ARCH20003Digital Design_M1 Journal

Digital Design - Module 01 Semester 1, 2019 Melody Yan

(994311) Joel Collins Studio 21

Week One

Reading: Zeara Polo, A. 2010. Between Ideas and Matters.

According to Zeara-Polo, the diagram does not play a representational role in the design process but provides an organisational and can have a performative quality depending on how it is deployed. Explain how Diagram is different from Signs and Symbols? (100 words Maximum)

Symbols and Signs are communicative techniques which do not provide relationships between concepts and form. They were primarily employed to produce ‘mediations between cualturla or subjective representations’ (p.239). The meaning of a symbol has not direct relations with the actual thing.

On the other hand, a diagram is an organisational tool that suggests movements and describe relationships within a spacial context, as Zeara-Polo suggests, ‘a very simple diagram may generate very complex organisations’ (p.240). Diagrams help us to imagine and conceptualise what is beyond the reality, triggering possibilities.

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Week One

Precedent Analysis

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1. Plan top view of the 3D model in Rhino showing the layering system of petal panels 2. Perspective View the panels and slender columns resemble trees together

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3. Elevation showing the height difference between the petal panels

Gollings, John. MPavilion, Photograph. October 5 2015. Accessed March 10, 2019. https://www.designboom.com/ architecture/al_a-amanda-levete-mpavilion-melbourne-queen-victoria-gardens-10-05-2015/.

The precedent study I was given is the MPavilion, designed by Amanda Levete. During the modelling process, the pavilion was divided in to four different layers: the petal panels, the frames that support the panels from below, the slender columns, and the timber deck. I began modelling by importing the given plan and elevation into Rhino. I traced the outline of the timber deck and turned it into a solid, then duplicated one completed rhombic unit to cover the whole ground area, which became the base of my 3D model. Similar technique was employed to model all other three layers, since the pavilion is composed of repetitive elements.

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Week Two

Reading: Hertzberger H. 2005. The in-between and The Habitable Space Between Things, from Lessons for Students in Architecture.

Herzberger discusses how design should not be extreme in its functionality. Use your precedent study to explain how the pavilion allows for an appropriation of use. (100 words Maximum)

Herzberger argues that ‘the threshold provides the key to the transition and connection between areas’ (p.32). In the MPavilion, the transition from the exterior to interior is created by the timber deck and the plantation, but is blurred and softened by the poles. The absence of walls allows the fluidity of movements, inviting people to gather, meet-up, rest or perform. The space defined under the ‘canopy’ does not have a definite ‘entrance’, so people can enter and exit the pavilion from different directions.

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Week Two

Isometric

MPavilion by Amanda Levete Architects

The isometric view was captured form the South-West viewpoint in Rhino.

According to the pavilion’s description, the architects were aimed to highlight the lightness and a sense of ‘resemblance of nature’ in the pavilion. The translucent roof panels were the key element used to resemble a forest canopy. There are two different types of panels shown, so I modelled two and duplicated them around. In order to represent the light, translucent surfaces, I lowered the lineweights and opacity of the panels’ patterns in Illustrator.

The pavilion is divided into four layers and each of them has different visual languages. Therefore, I exported the lines layer by layer and adjusted their lineweights in Illustrator to achieve clarity.

Vegetation was added in Illustrator. The grass not only acts as a ‘border’ around the timber deck, but also reaching out to the landscape, connecting to the surrounding environment inside the garden.

Although vegetation and the poles slightly restrict the circulation of movements, visitors are still free to enter from different directions. This makes the MPavilion become a space to congregate.

Thresholds were created between the poles and below the roof. The canopy of translucent petal panels forms a shaded space underneath, which allows the light and wind but it is not fully exposed.

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Week Two Diagrams

Circulation

Thresholds

As the pavilion does not have one particular entrance and exit, people can enter and walk around from different directions. The circulation of movements is limited by vegetation around the timber deck, as well as the benches which are placed for visitors to occupy.

There is a blurred boundary between the internal space and the external landscape of Queen Victoria Gardens. The abstract idea of threshold is created between the carbon poles and underneath the petal panels.

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Appendix

Process

Fisrst of all, I imported the given plan to Rhino. Making sure the plan is set to 1:1 scale.

Start tracing the timber deck using Polyline command.

Use Planar srf to make surface.

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Using Extrudesrf command to create depth. Duplicating the unit to cover the timber deck area according to the imported plan.

Appendix Process

Measure the radius of the circular end of the panel on plan. Model the petal panles and the structual frame by using Polygon, ArrayPolar, Polyline and Arc commands.

Duplicating petal panels by employing Gumball command, and Move them to the correct positions according to the imported plan.

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Layering the petal panels with references to both plan and elevation. However, the petal panels were made too thick at this stage, so I scaled the thickness down as my tutor suggested in week 2’s Studio 1.

Appendix

Process

Use Polyline command to draw a line and array it in y direction with 14 lines. Rotate the lines and copy them around the centre point. Then trim the lines that are outside the panel petals.

Duplicate the lines (patterns) and place it on top of each panel. Nevertheless, I should create the radiating patterns at earlier stages. That would save a lot of time as I could skip this step.

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Make 2D of each layer in Rhino and export as Illustrator file. Create four differnet layers in Illustrator. Adjust their lineweights in Illustrator, as they have different representitve languages in the MPavilion.