Systems Culture - Yiming Li

systems.culture The University of Melbourne Master of Architecture Studio Tutor: Finn Warnock Yiming Li 355332

Contents:

Chapter I: Cultural Force Chapter II: Tooling Chapter III: Material Affect

“Kits” fit in and form a contemporary global “Society Machine”

Chapter I: Cultural Force

Nam Desc a rock of wo pose cial n this p ering the w Name: Parallax Description: Parallax, in the form of a rocking horse is made from blocks of wood contributed for this purpose by individuals asked via a social networking site to participate in this project by posting or had delivering blocks of wood , from across the world, or closer to home.

Nam Desc fragm along the l econ that “ ier” l Name: Circular Logic Description: Made from the ripped fragments of tires gathered from along highways, this piece questions the logic of our fossil-fuel based economy and the false mythology that “more, bigger, better, faster, easier” leads to fulfilment.

Chapter I: Cultural Force

Density of Light: Gabriel Dawe Fascination of space Confusion of perception Scale Burring of boundary

Chapter I: Cultural Force

Process of ink dropped into a glass of Pure Water

Fitness Criteria of form experiments: Materialize Memory

The diagrams show a series of digital tool testing to replicate a group combined cultural force that is highly relevant to contemporary society. Throughout the experiments, we focus on the individual behaviours within the amorphous society and the idea of cellular automata and growth.

Python coral script

Python growing script

Accident script

Combination of ideas

Grasshopper Brep distribution

Python branching script

Forever Bicycles: Ai Weiwei

http://www.tfam.museum/SysUpDoc/Exhibition%5CPlaypic%5C1670659497Press%20Conference1028_059.jpg

Chapter II: Tooling

Fitness Criteria: Neo-Liquid Individualism

The installation art “Density of Light” by Gabriel Dawe tries to express his fascination of sawing when he was a kid, but his grandma did not allow him to do so due to cultural and gender issues in specific Colombian cultural context.

Therefore, he brought this memory and feeling along with his self-obsession up to architectural scale. The concept was to materialise light to create spaces in between, thus testing the flexibility of materials and scale. The liquid culture of materiality was tested further by another three artefacts: “Parallax”, “Circular Logic” and “Forever Bicycles”. They are telling a story of new material syntax and lost individuality and identity by articulating their afterlives. Boundaries between countries, cultures, disciplines are blurred by modern technologies and media of communications. Hence, individuals adapt this cultural confronting and merging, formed a fusion culture. Individuality has been challenged and redefined by social dynamics and “the simultaneity of local difference and global homogeneity”. Furthermore, individuality is realised in less linear ways instead, that Individuals increase their adaptability and solubility to interconnect with their context to form new individualities and new holistic paradigm. This “Neo-Liquid Individualism” and materialisation of it form the fitness criteria of our project.

Reaction Diffusion system is used to simulate the liquidised culture resulted by globalism. Reaction–diffusion systems are mathematical models which explain how the concentration of one or more substances distributed in space changes under the influence of two processes: local chemical reactions in which the substances are transformed into each other, and diffusion which causes the substances to spread out over a surface in space.

Surface 3d simulation of reaction diffusion

Materials are used to represent individuals, and they react and transform into each other, spread out within a constrained space. “Structures no longer represent homogeneous, linear systems, but process fields of materialisation.”

The new structure of materials forms spatial devices which accommodate social and political energies to flow. Hence, new structures acquire new tectonics and material syntax which are no longer traditional but innovative fusions.

Reference: MOVE:, by UN Studio, V1. Imagination: Liquid Politic

Reaction窶電iffusion systems are mathematical models which explain how the concentration of one or more substances distributed in space changes under the influence of two processes: local chemical reactions in which the substances are transformed into each other, and diffusion which causes the substances to spread out over a surface in space.

The prototypes are the reflection of a hybrid, mixed and liquidised society through different materials and assembly of material as well as connections with each other.

2D reaction diffusion patterns

3D simulation of reaction diffusion

3D Printed Prototype

3D Printed Prototype

Neo - Liquid Individualism: The chandelier is the reflection of a hybridized, mixed and liquidised society through different materials and assembly of material as well as connections with each other.

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1, by Daniel Widrig 2, Hylozoic Soil (2007) by Philip Beesley

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Precedents of shapes, material and lighting quality 3,Vase by “n-e-r-v-e-r-o-u-s” 4, by “n-e-r-v-e-r-o-u-s” 5, by “n-e-r-v-e-r-o-u-s” 6, Fibre optical material 7, by Achim Menges, AA

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Visual connections

We use 3d simulation of reaction diffusion in a golden proportion rather than a regular box. After that, the model was edited and carved in MAYA in order to open up apertures for light penetration. In addition, during this process, a central void space is created, which potentially contain light sources.

Central void

Fabrication Methods

Contouring

Contouring

Patterns On Mesh

Waffle Structure System

Laser Cutting

Stacking up

Individual Iterations

The Chandelier

Chapter III: Material Affect Mid-term Crit Reflection: The representation of modularity seems to be too literal and less effective to experience the amorphous society.

The prototyping and process is too broadly experimented, therefore the result is lack of understanding and research depth. From now on, we should be focusing more on 3D printing technology and see how can it contribute to design instead of simply being as a tool of production.

The interesting prototype we created accidentally was widely discussed during the Crit. More potential ideas and techniques can be explored from that prototype which has part of scaffolding from traditional 3D printing process. The structure of scaffolding shows high modularity and precise designed system which is a more effective way of expressing individuals in the society. In addition, it not only shows some extent of amorphous affect of society as well as modular affect of individual but also demonstrates some connections and hybridizations as a whole object.

Unfolding

Tessellation

Patterning

Interlock of tiles

Reverse Engineering of 3D Printing Process

Characteristics of RD and the 3d printed model Regularity and modularity of grid scaffolds Intensity

ency

of construction methods create different transpar-

Contrast of smoothness and roughness Flatness and carved voids

Contour lines forming double curve areas in contrast with parallel filling methods

Perfection and Imperfection throughout a physical simulation of a digital model

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Precedent Study 1,Unit 01: Reloading - Research Project

by Le Minh Hoang & Xueying Pang, The Bartlett School of Architecture 2, Venice Biennale Bahrain Pavilion

Tile Prototyping

Site: “St Pauls Cathedral is of architectural importance as a unique example in Australia of a high Victorian Gothic Revival architecture of the eminent English avant garde architect of his age William Butterfield (1814-1900). The Chapter House and Cathedral Offices designed by prominent Melbourne architect Joseph Reed (1823- 1890) on a smaller scale than the Cathedral, contribute to form a cohesive group.�

Elevation Study

Reaction diffusion to architecture

Potential spatial quality derived from 3D simulation of RD model

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1, by, Daniel Widrig 3, by Rchard Rogers 5,6, by Victor Horta 7, Sagrada FamĂ­lia, Barcelona, Spain, by Antonio Gaudi 8,9,10, New York Airport, by Eero Saarinen 11, serpentine gallery pavilion 2013, by Sou Fujimoto

Circulation Gallery + Corridor

Entrance

Cultural Relevance Ai Weiwei’s project “Forever Bicycles” reflects Chinese social political situations.

He used bicycles to represent Chinese people who try to behave extremely modularly with limited freedom. And somehow, people find simple rules to fit in and form an interesting society. In our project, we are trying to explore how individuals fit in and form a contemporary global society. We ideally represent this society by using characteristics 3D simulation of Reaction Diffusion which is self-generative and dynamic.

Why Reaction Diffusion?

Reaction–diffusion systems are “mathematical models which explain how the concentration of one or more substances distributed in space changes under the influence of two processes”. 3D simulation of this mathematical model creates a wide range of self-organizing 3D structures which represent the amorphous affect of new 21st century social machine. 3D simulation creates architectural diagrams because it naturally generate spacial void, solid and most importantly spacial connections.

Process Through out the process of modeling and prototyping the chandelier, we realize 3D simulations of Reaction Diffusion generate strong space arrangements and connection. Therefore, we selected one of the model to do spatial diagrams.

We use scaffold to create layers of transparencies, limitations and structures.

At the same time, we identified architectural characteristics of the model:

i Organic shaped Column

ii Layers of Atrium

iii Curvature of Wall Then we apply those architectural characteristics into our selected spaces We apply characteristics of 3D printed RD prototype into ornamental tiling system. These individual 3D modules form a big image by tessellation systems and wrap around surfaces to archive semi-transparent affect.

Also inspired by the 3D printing process, we use scaffold to create layers of transparencies, limitations and structures.

Getting architectural massing by packing up RD spaces to take advantage of its own nature of spatial connection

Structural detail of the bridge

The Diagram is showing logic of the 3D printer’s self-generation of substructures.

In our project, we are trying to explore how individual “kits” fit in and form a contemporary global “society machine” inspired by Ai Weiwei’s “Forever Bicycles”. We ideally represent this society inspired by characteristics 3D simulation of Reaction Diffusion and 3D printing prototyping process. RD algorithm is investigated to produce architectural affect: Spatial interconnections; Amorphous forms; Transparencies; Complex tessellation.

Ai Weiwei’s project “Forever Bicycles” represent Chinese people who try to behave extremely modularly with limited freedom. And somehow, people become mechanical kits that assemble an interesting society.

Ornament: We apply characteristics of 3D printed RD prototype into ornamental tiling system. These individual 3D modules form a big image by tessellation systems and wrap around surfaces to archive semi-transparent affect.

The motive behind this project is that how the complex large-scale “social machine” may emerge from cogs and local rules.

Fabrication of tiles: 3D printing is chosen as fabrication method, because this particular type of 3D printer has its distinct logic of creating “side affects” which produces sub-structures and characteristics: Regularity and modularity of grid scaffolds Intensity of construction methods create different transparency Contrast of smoothness and roughness Flatness and carved voids Contour lines forming double curve areas in contrast with parallel filling methods Perfection and Imperfection throughout a physical simulation of a digital model

We use 3D simulations of Reaction Diffusion system because they represent the motive.

Therefore, we investigate RD algorithm to produce affect on different architectural scales: Spatial arrangement; Form generation; Ornament.

Spatial arrangement: we use RD to create architectural diagrams because it naturally generate spacial void, solid and spacial interconnections.

Form generation: Organic shaped Column; Layers of Atrium; Curvature of Wall

Furthermore, inspired by the 3D printing process, we use scaffold to create layers of transparencies, limitations and structures.

Lobby & Reception Indoor Exhibition Spaces Open Exhibition Spaces Gift Shop Cafe Circulation Office & Housekeeping Toilet

Spatial diagrams show the interconnection of spaces as well as the split level and complex circulations

Models and Prototypes

Front Entrance and Feature Wall

Atrium

Lobby