Air Studio - Part B

STUDIO AIR

2015, SEMESTER 1, Sonya Jia Jia Shen 636970

CONCEPTUALISATION 1

Part B. Criteria Design

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Section as one of the most valuable techniques is familiar to every architecture student. It has indispensable abilities in terms of designing and communicating.

They have also contributed to a prominent digital fabrication method, sectioning (R4). With the development of computing modeling, deriving section is no longer a two-dimensional drawing exercise but it becomes a process of taking cuts through three-dimensional objects.

r7

Rather than construct the surface itself, sectioning presents the surface by the edges of which follow lines of surface geometry.

Since architects increasingly design with complex geometries, sectioning as a technique of taking numerous cross sections through a form becomes an effective and compelling designing way. In terms of construction it is a way to produce both surface and structure. In terms of fabrication, sectioning is time-efficient as necessary data are offered by computing.

CONCEPTUALISATION 3

Sectioning Precedents PRECEDENT 1 - Banq Resntaurant The BanQ Restaurant designed by Office dA is a classic example for sectioning design(R1). The sectioning part becomes the ceiling, the columns and the walls. The whole design provide a sense of floating and melting. The geometry of the wood slats conform to each equipment above, but are also radiused in order to smoothen the relationship between other adjoining equipment, creating a seamless landscape.

As the longitudinal axis emphasizes the seamless surface, the lateral views then allow people to glimpse into the service space above. This means that sectioning has the potential of changing views as people change their position according to the sectioning projects.

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The Lignum Pavilion designed by Frei + Saarinen Architekten is sectioning horizontally instead of vertically like BanQ Restaurant(R2).

The intention of the pavilion is provoke the possibilities of wood applications in the construction field. The fully digitalized production process made it possible to optimize both the quantity of material used and the assembly system, resulting in a considerable reduction of costs and making the most of the strength characteristics of wood. The sectioning feature of the pavilion allows lights to go in which blurs the line between exterior and interior. Also, the beauty of this kind of sectioning take the surrounding environment as part of the aesthetic aspect of the project.

PRECEDENT 2 -Lignum pavilion

I chose the BanQ Restaurant which is one of my precedents as my case study 1.0. Two definitions are provided with the top definition constructing the image on the left and the bottom definition constructing the image on the right.

I will change existing parameters, input geometrries and component options in these two definitionsto explore the possiilities of the definition and produce unexpected outcomes. The results will be documented in the next section.

The two definition shows different ways approaching the sectioning effect. Basically, the first definition sets a surface and a curve. lines on the surface are generated according to the curve. As these lines are extruded they become a kind of sectioning. The second definition is much more complicated. The surface is divide into points. These points are moved in z direction and create a new surface. Intersection planes connecting the two surface are created to form the sectioning element. The sectioning planes are modified by graph mapper to illustrate the effect of fluidity in BanQ Restaurant design.

CONCEPTUALISATION 5

Specie 1 - Graph Mapper

Specie 2 - Point Charge & Field

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CONCEPTUALISATION 7

Specie 3 - Change parameter (second definition provided)

Specie 4 - Orient

Specie 5 - 3D surface

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CONCEPTUALISATION 9

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CONCEPTUALISATION 11

selection criteria

The brief of the project is to design forms that fill up the gaps between trees and vegetation to block or somehow eliminate the view of the built environment. In order to achieve this approach. There are few things need to be considered: - The design should have both solid part that ‘block’ the view

and void part that allows trees and vegetation to fill in

- The design should somehow include the idea of sectioning as it is the research field of the project’s technique.

- Biomimicry should be intended to show in the project - There should be variation in the sectioning. As the design is for a particular site, variation will allow adjustment in specific loaction for the design.

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successful iteration

This is iteration 5 in specie 1. The curve on the right produce this crossing sectioning effect.

This is considered as one of the successful iteration as there are both solid and voild space. The number for the sectioning panels can be changed to satisfy both high density vegetation area and low density vegetation area. It also has the potential that some parts of the sectioning on the surface create more blocking effect than other parts. This final version provide a good angel to understand the model.

CONCEPTUALISATION 13

This is iteration 5 in specie 2. The first thing that I think of as I generate this model is tree. I choose this as a sucessful iteration as it has the characteristic of biomimicry as well as a sectioning. This is a model mainly created by components of field and graph mapper. The way that the small ‘trees’ scatter on the surface can be modified to change the void between them.

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This is iteration 6 in specie 3. I consider this as a successful iteration as it is different to other iterations in terms of the way it block the view and it has great potential on modifying the whole piece to fit the exact site. In architectural application. This model can be used for pavilion as well to create different sun effect around the area which can bring different experiences to the users.

CONCEPTUALISATION 15

This is iteration 4 in specie 5. This iteration has the characteristic of openness.

As the sectioning panels are derived from one point, the model can be modify to block the view for the users while not blocking the way for pedestrians.

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Webb Bridge

R5

Webb Bridge is a competition-winning design as a part of a public art project in Melbourne by Denton Corker Marshall in collaboration with artist Robert Owen (R3).

It is a new pedestrian/cycle bridge connecting the remaining section of the Webb Dock Rail Bridge for reuse to the new residential development on the south-side of Dockland.

This long ramp not only takes up level changes but also creates a point of arrival at the south bank. At the north bank it starts as a series of plain hoops that grow further apart towards the middle of the span. The gradation of pattern was intended to create a life, a moment in time. The resulting structure that connect the remain thing and new thing suggests a new connection between the old and new, past and future. The design also allows users to appreciate the surrounding views. The Webb Bridge can also act as a destination and meeting point for people to do activities along the river.

CONCEPTUALISATION 17

Reverse-engineer

Step 1 - create two curves and use ‘Tween curve’ to find the

middle curve. Evaluate the curve to make points on curve

Step 2 - move the points on the middle curve in z direction and use graph

mapper setting Bezier curve to modify the position of the moved points.

Step 3 - create arcs by connecting

the points on the curves of two sides and the modified points in step 2.

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Step 4 - create points on the arc

Step 5 - use ‘random‘ to modify the position of the points on the arc

Step 6 - ‘flip’ the points and use ‘polyline‘ to connect the random pointson the arc.

CONCEPTUALISATION 19

Final Model & Grasshopper Definition

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Step final - use ‘addition’ to move the polylines and loft the polylines to make thinkness. Preview on the loft surface between the intial two curve, the extruded surface of the arc and the loft surfae of the polylines to create the similar model to the ebb Bridge.

CONCEPTUALISATION 21

B.4. Technique: Development Specie 1 - Number of curves & Graph Mapper

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Specie 2 - Point Charge & Field

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Specie 3 - Projection

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Specie 4 - Cull Pattern (True & False)

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CONCEPTUALISATION 29

Specie 5 - Random allocation of points

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CONCEPTUALISATION 31

Exploration of Grasshopper Definition

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CONCEPTUALISATION 33

I think this iteration is considered as a successful iteration as it immitate the feature of trees as well as provided spaces for vegetation to fill in, the fins on the model will cross with the leaves on the trees which create the interesting effect that the project is trying to communicate with the natural environment.

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I choose this as one of the sucessful iteration as I think it can not only block the view of the built environment but also it provide a space for people to stay (the arc on the right) and experience the project.

CONCEPTUALISATION 35

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I consider this model as one of the successful ones as it combines my idea with the pavilion which I think will not only be interesting for people looking at it on the opposite side of the river but also encourage people on this side of the river to visit this project.

As this model constructed, I imagine it in the material of glass.

It is interesting how it will not block the built environment but in a sense blurs the view of the built environment.

Also it does not block the view but it create the feeling that the built environment is separated from the area.

CONCEPTUALISATION 37

B.5. Technique: Prototypes

Material: cardboard Way of connection: cuts on the strips and lock in Conclusion: The material is hard to bend without destroying it.

Material: balsa wood Way of connection: just stick together Conclusion: easy to break but can perform an exact form.

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Material: wires Way of connection: wind around the arc of wire Conclusion: The material is really easy to bend but hard to have an accurate form.

Material: transparent paper and wire Way of connection: make holes and take wires through them Conclusion: The paper is easy to deform due to the wires.

CONCEPTUALISATION 39

B.6. Technique: Proposal site information

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The site I choose along the Merri Creek is in the Coburg North (R6). According to the image on the left, this area is in the north direction above melbourne CBD area. According to the closeup image, this is the area where the merri creek becomes wider which I think is an interesting area to survey and do my project.

CONCEPTUALISATION 41

site Analysis

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This area is mainly contributed by the Merri Creek, large area of vegetation, pathway for pedestrians, housing area and roads. The green area right below the housing area is a recreation area . The density of tree is not high but scattered along the bank of teh river.

The flow of people mainly comes from the housing area as the recreation area is near. There are also people scattered around the other part of the green area.

CONCEPTUALISATION 43

Proposal

As the recreation area is for people to enjoy the natural environment, I decide to design a project that can shape people’s view in terms of blocking the view of built environment as it shows in the photo above and create an enclosed view of the natural environment. The technique I think I will stick to is the point charge and field as it can create the model that immiate the trees.

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Exploring the definition to seek for different possibilities is a really time-consuming

task as I always got the components in red and don’t know where I actually get wrong for the whole definition. Also, when I get further and further in the definition which

makes the definition longer and longer, it always messes up my mind and takes ages

for me to go back and put previews on. However, during the part B section of training for Grasshopper I gradually get some kinds of logic and know how should I think in a

grasshopper logical way. And now when I sometimes get null components I know how

to think backwards to seek for answers or how to come out with the question that I can

type in Google to search for answers. The other thing I get to learn is to post the question on the discussion forum of grasshoper’s website. People there are always helpful.

The exploring definition exercise and decision of the selection criteria annoys me at the early stage. However, when I get to explore more possibilities in the definition I gradually understand how computation works in design process with developing a

brief. The more possibility, the more it helps the designers to think of the problem of the project. As in my brief, I was initially want to design an architecture that can block the

view of the built environmen. However when I explores more possibilities of definition I started to think about whether it will be better if I can intergate the architecture

with the existing natural elements. I also think about making a project that not only

for people looking at it but also for people who can actually walk in and experience it.

Computation design is not only a tool that help designer to design with parameters but also a tool that can help the designers to think about more possibility of the project.

CONCEPTUALISATION 45

B.8. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches

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CONCEPTUALISATION 47

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reference Reference

1. ArchDaily, ‘BanQ/Office dA’ in ArchDaily <http://www.archdaily.com/42581/ banq-office-da/> [accessed 1 May 2015] 2. ArchDaily, ‘Lignum Pavilion/Frei + Saarinen Architekten’ in ArchDaily <http://www.archdaily.com/274331/lignum-pavilion-frei-saarinen-architekten/> [accessed 1 May 2015] 3. Denton Corker Marshall in collaboration with artist Robert Owen, ‘Webb Bridge’, in Australian Institute of Architects <http://dynamic.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=showaward&entry no=20053006> [accessed 1 May 2015] 4. Lisa Iwamoto, ‘Sectioning’, in Digital Fabrications: Architectural and Material Techniques (New York: Princeton Architectural Press), pp. 10-27 5. Ms Shannon McGrath, Australian Institute of Architects, digital image, 2005 <http://dynamic.architecture.com.au/awards_search?option=showaward&entry no=20053006> [accessed 1 May 2015] 6. Sinclair Knight Merz & Fugro, Google maps, 2015 <https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Merri+Creek,+Melbourne+VIC/@37.7338341,144.9693908,497m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x6ad645405fe293 1b:0x2a0456754b38dc50> [accessed 1 May 2015] 7. Tommy Heng, Designito, < https://designito.wordpress.com/architecture-design-studio-air/> [accessed 1 May 2015]

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