DD M1 Journal

Digital Design - Module 01 Semester 1, 2019 Natalie Ang

996016 Junhan Foong + Studio 6

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 the representation of the qualities, functions and properties of the object itself. They refer to their dynamic objects through formal representations. However, there is no correlation between the materiality of the object and its performance. The relationship between its form and its content is non-binding.

Conversely, diagrams do not play a representational role for the object. Instead, diagrams mediate the physical constructs and concepts on an organisational level, having the potential to produce organisations with multiple readings. Diagrams condenses information and describes relationships in space.

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Week One

Precedent Analysis

Far Left - John Gollings, MPavilion 2018 / Carme Pinós, 2018, photograph, https://www.archdaily. com/903355/carme-pinos-designed-2018-mpavilion-opens-inmelbourne Top Left - Tracing the contour lines of the altered topography and patching them.

Top Right - Top view of the extruded linework for the steel structure Bottom Left - Aligning the roof

Using the plan, elevation and section plans, elements such as the steel frame and timber of the panels were traced and extruded to give it volume. As the roof is made up of two identical planes (just rotated at different angles), I modelled one plane in full and duplicated it. With the help of the elevation and section plans, the extruded parts of the structure’s panels were rotated to the appropriate angles.

The contour lines of the man-made hills were traced and brought up to their respective heights. The ‘Patch’ command was used to create a surface out of the contour lines.

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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 asserts that design shouldn’t be extreme in its functionality so that spaces can be adapted to any use a user wishes. Thus, this maximises the use of the space rather than constraint it to a single use, which ultimately wastes space. Extreme functionality in a design can inhibit the potentials of different uses in a space.

As such, the MPavilion by Carme Pinós allows for an appropriation of use by creating an open spaced public structure. The open spaced nature of the Pavilion allows and invites people to interact with each other. Moreover, it’s aimed to function for different uses.

The incorporation of tiered seating allows people to enjoy social activites. However, the pavilion doesn’t just serve as a gallery for people to walk through, but can be used to hold events, meetings and performances.

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Week Two

Isometric

Carme Pinós’ MPavilion This isometric view was taken from the South-East viewpoint. The pavilion consists of steel structure combined with polycarbonate and timber to form planes that are anchored onto man-made hills.

The initial modelling process was fairly straightforward due to the fact that the planes are angular, making it to trace over the plan views easily. I decided to not show the gutter of the structure as it serves a more technical purpose of draining water from the structure. Consequently, I felt it was unnecessary to show it as it did not contribute to the circulation or threshold of the space. What was modelled in more detail was the roof structure, which incorporated the steel frame, polycarbonate and timber. This was done to reflect Pinós’ intentions to dissolve relationships between material, environment and human.

However, after tracing the respective elements, it was a struggle to assemble the different planes that make up the whole structure together. In particular, the sloping roof planes were hard to place at the right angle and join them to the walls.

The circulation of the space is informed by the openness of the space created by the structure. The incorporation of the tiered seating allows and enables users the opportunity for temporary appropriation. The entrances into the pavilion are mainly the North-West and South-East entrances, making users walk through the structure and be opened up to views of nature and the city’s skyline.

The threshold of the pavilion is blurred as there’s no sharp demarcation of where each components are located within. The designer’s intent was for the pavilion to be different as it’s sensitive of the change of nature.

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Week Two Diagrams

Circulation Diagram

Threshold Diagram

Since the main entrance and exit to the pavilion are the North-West and South-East openings, users are encouraged to move through the structure, experiencing the architecture and taking the time to explore the space and nature.

Due to the architect’s intent of creating a pavilion that promote relationships between people, design and nature, the threshold of this pavilion is designed to be blurred. Consequently, there’s a duality of feeling sheltered in a semi-enclosed space but at the same time in the outside world experiencing nature through spatial views, observing the rain, changes of the sunlight and shadows moving.

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Appendix

Process

The pavilion plan was imported onto Rhino using the ‘PictureFrame’ command. In order to set up a 1:1 scale, a 5000mm line was created in Rhino and scaling up the plan to align with the 5000m line.

Using ‘Curve’ command to trace the contour lines of the man-made hills. In Front view, the contour lines were brought up to different heights.

Using ‘Patch’ command to create a surface out of the contour lines.

‘Polyline’ command to trace the different parts of the roof structure. ‘ExtrudedCrv’ to give the different parts volume.

‘Group’ command to group the elements of each part together to make it easier to move around.

Using the ‘Gumball’, one side of the roof plane was duplicated and rotated.

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Appendix Process

‘Polyline’ to trace and created the vertical side panels. This was done in Top view and the panels were rotated to stand upright.

Creating and using guidelines to help with the placement of the panels.

Using guidelines to help with the placement of the roof. In Front view, try to match the roof planes to the section and elevation.

During the whole modelling process, different layers were created for different aspects to the design. By doing this, I was able to hide unnecessary elements with ease when needed to.

‘Make2D’ of the structure to get the linework.

Front and Right view were used to help with the rotation of the roof panels. ‘Rotate’ command was useful in rotating the plans to the appropriate angle.

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