EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Ainin Leong 376072 Wong Siew Wuen 376197 Wang Hooi Ying 376195 Loren Adams Chris
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
In response to the project brief, we would like to propose a design ooutcome which is never twice the same. It is believed that with this idea, a new, inspiring and brave gateway design can be producd. The conceptual driving force for achieving the outcome is based on the idea of fluidity. It is believed that the motion of fluid is ever changing, indicating numerous possibility of formation which is never twice the same. This will give a sense of excitement and visually interesting spatial urban experience for the current site condition which is of mainly straight roads and flat areas. The gateway design is decided to be a static perforated structural membrane instead of a kinetic structure. This is due to the fact that mechanaical “wear and tear� requires frequent maintenance and restallation which would not be cost effective in the long term. The static structure will exploit the sunlight conditions for creating an interesting sculpture. In addition, materials will also be explored interms of their longetivity, change in colour, reflective properties and texture in order to maximise the changing effect. Considering the Wyndham residence who frequently travel accross the interchange, this proposal will benefit them as the ever changing effect will enliven their journey through the highway. Since Wyndham city is known for its sculptural art, this proposal will become another turning point for the city’s achievement in art. This is due to the application of computaional design approach for the project where the outcome indicating that the Wyndhm community has ushered into a more technologically advance generation.
Site Analysis
The City of Wyndham is approximately 542 square kilometers in area. It is located on the western fringe of metropolitan Melbourne, midway between the Melbourne central business district (30 kilometres) and Geelong (35 kilometres). The Princes Freeway is the major transport route, traversing the municipality from east to west. Journey to and from workplaces and leisure faciliies in central Melbourne generate a high proportion of Wyndham’s traffic and most of these journey are made on the Princes Freeway. The proposal of Western Getaway Project is offered to enrich the municipality and enhance the physical environment through the introduction of a visual arts component. The proposed site for the Western Gateway is adjacent to Princes Freeway, at the interchange with the Princes Highway offers a high exposure location to those entering the urban precinct of the municipality. The strategic location of the Western Getaway allows residents of Wyndham to see the Getaway easily everytime when they travel along the Princes Freeway. The Princes Freeway provides excellent exposure onto the site, with south‐bound and north‐bound traffic along the Princes Freeway splitting to create a 90 metre wide road reserve (site‐A), measuring approximately 50,000 metres square. Site A is chosen for Getaway Project due to its strategic location where will primarily be viewed by motorists or drivers who are travelling at high speed and provide the first indication of arrival into metropolitan Melbourne.
Analysis - Transportation for work and Employment location of City of Wyndham residents Based on the census data, it is observed that there are more than 55% of the population who work outside the City of Wyndham especially on the western part out of the municipality. In fact, the bar graph shows that more than 60% of the population travel to work by means of private vehicles. Such significant figure demonstrates how the vast majority of the people, both as driver and as passenger, are transporting across the Western interchange of the Princess Freeway. The landscape across Princess Freeway is rather flat and mundane with wide open grassland on either sides of the road. Hence, in response to the Western Gateway project, the design aims to create a sense of constant changes over the site so as to provide a sculpture which appears to be different every time the drivers pass by. The objective is so that the design could contribute to a significant impact on the passer-by by spicing up their driving journey.
Sunpath at Werribee
Sunpath at Werribee is important to be analyzed as it is the key element for our team to achieve the changing effect of the Getaway Project. As shown in the image, different positions of the sun will cast shadows at different angle accross the sculpture. The driver will be able to see the sculpture appear differently during different times in a day. Thus, causing the sculpture to appear to be changing during the course of a day.
CASE OF INNOVATION
ARCHITECTURE AS A DISCOURSE
Guggemheim Museum Architect Frank Gehry Completed 1997 Location Bilbao, Spain The Guggenheim Museum was credited for its distinct sensation to its urban context environment. As an iconic identity for Bilbao, its design forged a strong sense of visual presence with its surrounding buildings and serve as a gateway to the city’s business and historical districts. Despite the sketches and rough models, such distinctively organic forms can only be implemented through digital means. The complexity of museum requires an extraordinary number of parameters to define its geometry and unusual precision in the placement, positioning and assembly of constructive elements in order to build it. These are particularly significant and allow the project to be less time-consuming since design can be manipulated instantly with ease while construction process to be carried out smoothly as the number of materials needed could be obtained precisely. With the use of computational technology, the museum has contributed to architecture discourse where it completely changed the design process and altered the traditional building norms which were restricted to symmetry and grid at that time. In fact, digital computation has contributed to the museum’s freedom of form and changes the way people think about building and subsequently introduced the people to new spatial experience. In fact, parametric design has enhanced architectural design complexity with the aid of computer programs that generates and manages complex surfaces(Marcos 2011).
“I started making shapes that were hard to draw. That led us to the computer and to Catia software which made me realize the possibilities and the level and degree of accuracy you could create in your documents and your relationships because of the software.” -Frank Gehry, Arcspace (2007) On the other hand, the museum has generated significant public responses with the well-know ‘Bilbao Effect’. Critics attack on the ‘cloning’ possibility of the museum since its curves could be easily replicated via computer. Some even critiqued that the museum’s dramatic appearance has overshadows the art collection displayed in it. Some think that it hardly fit into the urban fabric with the deliberate deviation of the design from conventional buildings. Nevertheless, it is exactly with such unprecedented daring geometrical forms that brought about urban renewal and economic revitalization. In response to the Wyndham City Gateway Project brief which asks for a new, inspiring and daring proposal, it is believed that computational design is the way for satisfying the brief as such approach can devise inventive and innovative forms and even capable of stirring discourse for the locals.
COMPUTING IN ARCHITECTURE
UK Pavilion Architect Thomas Heatherwick Completed 2010 Location Shanghai, China More prominently known as the ‘Seed Cathedral’, it was built for Shanghai World Expo 2010 and inspired by the idea of the relationship between nature and cities. Formed by almost 60000 slender transparent fibre optic filaments, the design has rendered itself as an unconventional evolutionary organic piece which has attracted the world’s attention. Each of such individual filaments is then manipulated via mass-customisation by digital means which indeed saves up time and resources. The geometric accuracy could never have been realized had it not relied on computational design techniques to determine the precise positioning of the aluminium sleeves through which the filaments are inserted. During the day, the interior is illuminated by light drawn from the outside by the optic fibre rods. At night, light sources inside each rod allow the whole structure to glow. The wavering external surface formed by the ‘optic hairs’ gently move and creates a dynamic effect just like a real Dandelion as the wind blows. This has prompted a critical realisation that the choice of materials is very important in creating the desired effect. With the aids of computers, materials properties could be explored by various experiments carried out in the virtual environment created in the computers. In fact, digital model was refined and used in the full scale construction to directly control the production and assembly of the components. The integration of design and computational programming software should be applied in Getaway Project which allows for more innovative explorations on structures, materials and textures.
While amazed by the seemingly soft and organic structure, the durability of the structure to resist to weather is questionable with the numerous puncture on its skin. This has triggered a concern for the issue about structural skin which will most probably be adopted in the design for the Wyndham City Gateway Project. Computational design has again shown its feasibility for producing building with high accuracy without fault.
“Infinite variability becomes as feasible as modularity, and mass-customization presents alternatives to mass-production.” -Kolarevic, Architecture In The Digital Age (2003), p.3 “Infinite variability becomes as feasible as modularity, and mass-customization presents alternatives to mass-production.” -Kalay, Architectures New Media (2004), p. 3
PARAMETRIC MODELLING
Research Pavilion Architect
Achim Menges/ICD Jan Knippers/ITKE Completed 2010 Location Stuttgart, Germnay The pavilion demonstrates the latest developments in material-oriented computational design, simulation, and production processes in architecture. The design intents are to explore a geometry which exploit the potential of plywood in an optimal manner and challenge its structural and physical limitations at the same time. It demonstrates how scripting tools can be used by experimenting and developing ideas, forms and also used to examine the relevant material behavioural features. Some material properties such as bending capacity of plywood, thickness of plywood, and method for joining the plywood sheets were emphasized and examined using computers. Besides, it is the ability of scripting to work with large data sets (Burry, 2011) that contributed to the success of the structure. Unlike traditional design method which might encounter structural impossibility at later stage of design process, scripting increases the efficiency of the design process as all the designs are based fundamentally on its structural feasibility at the outset. There is no need to remodify the design to cope with structural capability as alternation could be made simply by adjusting the input codes and this boosts the speed of construction without much delay. On top of that, this project is credited with its complexity and difficulties during the construction process. Different methods for constructing this plywood strips were assessed and compared by using computational tools. Potential repetitive work during various experiments could be reduced and subsequently saves up cost, resources, and time-consumed. Mistakes could be avoided while construction could be carried out efficiently.
“Firstly, it(scripting) was not quite as forbidding as I had expected and, secondly, there was no room for approximation or error: for an effective outcome that was both robust and consistent, precision was non-negotiable.” -Burry, Scripting Cultures (2011), p. 33 In fact, scripting proceeds in various directions simultaneously and works beyond human’s perceptual capacity (Burry, 2011). It is with such features that results in the simple yet innovative Research Pavilion. This, on the other hand, has renounced the stereotype about the complexity of scripting as it could do the exact opposite (Burry, 2011). The success of this project could be referred as inspiration for developing the gateway design. Materials’ potential could be set as logic at the up front for scripting a design. Endless possibilities could be generated via scripting (Burry, 2011). Hence, for the Wyndham City Gateway Project which asks for an inventive design with significant impact, the use of scripting is irrevocably beneficial.
“Where we see interesting work occurring is in the development of interfaces between different software applications that enable designers to further test architectural ideas that bridge across related disciplines such as engineering and construction.” -MESNE, in Burry: Scripting Cultures (2011), p. 51
RESEARCH PROJECT: SCOPE OF POSSIBILITIES
INPUT/ ASSOCIATION/ OUTPUT MATRIX
The matrix presented above represents the search outcome for the development of the Gateway Project design. Different definitions provided were mixed and matched through trial and error to create something considerably satisfying. From this, the candidates of solutions were produced for consideration and some were chosen for further develpment. According to Kalay (2004), this is a design process under the catagory of ‘search’ when the outcome of an action cannot be fully decided in advance. From this design method, it was realised that this method is more productive when done digitally. Not only it provided great amount of possibilities, it also helped to reduce amount of time consumed in search of a favourable design possibility. Through those possibilities, more choice were presented for the best to be chosen and be developed into something promising, thus contributes to the final design outcome. From the above, a few were chosen to be further explored. Since the theme is fluidity, it will be interesting to further explore the patterns formed in terms of its fluidity. However, it does not necessarily need to be confined into using the same method as how the patterns were formed. Different and more relevant methods will be used to effectively utilise them and the final most satisfying result will be adapted into the final design outcome.
REVERSE-ENGINEERED CASE-STUDY
Restaurant Aoba-Tei Sendai, Japan
Hitoshi Abe + Atelier Hitoshi Abe Perforation, abstraction from nature Input: Boolean Patterning Output: Data Driven Shading
Using the above definitions, by inserting an image of the Zelkova tree into the image sampler. a rough perforation of the tree image is produced.
To reduce the busyness of the image, more perforations have to be taken away. To achieve this, a function component was added into the definition to control the sizes of the circles that need to be perforted. The white part which was originally perforated by smaller circles was omitted The result was a ‘cleaner’ image.
Experimentation was made by adjusting the radius of the circles, inverting the black and white spaces, simplifying and complicating the perforation to get as near as possible to the original facade.
This is the finalised image for the case study. It is very interesting how this is used in the restaurant where light will be shone from the back and the perforated areas will light up to create an effect of being among the trees.
PERSONAL RESEARCH
Aqua Tower Architect Jeanne Gang/Studio Gang Architect Completed 2010 Location Chicago, USA Designed as a residential apartment, Aqua Tower projects itself as a significant landmark in Chicago with its irregularly shaped concrete floor slabs which lend its façade an undulating and sculptural quality. The undulating balconies which vary from floor to floor are built with painstaking consideration on views extension and maximization of solar shading for each apartment units. As such, the design is driven by the forces of its context, creating an extremely site specific building which could never be justified in other places. This criterion is particularly important for the Gateway Project as the design is targeted to be informed by the natural elements on site, specifically sun path, climatic, and atmospheric conditions throughout the day. Besides, the building is significant in the sense that it offers different sense of appearance as one move from afar and gets closer to it. From afar, the building as a whole appears like the striated limestone outcroppings commonly found in the Great Lakes, which is interestingly the very initial inspiration from which the design was developed. Such effect changes completely into a series of ocean waves flow across the façade with the rippling balconies as one move closer to the building. This is an interesting idea that could probably be adopted for the Gateway Project design which aimed to create a sense of constant changes for a static sculpture. In fact, the undulating balconies appears as if the wind were blowing ripples across the surface of the building itself and the gentle rhythmic effect produced could probably guide the gateway project as an effort for incorporation of ‘air’ into design as advocated by the studio.
On top of that, the most fundamental aspect of the design lays on its design approach. Unsurprisingly, the design is highly computational-based whereby each of the floor slabs possesses different calculations which needed to be done separately by digital means. Every slab piece consists of distinct measurement which is achieved by masscustomization using digital computation enables greater design efficiency as redundant repetitive work could be omitted simply by changing the parameter values set to it. This has again exhibited the advantage of parametric design and further augmented the choice for parametric design as the way for the Gateway project. Specific site analysis in terms of sun positions and views viewed at specific angles for each unit are carried out via computational analysis as well in advance. Also, erection and placement of these individually unique curves are made easy via digital coordination. Such accuracy and precision are of paramount important for enabling building to be constructed with least mistakes, greater efficiency, and subsequently less cost.
Beekman Tower Architect Frank Gehry Completed 2011 Location New York
Echoing to the theme of computation in architecture, this project used sophisticated computation method to produce the building faรงade. Though it is very typical for Gehry to build physical models, computers models were created through the scanning of physical models. Using Rhino software, the model was able to be refined and perfected to produce intended results. In relation to this subject and the gateway project, this is crucial as computation is less time consuming in producing favourable results. The surfaces of this building would not be able to achieve its current effect without parametric and script writing to analyse them. Digitising of the faรงade allowed designers to have the flexibility to alter the faรงade while still being able to remain within established parameters. During the designing process of this project, several alterations had to be done due to budget constraints. All the various component sizes, angles, and extrusion types could be tracked to a particular unit and hence, they were also tied to the manufacturing process with CNC data through to fabrication and installation. With the uniqueness and scale of the project, it would be difficult to change everything manually without the help of computation.
This example of façade is very interesting in a way that it looks like as though it is blown by the wind to result in the curves and folding effect and this also coincide with the theme ‘air’ for the gateway project. This effect is to be incorporated into the design for the gateway project. Besides, the façade of the Beekman Tower also evokes rivulets of water, crinkled sheets of aluminium foils, melting ice. At the same time, all these effects were heighten by light and shadow across the surfaces over the course of a day. This provides an interesting change for viewers when viewed at a different time of the day. In relationship to the gateway project, changes through light and shadow are important to create a static sculpture that appears to be constantly changing. This is to be achieved by utilizing and applying the sun path where different angles of sunlight may produce different outcome.
London Aquatics Centre Architect Zaha Hadid Completed 2012 Location London
Designed for the upcoming Olympics in London 2012, the building is inspired by the fluid geometries of water in motion, creating spaces and an artificial environment that reflects the riverside landscapes of the Olympic Park beside it. The undulating roof geometry sweeps up from the ground like a wave enclosing the pools within with a sense of seamless fluidity for the overall structure. Such effect would not have been possible without the use of digital application since the seemingly simple fluid surface requires specific calculations for joining each pieces with each other given that the curving angles and dimension for each individual pieces vary in response to the design. This shows how computational technologies contribute to the feasibility for design construction. By means of computational design, interesting forms of fluidity can be created for the gateway project. The fluidity of both form and pattern of the gateway project is expected to add in excitement to the otherwise boring site and also appear as something that sweeps across the site, which was achieved by the aquatic centre.
On the other hand, the building managed to create a discourse with its parabolic arch roof. While some perceives it like a turtle waving oversized flippers, some sees it like an UFO crash. It is interesting how a water motion-inspired form could be built to such abstract manner that successfully stirred the curiosity of the public. This idea could be related to the gateway project as the design, particularly when the design theme would be fluidity as well, should be able to generate a new discourse for the community besides being apprehensible for people of all ages as stated in the brief. Most importantly, the advantage of parametric design is exploited as initial design of the centre was modified without much difficulty and at last came up with the final resemblance as built. This indicates how flexible parametric design allows a project to be when adjustments are needed during the unpredictable design process. In fact, the addition of temporary platforms housing committee and public seatings at both sides of the centre appears to blend in well with the permanent structure with the aids of computational analysis on the accurate angles and dimensions for construction.
MATERIAL EFFECTS
Experimentation Restaurant Aoba-Tei Sendai, Japan
Hitoshi Abe + Atelier Hitoshi Abe
Having the iniital idea of producing interesting effect with ‘CUT’ in mind, a case study was done on the interior surface of Aoba-Tei Restaurant. In this case study, a surface with circle cuts of varying sizes which formed the image of a tree was fabricated. Through this case study, lighting and shadow effect were being experiment with. It was interesting to see how the shadow casted by the model changes with different angles of light and also how the concentration of light affect the shadow produced. When the model is bent, the image of the tree appeared differently. Though not apprehendable, the image still looked interesting and unique. However, it is not suitable for the theme for the gateway project, which is fluidity. Eventhough the image of the tree appeared to be interesting in combination with lighting, the form itself is rigid and flat, it will look repetitive and dull regardless how it is being looked at. The image itself also looked overly static regardless how the lighting direction is changed. All that was projected was the image of the tree and some interesting patterns of the cuts when the surface was bent. It was also discovered that it is hard for drivers to observe the shadows casted during driving in high speed. Shadows are also affected by day to day condition, which demotes the significance of the gateway project if it is to be based solely on the play of light and shadow projection. Hence, this case study proved that it is not suitable to be adapted for the Gateway Project. From here, it was decided that in accordance to fluidity, lighting was an interesting factor to explore with. Instead of artificial lighting, the gateway project is to aim at natural lighting, that is the sun.
EXPLORATION
Exploring Form
To explore fluidity of form, water was experimented with to record the forms when being poured under different condions. For example direction of pouring and strength used in pouring them. It was observed that under normal conditions, the forms of water resulted were never the same twice. This is an interesting theme to explore and it also response to the brief where the Gateway Project has to be exciting and visually interesting for the otherwise boring and straight roads.
Exploring Light As aforementioned, the design aimed to achieve a sense of constant change so that every time when the passer-by drive through, the structure will appears different and never twice the same. Such attempt is approached by exploiting the position of sun during the course of the day, both in summer and winter. The experiment is carried out in 2 parts, in which each of them have different fixed and manipulation variables in order to explore on the most suitable folding of the design membrane and sizes of the perforation on its surface so as to achieve the proposed changing conditions. 9am during Winter (Estimated)
9am during Sumemr (Estimated)
3pm during Summer (Estimated)
3pm during Winter (Estimated)
The first part of the experiment investigated the effect of sun position on the design via the shadow it casted on the surface. With regularly-sized circular holes cut on the paper surface, this is carried out by placing the camera at a fixed position and the photos taken show how the changes of the sun position might affect the overall design appearance to the passer-by of the road. Angle of light source is adjusted in reference to the sun path diagram and the results obtained show that the shadow cast on the surface is longer during winter and vice versa. Other than that, the results obtained generally made little or minimum difference on the design. Hence, the second part of the experiment is carried out to examine on possible ways to maximize the effect of sun on the design.
For the second part of the experiment, photos are taken from one end to another, just as how the drivers and passengers might have looked at the design. The size of perforations cut on the surface varies randomly. Then, the paper length is increased and folded in ‘S-shape’ manner as possible, hoping that the shadow can be cast on the surface of the design itself instead of casting on the road. The result, however, still turned out to be less satisficing as shown in the figures on the left.
First sight while approaching the site (Driving towards North)
Second sight as one passing the design
Last view as one pass through the deisgn
From there, the paper is modified by cutting it into a long strip of random height (some parts are high while some are short) and folded more extensively into a number of ‘S’. This time, the results appeared to be up to expectation as giving a fixed sun position, the design appears differently from one segment to another due to the shadow effect. For smaller perforation, it appears just like a strip of light similar to the interior of the UK Pavilion as discussed in section above. Most interestingly, the distinction between real perforations and ‘fake perforation’ resulted from shadow cast is barely recognizable. The series of photos show how each segments is different as a car drives through it. In fact, since the sun changes its position, the images seen in the morning might change in the afternoon and near dusk. This has successfully demonstrated the effect of change in the design in relation to the changes of natural phenomenon. Since the experiment is carried out manually without digital aids, the results obtained might not be as accurate and precise as the professional one. However, it still worth acknowledged that a number of parameters has been identified for further exploration in the future. These include the placement of the design on site which could be slightly tilted so as to provide greater views for the passer-by, the various height of the design membrane which helps to create more visualized effects, the size of perforations. Most significantly, it is important to acknowledge the direction of driving so that the curvature of the design could be designed in such a way which allows maximum casting of shadow while offering maximum viewing faces for the drivers. This is because a convex faces could have part hidden from direct viewing except for passengers who can turn their around for seeing it. In short, the experiment has explored the possibilities of a number of elements which is believed to be able to affect the design for achieving the changing effect proposed. Meanwhile, it also generated a few aspects which should be taken into consideration during the design process. The results produced are then incorporated into Rhino and Grasshopper for designing the prototype which will then be fabricated.
The figures show the best result obtained from the experiment as one driving towrads North at 9am in the morning during Summer. The experiment is carried out in a dark environment with a spotlight so as to emphasize on the chainging effect as influenced by sun light.
Prototype ONE This prototype is developed from the research of exploring light. Sun path is the driver which helps to create the effect of change on the surface. The size of perforations on the surface varies for maximizing the effect of sun on the surface. Despite the experiment done previously, it is found that the shadow could hardly cast on the membrane as what was anticipated. It was also discovered that when driver travel to work in the morning, they will drive along the highway to city which face to west which is the direction of sunrise. Hence, the shadow will always cast at the back of the driver. The same thing happen during sunset when they are travelling back home. Meanwhile, material used is important in influencing the effect produced. The prototype made by plywood is hard to be bent. As a result, it is hard to achieve an organic form created in the digital model.
The photos are taken follow the driver’s view when they drive through the Getaway in different time.
Prototype TWO The second prototype composes of three membranes placed in such a way that overlaying each other in order to illustrate the changes as a driver drives through at high speed. It successfully reflects the desired theme for creating a design which is never the same twice. The membranes show different effects as the driver drive through depending on the driving speed, viewing angle and positions in relation to the structure itself. This prototype shows an alternative for attempting the desired goal by manipulating the perforated membrane in a specific arrangement rather than relying solely on sunlight position. The prototype is interesting and could be further developed to create a sense of water flowing related to the main theme of Getaway project-fluidity therefore when driver drive through they will see the consistent change of water flowing.
Prototype THREE The last prototype attempts to achieve the organic form informed by the idea of fluidity. It is intended to appear like the form of water being blew by wind. Although the membrane is static, when the driver drive through it, the perforated surface will illustrate consistent change as the car is moving and the angle of viewing is changing. The sunlight will further enhance the changing effect by casting shadow on the surface. The strange form of the membrane makes it an eye-catching structure at the site to increase the excitement at the site. However , the material used for this prototype is not suitable as it is hard to produce soft and organic form. The materiality should be examined more as the form is diffrent from the digital model due to the wrong meterial is used.
The strange shape of the Getaway will become an eye-catching icon at the site and create discourse among Wyndham community.
The shadow is casted on the surface create interesting pattern can be observed by driver when drive through.
When sun light penetrate through the perforation cuts, it makes the membrane glow which creates visual interesting.
CONCLUSION
Based on the experiments and research that we have done, we realised that digital technique is very useful in creating complex geometry and also intricating patterns. The matrix combination is an evidence showing how digital design can create infinite possibilities of design forms that can allow us to choose from. Although it could be generated easily but it is an important design approach in searching for a favourable outcome. This method also shows a number of surprising results that contributes to another advantage of coomputational design. Unlike the matrix combination, the reverse-engineered case-study imposed certain restrictions for developing a design outcome. On top of that, personal research including the exploration of form, effect of light and perforation has been carried out for achieving the desired goal set for the design- never twice the same. Through the success and failure of those experiments, further exploration could be attempted for the design as there is still potential that have not been developed yet. The constantly changing effect proposed for the Gateway Project will evoke curiosity of the Wyndham community, which might subsequently create architectural discourse where people will discuss about the Gateway Project in terms of its desigin method as well as its design representation. In fact, this proposal will become an iconic gateway and elevate the identity of the Wyndham community.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
Learning outcomes At the beginning of the semester, digital architectural design, as the core of the subject, is first introduced and inevitably placed us in an active engagement with computational design, both in theories and practical work. Traditional paper-based design process is considered obsolete while digital computational design is argued to be a more vibrant and promising approach for contemporary architectural discourse and practice. With a couple of readings in accordance to the lectures content, the ambiguity of digital design is clarified as we started to get on track with the subject objectives. Researches on precedents adapting computational design gave us an idea of the controversies and contradiction of such approach in architectural field. It also provided a better insight into what digital architectural design is capable of in terms of their application and advantages. For instance, more complex geometries can be created, greater manipulation over the design is enabled, and redundant repetitive work can be avoided while the consumption of time and resources is reduced. Apart of the theoretical aspect, we were given opportunities to develop practical skills using parametric modelling in Rhino together with visual scripting via Grasshopper. Despite the theoretical knowledge of the advantages of digital computational technique, as novices, the design process turned out to be the complete opposite and demonstrated the argument against computational design well enough. This was because we’ve encountered enormous amount of technical problems due to insufficient understanding on the algorithm behind the software. Nevertheless, it is also via such mistakes made that we learned and started to fathom the foundational computational principles behind digital geometry, data structures, and programming. Then, as we proceeded with the course structure, the matrix combination proved how unpredictable results could be made possible by digital means. The definitions provided were combined in certain manners for examining its possible outcomes and the some of the results turn out to be surprisingly innovative and inventive, just as what has stated in the project brief. This exercise, while providing a platform for exploring the unthinkable, allowed us to fathom more about the Grasshopper components within. Also, digital fabrication was explored for the first time as an architectural student by fabricating one of the CUT projects in the case studies. Progressively, slowly though, we’ve developed the capability to work in various three-dimensional media as specified in the course objectives.
On top of that, with all the knowledge and practices learned so far, we’ve managed to form a strong argument for defending the inevitable role of digital architectural design as an alternative for traditional approach in this field. This is formulated in our EOI, supported by precedents and researches carried out throughout the semester thus far. In short, the learning so far has been really interesting and challenging as well. The intriguing outcome promised by digital architectural design has indeed stimulated a sense of curiosity for further exploration on such approach in the near future. It is undeniable that this course has provided a valuable platform for such interesting approach which will definitely be explored with greater time commitment and practices.