EOI_531876_mengdan yang

ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO AIR 2013 MENGDAN YANG

Group member Brian Han & Elsie Zheng Tutor Daniel & Adam

CONTEXT 1

INTRODUCTION

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A.1. ARCHITECTURE AS A DISCOURSE A.2. COMPUTATIONAL ARCHITECTURE A.3. PARAMETRIC MODELLING A.4. ALGORITHMIC EXPLORATION A.5. CONCLUSION A.6. LEARNING OUTCOMES REFERENCE

3 PART A. CASE FOR INNOVATION

INTRODUCTION

Hello everyone, my name is Mengdan Yang, also be called as Meg. I am an international student from South of China and I went to Ivanhoe Girls Grammar School in Melbourne for two years before come to university. Currently, this is my third year study of bachelor of Environments and I am majoring in architecture. I think architecture is an interesting but challenging courses as it is always combining with different parts of knowledge to finalize the creative and complex outcome.

For digital programming, I have used Rhino in my first year study in Virtual Environ-

ments. I found it is very hard during the design process, because I was unfamiliar with the software. It was more like a tool rather than a design program for me. However the final outcome is almost successful, it also gave me a chance to realize how digital design can help us achieve from a design concept to a real physical project. This was just a simple start of my digital study, the aim of doing design studio air will be developing the technical skill of using Rhino by learning Grasshopper (the algorithm editor integrated with Rhino),in the meantime to help me understand digital and parametric architecture further in depth.

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MY PREVIOUS WORK

THE BODYSPACE PROJECT VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT 2011

The brief of this project is to

design a complex geometrical structure which will be fabricated using paper and can be worn on our body. Overall the final model is successful, even though there can be some improvement of model connecting. The outcome of this project is not just the model, but the ability of thinking and creating by practices. Before doing this course, I cannot think to make a lantern based on personal understanding of a natural process. The model looks simple, but the creating process is complex and time consuming. I think it is same for all design and architecture work, the truth is the more time we spend will give us a more satisfied outcome.

It is also an amazing experience to watch every-

one wearing their lantern on Parade at the end. It is exciting that everyone all has different outcome based on a simple brief. I did not known what I can achieve at the end, at the start, it was all about ideas and thinking. Than the concept becomes more complex and require us to transfer the design ideas into a real project. This process included modeling,digitizing and fabrication. This complex process require us to understand different discipline knowledge. In today’s architecture industry, having a new idea is not good enough to achieve an amazing project, the final outcome will be effected by modeling process, digital technique and construction process.

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PART A. CASE FOR INNOVATION

A.1.

ARCHITECTURE AS A DISCOURSE

Much of what we know of institutions, the distribution of power, social relations, cultural values, and everyday life is mediated by the built environment.

Dutton, Thomas A. and Lian Hurst Mann, eds (1996). Reconstructing Architecture: Critical Discourses and Social Practices (Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press), p. 1

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ARCHITECTURE AS DISCOURSE

In order to build the basis of our argument for an architectural solution for the Gateway project,

we need to firstly understand the concept of architecture. What is architecture? The definition can be various. The most familiar definition will be described architecture as buildings and physical structure or a piece of art and science of designing. However, these definitions limit the meaning of architecture by focusing on the temporary external appearance of the building and ignoring the ongoing communication process which architecture has to achieve engaged with its surrounding environment, users and everyone participated over long period of time.

In Richard Williams’s article ‘Architecture and Visual Culture’ he claims that architecture as art

is in many respects the default mode of architecture writing. Instead of seeing architecture as some individuals’ personal art work, we are more likely to agree that is a uniquely compromised art. The reason can be - It existing because a client allows it to exist.

- The client determines the function of a project and its specification, location and cost.

- The architect must work within the limitation of a location.

- Work with other professional: engineer, quantity surveyors, building contractor etc.

- The idea of authorship in architecture is highly complex.

- They are practices that involve social, commercial network and institutions.

Overall, architecture needs to be analysed as discourse , which everyone can be participated with. In the other hand, the consumption of architecture can be based on the understanding of it as sign and its spatial experience. Therefor it will be a better idea to consider architecture as a network of practices and debates about the built environment rather than just focusing on one single aspect such as material, structure or design concept.

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PRECEDENT 1

SANAA : DIOR IN OMOTESAN

This building is located in Omotesando, along with Ginza. It is the most important commercial areas in Tokyo constellation of the worlds’ most famous fashion brands. There are many notable works by major Japanese Buidling by Fumihiko Maki and Prada by Herzog and DeMeuron.

According to the special condition of the site, build a functional building will not meet the client’s needs. Ka

and he wants to sell as much Dior as possible”, this is the basic requirement by the client. Even though the ar consider it first and try to achieve it in their own way. This shows the difference between architecture to othe art. Based on these, Sejima come out the design idea of separating the exterior and interior. The exterior is v want to buy pretty goods and feels themselves special, behind the beautiful wall will be the Dior Company’s conflict between their appearance and intention.

Similar to other projects the SANAA office has done, the proposal for this Dior building is minimalist and simpl

elements such as glass to keep the structure looks simple and to allow the interior space be involved within t the Dior building creates a feeling of visual interaction in different degree with the interior of the building by a translucent acrylic coating is placed behind the glass to create a beautiful designable façade according of different opacity of acrylic at each level, the lighting effects seen from outside is varies. Especially at nigh clothing like a beautiful girl. This façade design is according to the architectural principles of SANAA, howev by attracting their customer walking into the store.

I have been to this place two years ago, I feel like this building is a beautiful girl stand along the street and is

believe their customer will feel same as me, and feel like to walk into the store and become special like this ‘ design purpose by showing their design concept as well as meeting their client’s requirement. I think it is a gr

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NDO, TOKYO 2003

o, which dedicated to the fashion and housing a and international architecture firms. Such as Spiral

azuyo Sejima says “Mr. Amault is a very rich man, rchitects are not so interested in it, they have to er art, again it is more like a uniquely compromised very beautiful and attractive to their buyers who s intention. Here, the architects want to keep some

le. In her design, Sejima likes to use clear modernist the outside world. Based on a conceptual “skin”, using prism of glass and metal. Additionally, g to the architectural principle of SANNA. Because ht, the building looks like wearing thin lightweight ver I think it also help to achieve the client’s intention

s the highlight of the street with its shining ‘skin’. I ‘Pretty girl’ (Dior store). SANNA office achieves their reat example of architecture as discourse.

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PRECEDENT 2

Frank Lloyd Wright :Solomon R. Gugge

Solomon R. Guggenheim museum opened to the public on 1959 and it was designed by Frank Lloyd Wrigh

building to house the Museum of Non-objective Painting, the director of the museum instructed Wright “I wa

This masterpiece was recognized as an architectural landmark immediately as it opened after six month of

Museum can be regard as the most important building of Wright’s late career. As required by the director o to modernism under Wright’s design. It is the unique architecture of space, with its spiral ramp riding to a do a unique forum for the presentation of contemporary art. In the words of Paul Goldberger, “Wright’s buildin architect design a highly expressive, intensely personal museum. In this sense almost every museum of our t

However, regarding to the financial reason, Wright’s proposed ten- story tower behind the smaller rotunda

ture as discourse mentioned before, architecture is an ongoing communication process, if the users canno than change need to be made. In 1990, the Wright building was closed to the public to enable the expans Siegel & Associates. They converted the storage and office into galleries, and improved the exbition capab Wright’s original design. The tower's simple facade and grid pattern highlight Wright's unique spiral design a scape behind the museum. It is now continue to work as a main museum and landmark building in the cen

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enheim Museum 1959

ht. In 1943, Weight was commissioned to design a ant a temple of spirit, a monument!”

f Weight’s death. The Solomon R. Guggenheim of the museum, this museum becomes a monument omed skylight, continues to thrill visitors and provide ng made it socially and culturally acceptable for an time is a child of the Guggenheim”

a went unrealized. Refer to the concept of architecot value them in architect’s original design purpose, sion and a major interior restoration by Gwathmey bilities of the museum without detracting from and serves as a backdrop to the rising urban landnter of New York City.

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PART A. CASE FOR INNOVATION

A.2.

COMPUATIONAL ARCHITECTURE

“ The dominant mode of utilizing computers in architecture today is that of COMPUTERIZATION; ENTITies or processes that are already conceptualized in the designer’s mind are entered, manipulated, or stored on a computer system. In contrast, COMPUTATION or COMPUTING, as a computer-based design tool, is generally limited.”

Terzidis, Kostas(2006). Algorithmic Architecture(Bosten, MA:Elsevier),P.xi

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COMUTATIONAL ARCHITECTURE How computer has engaged within the revolution of design process?How does computer affect the design process? What are the going and incoming changes within design and construction industries? How does computation impact on the range of conceivable and achievable geometries? What does computer contribute to evidence – and performance- oriented designing? What unique opportunities and innovations it presents and how does these concepts relate to preceding architecture theory?

Problem analysis plays an important role in the process of design. It allows us to un-

cover the roots causes, which can help devise the means to solve the problem. However, there is often limited information contained to solve the problem. At this point, the designer need to make difficult tradeoffs between multiple and conflicting goals, and then guess whose outcome cannot be reliably predicted. Relying on intuition and creativity will help to overcome these difficulties. But unlike art, architecture design is an activity that deals with externally imposed constrains which can include site condition, climate, cost, client requirement. These require architecture to conclude the design process by both analysis the problem and be creative at the same time.

Computers as a sign of modernism are effective analytical engines, which can help

designer to improve the efficiency of design process by analyzing problem in a fast and accurate way. However they are machine, they lack the creative abilities and intuition. Hence the evolution of design process will be making human and computer work together as a powerful symbiotic design system, while computer can contribute their superb rational and search abilities and human can contribute all the creativity and intuition needed to find out the most suitable solution of the design.

The evolution of architecture design process is related to digital information revolution

which has a similar scale and influence as the industrial revolution happened before.

Using computer during the design process is like share the information between human and computer. It is can be seen as a communication process. However, the challenge will be the difficulties of communicate information from human to computer. In order to deal with this problem, the computational systems has developed to provide different level of assistance to help human design by taking care different part of the design process. For example, if the system was ranged by drafting and modeling, the role of computer will be limited in drawing lines and other geometrical entities. (Such as the different strength of Rhino and Auto CAD) These different types of the system help designer in different area and ways, it is useful to achieve different outcome. Again, the role of communication will become more important between computer and human and also human to human to allow the design information be understood and transferred by everyone participated.

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PRECEDENT 3

Frank Gehry :Guggenheim Museum(1

Frank Gehry’s Guggenheium Museum in Bilbao is described as the most known example which captures the

to the industry revolution, the new information age is challenging not only how we design building but also h

“In the conceptual realm, computational, digital architecture of topological, non-euclidean geometric spa

rithms, are supplanting technological architecture.” Since the appearance of computer aided design, whic more professional and accurate way, the technologies have started to have an impact on building design a tect to produce a more complex form and also produce construction drawing into a large scale with details require the architect’s professional knowledge about structure and material. By using this program, architect the final design will become more practical toward the construction process.

As CAD programs made the construction drawing process more accurate and simple to approach, it allow

design which can be located at the required space and engaged with its surrounding environments and pe tionized by collaboration with computer numerical control machines (CNCS). Using Rhino with plug- in editor CNC. This allows the architect design the forms by calculating based on construction efficiency.

The Guggenheim Museum in Bibao is the first implement of this system. After winning the commission with the

to find the way of making the design into a reality. After they realized the existing architecture design progra powerful software(CATIA) which is designed for the airplane and automotive industry. Except the heavy dut very successful based on the more efficient construction way and less building cost.

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1997), Bilbo, Spain 1997

e zeitgeist of the digital information revolution. Similar how we manufacture and construct them.

ace, kinetic and dynamic systems, and genetic algoch was used to produce the construction drawing in a and construction practices. This program allow archis. This is not only benefit to the design process, it also t can analysis and design at the same time, hence

w the designer to build up a more complex geometric eople participated. Architecture also has been revolur Grasshopper is architects’ typically way to design for

eir curvy model, Frank Gehry and his partner started am may not suffice at this point, they turned to more ty structure issue of the facade, the final outcome is

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PRECEDENT 4 ARCHITECT FUTURE SYSTEM: LORD’S MEDIA

Architecture as a new industry been revolutionized by the digital technology in its design process, it is impo to adopt of innovative technologies. As described by Kolarevic (2003) that buildings and ships are similar in more to learn from the shipbuilding industry. For example, Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Museum will not be a industry regarding to the its heavy structure issue. Another good example of architect made creative use o project- The Natwest Media Centre at the lord’s Cricket Ground in London. “It was manufactured in a sma ed in segments for assembly at the building’s site. The shipbuilder’s expertise in making aluminum yacht hul first semi-monocoque building structure from aluminum.”

Today, the manufactured using digitally driven is used in various areas. From the construction process of Th ings have the same potential to be digitally conceived and produce. However, there are also disadvantag for designer, this may limit the creativity of architecture design by creating forms based on the software. In scripting can provides unique opportunity for innovation to enable the designer to customize the software ing. Relate to the Gate Way project, using of Grasshopper plunged in Rhino will give us more opportunity to process.

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CENTRE, LONDON,UK 1999

ortant to learn from other profound industries in order n many ways, architects and builders have much achieved without the local steel and shipbuilding of shipbuilder’s expertise will be office Future System’s all shipyard in Cornwall, England, and then transportlls was essential in designing and manufacturing the

he Natwest Media Centre, we can define that buildge of using software that are mainly be programmed n Mark Burry’s book Scripting Cultures, he suggesst that around their own predilections and modes of worko control and develop our design during our design

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PART A. CASE FOR INNOVATION

A.3.

PARAMETRIC MODELLING

“Post- modernism and deconstructiovism were mere transitional episodes” and parametricism will be “the great new style after modernism” Schumacher, Partrik. 2010. “The Parametric Epoth: Let the style Wars begin.” Architecture’s Journal 231(16):41-45.

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PARAMETRIC MODELLING Parametric modeling represents change in architecture design process. In an exclusive text for the AJ, Patrik Schumacher of Zaha Hadid Architects argues that the unified style of architecture for the 21st century will be parametricism.

What is Parametric modeling?

Its ‘ set of equations that express a set of quantities as explicit function of a number of independent variables, known as ‘ parameters’ Weisstein 2003,2150

Negative principle

-Avoid rigid form(lack of malleability) -Avoid simple repetition( lack of variety) -Avoid rigid functional stereotypes -Avoid segregative function zoning

Positive principle

-All form must be soft -All system must be differentiated and interdependent -All functions are parametric activity scenarios -All activities communicate with each other Parametric modeling introduces a fundamental change: “ Marks”, that is, parts of a design, relate and change together in a coordinated way. No longer must designers simply add and erase. They now add, erase and repair. (Woodbury 2010) To achieve this, it requires designer to consider the relationship between each elements, and regarding them as a whole system.

Architecture is not only about designing and constructing a building for the clients, it is need to be regarded as a system of ongoing communication process. This can be the communication between architect and client, communication between users and building even the communication between designer and computer. These results of these communications will influence the outcome of the project while they will help designer to make a further decision during the design process.

Refer to the Gate Way Project, I believe that by using of parametric modeling under the concept of architecture as a discourse will produce a notable project. First, understanding of architecture will be contribute to the design idea to this project, then we need to analysis the site and brief to come out a design concept. Then the important part will be put the idea into digital software to find the most suitable solution to this project based on understanding the relationship between each elements.

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PRECEDENT 5

ZAHA HADIA: BAKO FACTORY, DOWNTOWN BE

Zaha Hadid is one of the pioneer of using parametric design. From her design of Bako factory in Serbia

principle involved in. The overall soft surface is continued around the site. It maximizes the malleability o ture provides a space for people to encounter and allow each function and activities can communica lenge of this project will be the construction process, as the size of the building is much larger than the of manufactory product and construction practice to achieve the final construction.

Based on using parametric modeling, her design are distinctively futuristic, which is characterized by th

structure� with “ multiple perspective points and fragmented geometry to evoke the chaos of modern

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ELGRADE, SERBIA UNBUILT

a, we can clearly see the parametric modeling of the structure and fit it into the site. This strucation in this whole structure. However, the chalNatwest Media Centre, it will require a high level

he “ powerful, curving forms of her elongated n life� (Zaha Hadid,2007)

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PRECEDENT 6

HERZOG & DE MEURON: CHINA’S NATIONAL

The Beijing National Stadium is another example of using parametric modeling. Construction began on the B was finished in early 2008.As the stadium was designed for use throughout the 2008 Summer Olymocs and Pa for this very important public stadium. The brief is to design a stadium that was “porous” while also being “a c team wanted to achieve an optimum balance between making sure every spectator had a nice view and for the structure is to get everyone close to the main venue, this rise the task of accurate calculation.

In order to achieve the optimum design, parametric design is used to work out the sightlines, the bowl geom condition, seismic studies and the design of the façade. To make sure the web of twisting steel sections can cated calculation is engaged by using the software.

The random looking ‘nest’ is not simple as it be looked as, it following the rules of geometry and contains 36 k benefit from parametric calculation.

AS both the example of parametric design, Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Gehry has more heavy tional Stadium. This also indicates the innovation ways of making space and sustainability approach.

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L STADIUM, BEIJING, CHINA

Beijing National Stadium on 23 December 2003 and aralympics, China wanted to have something new collective building, a public vessel�. The design also creating a good atmosphere. They challenge

metry, natural ventilation to keep the grass in good be fitted together to follow the surface, a compli-

km of unwrapped steel. These outcomes are all

y structure and façade compared to Beijing Na-

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A.4.

ALGORITHMIC EXPLORATION

Here are two simple example of my algorithmic exploration, they are based on points, lines and curve. By doing this, I understood the essential feature of an algorithm is that it is made up of a finite set of rules or operations that are unambiguous and simple to follow. By connecting each elements in Grasshopper and defined them in number slide, I understand the concept of definite and effective. According to term of effective, I found it can be both advantage and disadvantage during the design process. When there are many command going on, it will be difficulties to find the problem and make change. At this stage, I think I do not have enough knowledge to deal with the technical problems. And I need to learn more and analysis the relationship between each algorithmic elements. Otherwise, the outcome will not represent the design ideas.

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A.5.

CONCLUSION

Architecture is not only about designing and constructing a building for the clients, it is need to be regarded as a system of ongoing communication process.

This can be the communication between architect and client, communication between users and building even the communication between designer and computer. These results of these communications will influence the outcome of the project while they will help designer to make a further decision during the design process.

Refer to the Gate Way Project, I believe that by using of parametric modeling under the concept of architecture as a discourse will produce a notable project. First, understanding of architecture will be contribute to the design idea to this project, then we need to analysis the site and brief to come out a design concept. Then the important part will be put the idea into digital software to find the most suitable solution to this project based on understanding the relationship between each elements.

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A.6.

LEARNING OUTCOME

-In steading of seeing architecture as art, we are more likely to agree it is a uniquely compromised art which need to engage with everyone participated in.

-When use computer to design a project, it is important to understand the difference between computerization and computation. We need to ensure we use computerization to develop our design while computation will limit our idea.

-The evolution of design process with computer will be making human and computer work together as a powerful symbiotic design system, while computer can contribute their superb rational and search abilities and human can contribute all the creativity and intuition needed to find out the most suitable solution of the design.

-Parametric design can help to calculate the complex part of a geometric shape to allow it been achieved.

-By design with computer, it is a good idea to learn from other industry such as shipbuilding which are profound adapted the innovation of technologies.

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REFERENCE Anthony Askew, An Introduction to Parametric Design, uk. Accessed on 4 April 2013 from:http://anthonyaskew.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/an-introduction-toparametric-design/ Burry, Mark (2011). Scripting Cultures: Architectural Design and Programming (Chichester: Wiley), pp. 8 - 71.

Definition of "algorithm" in Wilson, Robert A. and Frank C. Keil eds(1999) in The Mit Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science (London: The MIT Press) Yehuda E. Guggenenheim, TheFrank Lloyd Wright Building, New York. Accessed on 3 April 2013 from http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/about/frank-lloyd-wrightbuilding Kalay, Architecture's New Media : Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2004), pp. 5 – 25.

Kolarevic, Branko, Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing (New York; London: Spon Press, 2003), pp. 28 – 62.

My Architecture Moleskine, Sanaa/ Kumilo Inui: Dior in Tokyo, Accessed on 4 April 2013 http://architecturalmoleskine.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/sanaa-kumiko-inui-dior-in-tokyo.html National Stadium ‘ Bird’s Nest” architecture, designbuild, Accessed on 4 April 2013 from: http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/national_stadium/ Patrik Schumacher, 'Introduction : Architecture as Autopoietic System', in The Autopoiesis of Architecture (Chichester: J. Wiley, 2011), pp. 1 - 28.

Richard Williams, 'Architecture and Visual Culture', in Exploring Visual Culture : Definitions, Concepts, Contexts, ed. by Matthew Rampley (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2005), pp. 102 - 116.

Woodbury, Robert F. and Andrew L. Burrow (2006). 'Whither design space?', Artificial Intelligence for Engineering Design, Analysis and Manufacturing, 20 , 2, pp. 63-82.

Woodbury, Robert (2010). Elements of Parametric Design (London: Routledge) pp. 7-48.

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