BDes 0.2.2 Digital Design M3 Journal

Digital Design - Module 03 HOLD Semester 1, 2020

Critical Reading: Schuere & Stehling, 2011. Lost in Parametric Space. AD. In Schurer’s text, Parametric Space, he discuss Abstraction, Reduction and Normalisation in Computer Aided Design (CAD).

Using your design experience in M3, describe the process of Abstraction (in shape and detail), Reduction and Normalisation you have deploied in your design process? Use evidance (such as screenshot of your digital model or matrix) to support your argument.

Abstraction in this context means to systematically develop a general solution suiting all individual components. In CAD practice, it starts with finding identical cases which is significantly different from other cases, then generate a universal rule and apply them on general practice. Which, is to say to design the designing procedure.

Reduction is to optimize the methodology to transport the information. Sometimes reduction happens within the CAD software automatically. However, some high-level reduction should be accomplished manually by designers.

Normalization is to remove redundant information and data which occurs more than once.

In this module’s practice, the abstraction is managed by generating the grasshopper script for the design practice. I first generate a series of arcs and then use series numbers to adjust the height and length of each arc. By simply adjusting the series’ step, I could generate different sets of curves and then used for further modeling. Applying loft component used reduction as it reduces the set of curves. Lastly, normalization happens when I try to generate panels on the lofted surface created by the arcs. Grasshopper consulate a new model based upon the original model.

Module 3 Reflection Questions: A. What is the key concept explored through your design?

The key concept of this design comes from seminar. Seminar refers to a conference or other meeting for discussion or training. That means in a seminar, there should be discussion and there should not be only one presenter who is presenting or giving a speech to others. Instead, everyone should have the opportunity to speak and exchange their own ideas with others. That, in my mind, is what makes a seminar. Inherited the idea from my previous work where I found the power of lights and shadow, I generate this concept that as the time lapse, the role amongst participants would change. Using the light and dark contrast created by the sun path could, therefore, satisfy this concept that the light beam creates the podium and everyone in the pavilion, would have the opportunity to be heard.

B. Describe the quality of space in your pavilion design.

The space defined by the pavilion is divided into three parts, one is the interior private space for the lunch seminar where less participants may involve and more privacy is expected; the semi-public space for the evening concert where less interactions amongst visitors would happen; and lastly the exterior public space around the pavilion where provides sitting space for people which let the face the opposite of the pavilion. The main spatial organization strategy applied is centralized spatial organization strategy where let visitors inside focus on the performers or presenters C. How does threshold and circulation shape your design?

Threshold, as well as other elements of this pavilion defines the space and consequently shapes the human circulation. The threshold is defined both the landscape and the dome. At the main entrance of the pavilion, there is a height change combined with a change in the material on the ground that tell visitors they are entering a private space. Human circulation around the site also shapes the design as I would like people enter the site from two main pavement, therefore I twisted the lawn and two paths were created and used to direct people to enter the site.

D. What parametric design strategy did you deploy to develop your design intention?

I started my design with multiple arcs and create a dome panel with those arcs. Parametric design helps me to adjust the panel with parameters and allows me to adjust every step of the iteration history even I choose to take a linear workflow.

Landscape was generated by the Bison Plugin which enables me to manipulate the mesh terrain with simple geometry attractors.

ISOMETRIC DRAWING Describe your process for developing your drawing.

What is the key ideas you are trying to capture in your drawings?

What are the key elements you have detailed, and why have you chosen them?

N

If you have done an exploded detail, why was the detail important?

Isometric 1:50 on A4 0

10

30mm

DIAGRAMS Legend 1. Pavilion 2. Interiorer Space

Private Space Semi-Private Space Access 3. Exterior Space Main Threshold Secondary Threshold Access

Legend

Primary Social Exchange Area Secondary Social Exchange Area Short Inhabitation Area Main Circulation Path Secondary Circulation Path High Density Mid Density Low Density

Two levels of circulation exist in this pavilion. The first level of circulation, which is the main circulation, is the human flow for strong participative, yet interactive events like the seminar. The second level of circulation is for weak participative events and short time inhabitation like a concert or just want to find a space to sit.That cirucaltion therefore, defines the functions of space.

Threshold is made with the pavilion itself and the landscape around it in this design. The main threshold is made with the entrance of the pavilion. It is also defined by the change of material on the ground. Secondary threshold here is made with the landscape and the digital fabrication of the pavilion.

Those threshold divides the areas of space and create privacy levels.

The light casts inside the space and creates the spot light.

The cellular like fabrication provides shade.

Shadows on the ground creates rhythm.

Opening extend the private space inside the pavilion and allow some less privacy required event to be held.

Parametric bench is placed on the fabrication. It let users face the opposite direction to the pavilion and create distance between the outside public space and the inner private space.

3200 mm

2000 mm

ITERATION MATRIX 1. Curve Testing I create the matrix and separate them into two parts, the first part demonstrates the key steps for creating the digital fabrication itself and the second part demonstrates how the digital fabrication is combined and integrated into the entire design.

(1) Manipulation on Control Curves The first iteration step examines the different possibilities that the arcs 2. Generate Panel could generate. Through those iterations, I selected this model for the next step fabrication. Series numbers are used to create a spinning down effect on the curves.

(2,3) Arcs are lofted and the surface is Diamaond Panels generated. This step tests different U=5V=5 geometry panels and what kind of potenial does it have to generate the 3. Generate Triangluar Panel intended spatial quality.

Manipulation on Control Curves

Diamaond Panels U=7V=8

Manipulation on Control Curves

Manipulation on Control Curves

Diamaond Panels U = 10 V = 10

4. Thicken and Extrude

(4) The last step to generate the digital fabricaition. Different vectors tried here to extrude the panels’ edge and also a wide range of parameters were tried to obtain the idea thickness for each piece of timber.

Triangular Panel u=7v=9

Triangular Panel u = 10 v = 10

Mesh Thicken Distance = 3

Iteration 2 Considering using a more light-weighted method to fabricate the skin.

The skin is lofted by those curves which is parametrized in grasshopper.

Iteration 1 Original concept comes from the Taksim Pavilion where provides space on different levels to hold both exhibition and presentations. Combined with my own design concept, I created something weird. Moreover, the site boundary is limited. Therefore, I took my concept inherited from this iteration two the second iteration.

Iteration 3 After the fabrication, I used lunchbox to create polygon panels on the surface and then offset them to create cellular like holes on the panel.

Iteration 4 I started to design the interior installments with parameters.

I extracted the bottom line of the panel and create a marble base which not only support the fabrication but also create sitting space .

Iteration 5 Fabrication is extended to touch the landscape in this iteration.

Iteration 6 Adjustment on the fabrication and a parametric bench was created on the farication.

ITERATION MATRIX

TEXTURES & MATERIALS Materials plays an important role in this pavilion. As I said previously, the original concept of this pavilion is to create a space that could hold people inside. People inside should feel relaxed and supported by the pavilion. Therefore, the material chosen to make the fabrication should be natural material which invites body contact, consequently, generates an ease atmosphere within the space. Moreover, it should be plastic which means it could be easily manipulated to the desired shape.

Therefore, timber here is the ideal material for the fabrication and the bench.

The base that the dome sits is also important. The material used there should be heavier than the timber which shows the idea of supporting in the design concept. Secondly that it should also invite body contact as people inside the pavilion would sit on its surface. Therefore, I chose to use marble here.

The material on the ground also plays a significant role when defining the threshold. The inner ground is covered with gravels which is different from the outside lawn. Gravel as the third material layer in this pavilion, is placed at the bottom. It is heavier than the marble and it supports the marble.

Moreover, the change of material highlights the transition of space which indicate people that they are entering a different space. the gravel stone ground extends outside the dome and create an exterior space that belongs to the pavilion area. Material here helps to define the boundary of the design.

RENDER GALLERY

I took those render image on different purpose. I rendered four images of the pavilion which demonstrates how space could be utilized for two types of event listed in brief. Two close-up photos illustrate the interior space quality.

I try to mimic human eye view in those interior images, so I set the camera length to 35mm on full frame size and rendered those two images. To demonstrate the entire pavilion, I used both 27mm and 18mm camera length for those four images.

POST PROCESSING

Rendered with Lumion, I imported those render image into Lightroom and toned their colors to match with tone of the old-fashioned Agfa Portrait XPS 160 film. With the least saturated one in Agfa’s “Triade” film system. With a low level vibrance and saturation, this tone helps me to generate a plain, normal atmosphere.

The reason for choosing this style is because I would like to highlight the space quailty created by the architecture, in this case, is try to create a space where could support different opinions and allow people to exchange their opinions rather than arguing with each others. That is what the plain, old-fashioned tone contribute to.

Moreover, the noise and granularity created during post production stage helps to diminish the sense of unreal in render image.

ISOMETRIC MODEL DRAWING To make the sectioned model, I decide to start with splitting the terrain with a 17-meter by 17-meter box and do the section cut within the selected area.

To show the interior space and the hole on the top of the dome, as well as the entrance, I cut the model from the west to the east which highlights not only the fabrication but also shows the spatial quality inside.

Contouring the landscape here makes me headache as the curve are not closed when trying to use the contour command. Therefore it is necessary to adjust manually.

EXPLODED ISOMETRIC MODEL DRAWING To mimic a unified wooden timber fabricated dome, it is wise to use the 3D Printing technique to produce the model. It will keep the quality of the dome whilst using waffles will lose those small details on the dome.

1. Terrain :

Construct with Laser Cutting;

Using 1mm Whitemount Board 2. Timber Fabrication :

Construct with 3D Printing 3. Parametric Bench :

Construct with 3D Printing 4. Marble Base

Construct with 3D Printing

EXPLODED ISOMETRIC MODEL DRAWING Putting the model in this direction could reduce the demand of the additional supporting materials to the minimum amount required. It is a big model and it would use about 350 grams of materials for a MakerBot machine to print and it might use approximately 900 grams materials when trying to print with an industrial 3D Printer.

CONSTRUCTING: FABRICATION

To construct the wooden fabrication, I choose to use the CNC technology to construct the basic timber frame unit and then use nails to attach each part together and form the fabrication.

CONSTRUCTING: ASSEMBLE Attaching marbles and timber together could be hard as both timber and marbles could not be attached by using welding technic or digital fabrication techniques.

Therefore, the traditional method works here.

Drilling a hole through two materials, then put the expansion screw inside and spin the nails with screw drivers might be wise here.

Insert

To construct the bench and keeps the connection simple and reliable, I choose to add gaskets between each piece. The gasket is coated with glues which make the connection clean and durable. A long, steam bent wooden axis goes through the center of those pieces and connect those pieces with each other.

APPENDIX Shigeru Ban; Swatch New HQ

This architecture is constructed with local timber, Shigeru Ban assumed that timber material is eco-friendly as this architecture consumed 4600m^3 timber which only takes Swiss forest ten hours to re-grow those timber. It helps to maintain the economical balance between traditional agriculture industry and the modernization in urban areas. This timber giant let us reconsider the role that largescale architecture plays nowadays in urban areas.

Nicolas G. Hayek street https://www.thehourglass.com/news/new-swatch-hq-designed-by-shigeru-ban/

APPENDIX

(https://www.icd.uni-stuttgart.de/projects/icditke-research-pavilion-2010/)

(http://www.achimmenges.net/?p=5713)

Achim Menges 2010 Research Pavilion This is a temporary research pavilion built by Achim Menges in 2010. It demonstrates the latest developments in material-oriented computational design, simulation, and production processes in architecture.

It is constructed by bent plywood material.

Achim Menges 2014 Research Pavilion

This is a temporary research pavilion built by Achim Menges in 2014. In this project, biomimetic research combined with parametric design.

Utilizing the holes on the wall planes inspired me at the very first stage of my own pavilion.

APPENDIX Taksim Pavilion This pavilion locates in Turkey built by IND [Inter.National.Design]. Simple metal and timber structure create two levels within the pavilion. With different hierarchy, different space quality was generated and ready for seminars and exhibitions to be held.

(https://www.archdaily.com/934719/taksim-pavilion-ind-inteationaesign Hacer Bozkurt )

APPENDIX