Architecture Design Studio Air 2013 Journal
John Duong
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Architecture as a discourse is a fascinating thought. With so many different aspects of a building which can be read, parametric design opens up even more variety into the field. It, along with newer construction techniques have allowed more expression within buildings, allowing curves and free form shapes to emerge. With so many possibilities suddenly available, a new architectural language is emerging as architects explore their new found methods of expression.
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A personal project undertaken while in my first year of University explored the three dimensional qualities of a structure. Instead of a building though, it was to be a structure which sat on the human body. Producing a complex geometrical shape with inspirations from nature, the end result was made to play with light whilst also exploring the possibilities of computer design. Such a project explored how we can produce forms to sit on odd surfaces, namely the body, and how they would remain there during movement. On top of this the fabrication of the design was also explored and the methods of which the parts would remain together and in place. Such skills may be useful when designing the Wyndham Gateway project, as it is something which could possibly be used to explore space, form and fabrication in urban design.
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When thinking about architecture in Melbourne, it is clear that the Pixel building by Grocon is one of the most interesting ones. With the multitude of coloured panels the facade holds up, the building was in the forefront of environmental design when it was completed in 2010. Being the first building in Australia to receive a perfect score from the Green Building Council, the highest Greenstar Rating in Australia at the time of completion and scoring a 105 out of 110 by LEED, the highest score achieved by a building thus far. In terms of parametric design, the building employs the oddly shaped coloured panels help up on its facade as a shading device. Each of the panels have been shaped and calibrated as to be as energy efficient as possible in the Melbourne climate. The properties which they have been designed to maximise include glare reduction, maximum daylight and shading. The colour and form of the building are a stark contrast to those of the immediate surroundings. Breaking up the horizontal and vertical lines produced by adjacent structures as well as having a strong contrast in colours, with vibrant reds, yellows, greens and blues Pixel stands out as an architectural statement. The Grocon building is interesting because of its ability to balance an expressive and eye catching facade while at the same time being environmentally friendly. These types of outcomes are one possibility of what I envision for the Wyndham Gateway project, an eyecatching, environmentally friendly structure, using colour as a method of drawing attention and expression.
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A concept which is being rapidly explored in parametric design is the abstraction of nature into simpler forms, which are then used to form the basis of the form of the building. This such idea is realised in Zaha Hadid’s London Aquatics centre, built for the London 2012 Games. Drawing inspiration from its function and the local area, the form it takes is inspired by water in motion and is located to fit into the landscape. Taking the form of a wave crashing over the complex, the facade for the water inspired design is drawn from natural forms and shapes which occur in nature. The S-shaped curve of the building is a simplified representation of the movement of water, using parabolic equations to find the desired curves for the building. The roof was designed to appear as though it was floating above the stadium, something many modern architects explored. The design also had two temporary “wings” which were removed after the games. Clearly different to the smooth structure of the main body of the building, the “wings” were plain, angular and seemed out of place. Simply designed, the temporary seating was colourful when compared to the main colour scheme of the centre, Hadid “emphasises the permanence of the core” by juxtaposing the main structure and the temporary structure together. Even with such finely tuned buildings have their issues though, with a oversight in the design of the roof. For some 3000 seats at the venue, the view to the high divers was obstructed. This highlights the possibilities of there still being human fallacy in a design. This type of design is another interesting method of looking at design. With the simplification of natural forms into geometric curves, intricate details can be produced. These such outcomes could be something of interest when considering them for the Gateway Project.
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Architecture is a fast moving field. However, in the adoption of techniques architecture is usually slower than those of other industries. In fact, a term commonly used in architecture, NURBS, has its origins from ship building, with the S standing for spline or a piece of wood on a boat which holds a curve by way of pegs. This does not, however, mean that it is subpar in any way. With technology constantly being updated and new methods of expression being used, the programs themselves are constantly evolving to cater for an architect’s ever changing requirements. Parametric equations open up many new possibilities in architecture. Alongside new fabrication technologies, the ability for an architect to express themselves has improved greatly. In some cases, it could be a complete reinvention of a well-known item, like Glenn Lynn’s blob wall attempting to reinvent a brick wall. In other cases, however, it can be used to express something with no relation at all to architecture. One such example is CODA barcelonatech’s Jukbuin Pavilion, a temporary wooden installation. This installation drew inspiration from basket weaving and then used that idea to create a self standing structure. The pavilion has a complex geometry which was able to be rapidly tested using the Rhino plugin Kangaroo. This program has allowed the architects to simulate the properties of wood, such as how it acts under tension and gravity to find the most effective form. In addition to this, the Kangaroo plugin has allowed the rapid exploration of forms through rapid simulations.
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The Thomas Deacon Academy, by Fosters + Partners, used a dynamic people flow simulation to determine the allocation of space. By removing the school bells, the architects of the Academy have tried to reduce the amount of students circulating around the building at any given time. Virtual simulations in this project have allowed the architects to predict the comfort level for students moving between classes as well as during breaks and movement between stairs. This has allowed the managers of the project to optimize circulation as well as reduce costs on the project. This academy is important in the discourse of architecture as it tries to reinvent the school layout. The use of computer aided design in this project to predict the comfort level of students is unique for a school and utilization of this technique in other high usage buildings such as large commercial skyscrapers could help maximize the efficiency of workers.
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