STUDIO AIR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST NADIAH ABDUL GAFAR 376 192
CONTENTS
01 02 04 09 10 11 18
CASE STUDY : BANQ RESTAURANT RESEARCH PROJECT THE CONNECTION DEFINING PARAMETRIC ADVANCING ARCHITECTURAL DISCOURSE
INTRODUCTION : GEOMETRY IN ARCHITECTURE THEMES
THEMES
architecture
geometry
parametric
computation
INTRODUCTION
“ A volume is enveloped by a surface, a surface that is divided according to the generators and the directing vectors of the volume, accentuating the individuality of this volume. Architects today are afraid of the geometric constituents of surfaces. The great problems of modern construction will be solved with geometry.�
GEOMETRY IN ARCHITECTURE ‘Geometrical architecture’ - this will be the main theme of the journal. Architecture as we see today no longer relates itself to mathematics. Any matters involving mathematics had no longer be under the power of the architect himself, rather, everything concerning calculation are now being passed to the engineers - the structural load, the suitable height or width, thickness and so on. As a result of this, we often see contemporary architecture with no pure qualities which supposedly derived from a meticulously calculated geometries. Yes, maybe to a certain extent, fluid architecture may look more unique, and beautiful, but these buildings may not have spatial qualities. Some of the building have extreme corners which could not accomodate any activity or furnitures in it, some may also have redundant space. Compare two buildings - the ancient and the new. For ancient architecture, let’s take the Parthenon which was built with complete details through the calculation of geometries and human ratios. Meanwhile, for the new, modern architecture, let’s take Zaha Hadid’s building; Performing Arts Centre in Abu Dhabi - which theme was ‘fluidity’. Which one is more influential? Of course the Parthenon is far more influential in architecture as it had became many architects’ references, such as the pioneer of modern architecture; Le Corbusier. Eventhough it had been decades after Le Corbusier’s era, we could see how his architecture is still being adored by many people. All of this is because the buildings mentioned; the Parthenon and Le Corbusier’s buildings were all designed on the basis of not just a mere sketches , but also an intense calculation of geometries, scales, and ratios. Unlike the fluid-like architecture of Zaha Hadid, it does not relate to the site, it confuses people, and it is completely alien to the space it was in. This is because, Zaha Hadid did not designed with geometries and mathematical concerns. Her design ideas came merely from sketches, nature and many other inspirations. Below is the quotes from none other but the father of modern architecture - Le Corbusier. “ A volume is enveloped by a surface, a surface that is divided according to the generators and the directing vectors of the volume, accentuating the individuality of this volume. Architects today are afraid of the geometric constituents of surfaces. The great problems of modern construction will be solved with geometry.”
ADVANCING ARCHITECTURAL DISCOURSE computational architecture
vernacular architecture parametric architecture
ARCHITECTURAL DISCOURSE
ancient architecture fluid architecture
sustainable architecture
“In today’s advancement in building engineering and technology, the creation of architecture is no longer the plaything reserved only for the architect.” -Winston Shu , Principal at Integrated Design Associates Ltd
1 2 HYGROSCOPE
| Achim Menges|
INSTITUT DU MONDE ARABE
| Jean Nouvel |
ABU DHABI PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
| Zaha Hadid |
Therefore this section of EOI will be discussing on how computational architecture and parametric architecture can be considered as advancing the architectural discourse. In all three precedents, the theme geometry will be brought up as to why it is essential in designing an architecture. Beside that, explainations will also be given on why the chosen precedents are relevant to the Gateway Project.
3
The text entitled Architecture and Visual Culture by Richard Williams explains about how most people perceived architecture and the misconception that revolves around the discourse. Architecture often being criticised as merely another branch of art, where in fact, architecture is much more than just that. The text also emphasise on the need for architecture to be seen as a discourse that can be freely participated by any group, meaning, the public who have no knowledge in architecture. And thus, one of the approach suggested by the author was to have what being called as ‘visual culture’.
PRECEDENT 1 :
HYGROSCOPE by Achim Menges
Buildings were often being associated as being fixed and inflexible. However, this project challenged the stereotype given to building. Instead of being fixed, rigid and inflexible, this pavilion was designed to be ever changing and responsive. At times, it could be a rigid and impermeable structure that blocks the view, but it could also be see-through and permeable – all depends on the level of humidity. The main idea of the project is to explore new materials which can be controlled with computational morphogenesis. The way machine computation is used to generate the system is directly related to the way material computation is employed to enable the system’s responsiveness. The data for physically programming the behaviour of the system during the fabrication process corresponds with digitally programming the code that unfolds the systems morphology. In the prototype, approximately 4000 digitally fabricated geometries were assembled together to form a complex structure. The carefully configured structures proves that a single simple geometry could still be constructed into a complex structure, which means, usage of geometries won’t be a constrain in designing a complex structure.
“For this project the computational design research and the related development of the generative code is as important as the material system research.” - Achim Menges
These idea of computational morphogenesis and carefully configured geometries can be adopted in the Gateway Project, and will surely be an innovative architecture of its time. Just imagine having a structure that can be a sculpture during sunny days, and can also be a temporary shed for motorcyclists during rainy days.
PRECEDENT 2 :
INSTITUT DU MONDE ARABE by Jean Nouvel
The second precedent is quite similar to the first precedent, in which, it emphasise on the ability of structure to react with the surrounding. What differs though, is that this second precedent does not explore new material, rather, it make full use of stainless steel to operate corresponding to computational system. However, what is more interesting is that how geometries were used in this project. As we all aware, the most influential architectural element in Islamic architecture is its geometries. Traditionally, the mosques and many other buildings used geometrical patterns by either using ceramic tiles or carvings. Meanwhile, in this precedent, the same sense of geometrical patterns were being used, but not through carvings nor arrangements of tiles. Instead, those geometrical patterns were formed through punctured sheets of metals which were then installed with light-controller devices which opened widely when the light intensity is low and opened only slightly as the light intensity increases. This combined usage of computational system and geometries really intrigues me to see how this sort of concept could be developed further than just to be a facade of a building. Would this concept be functional if it is to be placed on a highway? I really refuse the idea of having a static structure as a gateway, or a mere sculpture. Instead, I want something that is responsive and functional. This is to accept the challenge proposed by Kalay; “... unlike art, which must often conform only to the artists selfimposed goals and constraints, architectural design is an activity that deals, in equal measures, with externally imposed constraints (e.g., site conditions, climate, functionality, cost, building codes, and so forth) and internally drawn inspirations.�
PRECEDENT 3 :
ABU DHABI PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE by Zaha Hadid
Zaha Hadid had been recognised as the ‘diva’ of digital architecture. What makes her architecture unique is that most of her buildings have a sense of sublimity - it’s extremely smooth, fluid, and most of the time so different from its surrounding. While many people adore her works,I completely repels most of her designs because it contradicts almost every understanding of architecture. The understanding of ‘building as a machine for living’ proposed by Le Corbusier, the understanding of pure geometries and organised plan, and the understanding of designing according to scale all had been contradicted by Zaha Hadid. And all of these contradictions can be best explained through her building in Abu Dhabi - The Performing Arts Centre. The reason I picked this project as one of the precedent is to highlight that my proposal for the Gateway Project will not have any sense of fluidity because to my reasoning, this type of architecture somehow confuses the people. It is out of context and most of all, it produces a lot of space redundancy because there is no meticulous calculation on how much area of space is needed to accommodate a particular activities with a particular capacities. In fluid architecture, there is so much designing only to pleases the eyes rather than other more important aspects such as functionality, costs, and spatial qualities. This is one of the main reason of using geometries in designing and planning an architecture. As stated by Simon Unwin in his book titled Analysing Architecture; “ The application of geometry was seen as one way human beings could improve the imperfect world in which they found themselves. Geometric purity was thus seen as a manifestation of the human ability, or perhaps duty, to make the world better. The result was that architects produced designs for buildings composed using perfect figures,axial symmetry and geometric ratios.” Prior to the Gateway Project, it is important to consider a design that won’t confuses and harm the drivers, and won’t take too much space as the space is very limited on the highway. Hence, the best way to achieve this is by adopting the usage of geometries in the design.
DEFINING PARAMETRIC “... Parametric Architecture, is susceptible to always continuous, successive, quantitative, precise definition following upon always more rigorous in-depth research and statistical evaluations.” - Bucci, F., Moretti, L., and Mulazzani, M. “Luigi Moretti: Works and Writings” (New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2002), 208.
Regardless of the excerpt given above, a standard definition of Parametric Architecture will be given for the sake of a better understanding on the discussion in this journal. Therefore, Parametric Architecture in my understanding is a design process used by those within the architectural disciplinary to manipulate an element by using a variables. Thus, parametric and mathematics are complementary to each other. Imagine a circle rubber band is pinned on a square grid. By manipulating or changing the variables (let’s say changing the shape of the grid), the shape of the circular rubber band will also changed because it was attached on the grid. Hence, this process of manipulating a parameter/variable is what came to be known as ‘parametric’.
THE CONNECTION
between geometries and parametric architecture
geometry
parametric
“When parametric design is referred to, however, at this stage in its evolution, the reference is to Cartesian geometry only and the ability to modify the geometry by means other than erasure and recomposition. In this sense, parametric design is more accurately referred to as ‘associative geometry’ ...” - Kolarevic, B. “Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing” (New York: Spon Press, 2003), 149.
OUR VISION: All parametric design will have geometries in it because parametric at the first place is made of geometry. Hence, what will make our concept proposed for the Wyndham Gateway Project significant from the others is because we aim to bring back the usage of mathematics and ‘calculated geometries’ in our design, rather than just placing geometries to please the eyes. We will ensure that our design, based on mathematics and geometries, is not merely a sculpture that people just passed through, but it will also be a strcuture with functions and could interact with the drivers.
RESEARCH PROJECT CUT | DEVELOP
At this stage, many possibilities of Grasshopper (a parametric designing software) had been explored. The aim is to identify the limitations and the possibilities out of this computational system. We were also analysing case studies at this stage in order for us to identify the most suitable technique to be used for our final design.
CUT | DEVELOP : THE PROCESS
6 4 2
7 5 3 1
IDENTIFYING SHORTCOMINGS AND LIMITATIONS
CASE STUDY EXPLORATION
GRASSHOPPER TECHNIQUE SELECTION
DEVELOPING THE BEST MATRIX
CLASSIFYING MATRICES - ACCORDING TO CRITERIA
EXPLORING MATRIX - PRODUCE 90 MATRICES
CLARIFYING THE THEME BEFORE EXPLORATION
EXPLORING MATRIX input
surface grids
output
extrusion
image sampler
boolean patterning
components
attractor point
surface normal
curve attractor
extrusion
association
input
surface normal
output
components
maths function
overlapping patterns
components
image sampler
surface normal
maths function
extrusion
association
EXPLORING MATRIX input
surface grids
output
extrusion
curve attractor
curve intersection
components
maths function
overlapping patterns
multiple functions
extrusion
association
APPLICABLE TO THE GATEWAY PROJECT
CLASSIFYING MATRICES
EMPHASISE THE THEMES
SELECTING MATRIX surface grids
curve attractor
extrusion
surface normal
extrusion
curve attractor
From both of these matrices, we could see that the most suitable technique that could be used is the extrusion method because it enables us to achieve the geometric structure. It is also obvious from these two images above that a single geometry is capable of being built up into a more complex volumetric structure.
By exploring the reverse engineering of this case study, we could further explore the potential of a geometric plane in making a volume and how to further develop it to make it more interesting than the one being constructed in the Banq Restaurant.
Architect : Office dA, Inc.
BANQ RESTAURANT
CASE STUDY :
Banq Restaurant had been chosen as our group’s case study because it explores the capability of a single plane. In this case, a single plane is capable of creating a massive ceiling structure that successfully gives a new experience to the visitor.
vi su al e ffe cts
BANQ RESTAURANT
QUALITIES
e xp e ri e nce
p o e ti c q u a l i t y a e sth e ti c val u e p o te n ti a l fo r d e ve lo p me n t
vo lu me uniqueness
stru ctu ral i n n o vation
g e o m tery
RESEARCH PROJECT :
REVERSE ENGINEERING
OUTCOMES FROM EXPLORATION
SIMPLE CONTOUR COMPONENT
RESEARCH PROJECT :
REVERSE ENGINEERING
INTEGRATION OF ATTRACTO TO CONTROL EXTR
OUTCOMES FROM EXPLORATION
OR POINT ASSOCIATION RUSION LENGTHS
RESEARCH PROJECT :
REVERSE ENGINEERING
OUTCOMES FROM EXPLORATION
CONSTRUCTING THE FRAME
RESEARCH PROJECT :
REVERSE ENGINEERING
ADDING SECOND FRAME TO THE
OUTCOMES FROM EXPLORATION
ADDING THICKNESS TO THE FIRST FRAME
STRUCTURE
RESEARCH PROJECT :
REVERSE ENGINEERING
OUTCOMES FROM EXPLORATION
FINAL OUTCOME