natural system studio
Sherman lam
PREFACE “A system exhibits emergence when there are coherent emergents (property, behaviour, structure ...) at the macro-level that dynamically arise from the interaction between parts at the micro-level. Such emergents are novel with regards to the individual parts of the system.” --De Wolf and Holvoet 2005 1
The natural system is a complex system, a complex system that response to the Marco-climate, the external condition as well as the needs and interactions of each of the organism. Organisms is constantly evolving to suit the ever-changing condition and failure to adapt would mean extinction. The evolution process response to the external environment as well as the interaction between organisms. Architecture should strive for the same goal and follow the same process, it has to be constantly evolving to adapt to the constantly changing environment. And with the technology of computational simulation, we could better simulate the environment and hence help formulate the design. The environment and the inhabitants will be the parameters that formulate the design. Eventually this would lead to the design that is responsive to both the external condition and the behaviour of its inhabitants. The technology enable the simulation of the integration of material and structural as well as the construction process. And the scripting language has been the key for the development of the technology as well as the key to deal with the complex system. The scripting language will be essential to the future of architecture as it create the toolset that help us better understand and adapt to the evolving environment.
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change” --Charles Darwin
ARCHITECTURE “The future of architecture has no gravity, no columns, just buildings hanging in the sky.” --Wolf Prix, Coop Himmelb(l)au
“Not a protest, not a manifesto, but a celebration to new virtuosity in contemporary architecture” --Steven Ma
Dalian International Conference Center, Dailan China - Coop Himmelb(l)au
Sy(e)nergetic Ecologies, Ideas on Edge_Parramatta International Idea Competition- Steven Ma
Architecture is now heavily influenced by the complex system that is inspired by nature which will satisfy multiple requirements and adopt to the ever changing environment. This also give rise to complex geometry in Architecture that mimic the organic form in nature. The understanding of scripting and parametric design will be the key to decipher the complex system. It is the technology and knowledge in parametric design that realize the complex design of Coop Himmelb(l)au.
The knowledge in parametric and scripting will allow greater freedom of design of which the design are not dictate by the software being used. Instead of being confined by the limitation of the software available in the market, scripting allow you to create your own tool that will cater for your specific needs. Steven Ma graduated from SCI-ARC and now an assistant professor at the University of Applied Art in Vienna. His design explore the potential of parametric design and scripting for the creation of complex and organic architecture.
potential
research
“Computational design lends itself to an integral design approach as it enables employing complex behaviour rather than just modelling a particular shape or form.” --Weinstock 2
AA Membrane Canopy, London 2007
“An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.” --Sir David Attenborough
Viewing Platform and Shelter at Hacienda Quitralco, Patagonia, Chile 2007t
The two structures explore the potential of computational simulation as a tool that formulate the design rather a mere form shaping tool. The technology allow greater integration of the construction and the design process. Of which the material available, the climate and the context of the site become the parameter that formulate the design. The knowledge in parametric design also enable the digital fabrication of the material which reduce the time and number of skilled labours required for the construction. Contrast to the Membrane Canopy, the viewing platform utilises more mundane building materials and with limited technology. However the computational process enable the complexity of design similar to the AA membrane with the limited material and technology.
Termite Mound in Africa
The Termite Pavilion, Dr Rupert Soar and the TERMES project, London 2009
The Termite Mound is a complex system that response to the evolving environment. The termite mound combat the external climate as well as the heat generated by the millions of termites within the structure. The unique structure and the ventilation funnels allow it to regulate the interior to a constant temperature and moisture level. The termite mound response to the fluctuating condition of both the exterior and the interior. The Image on the right is the termite pavilion. The pavilion is a bio-mimicry of the internal structure of the termite mound base on a 3D cad scan of a termite mound.
CONCEPT The Concept of the design will be base on the study of the Termite Mound. How the form of the Mound response to the external condition as well as the internal condition that is create by its inhabitants. The design will be a structure that is formulate by the movement of particles that represent the context of a given site and the behaviour of its inhabitant. Each of the inhabitants will be represented by a particle, and the particles will response to other particles. For instance there will be a minimum distance between each of the particles, this will formulate the volume of the structure. There will also be a different set of particles that represent the external condition, for example solar heat gain and the wind direction. This will also influence the shape of the structure. The ultimate goal of the design is to generate a structure response to the external context as well as the need and behaviour of the inhabitants similar to what have been achieved by the Termite Mound.
untitled 1
BOUNCING BALLS
100 Particles
This processing sketch was made by using the random() function for the location of the circles at each frames. The movement of the circles was done by adding a random value from -20 to 20 to the x coordinate and the y coordinate of the circles at each frame. The colours of the circles are randomized to create the spontaneous effect. Instead of randomizing all of the RGB values, only two of the RGB values are randomized in order to have more control over the colours.
500 Particles
This processing sketch uses the bouncing balls sketch as a basis to develop the pixilated effect. The pixilated effect was achieved by moving the particles in the value of the width of the pirticles. This sketch also uses the object system to increase the number objects in the sketch. Same to the bouncing ball sketch, the object will bounce back once it hit the edges of the screen, this was achieved by multiplying the speed by negative 1. The speed of the objects are also randomized by the value of 1 to 10 pixels. Furthermore the colours of the objects are randomly drew from 3 preset colours.
RANDOM BEHAvior CODE EXAMPLE //---------------------GLOBAL VARIABLES int particlesSize = 1000; int particlesSize2 = 100; color c = color(3,180,255,200); //initil particles (blue) color c2 = color(255,150,20,200); // seondary particles (orange) //---------------------DECLARE OBJECT ArrayList particles; //---------------------SETUP LOOP void setup(){ size (1000,400); smooth(); frameRate(30); background (0); //-------------------INITIALIZE OBJECT particles = new ArrayList (); //start with empty list for (int i = 0; i< particlesSize; i ++) { Parti myParti = new Parti(random(0,width),random(0,height),c); particles.add(myParti); } } //---------------------DRAW LOOP void draw(){ fill (0,10); // particles fade out rect (0,0,width,height); for (int i = 0; i < particles.size(); i ++) { Parti p = (Parti) particles.get(i); p.run(); } if(mousePressed){// add secondary particles for (int i = 0; i< particlesSize2; i ++) { particles.add(new Parti(random(0,width),random(0,height),c2)); } } }
class Parti { //----------------------------VARIABLES float x; float y; float xspeed = random(1,3); float yspeed = random(1,3); color particlec; float r = 8; //CONSTRUCTOR Parti(float _x, float _y, color _particlec){ x = _x; y = _y; particlec = _particlec; } //----------------------------Random Walk void move() { int xstep = int(random(0,3))-1; //random walk for x int ystep = int (random(0,3))-1; //random walk for y x += xstep*xspeed; // acceleration y += ystep*yspeed; if ((x > width) || (x < 0)) { //bounce back xspeed = xspeed * -1; } if ((y > height) || (y < 0)) { yspeed = yspeed * -1; } } void display(){ //draw particles noStroke(); fill(particlec); ellipse (x,y, r, r); } //-----------------------------run all function void run(){ display(); move(); } }
This sketch uses the random walker as well as array list function. The random walk function will be essential to develop spontaneous and organic behaviour that mimic the nature. However there is also limitation with the random walker function as it does not generate ‘real’ random numbers, the ‘random’ number will eventually formulate a pattern.
triangulation 1.0
triangulation 1.1
This sketch further explore the potential of the random walker. Each of the particles is initially located in a random location, then sprawl out randomly with a randomized speed. Same to the bouncing ball sketch, the particles bounce back in an opposite direction once it hits the edges of the screen. A line is then drew when two particles are within a preset distance. And if three particles are within a preset distance, a triangle with randomized colour is drew.
With the connecting lines and the triangles, it gives the false impression of 3 dimensional space though it’s only a 2 dimensional sketch. What can be further develop with this sketch is to add certain behaviour to the particles, right now the particles sprawl randomly. An interesting object can be created if there is a logic behind the movement of the particles. The ‘logic’ or the ‘behaviour’ would determine the path of the movement and hence create an object that response to the particle itself.
spores
This sketch explore the potential of the PVector function. The cursors of the mouse serves as the attractor for the particles and if the mouse is left clicked, the particles will be attracted to the cursor at an accelerated speed. The Pvector function allows the particles to move in a more realistic manner. It also enable the particles to move in a realistic manner that follow the principle of physics if a force was added to the vector. This would allow the sketch to simulate real-life scenario.