Responsive Pneumatic Utopias_DAR

RESPONSIVE PNEUMATIC UTOPIAS | Towards A Bottom-Up Design Approach

DESIGN AS RESEARCH I

Tutors: Rob Stuart-Smith Doreen Bernath Alexandra Vougia

Joumana Abdelkhalek

Design As Research I

RESPONSIVE PNEUMATIC UTOPIAS |

Towards A Bottom-Up Design Approach

Abstract This paper aims to investigate the importance of pneumatic structures in the responsive architectural design field. The main objective is to identify how pneumatic structures were addressed through Frei Otto’s vision of experimentation leading to successful architectural examples. Other examples, such as the Veech Media Architects installation in the Latent Utopia Exhibition is mentioned to show a different application of pneumatics as an experiential project which is digitally designed. Finally, this paper questions if a visionary project like “city in the arctic” could be built using the bottom-up design approach of design. The paper clearly explains how this bottom-up design approach could impact the responsive architecture field and hence create a “Responsive Pneumatic Utopia.”

Saraceno, Tomas. Poetic Cosmos of the Breath. 2013. Mobile M+: Inflation!, Hong Kong, China. Studio Tomas Saraceno. Web. 2015.

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Towards A Bottom-Up Design Approach

Table of Content:

Outline I. Introduction

a) Unique Characteristics of lightweight structures.

b) The responsive, adaptive, and flexible characters of pneumatic structures make it a

main element for design research.

c) The approach towards responsive architecture using pneumatics II.The Importance of Responsive Architecture and why is it an evolving Field.

III.Features that make Pneumatic structures suitable for responsive architecture.

a) Sustainable and resource saving. b) light-weight

c) flexible and adaptive.

ABSTRACT...........................................................P.2 OUTLINE...............................................................P.4

IV.A description of the Artic City (Unbuilt) visionary project which attempted to use pneumatic structure as a light-weight shell and why is it an important project.

INTRODUCTION.................................................P.5 CONCLUSION.....................................................P.24

V.A Description of digital design and the techniques that Veech Media Architects used to create a more dynamic and fluid design.

BIBLIOGRAPHY..................................................P.25

VI.How can architects achieve the bottom-up approach through pneumatic structures? And what is the bottom-up approach?

VII.Examples of bottom-up design Approach in Pneumatic Structures

a) Harvard Graduate Design School Example

b) AADRL example VIII.Conclusion.

a) Summary of the adaptive Pneumatic features.

b) Emphasis on the bottom-up approach.

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Towards A Bottom-Up Design Approach

Introduction Pneumatic1 structures have always been a re-

being just an “air hall”. However, to build this

search interest for architects since the early

argument one must first analyze Frei Otto’s vi-

1950s due to their lightweight characteristics and

sion, which conveys one of the most successful

the fact that they operate by the simple mech-

approaches to design and experimentation of

anism of air pressure adjustment. However, the

pneumatic structures. Then, it is then valid to

potential of these structures is not fully utilized

describe how this vision could be supplement-

yet. Frei Otto, one of the experimentation pio-

ed to create a more responsive utopia. Finally, it

neers in the field of pneumatic architecture refers

is important to explore what possible successful

to these structures as “air halls”. He claims “the

approach could be beneficial in the field of re-

air hall is one of the very few fundamental inno-

sponsive design and how it could be applied to

vations in building technology during the last 100 pneumatic structures in specific. years.” (114). What makes it an innovative field of research is “air”, which is the most dynamic form of matter, controlling the structure. Hence, this paper aims to research the fundamentals of pneumatic architecture and identify how it could be applied in the field of responsive architecture. It also aims to test the validity of pneumatic structures in the field of responsive architecture first, through identifying their adaptive characteristics. These characteristics will define a stronger vision for the pneumatic structures other than Tweedie, Andrew. Atmosfields.1970. Atmospheric Industries by Will Mclean .Published by Architectural Association School of Architecture.

Web. 2015 1 Pneumatics is “the branch of physics that deals with the mechanical properties of air and gas.” (dictionary). Air is the most dynamic form of matter and this provides great potential for research in the architecture field.

The image shown is interesting because it shows how lightweight pneumatic structures are. It also shows an apparent comparison between the rigid structures in the background and simple a pneumatic structure floating on water.

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Towards A Bottom-Up Design Approach

Before exploring pneumatic structures, it is

considered luxuries back when they were orig-

sidered before being able to create responsive

important to explain the responsive architectural

inally designed. This point is crucial in building

architecture. The architectural critic Lucy Bullivant

field and the relevance of pneumatic materials

up the argument of the importance of responsive

in the book Responsive Environments: Architec-

to this specific field. Responsive architecture is

architecture, because also with the advancement

ture, Art and Design states that “Evolving effec-

an evolving field due to different factors. One of

in technology, human behavior, context and

tive responsive systems, and creating a cred-

the main factors is time, because logically when

planning, and environmental and climatic fac-

ible interface between the work and the user,

designing a building, architects know it is mostly

tors some buildings become obsolete. Hence,

requires an awareness of many different types

a permanent structure that remains through many

this is where responsive architecture becomes

of user, contexts and functions, as well as phe-

different generations (unless it is a temporary in-

more important, because a time-less building

nomenological aspects of social and environ-

stallation). When a building is originally designed,

is the most successful one. Moreover, the more

mental conditions.”(10). To further demonstrate

it is designed to meet people’s needs of the

a building can respond to different behaviors at

this, it is important to design a smart system in

specific time it is built in. It is also designed and

different times the more utilized it becomes. Oth-

order for that design to be a responsive one.

built with its current contextual and environmental

er factors and conditions should also be con-

This design has to be able to identify the differ-

factors. However, Professor Percival Goodman

sidered, such as the climatic changes and the

ent user types, contextual conditions, and envi-

in his article Architecture Responsive to Human

contextual changes that happen through time. As

ronmental conditions. When a design is capable

Needs and the Ecological Imperative argues

adaptability of the building increases, the sus-

of sensing the surroundings and adapting to the

that “yesterday’s luxuries becomes today’s con-

tainability factor of that building also increases,

needs of the user or for instance the varying

veniences and tomorrow’s necessities” (46). He

as it is more resource and energy saving. Even

temperatures, this design becomes a successful

adds that the same happens with architecture,

though responsive architecture seems to be the

responsive system.

a lot of the buildings that have been around for

most successful model for design and experi-

many generations convey necessities that were

mentation, there are various factors to be con-

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Towards A Bottom-Up Design Approach

After building the case of the importance of responsive architecture and further understand-

ing its concept and identifying the factors that should be considered, it is important to recognize the features that make pneumatic structures one of the most appropriate for responsive design.

I.

The first feature is the sustainable factor

various experimentations by Steven over the

of pneumatic structures, which makes it require

years with different membranes, it was shown

very few resources. The article Atmospher-

that the pneumatic system required few resourc-

ic Industries by Will McLean further explains

es and external forces. The resources included

this through the works of the English artist and

a thin polythene membrane and a fan-unit to

sculptural, Graham Steven who was inspired to

control the negligible air-pressure differential (4).

create and experiment with these structures, and

This resulted in the realization that the pneumatic

how they transformed from just being sculptur-

architecture has the potential of becoming very

al elements to architectural structures studied in

important typology due to its efficiency and sus-

different fields of science. According to McLean,

tainability factor.

the works of Steven featuring plastic membranes and pneumatic structures started as creations that explore the relationship between human beings are the physical forces of nature (3). After “Freelancers Help Freelancers Find That Perfect Public Workspace.� PSFK. 16 Sept. 2015. Web. 18 Dec. 2015.

This image demonstrates the resource saving when creating a pnuematic wall. Therefore, it shows the sustainability factor of the wall.

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Towards A Bottom-Up Design Approach

II.

The second feature of pneumatics mak-

described the experimentation processes in the

ing it a worthy research platform for responsive

book Finding Form. These experiments includ-

architecture is its lightweight feature, and this

ed using unconventional material such as soap

feature is why Frei Otto and other engineers

film, heated PVC glass, and plaster as materials

who studied the field of pneumatics in the ear-

to test the validity of pneumatic structures. Soap

ly 1950s call it an “air hall”. Otto, being known

films, for instance, produce minimal areas as

as one of the main contributors to the field of

form finding models for tension loaded mem-

pneumatics and tensile structures, had a strong

branes.(45). This in return inspired many suc-

vision in the field of experimentation, which re-

cessful buildings and designs. However, there is

quires analysis. Otto was extensively using na-

one particular project that is of importance be-

ture to inspire his form finding experimentations

cause even though it was not built, it inspired the

(45). Oliver Herwig in the book Featherweights:

idea of responsive architecture being applied on

Light, Mobile, and Floating Architecture de-

the utopian2 scale. This project is “the city in the

scribes Otto’s vision by saying that Otto wanted

Arctic.”

Herwig, Oliver. Frei Otto’s testing bursting point of soap film. Featherweights: Light, Mobile, and Floating Architecture. Munich. Berlin.

London. New York: Prestel,2003. Pages 68-79. Print

to “open up new paths for architecture” because

The figure above shows one of the vast experiments by Frei Otto. In this experiment, Otto was identifying the the bursting point of soap film through a cable net. Pneumatic structures were compared to soap fim due to their light weight characteristics.

he wasn’t satisfied with the “architect’s traditional role”. He also adds that Otto’s design process was a search for the most optimum form through his experimentation. (70). Hence, it is fundamental to grasp his material experimentation process.

Otto classified pneumatic structures similar to tents, with the only difference of the absence of the pole support. Frei Otto and Bodo Rasch

2 “Utopian thinking is linked with the dramatic new initiatives taken in the 1960s, and the exponents of lightweight construction seeing the sky as the limit for their gigantic projects. In 1971 Frei Otto modelled a whole Antarctic city, covered with a translucent dome. Ron Herron’s nimble walking city of 1964 reaches dimensions far beyond technical feasibility.”

(Herwig,155)

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Towards A Bottom-Up Design Approach

As mentioned earlier, “the city in the

little planning considerations. Douglas Murphy

arctic” is a visionary utopian project with a

in the article Frei Otto’s Arctic city explains this

goal to protect the health and well-being of

point further, and mentions that people objected

the users, during the time when the issue of

this project and disregarded nature and it was

global warming was raised. It was designed

an “emotional investment in technology.” (icon-

in 1970 by Frei Otto, Kenzo Tange and Ove

eye).However, this is not what makes this project

Arup. The design aims to cover a city with a

unique, and one might argue that it is not even

lightweight pneumatic dome that spans over

relative to the field of responsive architecture. But

2 km to protect the city from intense wind

to counter argue that, it is important to see the

and snow. It aimed to provide fresh air and

real potential of pneumatics structure as a light-

heating through the use of atomic energy.

weight element and to test it and prove it could

(Herzog, 115) .This project was one that saw

be applied to the whole city. This is what Frei

great potential of the light weight feature of the

Otto achieved in “the city in the arctic”. It should

material to make it cover a whole city. It could

then be identified how could a proposal be

be argued that this project is a visionary pro-

made to test how responsive architectural sys-

ject which was impossible to build with very

tems could be applied to this visionary project.

Frei Otto sketches. Frei Otto: Complete Works : Lightweight Construction, Natural Design. Basel: Birkhäuser, 2005. Print.

The images above demonstrate the Frei Otto Sketches of the different Utopian projects that he designed.

Herzog, Thomas. City in the Arctic. 1971. Pneumatic Structures. Stuttgart: Granada Publishing Limited,1976. Page115. Print

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Towards A Bottom-Up Design Approach

The third feature of the pneumatics is it’s III.

material. The design team used this elastic prop-

dynamism and flexibility making it context sen-

erty to create a very fluid shape through inflating

sitive and easily adaptive to human behavior. A

the rubber. “A pre-set cycle of varying air pres-

successful project that experiments flexibility of

sures in the individual rubber chambers slowly

the material was an installation by Veech Me-

transformed the architectural space, blurring the

dia Architects. This installation was displayed in

boundaries between existing floor, wall and ceil-

the Latent Utopias exhibition which was incu-

ing conditions and creating a seamlessly fluid,

rated by Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher in

undulating landscape.” (Veech Media Architects)

2003. Brett Steele, the director of the Architec-

Computer generated test models as well as

tural Association, described in his article Beyond

physical models were displayed in the monitors

Autonomy: A new Generation of Architectural

installed in the space for users to use the space

Experimentation, the installations displayed in the

and understand the dynamics of that space as

exhibition as “architectural innovations.” He also

well. This example is very important to explain

added that the perception of architecture be-

several things. Firstly, the introduction of the ma-

ing a singular, creative, and an individual effort

chinic air-pressure varying cycle provides a new

is changing. Architecture is now defined as a

dimension of human interaction, and changes

shared platform to experiment with new tools

the properties of robust rubber to become a very

and technologies, collaborators, and date struc-

fluid form.

tures. Hence, the era of the 2000s was an era

Hadid, Zaha. Schumacher, Patrick. Digital Model of Veech Media Architects Installation. Latent Utopias: Experiments within contemporary Architecture. Wien: Springer, 2002. Print

Veech Media Architects. Latent Utopias. 2003. Veech Media Architects. Web. 2015.

where technology and digital tools were coming to realization and being experimented in the

The sequence of images above demonstrate the digital model in comparison to the physical model. It demonstrates the fluidity of the design which was created by the varying air pressures.

architectural practice. The installation showed a new dimension to pneumatics. Despite the fact that it is a small installation, it incorporated the use of unconventional material and the use of machinic operations to create responsive architecture. The unconventional material used was robust rubber, which is a very strong yet elastic

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Towards A Bottom-Up Design Approach

It is necessary to explain the difference between

key word here which makes this project mobile

Otto and Veech Media Architects’ approach-

and movable rather than responsive. The varying

es. Otto was testing the material aiming to cre-

air pressures create a different experience for the

ate stable structures, and hence created a lot

users. However, this varying is not affected by

of innovative “air halls”, reaching 2 km spans

the behavior, context, or any surrounding factors

such as the city in the arctic. However, Veech

making this project a “movable” project and not

media architects approached pneumatic struc-

a “responsive” one. Both projects are designed

tures differently, and converted it to a more

from the global, top-down design approach, and

fluid space, and used the digital technological

the outcomes of both projects are fully studied

advancements and tools. Despite the fact that

and completely predictable. However, responsive

Veech Media’s installation seems to have some

design is not easy to be predicted because with

responsive aspects, it is important to differenti-

varying conditions and varying users, pressures,

ate between mobility and responsiveness. The

and behaviors, the design creates a different

installation creates various spaces based on

form that fully depends on the surrounding con-

“pre-set” air pressure cycles. “Pre-set” is the

text and conditions.

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Towards A Bottom-Up Design Approach

The research question becomes: could archi-

tions, and so many other factors. The elements

an internal local dynamism. It is interesting to

tects achieve a responsive model from a vision-

would behave on these local conditions and

note the bottom-up approach, like Frei Otto’s

ary project like the “city in the arctic”, and at the

therefore affect the global overall configuration.

approach is inspired from nature. It is inspired

same time achieve the mobility and experience

Allen argues that the local relationships become

by a flock of birds, or swarm of fish, or by stig-

of the Veech Media installation? To answer this

more than the overall form, and adds by saying

mergy. Therefore, despite the approach, nature

question, it is necessary to experiment with the

“Imagine an architecture that can respond fluidly

could inspire design in many different ways.

material being used, similar to otto’s techniques.

and sensitively to local differences while main-

However, this approach could be supplement-

taining overall stability.” (p.27) This is the base

ed after all the material capabilities are identi-

that could be used for responsive architecture

fied. The second step to this approach could

to work. Besides, if architects approach projects

be breaking the pneumatic structures into smaller such as “the city in the arctic” which is overall parts, and design with a more bottom-up de-

stable, through the bottom-up approach of de-

sign approach. To define the bottom-up design

sign (the flocking bird concept), this could result

approach, it is best to analyze Stan Allen’s article

in a successful architectural model of respon-

“From object to field”. Allen took artist Barry Le

sive architecture through pneumatics. Pneumatic

Va’s work as an example to describe the bottom

structures fulfill the criteria, which make them the

down approach. Through Le Va’s work Allen

most dynamic and softest form of architecture

concluded that “the generation of form through

that is easy to manipulate. Hence, the elements

a sequence of events is somewhat related to

(birds) described previously in the flock example

the generative rules of flock behavior or alge-

could be separate pneumatic modules, which

braic combination”. (26) To explain this further,

are designed with a local set of rules. Those set

a flock of bird could be taken as an example.

of rules could be varying air pressures gener-

Logically, it could be described as a system,

ated by machines based on the human behav-

which consists of elements (the birds), which are

ior, environmental factors, or change in context.

guided by a local set of rules and relationships

This sensory real-time response will create a

based on the context and behavior. The context

more responsive design that achieves what Al-

could be the other birds, the weather condi-

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Flocking Birds.http://europe.newsweek.com/swarm-and-fuzzy-251115?rm=eu. Web. 2015.

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Towards A Bottom-Up Design Approach

Moreover, architects have considered designing

models using pneumatics as this smart agent,

different units that receive different air pressures

of architecture: Architecture that can respond in

through the collective array in the field of pneu-

due to the adaptive factors that were mentioned

and respond to different human behaviors in

a fluid manner, yet maintain its overall stability.

matics in different architectural institutions such

earlier. Another important example is a research

different ways. This project demonstrates what

Once this could be achieved as a system, this

as the Architectural Association and Harvard

project in the Harvard Graduate School of De-

was mentioned earlier; that the bottom-up ap-

system could expand to the urban scale which

Graduate School of Design. The AADRL pro-

sign, which was carried out in 2012, attempted

proach learns from nature. It also shows that the

is similar to the vision that Frei Otto had for the

gram in the Architectural Association for exam-

to study the pneumatic structures through the

bottom-up design approach is very convenient

city in the Arctic. The only difference is, instead

ple, explores “an architecture that is self-aware,

bottom-up design approach. The concept was

with pneumatics because with simple change

of disregarding the context; the smart system will

self-structured and self-assembles.” These smart

to create a “biologically inspired smart building

in air pressure one can achieve different results

enable the architecture to be context sensitive.

agents or units that are self-assembled and

system.” The researcher studied how the cells

and create a smart system of interdependency.

structured, create infinite spaces which adapt ac-

in biological system are independent yet at the

Hence, it is a flexible system which is also con-

cording the given set of local conditions. (The-

same time coordinate with each other to achieve

trolled on the overall as well, which also corre-

odore Spyropoulos). Students created various

multi-cellular tasks. The design consisted of

sponds to what Allen was imagining for the field

The images of the project conducted in Harvard Graduate Design School show the different pressures and how they affect the module. Hence, creating a responsive panel based on human interaction.

Park, Deakwon and Bechthold, Martin. Designing Biologically inspired Smart Building Systems. 2012. Harvard Graduate School of Design. Web. 2015.

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Towards A Bottom-Up Design Approach

Conclusion:

The images on the left demonstrate the pneumatic modules in a project called OWO which was conducted by the AADRL sttudents. This project demonstrates a mobile agent that expands and changes characteristics based on the local conditions.

In conclusion, to achieve successful examples of

like those used in pneumatic systems (ex:rub-

responsive design, a flexible and easily adapt-

ber). They could also include the use of vari-

able material should be used. The sustainability,

ous different sensors to enhance the experience

flexibility, and lightweight factors of the pneumatic

and to allow the architecture to become more

structure make it an important element of re-

adaptive. They could finally think of a behavioral

sponsive architecture. Despite Frei Otto’s material

mobility factor which allows these agents in the

experimentation and architectural innovations,

system to become adaptive to the surrounding

pneumatic structures have more capabilities

context. When these factors are achieved, archi-

other than just being “air halls.” They could be

tects could start to have successful models of

integrated in the landscape like the veech media

projects like “the city in the arctic” that are “Re-

installation. They could also create a façade, like

sponsive Pneumatic Utopias”.

the project, which was designed in the Harvard Graduate School of Design. Finally, they could be taken a step further and become agents and part of a smart responsive system. Hence, architects should realize the importance of designing pneumatics through the bottom-up approach of design, as previously stated. It is essential for the pneumatic structures to be explored further by architects and more specifically in the field of responsive architecture. Architects of our current era must be able to utilize the technology and the tools being available to them and think of new design methodologies. These design methodologies could contain unconventional material

Theodore Spyropoulos Studio. OWO project. 2014 2015. AADRL Vimeo. Web. 2015.

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387 (Tokyo, January, 2003).

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Park, Deakwon and Bechthold, Martin. Designing Biologically inspired Smart Building Systems. 2012.

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