STUDIO AIR 2015, SEMESTER 1, BRAD PUI YEE CHEW
Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Design Futuring 2.1 Moving Towards Sustainability 2.2 Digital Cloud Skyscraper in Singapore 2.3 Project Eco Link in Hong Kong
INTRODUCTION
About Me Pui Yee Chew. From Malaysia. Third Year Bachelor of Environments (majoring in architecture) in University of Melbourne. From the age of 9, I started following my father to the construction sites. Feeling excited when looking around and exploring all the interesting things at the construction sites. Father is a builder. Thus, he taught me how to mix cement, how to lay bricks, how to saw timber etc. This is how my passion in architecture started.
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I adopt simplicity as my philosophy in architecture. I like to explore the form of buildings and its spatial arrangement. Like most of the modern architects, I believe form follows function. Decoration is minimal. Good architecture allows us to live/work in a comfortable environment, making our life better. It is interesting to see how human and architecture interacts. Like Winston Churchill once said, “We shape our buildings; thereafter they shape us.�
Computational Design
Rhino
The emergence of technology has shifted towards digital. Knowing that computational design is an essential skill in architecture, I have learnt a few programmes in my first year. I have learnt Rhinoceros in the subject Virtual Environment, using it for modelling and fabrication. I have also learnt Illustrator, Indesign and AutoCad in the subject Visual Communication. Also I have taken the initiative to self-learn Photoshop, SketchUp and Revit.
Illustrator
With the lack of knowledge in these programme, I always got frustrated when I could not get the product of what I want. It constrained my design outcome. Thus, my aim for this year is to brush up my computational skill. I believe that Studio Air provides a great opportunity in developing computational skill.
SketchUp
Indesign
Autocad Photoshop
Revit Grasshopper
Fig.1: my knowledge in programme skill
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DESIGN FUTURING
Architecture: a kind of problem solving The definition of architecture is controversial. Many people claimed that architecture is an art piece. However, I believe architecture is not just about aesthetic and not just about appearance and style. Instead, architectural design should be functional and critical. Critical architectural design uses critical theory as an approach to design.[1] “We are more interested in critical thinking, that is, not taking things for granted, being sceptical, and always questioning what is given. Designers start by identifying shortcomings in the thing they are redesigning and offer a better version.”[2] Thus, design should help us in solving our problems in life. Architecture, the design of space, is to allow people live/ work comfortably. The space is designed to suit our life.
“It is hard to say that what today’s dreams are; it seems they have been downgraded to hopes-hope that we will not allow ourselves to become extinct.”[3]
The problem of today’s world: environment The persistence of the global environment is highlighted for the recent years. Many people have realised on the environmental issues as there are many alarming signs of the unsustainability such as global warming, speeding climate change, rise of the sea level etc. Population growth is continuing. However, the resources are not able to sustain. Likewise, the planet’s renewable resources are being used up at a rate 25 percent faster than they can be renewed.[4]
[1] Anthony Dunne & Fiona Raby, Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (MIT Press, 2004), p. 34. [2] Ibid., p. 35. [3] Ibid., p. 1. [4] Tony Fry, Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg, 2008), p. 4.
Design for sustainability We certainly need to think about how to sustain the world with the scarce resources. If we ignore this problem, our future will be at risk. There are two elements: design intelligence and technology that can help us in moving the world towards sustainability.
“Architecture is an expression of values. – Norman Foster”
Architecture reflects the culture of the society: A change in culture
a) Design intelligence
During 1980s, building is designed to generate wealth and to provide a layer of designer gloss to every aspect of our daily lives.[8] This capitalism has driven the overuse of resources.
Design intelligence is important in realising the qualities of form and content of the designed environment.[5] This is a sense that helps us in judging about actions that increase or decrease the sustainability.[6] With the design intelligence, architects would not sacrifice sustainability for the sake of aesthetics. Architects, as involved in part of the action, have the responsibilities in creating the buildings that have no harm to our environment.
However, in today’s world, green buildings are the new trend. For example, we can see that few modern buildings in University of Melbourne campus such as The Spot, Alan Gilbert and MSD are environmental friendly. This is because the society has realised the importance of sustainability. Thus, when designing a space, we should not only look at the behavioural and social science, but also the environmental aspect.
b) Technology With the advent of technology, many works are becoming easier. As such, the rapid prototyping in industrial design, rendering programmes in architecture, photographic retouching programs in graphic design and fashion to the full-blown design ‘democratic software’.[7] They are able to show us the details of the architecture and how the architecture affects nature. Also, with the technology like pre-fabrication, resources are fully utilized.
[5] Ibid., p. 12. [6] Ibid., p. 12. [7] Ibid., p. 14. [8] Dunne & Raby, p. 8.
“The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own we have no soul of our own civilization. – Frank Lloyd Wright”
DIGITAL CLOUD SKYSCRAPERS IN SINGAPORE
The digital cloud skyscraper by Kay Ngee Tan was a pavilion design for World Expo 2010. The design has a theme: “My Dream, Our Vision� to bring in the Singapore culture: efficient, dynamic, progressive, and futuristic.
The users will first enter a dark underground space with services in the city as background noise (signifies the city), then this space will lead them to the bright digital cloud where the users can post their dreams.
This design uses a total of 3866 blocks to form a sculpture. More blocks are arranged differently and most of the blocks are accumulated at the upper part to give a feeling that these blocks are floating like clouds.
This design promotes the spirit of transforming life. It captures the culture of Singapore trying to promote.
Fig.2 Digital cloud skyscrapers
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Fig. 4: It is located at the slope to allow the visitors to have a full view of site.
Fig.3: the transparency level of each cube is different. It makes use of natural light.
reference [1] Design for Tomorrow, Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stunning Digital Cloud Skyscraper (2009) < http://www.designingfortomorrow. org/projects/view/singapores-stunning-digital-cloud-skyscraper> [accessed 11 March 2015] [2] Sharn, Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stunning Digital Cloud Skyscraper (2009) <http:// inhabitat.com/?p=22155> [accessed 11 March 2015] CONCEPTUALISATION 9
PROJECT ECO LINK IN HONG KONG
Fig.5: Project eco link
Project Eco Link by Junkai Jian and Jinqi Huang is a passenger terminal building sited on a river side (Liantang/Heung Yuan Wai Boundary Control Point). The design form is asymmetrical and organic. The design connects both sides of the river with the use of spatial elements like nodes, branches and collective spaces. Apart from that, design also focuses circulation, viewpoints and accessibility.
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Sustainability? The crisscross form allows natural light enter to the building. It has solar panel roofing for power consumption (create zero carbon environment), rainwater harvesting for irrigation and a self-sustain green landscaping system.
Functional It allows people to reach the other side of river easier as it joins distant destinations with rail and wheeled conveyances.
Fig.6: Project eco link in different perspective
Fig.7 & 8: Project eco link makes use of natural light in its design to create shadows
Reference [1] Ecofriend, Project Eco Link: The Next Generation Iteration of Natural and Sustainable Architecture (2011) <http://www.ecofriend.com/project-eco-link-the-next-generationiteration-of-natural-and-sustainable-architecture.html> [accessed 10 March 2015] [2] Amelia Roblin, The Project Eco Link Building Bridges City and Nature (2011) <http:// www.trendhunter.com/trends/project-eco-link> [accessed 10 March 2015] [3] World Architecture Community, Eco Link â&#x20AC;&#x201C; International Design Ideas Competition for Liantang/Heung Yuan Wai Boundary Control Point Passenger Terminal (2011) <http://www.worldarchitecture.org/world-buildings/mphh/ eco-link-international-design-ideas-competition-for-liantangheung-yuan-waiboundary-control-point-pa-building-page.html> [accessed 10 March 2015]
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Bibliography Design for Tomorrow, Singapore’s Stunning Digital Cloud Skyscraper (2009) < http://www.designingfortomorrow. org/projects/view/singapores-stunning-digital-cloud-skyscraper> [accessed 11 March 2015] Dunne, Anthony & Raby, Fiona, Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (MIT Press, 2004) Ecofriend, Project Eco Link: The Next Generation Iteration of Natural and Sustainable Architecture (2011) <http://www.ecofriend. com/project-eco-link-the-next-generation-iteration-of-natural-and-sustainable-architecture.html> [accessed 10 March 2015] Fry, Tony, Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg, 2008) Roblin, Amelia, The Project Eco Link Building Bridges City and Nature (2011) <http://www. trendhunter.com/trends/project-eco-link> [accessed 10 March 2015] Sharn, Singapore’s Stunning Digital Cloud Skyscraper (2009) <http://inhabitat.com/?p=22155> [accessed 11 March 2015] World Architecture Community, Eco Link – International Design Ideas Competition for Liantang/Heung Yuan Wai Boundary Control Point Passenger Terminal (2011) <http://www.worldarchitecture.org/world-buildings/mphh/eco-link-international-designideas-competition-for-liantangheung-yuan-wai-boundary-control-point-pa-building-page.html> [accessed 10 March 2015]
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