ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO
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QINGYI LUO
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2013
ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO: AIR 2013
Sudent Name: QingYi Luo Tutuor: Michael Wu & Zac
introduction - about me
Design project from Architecture Studio - Water
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Hi everyone, I'm Maggie from the 3rd year Architecture Faculty. I came to Melbourne in 16 and learned the first digital tool which is the Photoshop in high school. It is a great software to create graphic design and relatively handy and in fact, I was always able to find the opportunity to use it in my college design subject. Virtual Environment was the second subject on design process and was taken once I got into college. The subject has the concept with different shape, and the contrast between dark and light. It is a very inspiring subject but for me, from the beginning, it was a nightmare. The digital tool relevant to this subject, Rhino, is the hardest one I’ve ever learned, and I still couldn't use it properly till the end
of the semester. In my opinion, Rhino is a complicated tool that is able to create different shape with different material and texture. It is flexible but also hard to control. The other designing subject in year one I took was Designing Environment. It has made more sense in the aspect of design and quite like a foundation of the year two studio. I’ve self-learned SketchUp in this subject and found out it is lot easier than Rhino. In year two, I took two studios, 'Earth' and 'Water'. They both helped me to explore even more in the designing field. I’ve learned the process of translate any inspiration to the concept of design by free hand drawing and using digital tools to further produce it.
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CONTENETS
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PART A. A.1. A.2. A.3. A.4. A.5. A.6.
PART B. B.1. B.2. B.3. B.4. B.5. B.6. B.7.
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C 4
ARCHITECTURE AS A DISCOURSE COMPUTATIONAL ARCHITECTURE PARAMETRIC MODELLING ALGORITHMIC EXPLORATION CONCLUSION LEARNING OUTCOMES
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EOI II: DESIGN APPROACH
DESIGN FOCUS CASE STUDY 1.0 CASE STUDY 2.0 TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT TECHNIQUE: PROTOTYPES TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL LEARNING BOJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
PART C. C.1. C.2. C.3. C.4.
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EOI I: CASE FOR INNOVATION
PROJECT PROPOSAL
GATEWAY PROJECT: DESIGN CONCEPT GATEWAY PROJECT: TECTONIC ELEMENTS GATEWAY PROJECT: FINAL MODEL LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
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32 34 36 42 46 50 54 56
58 60 74 80 90
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part A EOI I: CASE FOR
INNOVATION 6
Woodbury, Robert(2010). Elements of Parametric Design pp.7-48 http://www3.ul.ie/~rynnet/parametricmodellingbasics-solidworks.php http://hines-dibrova-studio.com/ http://www.archdaily.com/217295/7th-international-strawberry-symposium-dadaarchitectural-design-planning/ Kalay, Yehuda E.(2004). Architecture's New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methodsof Computer-Aided Design, pp5-25 http://www.michael-hansmeyer.com/profile/about.html http://issuu.com/a3lab/docs/coarch http://www.archdaily.com/344319/serpentine-gallery-pavilion-2002-toyo-ito-cecilbalmond-arup/ http://www.triangulationblog.com/2011/06/voussoir-cloud.html Williams, Richard (2005). "Architecture and Visual Culture", in Exploring Visual Culture: Definitions, Concepts, Contexts, ed. by Mattew Rampley, pp.102-116 http://www.architravel.com/architravel/building/tama-art-university-library-hachioji-campus http://www.archdaily.com/91273/ad-classics-jewish-museum-berlin-daniel-libeskind/
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A.1. - ARCHITECTURE AS A DISCOURSE
a.1.1 Architecture as Discourse Space is the body and the soul of Architecture, people always living in space and space form our life. In Architecture world, building is not simply a container, but a functional space that could meet people’s living needs, contain people and people’s activity. Such as shopping in supermarket, eating in restaurant, reading in library and waiting train in train station. All these activity can only be complete in space with the particular corresponding function.
Therefore, in this way, I would say that designing a building is about designing a space. The combinations of different spaces produce the building, with the purpose of making the building more functional and more sufficient. For example, when a large living space is demanded on a site with limited area, or a multi level living space is demanded on a site with uneven topography, the designing of the space can produce a building that is most appropriate to the site.
"All architecture is shelter, all great architecture is the design of space that contains, cuddles, exalts, or stimulates the persons in that space." - Philip Johnson
ARCHITECTURE AS 8
DISCOURSE 9
A.1. - ARCHITECTURE AS A DISCOURSE
a.1.2. Precedent-1 The Jewish Museum Berlin, which opened to the public in 2001, exhibits the social, political and cultural history of the Jews in Germany from the 4th century to the present. The museum explicitly presents and integrates, for the first time in postwar Germany, the repercussions of the Holocaust. The idea of the design was based on two concepts. The first one is the impossibility of understanding the history of Berlin without understanding the enormous contribution made by the Jewish citizens of Berlin; the second one
JEWISH MUSEUM BERLIN by Daniel
The form of the building is stretched around the site. It is established through a process of connecting lines between locations of historical events that provide structure for the building resulting in a literal extrusion of those lines into a “zig-zag” building form. The interior spaces are extremely complex. In order to enter the building, visitors must firstly enter the original Baroque museum in an underground corridor. They must endure the anxiety of hiding and losing the sense of direction before coming to a cross roads of three routes. The three routes present opportunities to witness the Jewish experience through the continuity with German history, emigration from Germany, and
the Holocaust. The building has creates a promenade that follows the “zig-zag” formation of the building for visitors to walk through galleries, empty spaces and dead ends, and experience the spaces within.
is the necessity to integrate the meaning of the Holocaust into the consciousness and memory of the city of Berlin. The building was intended to express the feelings of absence, emptiness and invisibility which brought out an expression of disappearance of the Jewish Culture. It was using the effects of moving though different spaces as a means of narrative and emotion providing visitors with an experience of the effects of the Holocaust on both the Jewish culture and the city of Berlin.
ARCHITECTURE AS 10
DISCOURSE 11
A.1. - ARCHITECTURE AS A DISCOURSE
TAMA ART UNIVERSITY LIBRARY TOKYO by Toyo Ito
a.1.3. Precedent-2 "The new library is a place where everyone can discover their style of “interacting” with books and film media as if they were walking through a forest or in a cave; a new place of arcade-like spaces where soft mutual relations form by simply passing through; a focal centre where a new sense of creativity begins to spread throughout the art university’s campus." "The first impetus for our design was to question how an institution as specialised as a library could provide an open commonality for all. Our first idea was for a wide open gallery on the ground level that would serve as an active thoroughfare for people crossing the campus, even without intending to go to the library“ Toyo Ito
Arches are one of the oldest staples of architecture. However, it is easy to find out that Ito has used this ancient staple in a very modern way. The interior spatial treatment is the greatest achievement of the building, where arches occur in an apparent chaos, creating multiple and varied effects of perspective. To keep the natural theme, he varied the sizes of the arches. In fact, no arch is exactly the same. Instead of using repetitive grids of columns and walls, Ito has only used small support of columns being at intersection point of each arcs to delineates the space, they are spaced evenly to provide adequate structural integrity, giving the floor and ceiling slabs the appearance of floating over the open spaces of the library.
The spacial planning of the library is also very functional and economical for students. Gallery space is mainly on the first floor, with books and materials on the second. A cafeteria on the first floor allows a central meeting space for students and professors, andbeing on the southwest corner near the bus stop-allows perfect shelter for those tired of waiting outside. The first floor also features a laboratory and office space, as well as the library’s magazine and multimedia section. Further, a “temporary theater,” connected to the multimedia section, provides an area for students to listen to music, watch movies, etc.
Ito wanted to exploit the natural environment outside, focusing the building on the beauty of the outdoors instead of trying to create beauty indoors. Thus, the outer walls are lined with windows to allow large views towards the exterior.
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DISCOURSE 13
A.2. - COMPUTATIONAL ARCHITECTURE
"For the first time, complexity is not an impediment to design but rather an opportunity that is waiting to be explored. Michael Hansmeyer
For the past 10 years, emerging computational tools and techniques has had a strong impact on architectural design. Since that time, architects have started attempting to embed digital methods into the design process, exploring the new possibilities to design and construct unimaginable forms. Today, Rhino and Grasshopper has become the most frequent used computation tools by making programming of design models a lot easier and faster.
a.2.1. Computers in Architectural Design
One important thing about computational manufacturing techniques is that they are not only affordable but also widely accessible by comparing with the traditional techniques. It has given way to the possibility of complex geometries at multiple scales with details approaching the threshold of human visibility. In this way, almost any form will be able to create and recent machines with print space of many cubic meters make it possible to print not only small architectural models, but fullscale architectural components. Therefore, from this point, it can’t be deny that this emerging design and production technology is having the biggest impact on the history of architectural design evolution and will continue to do so in the future.
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A.2. - COMPUTATIONAL ARCHITECTURE
a.2.2. Precedent-1 SERPENTINE GALLERY PAVILION London, 2002 by Toyo Ito
Two designs element were introduced for this project. The first one is that the building has lots of irregular plates that combine the aluminum materials and make the building a firm and solid construction. The second is the entire patterns of lines make sure that the pavilion is solid. This pattern is based on a square, which is also the shape of the pavilion. Every line in this square supports other lines.
The structure of the building is in a cube shape and the extremely complex random pattern forming the window of the building was in fact derived from an algorithm of a cube that expanded as it rotated. The intersecting lines formed different triangles and trapezoids, whose transparency and translucency gave a sense of infinitely repeated motion.
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A.2. - COMPUTATIONAL ARCHITECTURE
a.2.3. Precedent-2 VOUSSOIR CLOUD by Iwamoto Scott
Voussoir Cloud is an architectural installation by American architects Iwamoto Scott. The installation features a series of complex, digitally-derived vaults created out of paper-thin wood laminates which is less than 1mm thick, scored with a laser and folded along the curved seam into wedge-shaped petal. The structure especially the bottom of the petal is in compression but somehow created a sense of lightness with the ultra-light sheet material. By beginning with a material operation, the design process is focused on calibrating the relationship of digital model to physical result.The geometric performance of the individual units is the crucial part to hold the modules packed
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A.3. - PARAMETRIC MODELLING
a.3.1. Introduction to Parametric Modelling Today, 3D parametric modelling are the principal means of communicating design ideas and developing new products and systems. It not only facilitates visual thinking and design process, but also stimulates designers to use their imagination and problem solving skills , in the result of making the deign more motivational. The parametric modelling system has become a part of the technology reform movement that seeks to improve critical thinking and multidimensional problem-solving
skills. It is a way to design objects that is active and constantly changeable without affecting the nature of them. Parametric modellers can be described as parametric, feature-based, solid and surface modelling design tools. An example of a parametric modeler is Rhino and Grasshopper and what this program provides is parametric objects. It allows us be more creative on designing a single object and the specific details on it.
Parametric modelling can help to advance the efficiency of design process. It can provide easier design revisions, changes can be made at the level of each individual sketch and feature. In the parametric world, it is said that "dimension drive the geometry", the definition of individual features can be edited by changing their properties.Therefore, in this way, when designer change a dimension value, it will causes the model size or form to change directly, hence making the design process become more flexible. In addition, the relations or constraints used to create the features of a part are also captured in the model.
MODELLING
PARAMETRIC 20
ADVANTAGE & DISADVANTAGE Although parametric modeling is powerful, it does require expert knowledge about how best to embed engineering constraints and relationships within a model. Since the form can be easily changed, however, it should meet with the standard of construction system. Designer should have a sufficient knowledge and consideration related to engineering before any setting and alteration of the dimension in parametric modeling is made. Another shortcome of this approach is that it will force the designer to think about the whole design including the details at the begining stage as each element is connected and interactional.
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A.3. - PARAMETRIC MODELLING
a.3.3. Precedent-1 7th International Strawberry Symposium Beijing China by DADA Architectural design+planning Current use: Training Center, Convention Center & Factory Instead of building a normal rigid boxy form and plain facades like other factory and convention center building types, this building was wrapped with a series of white curvilinear shell structures that refer both to the organic form and texture of a strawberry, as well as traditional Chinese screen patterns. The canted glass curtain wall with random frit patterns has made the form of the building become fluid and also inviting. The shells tessellate into diagrids with progressively scaled windows, upon which white frits fade towards the center, obscuring the frames and further advancing the sense of abstraction. The design thus achieves a sense of scale and differentiation yet uses a language more akin to natural textures than building.
MODELLING
PARAMETRIC 22
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A.3. - PARAMETRIC MODELLING
a.3.2. Precedent-2 STUTTGART CITY - PRAMETRIC SKIN Stuttgart, Germany by H+D Studio This proposal is to design a parametric facade to the existing building in the city of Stuttgart. It is a mixed used building with shops, offices and apartments surrounded by a five star hotel, fashion shops, a main central station, and one of the most important main street which connects the inner city to the suburb.As reaction to the local conditions, internal and external criteria, has end up with this fascinating parametric skin wrapping around the building. The original building is constructed in a boxy form so the laying of the parametric skin has adapted the shape of the building by setting the parameter to coincide with any part of the facade. Huge holes were setup all over the skin and cooperate with the window on the facade to allow lights get in and also make the interior of the building become more opended to the exterior, hence making the building more dynamic and inviting.
MODELLING
PARAMETRIC 24
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A.4. - ALGORITHMIC EXPLORATION
a.4.1. Algorithmic Exploration
ALGORITHMIC EXPLORATION 26
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A.5. - CONCLUSION
a.5.1. Conclusion In this part of study, my views towards architecture has been greatly broadened by integrate the design process with the computational techniques.It is an innovative reform that alter the way of thingking and producing ideas, any sophisticated conceptul idea will have the oppotunity to be produced in this technique. I would like to approach my design by firstly build up a conceptual idea in my mind and then using the computational method to further produce it. However, the outcome of the design will not have to be restricted, but rather more depending on how I explore with the digital tools, as long as the design satisfy the contextual brief. In this way, I will use the parameter to help me to achieve the best result.
Since the parametric modeling is an efficient and flexible approach in design field, it can greatly increase the possibility and stimulate imagination during the design process, multiple result can be easily created by changing the parameter hence give us instant multiple visualized impression. However, there are few thing need to be considered during this innovative design process. The first is to think the design as a whole, because in parametric modeling, each element in the design is interrelated. The second is to do the alteration of the model at early stage as with the design goes on, note for parameter will become more and more, and will cause inconvenience in changing it. The last one but not the least, is to embed the engineering constraints and relationships within the model to create practical design.
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A.6. - LEARNING OUTCOME
a.6.1. Learning Outcome In the Part A study, I’ve understand how important is the computational technique in the design field and how it can enhance the design. During the exploration, I’ve gained a lot more interest on the parametric modeling, and found out it is a really convenient tool to produce the design quickly but also with a high quality. In the design process, it can produce different outcome very easily without changing the nature of the object, and give us the chance to look up all the possibility and decide which on is the best. It is truly an influential innovation in the human history and I can’t wait to explore more about this technique in the further study.
LEARNING
OUTCOME
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part B APPRAOCH
EOI II: DESIGN 32
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B.1. - DESIGN FOCUS
b.1.1. What is Tesselation? In architecture, tessellation is a structural skin that forms the facade of the building. It is a modular frame system composes with repeating element of similar polygon shapes connecting togetherand covers the entire surface. 1 Since the structural skin is breaking up into smaller elements, as long as they are connecting closely together, it can create dynamic architecture by rotating the elements to different angles to form an irregular surface frame. In this way, architect will be able to play more with the form, light and airflow, and explore more possibility.
b.1.2. Wyndham City Western Gateway Project
Academic Building 80,RMIT University, Swanston Street, Melbourne Today, tessellation has gradually become a popular theme on lots of architecture design, such as the Academic Building 80 of RMIT on Swanston Street and Articulated Cloud by Ned Kahn. For this Gateway Project, we chose tessellation as the design theme not only because the repeating element in tessellation that forms the structural frame can brings flexibility to the form to correspond with the site, but can also catch people’s eye in the first place by the repeating transitional geometric pattern shown on the facade. During the design, we have to consider the tessellated element as a volume but not merely a surface, so it is more challenging when it goes to the aspect of installation method. From the previous part, our group has formed three discourse topics, which are form-driven space, nature as source, and space and experience. In order to involve all these three topics in our design, we have built our core consideration for the Gateway Project, which are structural skin, organic form, effect and performance, and these three considerations will always keep in our mind during the process of design exploration and development.
Wyndham City is seeking responses from design professionals for the design and documentation of an exciting, eye catching installation atWyndham’s Western Gateway. ...and encourage and challenge you to develop a proposal that inspires and enriches the municipality. - Western Gateway Design Project Brief 2011 The Western Gateway design project in Wyndham City has the core requirements of creating an exciting, eye catching installation that inspires and express specific value related to the city, for the purpose of welcome the residents and encourage more motorist to come and explore the city. By using the design theme of tessellation, the repeating element on the structure will definitely be the first thing to catch people’s eyes, and the density of the element will also create a strong contrast with the straight freeway and plain vegetation around the site. However, this is just a starting point of the design; in order to meet all the requirements provided in the design brief, projects’ location, form, orientation and other details should all be carefully considered.
1 http://www.azahner.com/tessellate.cfm image: http://www.azahner.com/tessellate.cfm
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B.2. - CASE STUDY 1.0
b.2.1. Case Study 1.0-Voussoir Cloud One of the famous example of tessellationa architecture is Voussoir Cloud by IwamotoScott. It is a site specific installation project created in 2008 by IwamotoScott Architecture and Buro Happold for the Southern California Institute of Architecture gallery, Los Angeles.1 It is composed with fourteen segments pieces with the tessellated triangular shape petal connecting together to form the vaults that rely on each other and the three walls to retain their pure compressive form. The vaults also extended to the ground and form a series of five columns that support the interior and back edge.2 Tessellation on the Voussoir Cloud is the three dimensional petals which are formed by folding thin wood laminate along curve seams. The curve produces an infected and dished form that relies on the internal surface tension of the wood and folded geometry of the
flanges to hold its shape. Overall, Voussoir Cloud has use the thin material to contrast with the mass structure, and the gap between each form is creating the unexpected lighting effect. In fact, we are quite inspired by this project. The vaults structure has stimulate the idea of creating a arch structure running across the freeway, and also reminded us to consider about the lighting effect of our project.
“In the end, “Voussoir Cloud” attempts to defamiliarize both structure and material to create conflict readings of normative architectural typologies. It is a light, porous surface made of compressive elements that created atmosphere with these luminous wood pieces, and uses this to gain sensorial effects,” – ARCHIVENUE 2009
b.2.2. Matrix Exploration To recreate the project of Voussoir Cloud,we use the Grasshopper definition provided on LMS as a basis to further explore it. This stage is where we started to understand how build works can be created using Grasshopper and how to extend existing definition into new work. Moreover, we also tried to figure out whether there is any definition that we can use or futher explore as an inspiration for our Gateway Project.
During the process of extending the definition provided for making Voussoir Cloud, we found out a very useful plug-in in Grasshopper Kangaroo. Kangaroo is a Live Physical engine for interactive simulation, optimization and form-finding directly within Grasshopper. Through adjusting the velocity of the engine, we can achieve the optimal outcome to mimic the form of Voussoir Cloud by simply switch on the toggle connected to Kangaroo. Pictures on the left are showing different outcomes during the manipulation of parameter value. We found out that the higher the parameter value set for the shape of the model, the more active motion will get in Kangaroo. And the bottom one at the right side has added a triangulate definition to create triangular mesh, which is quite like the Voussior Cloud one.
1. http://www.triangulationblog.com/2011/06/voussoir-cloud.html 2. http://www.dezeen.com/2008/08/08/voussoir-cloud-by-iwamotoscott/ image: http://www.dezeen.com/2008/08/08/voussoir-cloud-by-iwamotoscott/
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B.2. - CASE STUDY 1.0 This group of species here has emphasis how the form will change by manipulating the parameter value in the definition “Vector XYZ” that connected to “Kangaroo” through “UnaryForce”. In our view, the manipulation of parameter values in this definition can be used as a simulation of pressure that applies on the object. For example, the first one on the left is achieved by adjusting the parameter value on the X component, represents intensity of the force on X axis hence mimic the wind pressure in real life. The bottom one on the right is achieved by the same way but on Z component so the force is going downward; hence mimic the gravity pressure in real life.
om an application that is notis licensed to printon to novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Since tessellation more focusing the structural skin, therefore we wanted to extend the definition in the aspect of achieving different geometric skin performance. In order to do this, we firstly added “Divide Curve” to “Mesh Edges” to divide the curve into equal length segments, and then connect “Plane” to it to create a plane and “Polygon” to create different types of polygons. During the exploration, the hexagon has stand out because we think the shape will have more possibility for transformation than triangle and rectangle, plus it is not too complicated to play with. However, at this stage, the hexagons we created on the surface are only a plane, and are not really forming the structure of the model.
STUDY1.0
at is not licensed to print to novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com)
CASE 38
The matrixes here are showing some other random exploration with the definition.Some of it are achieved by simply repleacing the original points and curve to another one to create a entirely different form. This is shown above in colume 1 and 2.
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B.2. - CASE STUDY 1.0 Our own definition and exploration
STUDY1.0
VoltaDom – Matrix Exploration
CASE 40
You created this PDF from an application that is not licensed to print to novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) 41
B.3. - CASE STUDY 2.0
b.3.1. Case Study 2.0-FabPod (RMIT Design Hub Project)
For case study 2.0, we have chose FabPod in RMIT Design Hub (building 100) on Swanston Street to do the exploration, because it is relatively familiar to us and also easy to visit. FabPod is a meeting room enclosure that providing acoustic privacy for meetings and focused work. It is a workshop for designers to engage and learn new tools and techniques around parametric design, acoustic simulation and digital fabrication. FabPod combines research into the sound diffusing properties of hyperbolic surfaces, with the problem of small semienclosed meeting areas in open plan settings, utilising a combination of digital modelling and mass customised CNC prototyping and architectural traditions of craft production and material effects.1 The project brought together researchers across fields of architectural design, acoustic design, computer aided design
and digital fabrication.2 To some extent, this design is an outcome of research into the relationship of architectural geometry and acoustics. While techniques for evaluating reverberation and absorption of sound are well developed, the diffusion of sound is a more emergent area of research.3 The project is composed with 180 hexagon component with different shapes and sizes. The hyperbolic geometry of these components can diffuse the sound only within the meeting room area hence enhance acoustic privacy in this room. The hexagons are installed one by one and match perfectly with each other so there is no gap between them. Holes has been cut out on each of the hexagon, some of it are installed with light equipment for the interior, some of it are just let it hollow to allow light emit from the inside to the outside.
STUDY2.0
CASE 42
1. http://mcburry.net/fabpod/ 2. http://mcburry.net/fabpod/ 3. http://www.independentsgroup.net/rmit-fab-pod
Image: http://www.independentsgroup.netrmit-fab-pod http://vicawards.architecture.com.au2013-field-of-entrants
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B.3. - CASE STUDY 2.0
STUDY2.0
CASE 44
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B.4. - TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT
Since Wyndham City has recently put a lot of effort on upgrading the condition and aesthetics of its streetscape, open spaces and parks, our project have to set to enhances the appearance of the Western Interchange Gateway and welcome the local residents, but more importantly, encourages more motorists to come and explore Wyndham. We have set the topic as ‘Contrast’, because we want to highlight that Wyndham city is a special city and also in most cases, when a visitor enter unfamiliar city, the first thing they should feel is contrast, and it is an experience that can impress people in a short period of time in a large flat and smooth landscape. We especially use the visible contrast to reflect natural and industrial which is related to Wyndham city and Melbourne city. For the design project location, we have place the design inside the yellow circled area to engage people as much as possible. As shown in the site picture, the design will cover the road from both direction, which then lead us to come with the idea of create a double arch that has two supporting resting on the lawn area near the road. Since the contrast is about natural and industrial, we decided to design an organic form with smooth surface, not only because it can make people associate Wyndham as a naturally aesthetic city, but can also present the characteristic of tessellation in a better way, and the irregular streamline shape stretched across the princess highway will adds a strong visual effect to the plain ordinary site.
DEVELOPMENT
b.4.1. Design Intent
TECHNIQUE: 46
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B.5. - TECHNIQUE PROTOTYPES
b.4.2. Developing Process Geometric Exploration, The pattern of hexagon has been chosen at this point.
Structure exploration, hexagon has been chosen
Hexagon structure exploration
As mentioned in Case study 1.0 before, when we create the matrix for Voussoir Cloud, the pattern of hexagon really stands out because the shape is simple and has a lot of possibility for transformation, so we have chose this pattern as the base for tessellation, and create three form with different style of tessellated hexagon. However, the desired geometric structure we are looking for should related to the topic “contrast”, therefore we thought about creating geometric contrast by transform the hexagon into different shapes.
To achieve the form of ‘floating paper’ in Rhino, we just simply created some curve to outline the shape and built a surface on it, then we apply the different types of polygon such as triangle, rectangle, hexagon and circle on it.
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B.5. - TECHNIQUE PROTOTYPES
b.5.2. Materialization
b.5.1. Final Outcome PLAN VIEW
MATERIAL RENDER
The contrast that is using in our design is form and material.
In order to creating contrast between natural and industrial, we decided to use hexagon with sharp shape to related to industrial city, and transform it to the middle with more soft shape to related to natural city. At the two supporting part of the structure, the distorted hexagon shape will transform to the dense small regular hexagon and work as a support to touch the ground. A row of striped shape hexagon will be laying on the peak point of the “page�, in the direction leading towards Wyndham, this area will be hollowed out, therefore when the lights get through this area, it will create a sense that guides (welcome, bright up the way) people to the Wyndham City.
PERSPECTIVE VIEW
FRONTVIEW
To contrast the material, we are considering using plywood timber for the most of hexagon frame to correspond with the organic form but using galvanized steel particularly at the supporting part of the frame which is shown in the render picture above. The material of galvanized steel is representing the industrial city as it is an industrial production, and
timber can represent natural city as it is natural material. Moreover, the heavy looking steel against the light-weight timber has built another unexpected visual contrast. In the other hand, because the supporting material at this area has to be strong and durable, galvanize steel is a good choice as it has high strength, high durability and low cost.
BENEFITS OF GALVANIZED STEEL:7 - Lowest first cost - Less maintenance/Lowest long term cost - Long life - Reliability - Toughest coating - Automatic protection for damage area - Complete protection - Ease of inspection -Faster erection time - A full protective coating can be applied in minutes
BENEFITS OF PLYWOOD:8 - Increased stability - High impact resistance - Surface dimensional stability - High strength to weight ratio - Panel shear - Chemical resistance
prototypes TECHNIQUE:
7.http://www.gaa.com.au/index.php?page=10-benefits-of-galvanizing 8.http://www.woodsolutions.com.au/Wood-Product-Categories/Plywood/
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B.5. - TECHNIQUE PROTOTYPES
b.5.2. Light and Shadow WITH1:100 PHYSICAL MODEL The effect for the design is light and shadow DAYTIME SHADOW UNDER NATURAL SUNLIGHT - 3
To make the 1:100 physical model, we firstly unroll each of the hexagon component one by one into strips, and then send it to the FabLab and used card cutter to print it. It took us a lot of time to fold over 400 strips into hexagon shape and putting them together in order, however, the outcome of the model is quite good, especially when it comes to the lighting effect testing.
DAYTIME SHADOW UNDER NATURAL SUNLIGHT - 1 DAYTIME SHADOW UNDER NATURAL SUNLIGHT - 2
NIGHTTIME LIGHTING EFFECT
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MODEL MAKING PROCESS:
LED light will be installed at the ground inside of the “page”, so when it’s at night, the light will spread out through its geometric structural skin and create dramatic lighting effect.
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B.6. - TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL
The below pictures showing how the structure fits to the landscape
b.6.1. Technique Proposal DETAIL DRAWING
Most of the three-dimensional hexagon element is made with plywood which can correspond with the organic form also related to nature. For the installation detail, each of the individual hexagon elements has been put together using bolt and metal cleat shown in the detail drawing.
There is no additional installation of supporting structure of the design, the “paper� is supporting by the part of its structure which is the two lowest point of the arch. Overall, the structure is selfsupporting.
proposal
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B.7. - LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
b.7.1. Learning objectives and outcomes The biggest issue we are having now is we didn't build convincing design intent that can related to the Wyndham City, our argument has become weak when it comes to meet with the requirement of express specific value related to Wyndham City. Also, the contrasts are not strong enough that people can really feel or notice it when they quickly pass through the freeway. In turns of the digital model, it is a pity that we didn’t produce the model using the Kangaroo plug in as it is related to one of our case study – Voussoir Cloud, so we will maybe try to do so in the following weeks by using Kangaroo to produce the arch shape of our design. What we planning to achieve for the following weeks is to provide thickness to the tessellated hexagon components to all direction. In this way, the hexagon can turn to a real structural element, and it will be easier for us to think more about the installation method for it.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
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part C PROPOSAL PROJECT 58
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C.1. - GATEWAY PROJECT: DESIGN CONCEPT
c.1.1. Concept and Design
Since Wyndham is regarded as an agricultural city and has a num b e r of nat ur al l ands c ap e s within its boundary then we hope to use an organic form to describe Wyndham’s character.
BACKGROUND: The City of Wyndham is located in the outer south-western suburbs of Melbourne, between Melbourne and the regional city of Geelong. It is a developing city with a lot of potential and prospective future. We have produced four words that can best described the character of the city; they are “Nature”, “Development”, “Change” and “Transition”.
Commercial Street
'Seed of Change" - Eastern Gateway Project
In order to form our argument, we decided to adopt the three individual discourse topics from the Part A study, using “nature – source” from Mary to reflect organic form, “form – space” from Ted to reflect the structure and “space – experience” from me to reflect the effect of the design.
Natural Site
Residential Area
GATEWAY PROJECT:
DESIGN CONCEPT
Image: https://www.facebook.com/wyndhamcityliving
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C.1. - GATEWAY PROJECT: DESIGN CONCEPT
DESIGN APPROACH: As I mentioned in the previous part, we found that Voussoir Cloud is an excellent precedent for us to use for reference during the design process as it has stimulate our initial idea of creating an organic form with double arches structure cross over the freeway and reminds us to consider of using light and shadow as effect. In the other hand, by considering the relationship between structural performance of material and form-finding process as well as the effect of Voussoir Cloud, and use The yellow circle shows the location of the project in the real site
it as a reference, in the part C study, our group’s response to the Wyndham Gateway design brief has become much clearer. In the end, we have finally determined our approach regarding the Wyndham City Gateway Project which is to evaluate structural performance of different materials and apply the material properties on the form finding process. At the meantime, the discussion of materialization may influence back to the effect that the design can achieve.
'The installation will enhance the physical environment through the introduction of a visual arts component. It will have longevity in its appeal, encouraging ongoing interest in the Western Interchange by encouraging further reflection about the installation beyond a first glance.' - Western Gateway Design Project Brief, 2011
DESIGN CONCEPT: By carefully reading the brief, we evaluate the Wyndham City as a fast growing city seeking more changes and developments, the concept of ‘contrast’ can reflect such changes and relates to the brief. The main reason of why we choosing contrast as the design concept. First of all, it can be visually impressive which coincide with one of the main requirement for the brief which is eyecatching. The theme of contrast can be used in a wide range hence provide us more possibility. For example, we used contrast on the material, from,
tessellation and effect to create multiple features for the design and make it more attractive and exiting. In the other word, we are trying to use the sense of contrast to communicate with people who are not familiar with Wyndham City and encourage them to come and explore Wyndham. The benefit we can get when creating contrast under the topic of tessellation is the it can provides us the flexibility to design different form and structural frame, transform it into different geometric pattern, and use different material to present it.
GATEWAY PROJECT:
Analysis and tessellation diagram:
Form found surface
Tessellation of form-found surface
Porosity diagram
Module generation
DESIGN CONCEPT
Image: www.archdaily.com.br54024voussoir-cloud-iwamotoscott-architecture-buro-happoldvc-arandd www.bdonline.co.ukJournalsGraphickot20analysis.gif
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C.1. - GATEWAY PROJECT: DESIGN CONCEPT DESIGN ALTERATION - Using Kangaroo Shellstar is a lightweight temporary pavilion that maximizes its spatial performance while minimizing structure and material. The form emerged out of a digital form-finding process based on the classic techniques. Using Grasshopper and the physics engine Kangaroo, the form self-organizes into the catenary-like thrust surfaces that are aligned with the structural vectors and allow for minimal structural depths.10 Shellstar Pavilion By MATSIS Wan Chai, Hong Kong
DESIGN ALTERATION - Weaving
Florencia Pita Pulse: Tendril Formation Los Angles, 2006
The site-specific installation Pulse: Tendril Formations emphasizes the manipulation of color and material as a double mechanism for the production of spatial affect. The Gallery is transformed into an entirely pink landscape with winding walls, or structural tendrils. The tendrils, formulate through mathematical computation, allow the building material to be the structure itself, without any supporting structure. The structure’s complexity, achieved through multiplicity, is created by the proliferation of layers of single curvature.9 From the part B study, we were told by the critics that the contrast for the structure and material is not strong enough to impress people, so we wanted to create a really noticeable contrast with using different tessellation element and material and we were quite inspired by this project when we first saw it. The tessellation with soft and fluent curve structure in this project will have an entirely different impact with hexagon that has rigid line in our design. We used grasshopper to create a tessellation structure very similar to this called “weaving”, and the detail will further explain in C.1.3. In terms of the material, we will use plastic to contrast with timber for hexagon. The plastic will create a unexpected lighting effect because of it's translucent condition. SInce the weaving tessellation is formed by curve, it can stretch into different shape as long as they are connected by the peak point of each curve hence has the flexibility to correspond with the fixed hexagon form.
GATEWAY PROJECT:
Another suggestion we received from the critics was using Kangaroo plug-in in grasshopper to find the form. We did a lot of research about this plug-in and found out it is a very useful tool when doing the structural performance test, and many of the precedents are using it to produce the form that best fit the structure principle. However, during the exploration, we found out that we could
only produce a single layer of surface using kangaroo but not a form that has volume. Due to the time limitation, we decided to only produce the base of the form using kangaroo only for the purpose of testing the structural performance and also because the base is the most crucial part as it spread the load to the ground, then applied another curve drawn by Rhino on top of it. The Double layer structure:
DESIGN CONCEPT
Image: www.sciarc.eduexhibition.phpid=763
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10. http://www.contemporist.com/2013/03/04/shellstar-pavilion-by-matsys/ Image: http://www.contemporist.com/2013/03/04/shellstar-pavilion-by-matsys/
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C.1. - GATEWAY PROJECT: DESIGN CONCEPT
c.1.2. Form Finding Process
Creating double arch, with one arch crossing over the roadway leading towards Wyndham City and one coming from the Wyndham City.
The flat landscape
Then we extrude the arch into various thicknesses to connect to the curve structure, make the two separated layer of surface to have volume. Then we applied another curve laying over the arch structure. The curvature is according to the shape of the arch and is drawn by Rhino, using the same method in the part B study.
We decided to replace the middle part of the arch to weaving structure, because this part is sitting right over the roadway so it’s most noticeable. Moreover, it is the best position to create dramatic lighting effect on the road during any time throughout the day.
Cut the arch over the road coming from Wyndham City in half while remaining the other arch the same, it’s for the purpose of highlighting the road that leading towards Wyndham City.
When this arch is settled, we used the Kangaroo to refine the shape that not only fits the structure principle but also correspond with the site. The two lowest points on the arch that are touching the ground is supporting the whole structure and transfer the load to the ground.
The outcome
GATEWAY PROJECT:
DESIGN CONCEPT
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C.1. - GATEWAY PROJECT: DESIGN CONCEPT
However, we though the first attempt was too boring and we wanted to create something more dynamic and flexible, so we change the load bearing area into two unparalleled strip. In this way, the regularity of the form will be broken.
c.1.3. Digital Modelling Kangaroo Testing: Stiffness Exploration The below diagram shows how the shape react when applying the same force under differrent stiffness. We found out the lower the stiffness, the more deformed shape we will get. stiffness - 1000
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Second attempt - this diagram shows the simple line work of the shape after changing the position of the load bearing area.
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The arch working as as a support
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The red spots forming the two paralleled strips in this diagram show the areas that are touching the ground and work as a load bearing area. They are also the lowest points on the arch structure. We are placing the strip in such position because these are two area that can spread the load evenly to the ground, hence ensure the structure above is stable and rigid.
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The curve laying over the arch
Now we can see in this diagram, the form produced by Kangaroo is more dynamic and flexible, and more eyecatching.
This curve is drawn by Rhino and will be applied over the arch. It is only for the purpose to form a volume based on the arch we just produced.
ARCH + CURVE : The final form
First attempt - on the left is the form produced according to the position of these green spots using Kangaroo. 68
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C.1. - GATEWAY PROJECT: DESIGN CONCEPT After we have defined the form, we started to work on the shape of tessellation that is forming the structure. We will keep using hexagon as the tessellation element and also remaining the idea of create greater density of hexagon at the supporting point, like the diagram shown on the right.
Creating the weaving tessellation and connect it to hexagon tessellation.
The Final Digital Model Outcome:
Creating Weaving Tessellation: After we finished producing hexagon tessellation, we started to create the weaving structure. Firstly we selected five strips of hexagons in the middle part of the arch to take out, and then replace it with the weave structure shown below. However, we found out that the endpoint of the weaving was need able to connect the hexagon, so we need to fix that in the later stage using Grasshopper.
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Top view
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One thing need to mention here is that we have created thickness for each of the hexagon. Now all of them have become an actual tessellation element that has volume and has more possibility to unroll and built in real life.
The weaving tessellation can be showed clearer using the prototype which I will introduce in the C.2.1
Perspective view
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C.1. - GATEWAY PROJECT: DESIGN CONCEPT
c.1.4. Rethinking Contrast as a Concept In this section, a list of contrast has been summarized according to our concept. - The form of the design can be simply described as a double arch, the reason we choose arch is that the curve of the geometry stands out from the rather smooth and flat landscape, which is the first contrast. - The tessellation that is forming the shape is composed with two elements, one is hexagon and one is weaving. In the aspect of their property, the hexagon is having a sharp, fixed rigid frame while the weaving is more soft, flexible and dynamic. This is the second contrast. - In terms of the material, the hexagon is using timber representing the natural city (Wyndham) and the weaving is using translucent plastic which is artificial and representing the industrial city (Melbourne). - The last contrast is light and shadow which will be shown by the photos in C.3.2.
GATEWAY PROJECT:
DESIGN CONCEPT
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C.2. - GATEWAY PROJECT: TECHTONIC ELEMENTS
c.2.1. Prototype - Hexagon One of the core construction element is the hexagon pieces. During the fabrication, the first step was unrolling all the hexagon pieces into strips like the diagram shows on the right. We then used card cutter to print it on cardboard that has a little bit rigidity. There were over 300 pieces in total and it took us a lot of time to cut it and folded to hexagons one by one. Luckily, the outcome turned out surprisingly good. Although we had some problem about the deformation of the form because some of the pieces are too small to stick at the right place, the overall model was a lot more rigid than
GATEWAY PROJECT:
TECHTONIC ELEMENTS
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C.2. - GATEWAY PROJECT: TECHTONIC ELEMENTS
c.2.2. Prototype - Weaving Another core construction element is the weaving structure. We had found two ways to install it. One is making the strip twining to each other, like the picture shown below. This can actually create a more complicated weaving form as there is a small gap between each twining point hence allows the weaving has stronger visual impact. The
other one is simply nail each two of the strip together and it’s more stable. Both of the method can provide flexibility for the form, allows the weaving form stretch into any shape, but the first method is lacking the stability and the strip can easily fall out. One way we can think up to fix it is adding a cleat to connect each strip after twining them.
GATEWAY PROJECT:
TECHTONIC ELEMENTS
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C.2. - GATEWAY PROJECT: TECHTONIC ELEMENTS
c.2.3. Fabrication - Detail Model
1:10 DETAIL MODEL Core Construction Element - Hexagon Block
For the installation of each hexagon elements, the most appropriate way we can think up for connection at the moment is using finger joints. During the fabrication, we firstly unfold one block of the hexagon into separate pieces, and then draw the finger joints in a certain scale one by one. It is a quite inconvenient way to do it because we need to make sure that each finger joint is at the right place and can fit with each other. However there should be a definition in grasshopper to make this work easier, and I reckon in the real cases we will really need to figure it out. In terms of the connection between each hexagon element, we will remain the method that we founded in Part B which is using bolt and metal cleat.
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FABRICATION LAYOUT:
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C.3. - GATEWAY PROJECT: FINAL MODEL
c.3.1. Fabrication - Final Model
THE FINAL OUTCOME - 1:50 Physical Model
FABRICATION - Hexagon
The final physical model will be made in 1:50. We basically followed the same method of doing hexagon model. Firstly unrolled all of hexagon in strips in Grasshopper, and then print it out using card cutter. Then we folded the strips
one by one in hexagon shape and stick together. One thing need to be cautious with is the oder because if one of the hexagon is stick to the wrong place, the whole model will be affected, so we put numbers one each of the strips.
FABRICATION - Weaving
GATEWAY PROJECT:
FINAL MODEL
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C.3. - GATEWAY PROJECT: FINAL MODEL THE FINAL OUTCOME - 1:50 Physical Model
GATEWAY PROJECT:
FINAL MODEL
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C.3. - GATEWAY PROJECT: FINAL MODEL Roadway from the Wyndam City
c.3.2. How it is Experienced RENDER - VIEWS: Road waytowards the Wyndham City
The perspective view of project sites on the site.
GATEWAY PROJECT:
FINAL MODEL
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C.3. - GATEWAY PROJECT: FINAL MODEL Shadow during daytime - under nature light
LIGHT AND SHADOWS - Hexagon: The following photos show the light effect on the hexagon tessellation. We can see that the shadow is bold and clear, and actually very eye-catching with its tessellated hexagon pattern. We will install LED road light on the ground under the project, for the purpose of creating dramatic light effect during the nigh time.
Shadow during nighttime - with LED road light on the ground
GATEWAY PROJECT:
FINAL MODEL
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C.3. - GATEWAY PROJECT: FINAL MODEL
LIGHT AND SHADOWS - Weaving: The following photos show the light effect on the weaving tessellation. Because the weaving is made in plastics and it's translucent, it can create a shadow that is totally different from the hexagon one. It is more fuzzy and translucent, therefore the shadow has unexpectely create another contrast.
A close view to the weaving
Shadow during daytime - under nature light Shadow during nighttime - with LED road light on the ground opened
GATEWAY PROJECT:
FINAL MODEL
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C.4. - ALGORITHMIC SKETCHES
HEXAGON CAP
ATTRACTORS VECTOR
SKETCHES
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C.5. - LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
Outcome: Our group was quite satisfied with the design outcome, especially when it comes to the lighting effect. We had followed a very tight process of development in this project, we did a lot of research and made a quite a few prototypes to test the structural performance and construction element during the exploration, and the critics were also quite happy to see that. A disappointed side for the final model is we didn’t use plywood or any of the wood veneer to fabricate it; hence lacks a sense of reality. Apart from the physical model, the biggest issue we are having now is the installation. The transition between materials needs to take more consideration. The detail for connection is a little bit unlikely in terms of construction method. The hexagon and weaving are coplanar but however, in real life, they will be very hard to connect. As there will be too much stress pulling down in the middle and lead the weaving shear and snap. One way that might fix it at the moment is probably design a joinable detail that works specifically for this structure, not a simple bolt that we are using in this model at the moment but an attachment that can stabilities the structure.
Self-reflection: Since this is the first time I use Grasshopper, I found out I was very limited to produce the outcome I want and some time I feel like it is Grasshopper doing the design not me. Our design process was a little bit restricted because we are not familiar with this technique. Sometimes we come up with a idea but was unable to justified the form in Grasshopper. However, one good thing about this plug-in is that it can always give you unexpected result and inspires you a lot.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
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