/P.S.1. Made out of freshly cut bamboo poles, the structure instills an aesthetically changing feature as the green bamboo tans over the summer.1 Embracing the natural properties of the material, not only is the temporary nature of the pavilion highlighted, but so are the values of architecture that are constantly changing to adapt to shifting culture and ideologies. This project became the first documented structure to be made out of green bamboo.2 Experiments carried out by the architecture team whilst working on this project, presented new opportunities of working with bamboo, and the material has been widely adopted in architectural practices internationally ever since. The arcs in the structure were digitally modelled and then exported as 2D drawings, depicting exact lengths and intersection points. The drawings also provided information such as arc radius and shape approximation which helped determine the pole selection in terms of orientation and splicing method.3 Combining digital modelling and in-depth testing of each arc type and material properties, nArchitects was able to fabricate a structure that combined geometric precision and natural variables. As Fry mentioned in ‘Design Futuring’, society is becoming increasingly geared towards digital means of design and lifestyle in general, and nature itself, is incapable of sustaining us now.4 Therefore to bring balance back, incorporating both the digital and the natural is essential and seen as a key aspect of designing for the future.
1 nArchitects, MOMA/P.S.1 Canopy, <http://narchitects.com/work/momap-s-1-canopy-3/>, [accessed 7 March 2016]. 2 World-architects, Canopy MoMA/P.S.1, <http://www.world-architects.com/en/projects/24292_Canopy_MoMA_P_S_1>, [accessed 7 March 2016]. 3 nArchitects, MOMA/P.S.1 Canopy, <http://narchitects.com/work/momap-s-1-canopy-3/>, [accessed 7 March 2016]. 4 Tony Fry, Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg, 2008), p. 3.
ADIDAS MEET AND EAT Herzogenaurach, Germany by COBE In design, both appearance and performance are taken into consideration.1 The winning design for the Adidas Group’s “Meet & Eat” building aims to highlight this with one of the key design feature of a single roof connecting all the functions of the building as well as allowing light to flood in. 2 Digital modelling would have been essential in helping the architects determine an effective form for the roof design that allows it to span across the entire building as a single, geometric structure. The result is not purely aesthetics, but the design complies to the required functions as well. The design is site sensitive, adhering to the existing terrain, and features floor-to-ceiling windows enabling a connection between the interior and the exterior.3 Again, there is this highlight on merging artificial and natural as it is perhaps a mean of minimising our impact on nature when we design and build on it. It is also suggested that the operable windows will allow for cross ventilation in warmer months, minimising the impact of air-conditioning.4 In terms of the spatial planning, the building features a flexible, multifunctional space, suitable for hosting different events.5 Adaptability is definitely a key feature being explored in architecture, alongside eco-friendly features and these are essential features to consider in designing for sustainability.
1 Fry, p. 7.
2 COBE, Adidas Meet and Eat, <http://www.cobe.dk/project/adidas-meet-_-eat#adidas-meet-_-eat>, [accessed 7 March 2016].
3 Ibid. 4 DeZeen, COBE designs flagship building for Adidas headquarters, <http://www.dezeen.com/2014/12/11/cobe-adidas-flagship-building-germany-competition/>, [accessed 7 March 2016]. 5 Ibid.