Ma_Ran_788329_FinalJournal by Ran Ma

STUDIO: AIR

RAN MA, 788329 2018, SEMESTER ONE, TUTOR: CHELLE

Table of Contents A0.0 Introduction 3 0.1 Brief 3 0.2 Previous Learning Experience 4 A1.0 Design Futuring 5 1.1 Philips Pavilion 7 1. 2 La Stasium Hollywood Park 9 A2.0 Design Computation 13 2.1 ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2014-15 15 2.2 Underwood Pavilion 17 A3.0 Composition/Generation 21 3.1 Esker House 23 3.2 P-Wall 25 A4.0 Conclusion 29 A5.0 Learning Outcome 31 A6.0 Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches 33 A7.0 Bibliography 43

FIG.1&2: The Grasshopper ieterations of Dubai AA Visiting School project.

INTRODUCTION

Brief I am Ran Ma, a third year architecture student of Melbourne University. I come from Hangzhou, which is located in south part of China. Hangzhou has both charming landscape and fancy buildings. One of my favorite design is just near my house. It is the China Academy of Art School---Xiangshan Campus. Its architect is my favorite architect, Shuo Wang. He is the first Chinese who won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2012. The faĂ§ade of buildings in Campus is made from bamboo and tiles. They are hiding inside surrounding mountains. Shuo Wangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s architectural theory is utilizing natural materials to incorporate buildings with environment. The mild color of buildings is referenced from ink painting. I have been learning ink drawing for several years. The combination of art and architecture inspired me to explore more possibility of design.

My father is a civil engineer and my sister is an architect. They provide me an excellent laerning environment of architectural study. When I was in high school, my enjoyment was listening to the architectural reports with my father and sister. After every report, we would have a communication with the reporter, discussed about the feasibility of each design. From these activities, I learned that construction and fabrication process was quite significant for designer to be considered. 3D Modelling tools were helpful for architect to express their ideas. Digital tools can predict some potential risks and opportunities for us. After graduate from high school, I came to Melbourne University on February 2016. During my undergraduate architecture studying, I begin to use some basic graphic drawing tools, for example, Auto CAD, Photoshop, Indesign and so on. However, I found that they are sometimes limit the expression of my design ideas. Although we only need 2D diagram: perspective, plan, section and elevation in traditional architecture drawings. The diversity of materials, form and composition requires architect to consider their works with fabricate methods at the same time.

FIG.3: My Rhino Model of Exploration Studio. 4

CONCEPTUALISATION

Previous Learning Experience When I reading the architectural magazine, parametric architectural design attracted my attention. My first two studios in Melbourne University were only used conventional architectural language in architectural design. I had never tried to use mathematical solution finding a building form. I would like to test them in a real studio. Therefore, I want to Beijing AA Visiting School, which taught me how to utilize grasshopper and kangaroo to model a tension shell form in digital design. Although I was still not that professional at using software, I started to be familiar with the workflow of digital design in my first parametric design studio. In January 2018, I went to Dubai AA Visiting school. The topic of our group was lattice structure. We 3D printed several iterations of our models. I learned how Stereolithography and Selective laser melting 3D print tecnology worked during this studio.

From these two AA visiting school experience, I started to build some formal understanding of digital design and fabrication. What the process and how it is produced. At the current stage, I want to explore more about the application of parametric design in our real life. Recently, more and more architects fabricate their works in 1:1 scale and put them in the site. However, these works are almost built in small scale, such as pavilions. Due to the feasibility and economical reason, digital fabrication method is not very popular in factories, though the number of digital design growth rapidly. My next interested area would be how digital fabrication can be utilized in a larger scale.

FIG.4: The rendered minimal surface model of Beijing AA Visiting School project. CONCEPTUALISATION 5

A1.0 Design Futuring

Revolution The context of our society and life transfer swiftly. The major concept of design in every era is reflected on the most significant discovery or invention of human. Computation is the symbol of this age. Digital technologies highly speed up the development of each industry. Increasing information dissemination promotes the inter-connection between disciplines1. Computational architectural design, which references computing technique into architectural and construction production, is more popularized in this generation. It is undeniable that digital generation will be an irreplaceable architectural design method in the future. Computing can inspire us in multi-aspects of Design futuring. Computation design provides architects the ability to represent design by 3-dimensional model. The communication between architects and other specialists are easier. One of the digital design thinking is explore design possibility in disciplines. Computational programs can utilize the knowledge from several subjects, such as biology, climate or physics, to analysis site conditions. Then designers can reflect these data into the design strategy and find a optimized solution2. Because of the development of analysis and construction skills, architects start to think much more bravely and create complex geometries. They iterate diverse modules to generate master models. These parametric design instigate the achievement of great scale organic architectural project.

The theory of computational design is materialization and fabrication. Digital tools support architects an excellent opportunities to testing material properties and prefabrication possibility. Designers can predict the shape of models in different materials 3. Architectural materials are not restrict on rigid form any more. More innovative material will be adopted in further. According to the diverse morphology of materials, construction methods is improved as well. Prefabricated industry is available for architecture design now. Assemble and prefabricated buildings can be accomplished in software. Designers only need to submit the model file to the factory. Then, prefabricated materials will be constructed by machines 4. These type of construction not only saves construction time, but only has less damage on the site. Designer is considering utilizing the environment and material analysis capability of computer to implement the sustainability of future improvement. The overall climate and material storage conditions are not optimistic. Recycle and eco-friendly strategy is a challenge of architecture. Architects can generate sustainable policy only when they put comprehensive data together and simulate all the possibilities 5. It is difficult for Human to do it, but artificial tools can. Computing optimization helps architects select the most suitable results of energy saving from thousands options. Digital tools have infinite potential to assist designers towards sustainability in recent future.

1. Fry, Tony, DESIGN FUMING SUSTAINABILITY, ETHICS AND NEW PRACTI, First edn (First Floor, Angel Court, 81 St Clements Street, Oxford 0X 4 1AW, UK 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA: 1, 2009), p. 2.. 2. Dunne,Anthony; Raby, Fiona. Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (The third floor of 1 Rogers Street in Cambridge, MA 02142.: MIT Press, 2013), p. 44. 3. Dunne,Anthony; Raby, Fiona. Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (The third floor of 1 Rogers Street in Cambridge, MA 02142.: MIT Press, 2013), p. 6. 4. Oxman, Rivka and Oxman, Robert, eds. Theories of the Digital in Architecture (London; New York: Routledge, 2014), p. 5–6. 5. Fry, Tony, DESIGN FUMING SUSTAINABILITY, ETHICS AND NEW PRACTI, First edn (First Floor, Angel Court, 81 St Clements Street, Oxford 0X 4 1AW, UK 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA: 1, 2009), p. 8 - 9.

“Once we accept that conceptual design is more than a style option, corporate propaganda, or designer self-promotion, what uses can it take on? There are many possibilities—socially engaged design for raising awareness; satire and critique; inspiration, reflection, highbrow entertainment; aesthetic explorations; speculation about possible futures; and as a catalyst for change.” ------Anthony Dunne & Fiona Raby

FIG.5: The photograph of Philips Phavilion Construction.

Philips Phavilion Architect: Le Corbusier & Iannis Xenakis Location: Brussel’s World’s Fair; Brussels, Belgium Project Year: 1958 Engineer: Hoyte Duyster I would say that Philips Pavilion started a new generation of digital architectural design. Le Corbusier was fearless to using advanced mathematical program to 3D modelling and testing the geometric free-form, hyperbolic parabolods in 1958. At that time, cement was mainstream material 6. Construction of concrete were mostly processed insite. The architectural communication was still based on 2D drawing. Architecture had less interact with other subject7. However, Le Corbusier adopted prefabricated concrete and pre-stressed steel masts and cables to construct the unique polytype. He tried computer software as an innovative architectural grammar to express and analysis the design. Meanwhile, he set up a muiltidisciplinary experts team for this project, architectural design was not about “building” itself anymore. In my view, the most significant contribute of Philips Pavilion was introduce digital design methods and theory to the world during the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussel. In fact, its influence did not decrease after the the event. The project pomoted the development of computation design methods in several decades. For example, Philip Pavilion inspired the train station Warszawa Ochota of Arseniusz Romanowicz in Portland, which is constructed in 1975 8. Unlike conventional construction method, Le Corbusier employed prefabricated concrete panels and pre-stressed steel as the main materials of the building. These materials were mostly produced in factory before transport to site 9. Prefabrication greatly decrease the waste of material and pollution on site. It is more environmental friendly solution. Moreover, machinery production has less and faster onsite construction processes. As a assembled building, the temporary exhibition pavilion could be teardowned easier.

Overall, prefabrication construction is economical and sustainable. The material and geometric expression of Philip Pavilion was ingenious at the age. Le Corbusier utilized computation technique to resolve the formation and concept of this design. Digital methods supported his team to optimized the structure and material expression. More accurate structural and material analysis provides greater possibility of design. The computational program based project is popularized and referenced more frequently now. Optimization is continuously evaluating. Philip Pavilion was constructed temporary for the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussel. As temporary building, the pavilion was fast assembled and disassembled. It did not damage or pollute the site as well. It had less impact on the inhabitants and site. Meantime, it worked efficient as an exhibition space for the event. Le Corbusier advocated design with multi-disciplinary and multi-media10. The rule is still useful in this century. Involving more experts from distinct aspects and expressing design through diverse platform is always the centre of development. Architects should not only focusing on building, exploring more possibilities of other areas and interacting knowledge together is the future tasks.

6. Joseph Clarke, ‘Iannis Xenakis and the Philips Pavilion’, Architecture New York, The Journal of Architecture.17:2, (2012), p216-228. 7.Joseph Clarke, ‘Iannis Xenakis and the Philips Pavilion’, Architecture New York, The Journal of Architecture.17:2, (2012), p213-215. 8. WikiArquitectura. (2015). Philips Pavillion Expo 58 - Data, Photos & Plans - WikiArquitectura. [online] Available at: https:// en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/philips-pavillion-expo-58/ [Accessed 6 Mar. 2018]. 9. Joseph Clarke, ‘Iannis Xenakis and the Philips Pavilion’, Architecture New York, The Journal of Architecture.17:2, (2012), p220. 10.. Iannis Xenakis and Iannis Le Corbusi, ‘Philips Pavilion’, Architecture New York, NEXUS NETWORK JOURNAL .5, (March/April 1994), 34-35.Clements Street, Oxford 0X 4 1AW, UK 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA: 1, 2009), p. 8.

CONCEPTUALISATION

FIG 6&7: The sketches of Philips Pavilion.

FIG 8: The photograph of Philips Pavilion.

CONCEPTUALISATION 9

la stadium hollywood park Architect: Jmes Warton & Heath May HKS LINE RODOVAN KOVACEVIC. Location: Inglewood, California, U.S. Project Year: 2016. The stadium roof structure is consisted by 70000 prefabricated, shop-assembled perforated panels. The facade is an achievement of interactive computational intensive program. The design team abandon conventional architectural language, such as CAD diagram, which is 2D presentation skill11. They explored a new design process: design-to-fabrication workflow to produce the tessellated cladding patterns. These workflow means designing with softwares, and outputing the outcome of design as fabrication software file12. After translating these file into machine industry. The components of facades would be produced automatically. These project is a successful test of the workflow thinking. These workflow theory will be beneficial in prefabricated construction. This workflow will increase production scope and efficiency, as well as the accuracy of building components. The design team prepared a alternative hypothetical solution of connections for achieve feasibility of the components. The alternative plan is 3D print the fixations. 3D print will follow the file-to-factory workflow as well. Both 3D print and CNC machine omitted graphical representation and avoid the delays and errors in production. The revolutionary skills consumed less time, required no review step and was visual performance available.The skills instigate the growth of complex geometric design, because building more complexly is a shift of architectural design13. The prefabricate machine can satisfy the requirement more easily. The facade is produced as components in factory. Then workers would assemble them in site. The off-site production protects the site environment. Assemble process saves labour forces and time. It supports sustainable and economical design strategy.

The aspect of the project should be appreciated is the transformation between 3D coordinators and 2D machine space. All the simulation of the facade is set up in software. Designers worked on design optimisation to find best iteration and solution of the shapes and materials. Without making physical model, they identify the real 3D coordinator of patterns in binary computational program. They tested the framing and details elements in digital software14. Computers can provide broader datas, have more analysis and cost less time than human force. Engineers can detect the potential risks and possibilities of structure.These project generalize the benefits of digital design in real application. This design explored the possibilities of applications of computational software and industrial prefabrication in future architecture improvement. However, more integrated description of elements in software should be developed either. Meanwhile, the resources supplied fabricators are scarce. Increasing types of materials and supplier is one of the further tasks. The advantage of prefabrication decrease the construction impact of site and surrounding environment. The construction schedule and cost are predictable and easy to control. The design and construction results are more accurate. Software program can minimize the deviation of angles and scales. The building can pass the government criteria15. Therefore, the building is a safer building that has longer lifespan for its inhabitants.

11. Achim Menges, Bob Sheil, Ruairi Glynn and Marilena Skavara, Fabricate, Third edn. (University of Collage London: University of stuttggert, Insitute of Computational Design and Construction, University of Collage London, The Bartlett School of Architecture, 2017), p. 36-43 in UCL Press, <http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1546589/1/Fabricate.pdf> [accessed 29 March 2018].p36 -38 12.Achim Menges, Bob Sheil, Ruairi Glynn and Marilena Skavara, Fabricate, Third edn. (University of Collage London: University of stuttggert, Insitute of Computational Design and Construction, University of Collage London, The Bartlett School of Architecture, 2017), p. 36-43 in UCL Press, <http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1546589/1/Fabricate.pdf> [accessed 29 March 2018].p36-40 13. Dunne,Anthony; Raby, Fiona. Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (The third floor of 1 Rogers Street in Cambridge, MA 02142.: MIT Press, 2013), p. 42. 14. Achim Menges, Bob Sheil, Ruairi Glynn and Marilena Skavara, Fabricate, Third edn. (University of Collage London: University of stuttggert, Insitute of Computational Design and Construction, University of Collage London, The Bartlett School of Architecture, 2017), p. 36-43 in UCL Press, <http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1546589/1/Fabricate.pdf> [accessed 29 March 2018].p41，42. 15. Dunne,Anthony; Raby, Fiona. Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (The third floor of 1 Rogers Street in Cambridge, MA 02142.: MIT Press, 2013), p. 39-41

CONCEPTUALISATION

FIG 9, 10, 11 & 12: The compunents of the stadium;s facade and the computing simulating diagram.

FIG 13: The rendered digital model of La Stadium.

CONCEPTUALISATION 11

CONCEPTUALISATION

FIG 14: The rendered digital model of La Stadium. CONCEPTUALISATION 13

A2.0 Design Computation

Brief Architectural design is a process that solving problems of existing site. How could the space become more well arranged and inhibits has more convenient life? At the same time, architects should consider how to using least budget to create most benefits. Therefore, architectural design itself is a extremely complex issue. Computational tools are invented for minimizing the design process. At the beginning, digital tools can aid the architects to frame the problems more detailed. Due to its forceful database storage, computer could help designers collect information and find the shortcuts of design16. It is why computing can be employed to re-define practise. Computation supports architects to reset the relation between goals and solutions17. Optimization directs the goals that designers should working on. Meantime, unlike traditional design process architects present the outcome through drawings, digital designers use computational linguistic directly transform products to 3D models. Also, there are more modus, such as diagrams, videos or texts, to represent design in computer. Computation promotes the rise of materialization and fabrication in architectural and constructional industry. The novel materials, like smart materials, hybrid material or flexible materials, are increasing used in digital design. Now, architects can test their characteristics and performance in software easily. However, there were research problems of materials without computers in some decades ago. Because of the diversity of materials, more fabrication technologies, for instance, prefabricated and assemble constructions, are capable in digital architecture. 3D software. The up-to-date presentation media can link to fabrication industry directly. There is a new relationship between generation and production---”file to factory”19.

Moreover, digital model is a straightforward visual communicate methods that is understood by public. Non-professional workers can involve in fabrication process currently. Also, computing programs can generate the structural forces and geometric expression in 3D modules. It breaks the limitation of free-form. By generating and simulation the model, geometries of design will closely response the conditions of site context. Performance analysis is one of the dominant functions of computation. Digital tools can evaluate the materials expression and overall performance of models in simulated environments. Architects will get comprehensive feedback of the design strategies, and then fixing the existing issues. Not only the outlook of the model, but also the performance of design will be tested. These technique provides opportunities of sustainability. Architects are looking for a more organic and dynamic plan that can reflect on nature20. This is the innovation of parametric design. The new theory of architecture emerged from computation is biology and sustainability.

16. Rivka Oxman and Robert Oxman, eds.Theories of the Digital in Architecture (London; New York: Routledge, 2014), p. 3-4. 17.Anthony Dunne, Fiona Raby, Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (The third floor of 1 Rogers Street in Cambridge, MA 02142.: MIT Press, 2013), p. 39-40. WikiArquitectura. (2015). Philips Pavillion Expo 58 - Data, Photos & Plans - WikiArquitectura. [online] Available at: https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/philips-pavillion-expo-58/ [Accessed 6 Mar. 2018]. 18. Anthony Dunne, Fiona Raby, Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (The third floor of 1 Rogers Street in Cambridge, MA 02142.: MIT Press, 2013), p. 41. WikiArquitectura. (2015). Philips Pavillion Expo 58 - Data, Photos & Plans - WikiArquitectura. [online] Available at: https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/philips-pavillion-expo-58/ [Accessed 6 Mar. 2018]. 19.. Anthony Dunne, Fiona Raby, Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (The third floor of 1 Rogers Street in Cambridge, MA 02142.: MIT Press, 2013), p. 36. WikiArquitectura. (2015). Philips Pavillion Expo 58 - Data, Photos & Plans - WikiArquitectura. [online] Available at: https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/philips-pavillion-expo-58/ [Accessed 6 Mar. 2018]. 20. Fry, Tony, DESIGN FUMING SUSTAINABILITY, ETHICS AND NEW PRACTI, First edn (First Floor, Angel Court, 81 St Clements Street, Oxford 0X 4 1AW, UK 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA: 1, 2009), p. 4 - 6.. CONCEPTUALISATION

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Design is a process we engage in when the current situation is different from some desired situation, and when the actions needed to transform the former into the latter are not immediately obvious.â&#x20AC;? ------Yehuda E Kalay

FIG 15: The photography of Underwood Pavilion. CONCEPTUALISATION 15

ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2014-15 ICD Institute for Computational Design: Prof. Achim Menges ITKE Institute of Building Structures and Structural Design: Prof. Jan Knippers Scientific Development: Moritz Dörstelmann, Valentin Koslowski, Marshall Prado, Gundula Schieber, Lauren Vasey ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2014-15: Interactive Panorama is a Pavilion that based on the concept of spider silk to create a stable and dynamic pneumatic structure. The morphological lightweight structure is reinforced by fibre. Due to its unique material and construction methods, the design process greatly relies on cyber-physical analysis and calculation and involves interdisciplinary experts. Without testing thousands materials, designers can select the most adoptable and efficient materials from digital database directly. Then, they will simulating the shell geometry of the fibrereinforced ETFE surface by introducing digital form finding methods. According the environment conditions and material properties, designers can utilize software to generate the most efficient locations of the fibre. Without submitting a drawing, architects only need to input the robot control codes, construction commends will be operated21. Comparing with conventional design process, computational design saves construction time and physically testing materials to generate a geometry of the shell. The examination and considerations of conditions are more comprehensive. In this case, computation can be utilized to re-define the complex shell structure into simpler form. This action reduced the construction load. However, the biggest revolution of computing in design and constructions industry is materials of fabrication. Fibre, a soft material that were never considered as a reinforced material two decades ago. Computation program methods can identify the locations of force bearing points on the lightweight shell. Robotic construction will place the fiber on the preset trails accurately 22. Embedded sensor system is used to predict the structure failure. With the cooperation of these mature computational software,

Computation could predict the feasibility and deformation of geometries. This technique can optimize the forms of geometries. Because of the optimization of shape, the pavilion contains minimal formwork 23. Meanwhile, the pavilion has extreme low density compare with general shells. It is only 6.5 kg/m2. The shell geometry is very rigid to bear large force. Therefore, computational optimization provides more possibilities of geometric forms to be tested and constructed. Computation is a storage of various data. Designers can apply these information from multi-subjects, and then interrelate the parameters from each area. The performance could be developed in many disciplinaries. Such as the research pavilion designing team, they utilized biology as their concept. Spider habitat is stable and safe that has excellent mechanical performance. Architects employed performance analysis program to operate the biologic and mathematical performance into design. Meantime, Bionic is a novel theory of architectural design24. For achieving sustainable architecture, design should react to the natural environment. Organic and dynamic form is popularized. Computation design gives architects the opportunities to analysis the optimize the design closer to natural principle.

21. Icd.uni-stuttgart.de. (2017). ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2014-15 | Institute for Computational Design and Construction. [online] Available at: http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=12965 [Accessed 10 Mar. 2018]. 22. Designboom | architecture & design magazine. (2016). subaquatic water spider nests inform ICD/ITKE research pavilion 2014-15. [online] Available at: 23. Dunne,Anthony; Raby, Fiona. Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (The third floor of 1 Rogers Street in Cambridge, MA 02142.: MIT Press, 2013), p. 6. 24. Icd.uni-stuttgart.de. (2017). ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2014-15 | Institute for Computational Design and Construction. [online] Available at: http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=12965 [Accessed 10 Mar. 2018]. 25. Yehuda E Kalay. Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2014), p. 16

CONCEPTUALISATION

FIG 16, 17 & 18: The digital analyses of ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2014-15.

FIG 19: The construction photograph of ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2014-15.

CONCEPTUALISATION 17

Underwood Pavilion Project Name: Underwood Pavilion – Ball State University – 2014 Location: Muncie, IN, USA Design And Realization: Gernot Riether, Prof. Dipl.-Ing., M.S. Architect, Andrew Wit, Prof. M.S. Student Team: Noor Al-Noori, Andrew Heilman, Chris Hinders, Charles Koers, Huy Nguyen, Nick Peterson, Steven Putt, Ashley Urbanowich Underwood Pavilion is a tensegrity structure based assemble pavilion. It is constructed by lightweight structure. The design team applied Rhino, Grasshopper, Kangaroo and Galapagos to generate, simulate and analysis the project model. The designers rejected conventional physical model form-finding process. They complete the design by utilizing several digital structural simulation softwares and applied physics engines as design tools. The whole design process is consisted by one digital simulation and two physical experiments. Meantime, teams are separated into four groups for distinct analysis tasks. The total time consumed by the studio is only five weeks26. Therefore, computational design could have high efficiency and simplified process. These architects defined the final form by transform it into computing definition. The software also helped to exam the higher level complexities of models and physical properties of materials. At the same time, computation could minimize the construction material with minor changes to identify the final form. Therefore, the computational analysis methodology can re-define design elements. After defining the position of each elements and the elastic level of material, construction would be processed in the site. The materials were selected for construction are durable and flexible. The pavilion itself is assembled27. So there is less waster and environmental damage than normal project. Through the simulation in computer before construction, the potential ricks and issues were predicted before construction. So, digital program is safer and more efficient in construction as well.

The tensegrity structure has pure tension. This form can be finded only by making physical model before computation appeared previously. Now, digital calculation can not only simulate the geometry, but also predict the curvature and analysis the stress number of fiber. A stronger, lighter and material efficient model were generated. The geometries of elements are more accurate. So, flexibility is possible in complex geometries. Moreover, except tensegrity structure, more irregular forms could be generated in computer quickly. Computational simulation can suggest the most adoptable material, which has less waste and more sustainablity. For this pavilion, sportwear cloths, which is non-synthetic material. The material, contains 84% recycled polyster, is more durable and suitable material28. The pavilion gets a better performance because of its flexible skin indeed. Computational program, which has greater knowledge storage and faster operation speed than human, would provide more precise evidence and performance-oriented options. The same as ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILLON 2014-15, underwood pavilion also utilized bionic as architectural theory. Human body bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles all act as pure compression structure. By referencing to examples, architects could prototyping the model rapidly. The environmental friendly and transportable design reflects the significance of sustainability.

26. Arch2O.com. (2017). Underwood Pavilion | Gernot Riether & Andrew Wit. [online] Available at: https://www. arch2o.com/underwood-pavilion-gernot-riether-andrew-wit/ [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018].p3. 27. Gernot Riether, Andrew J. Wit and Steven T. Putt, ‘THE UNDERWOOD PAVILION An investigation in parametric tensegrity structures ‘, Emerging Experience in Past, Present and Future of Digital Architecturee, Proceedings of the 20th International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in, The Journal of Architecture.CAADRIA 2015, (2015), p.669. 28. Wit, Andrew and Riether, Gernot. (2016). [ebook] Underwood Pavilion, pp.160-165. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/281205650 [Accessed 10 Mar. 2018].

CONCEPTUALISATION

FIG 20: The photograph of Underwood Pavilion..

FIG 21: The digital analyses of Underwood Pavilion..

CONCEPTUALISATION 19

CONCEPTUALISATION

FIG 22: The photograph of ICE/ITKE Research Pavilion. CONCEPTUALISATION 21

A3.0 Composition/Generation

Brife After the engaging of digital tools, architectural and constructional design concept and process transformed entirely. The participate groups of digital design shifts rapidly. Computers can replace some specialists in analysis stages. Meanwhile, these tools can support the communication between architects and disciplines experts. Architects can involve broader topics into design, such as biology and sustainability. At the same time, computers remedy the lack of architects’ construction background. They supports architects design straightforwardly into the concept without worry too much about the structure capability. Like what we has done in the Beijing AA visiting school. Our team is composite by architects wholely, but we successfully generated the flexible shell structure and built it physically. Moreover, we inserted the digital model into public media and generated the SQ code of the final model. The inter-media transfer helps us disseminate our architectural concept widely. In some complex digital design, architects tend to create software by themself 29. Digital tools support the individuation of design. Flexibility and complexity of geometries is the recent theme. It has a higher demands on construction. Computing assists designer selecting suitable materials and simulate the satisfy the local performance request. These digital tools link the physical site conditions to models and provide feedback at diverse stages. In this aspect, predictable construction issues would have less limitation on design.

However, computer, the cold machine, lacks creative capability and intuition. It can not distinguish right and wrong, ugly and beautiful. Designers should always be the one to control aesthetic and development direction30. Also, digital tools have not cover all the areas of study at this moment. Not all the functions of products are computable. Meanwhile, architects are required to professionally operate computing language. omputational skills will be the obstacle of normal people to become a digital designer. Despite the design process is well controlled and physically-practised, unexpected results could appearce. These surreal digital design can be both positive or negative. Possibly these shortcomings of computation could bring more inspiration to us in the further progress. Although computation has had a long history. The interoperability protocals between each software were appeared only 60 years ago. Overall, Designers tried hard to explore more design possibilities. Computation is constantly improving. We could image more innovations of digital design will arise in the future, because it is powerful and full of potential.

29. Definition of ‘Algorithm’, ed. by Wilson, Robert A. and Frank C. Keil, eds (London: The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences (London: MIT Press), 1999), p. 11, 12. 30.Peters, Brady, ‘Architectural Design’, ‘Computation Works: The Building of Algorithmic Thought’, 83.2, (2013), 08-15.

CONCEPTUALISATION

“There is the danger that if the celebrationof skills is allowed to obscure and divert from the real design objectives, then scripting degenerates to become an isolated craft rather than developing into an integrated art form.’12 This issue of 3 promotes the idea of computation in architecture as an integrated art form. “ ------Brady Peters

FIG 23: The surface of P-wall. CONCEPTUALISATION 23

Esker House Lcation: Italy - San Candido Dsigner: Plasma Studio Project yesr: 2006

Esker House is a excellent re-constructed work that combines conventional architecture with the innovative computational design. The original building was built in 1960s 31. I would see this project as an optimization design. It demonstrates the capacity of computational design on developing the host house without destroy its initial structure. The generative approaches of computation can be divided into design process and construction methods. The geometry of Esker House is unique because of its folded roof. The roof is generated from computational software. It is a split-level wood structure that flows through the top. The stairs and roof interleaved as circles. Their morphology is fluid and soft. The special geometry looks freely and integrated with surrounding smoothly. All the deformation and softening of the roof forms are complete in computational programs. The external staircase is one of the modular 32. To exploring the most suitable geometry of design, a lots of simulations and iterations are utilized to compare different results. Digital tools can ever-creating the simulated forms of the roof. And it can record the whole design process and data. The results of each forms can be contrasted together to get an optimized shape. This methods of data collection is more precise and case less side effects than artificial records. Moreover, the computation analysis could go through a wide range of aspects, such as material, environmental conditions cost and time consuming. Digital programs help architects comprehensively and infinitely optimize the design.

Functionality of buildings takes a vital role in architectural design. This project did very well in this aspect. The roof has various terraces and intensity. It is a innovated outdoor spaces with rich texture. Parametric design can help designers to find the most suitable scale for the height, width and so on. Arrangement of each zones can also be identified by its functions. Architects will get the best simulation of spaces according the anthroposomatology 33. Computation itself is a specialist of several displicinaries. The digital tools assist architect to achieve biological development in architecture. Computing is critical in material and construction methods selections. Generation approaches can predict the risks of construction process. The designers of Esker House generate a structure with minimal materials in computer. The material selected is prefabricated. These fabrication data directly come from the 3D digital model. computation significantly lowers the communication time between designers and engineers. In this case, digital program can be a detector and an engineer.

31. ArchDaily. . Esker house / Plasma Studio. [online](2018) Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/11957/esker-house-plasma-studio [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018].30.Peters, Brady, ‘Architectural Design’, ‘Computation Works: The Building of Algorithmic Thought’, 83.2, (2013), 08-15. 32. ArchDaily.. Esker house / Plasma Studio. [online] (2018) Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/11957/esker-house-plasma-studio [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018].30.Peters, Brady, ‘Architectural Design’, ‘Computation Works: The Building of Algorithmic Thought’, 83.2, (2013), 08-15. 33. Meier, Alexis. life in:formation (France: University of Strasbourg, 2010), p.50-52.

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FIG 24 & 25: The exterior and interior photographs of Esker House.

FIG 26 & 27: The line drawings of Esker House wood roof.

CONCEPTUALISATION 25

P-Wall Date: 2013 Size: 6.1m x 3.6 x 0.3m Materials: Fiber-Reinforced Thin-Shell Precast Concrete Panels mounted on Steel Frame Tools: Rhino, Grasshopper, Kangaroo Location: FRAC Centre, Orleans, France Fabrication: Concreteworks, Oakland, California The generative approach of P-wall is highly relying on computing. This project is designed in conventional process, but employed a large pattern through computational simulation to analysis the possibility of design34. The design team challenges the combination form of fabric form and concrete. How could heavy and rigid concrete cast in lightweight flexible fiber? Computation software could help designers solve the problem and get several iterations of distinct results.

P-wall was constructed in a complex, flexible, cheap and low-technical methods. The final geometry of P-wall was formed by self-organization of material under forces. Rather than normal wood formwork, nylon fabric and wood dowels become the formwork 36. Computing generative approach gives the designer brave to attempt novel material and technique. Computation is also an insurance to decrease the failure of design in physical context. It speeds up the modern architectural design course.

The actual geometry of design sometimes is uncertained during form-finding process. In P-wall, the locations of contraints are vital for the final form of these white bubbles. The shapes of bubbles will influence by every conditions. In this situation, unexpected results should be controlled to reduce architectural accidents. Computational analysis can minimize the risks. The spring-net of meshed in grasshopper has an acceptable range of accuracy to do testing. Designers can exam the architectural performance through operating software. Meantime, this generative approach explores the boundary between repetition and modularity. The iterations of forms come from 5 modules. However, all the concrete bubbles in the 34 panels are diverse35. It means modularity will not limit diversity. The architectural theory about biological design and manufacture relate closely to computation. These variable organic form is a example of biologic design.

Another rule of computation is inspiring architects to further develop the projects. Digital programs are extremely powerful. It could provide designers more opportunities to generate one module. Therefore, designers never stops to develop their explorations. There are some further design project from P-wall, like the weathered P-wall and P-ball. Computer can become a recorder to help architects catch up the design process. It is also a researcher to provide precedents. Computation breaks the limitations of design improvement. However, digital design restrict designers’ cognitive logic. Computer is possible to make mistakes either. Once designers are used to produce in digital mode, they will be lazy to critically analysis the design logical. After all, computer is not the one who has consciousness, human is.

34. Ornamentalplaster.blogspot.com.au. (2017). Inspirational Modern Design: “P-Wall” by Andrew Kudless. [online] Available at: http:// ornamentalplaster.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/inspirational-modern-design-p-wall-by.html [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018]. 35. Matsysdesign.com. P_Wall (2013) « MATSYS. [online] (2018). Available at: http://matsysdesign.com/2013/09/02/p_wall-2013/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. 36. Matsysdesign.com. . Seed (p _ball) « MATSYS. [online] (2018) Available at: http://matsysdesign.com/category/projects/seed-p_ball/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. 37. Matsysdesign.com.. Weathering (P_Wall) « MATSYS. [online] (2018) Available at: http://matsysdesign.com/category/projects/weathering-p_wall/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018].

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FIG 28, 29 & 30: The photograph of different types P-wall.

FIG 31: The digital line work analysis of P-wall.

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FIG 32: The weathered P-wall. CONCEPTUALISATION 29

A4.0 Conclusion

Overall Review

Intended Design Approach

Digital design is an innovative design approach that benefits architects in several aspects. It reschedules the design process. The transformation of architectural language between disciplines is easier. 2D Architectural drawings is no longer the main communication tools. Architects can submit the digital file straightforwardly to fabrication industry. Meanwhile, designers could generate the geometry freely in software and simulate it in site conditions. The load bearing, material efficiency and environmental context could be analyses. Computational analysis could be an insurance of one model be able to suit and construct on site. The deeper architects develop the model, the closer the design to sustainability. Material diversity is another feature of digital fabrication. More flexible and novel materials can be offered in parametric design. The form of buildings can be assemble, prefabricable and mobile. However, computational software has no intuition. It would be wrong as well. The simulation in computation is still slightly distinct with physical conditions. Architects cannot rely on computer enteirly. They need to explore the potentials of computing and repairing the bugs of digital software.

The design topic of our group is P-wall. It is a organic and dynamic form that generated by grasshopper and kangaroo. At the beginning of design, I will search the design intend and concept behind P-wall. After fully understand its architectural approach, I can explorer its potentials and shortcomings more deeply. Then, I will site visit the new Unimelb Student Precinct. Considering recent and future environment conditions of our site Thinking about what aspects will influence my design directionn on transportation, climate, surrounding buildings, target clients and so on. Our design goal is a bike shelter. I need to realize the opportunities relate to the site and the bike shelter. Afterwards, I will back to computing form-finding. By re-defining and generating the form of P-wall, I would get a more suitable result for our design. Then simulating the model in site context and analysis its structural ability. This step of design can predict the risk of construction. Meanwhile, I intend to apply sustainability as my design approach.Digital tools can help me working towards this direction. Computational testing could provide the feedback immediately. It could assist me to reduce cost, errors and time consuming. Better overcome means energy saving. I also want our bike shelter to be assemble. The materials that we choose can be prefabricated and lightweight. Then, we only need sending the digital file to machine and then assembling the patterns on site. In this way, the bike shelter will be flexible and portable. Construction process can take less time and case less damage. It benefits both the designers and clients.

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CONCEPTUALISATION 31

A5.0 Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Review

Further Development

Before studying Air studio, I had attended two AA Visiting parametric design studios during the summer holiday of 2018. In these digital design studios, I learned the basic design process and technologies briefly. However, I could not understand each steps of digital design before the learning of Part A. Previously, I only knew how to use digital tools, but I did not know why they are arranged in this way. Through reading these theory about design and computing, I have a clearer logic about digital design approach. The readings solve my question about the differences between traditional design and digital design. I will apply the advantages of digital tools in my further design, avoid shortcomings of computing at the same time . Also, These theories change my thinking about prefabrication. I will try to prefabricate my design models in later studying.

I realize that software skills is the basement of parametric design. It is the professional language of digital design. Even I have had some experience of digital studio study, my software skills still required to be improved. The grasshopper teaching video that provided on LMS is really useful and easy to understand for me.

My view about the scales of parametric is challenged. Without deeply research the precedents, I thought parametric design were mostly employed in small scale buildings, such as pavilions or shelters. Meanwhile, I thought the function of parametric buildings were restricted on exhibitions or outdoor resting areas. However, by researching the six precedents, I aware that parametric design can be large as the stadium. Digital tools cannot only used on structures of buildings, but also on the details of buildings, for instance: a wall.

CONCEPTUALISATION

I am not very experienced in software modeling previously. My past works are rendered by Photoshops. The 2D graphic presentation tools are not enough to represent architectural model in perspective view. My building models were handmade. They spent me a lot of time. I could try 3D model simulation in software next time to increase my efficiency. Moreover, my design considerations and analysis were not comprehensive enough. If possible, I would generate them under environment context. And developing these design in more sustainable way. My last studio: Water, was learning design from Alvaro Siza. If I could redesign it, I will search through the database of Alvaro Sizaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s works in computer. And then summarize the features of Sizaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s works in software. After the three weeks learning experience, I am more interested in digital design. I have get ready to continue my explorations in Part B.

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A6.0 Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches week 1

Perspective

Iteration 1

Top View

Elevation

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Iteration 2

Iterati

ion 3

Iteration 4

Iteration 5

CONCEPTUALISATION 35

A6.0 Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches week 1

This is a general way to make a loft.

Iteration 1

The more complex the basic shape, the more complex the geometry.

CONCEPTUALISATION

Iteration 3

I change the basic geometry and varify the data. Using panel to check the data.

Iteration 2

I start to try the loft options of the component. The shape of geometry can be closed and adjest to smoother surface.

Iteration 5

The overall shape looks like a wave. And I learned how to make contours.And I also hade a try of domain and random components.

Iteration 4

CONCEPTUALISATION 37

A6.0 Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches week 2

These two geometries are generated from the same surface. But they are completely different. It is important to find the right input and outout,

I started my exercise Then I try some comp grasshopper to look a this shapes.

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with simple points. plex forms from at what I can get from

CONCEPTUALISATION 39

A6.0 Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches week 3

This shape looks like our Beijing AA Visiting School Model. I practise it by selecting some vertices from the mesh.

The basic geometry of the mesh is a sqare. I want the eight vertices of the sqaure to be anchor points. Then, I selected some vertices on the mesh surfaces as well. The spring is flying upwards. But there are some points still connected to the inside of the squre.

I tried to use sphere as my mesh durface. But I think the result is not very successful. The spring mesh is always flying uo really high even I changed the data. It does not have a very regular form. I think the main problem is that the sphere mesh do not have end point on the surface. The line and length options is running infinitly. So it is always flying. Maybe I should find out how can I fine its diameter.

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CONCEPTUALISATION 41

A6.0 Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches week 3

This is come from a circle. Circle is a little different with other shapr. It does not have corner. For iterating the form better, I should learn more ways about select points from meshes.

CONCEPTUALISATION

The basic curve is a star. The result is very cute. I choose U ans V count on mesh component as 25, because if the data is too big, it will running so slowly. But due to the low U and V count, The shape of the spring mesh is not very clean. It is a â&#x20AC;&#x153;low resolutionâ&#x20AC;? star from the top view. It would be bettr if I can find out how to run grasshopper faster.

I used the flatten tree to rearrange the data. Then I try use mathetical calculation, such as multiplication to select the data in mesh. But I should learn how to control the omain component. Also, I should study how to use random to select data. I think the random result wil looks like P_Walls better.

CONCEPTUALISATION 43

Bibliography: ArchDaily. Esker house / Plasma Studio. [online] (2018). Available at: https://www. archdaily.com/11957/esker-house-plasma-studio [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018]. Arch2O.com. Underwood Pavilion | Gernot Riether & Andrew Wit. [online] (2017). Available at: https:// www.arch2o.com/underwood-pavilion-gernot-riether-andrew-wit/ [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018]. Architectural Design Research in, The Journal of Architecture.CAADRIA 2015, (2015), 663-672. Clarke,Joseph. ‘Iannis Xenakis and the Philips Pavilion’, Architecture New York, The Journal of Architecture.17:2, (2012), 213-229. Capanna, Alessandra . ‘Iannis Xenakis:Architect of Light and Sound’, Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming, NEXUS NETWORK JOURNAL .3, (2001), 1 (p. 19-26). Definition of ‘Algorithm’, ed. by Wilson, Robert A. and Frank C. Keil, eds (London: The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences (London: MIT Press), 1999), p. 11, 12. Divisare. Plasma Studio · Esker House. [online] (2018). Available at: https://divisare.com/ projects/330820-plasma-studio-esker-house [Accessed 18 Mar. 2018]. Doerstelmann,Moritz; Knippers,Jan; Koslowski,Valentin; Menges,Achim; Prado,Marshall; Schieber,Gundula and Vasey,Lauren. ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion (United States: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2015), p. 60-65. Domusweb.it. ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion. [online] (2018). Available at: https://www.domusweb. it/en/news/2015/07/14/icd_itke_research_pavilion.html [Accessed 10 Mar. 2018]. Dunne,Anthony; Raby, Fiona. Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (The third floor of 1 Rogers Street in Cambridge, MA 02142.: MIT Press, 2013), p. 1-9, 33-45. Fry, Tony, DESIGN FUMING SUSTAINABILITY, ETHICS AND NEW PRACTI, First edn (First Floor, Angel Court, 81 St Clements Street, Oxford 0X 4 1AW, UK 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010, USA: 1, 2009), p. 1- 16. Kalay, Yehuda E, Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2014), p. 5-25. Matsysdesign.com. Seed (p _ball) « MATSYS. [online] (2018). Available at: http:// matsysdesign.com/category/projects/seed-p_ball/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. Matsysdesign.com. P_Wall(2006) « MATSYS. [online] (2018). Available at: http:// matsysdesign.com/category/projects/p_wall2006/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018].

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Matsysdesign.com. P_Wall(2009) « MATSYS. [online] (2018). Available at: http:// matsysdesign.com/category/projects/p_wall2009/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. Matsysdesign.com. P_Wall (2013) « MATSYS. [online] (2018). Available at: http:// matsysdesign.com/2013/09/02/p_wall-2013/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. Matsysdesign.com. P_Wall(2009) « MATSYS. [online] (2018). Available at: http:// matsysdesign.com/2009/08/11/p_wall2009/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. Matsysdesign.com. Weathering (P_Wall) « MATSYS. [online] (2018). Available at: http:// matsysdesign.com/category/projects/weathering-p_wall/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. Meier, Alexis. life in:formation (France: University of Strasbourg, 2010), p. 49-52. Menges,Achim; Sheil, Bob; Glynn, Ruairi and Skavara,Marilena. Fabricate, Third edn. (University of Collage London: University of stuttggert, Insitute of Computational Design and Construction, University of Collage London, The Bartlett School of Architecture, 2017), p. 36-43 in UCL Press, <http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1546589/1/Fabricate.pdf> [accessed 10 March 2018]. Ornamentalplaster.blogspot.com.au. Inspirational Modern Design: “P-Wall” by Andrew Kudless. [online] (2017). Available at: http://ornamentalplaster.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/inspirational-modern-design-p-wall-by.html [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018]. Oxman, Rivka and Oxman, Robert, eds. Theories of the Digital in Architecture (London; New York: Routledge, 2014), p. 1–10. Paskus, Benjamin. [ebook] (2013). pp.1-10. Available at: https://core.ac.uk/ download/pdf/73940268.pdf [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018]. Peters, Brady, ‘Architectural Design’, ‘Computation Works: The Building of Algorithmic Thought’, 83.2, (2013), 08-15. Riether,Gernot; Wit, Andrew J. and Putt,Steven T. ‘THE UNDERWOOD PAVILION An investigation in parametric tensegrity structures ‘, Emerging Experience in Past, Present and Future of Digital Architecturee, Proceedings of the 20th International Conference of the Association for Computer-Aided Swackhamer, Marc and Satterfield, Blair. ADAPTIVE ARCHITECTURE (Unitied State: ACADIA 2013, 2013), p. 269-278. Xenakis,Iannis and Le Corbusi, Iannis. ‘Philips Pavilion’, Architecture New York, NEXUS NETWORK JOURNAL .5, (March/April 1994), 34 WikiArquitectura. Philips Pavillion Expo 58 - Data, Photos & Plans - WikiArquitectura. [online] (2018). Available at: https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/philips-pavillion-expo-58/ [Accessed 10 Mar. 2018].

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Image Reference: Fig 1, 2, 3 & 4: Source from author. Fig 5: WikiArquitectura. Philips Pavillion Expo 58 - Data, Photos & Plans - WikiArquitectura. [online] (2018). Available at: https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/philips-pavillion-expo-58/ [Accessed 10 Mar. 2018]. Fig 6 , 7 & 8: ArchDaily. (2018). Gallery of AD Classics: Expo ‘58 + Philips Pavilion / Le Corbusier and Iannis Xenakis - 21. [online] Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/157658/ad-classics-expo-58-philips-pavilion-le-corbusier-and-iannis-xenakis/image-2-6 [Accessed 10 Mar. 2018]. Fig 9, 10, 11 & 12: Menges,Achim; Sheil, Bob; Glynn, Ruairi and Skavara,Marilena. Fabricate, Third edn. (University of Collage London: University of stuttggert, Insitute of Computational Design and Construction, University of Collage London, The Bartlett School of Architecture, 2017), p. 36-43 in UCL Press, <http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/1546589/1/Fabricate.pdf> [accessed 10 March 2018]. Fig 13 & 14:KCET. (2018). How the Rams’ Stadium Development Could Impact Inglewood. [online] Available at: https://www.kcet. org/shows/town-hall-los-angeles/how-the-rams-stadium-development-could-impact-inglewood [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018]. Fig 15:ArchDaily. (2018). Students of Ball State Construct Parametric Tensegrity Structure for Local Art Fair. [online] Available at: https:// www.archdaily.com/553311/students-of-ball-state-construct-parametric-tensegrity-structure-for-local-art-fair [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018]. Fig 16, 17 & 18: ArchDaily. (2018). Gallery of ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2014-15 / ICD / ITKE University of Stuttgart - 25. [online] Available at: https:// www.archdaily.com/770516/icd-itke-research-pavilion-2014-15-icd-itke-university-of-stuttgart/55acef82e58ece12db00024e-icd-itke-research-pavilion2014-15-icd-itke-university-of-stuttgart-various-fiber-layers-robotically-placed-in-icd-itke-research-pavilion-2014-15 [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. Fig:19：Domusweb.it. ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion. [online] (2018). Available at: https://www.domusweb. it/en/news/2015/07/14/icd_itke_research_pavilion.html [Accessed 10 Mar. 2018]. Fig 20:Moritz Doerstelmann. >> - Moritz Doerstelmann. [online]. (2018) Available at: http://moritzdoerstelmann. com/portfolio/icditke-research-pavilion-2014-15/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. Fig 21:ArchDaily. Gallery of ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2014-15 / ICD / ITKE University of Stuttgart - 25. [online] (2018). Available at: https://www. archdaily.com/770516/icd-itke-research-pavilion-2014-15-icd-itke-university-of-stuttgart/55acef82e58ece12db00024e-icd-itke-research-pavilion2014-15-icd-itke-university-of-stuttgart-various-fiber-layers-robotically-placed-in-icd-itke-research-pavilion-2014-15 [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. Fig 22:Arch2O.com. Underwood Pavilion | Gernot Riether & Andrew Wit. [online] (2017). Available at: https:// www.arch2o.com/underwood-pavilion-gernot-riether-andrew-wit/ [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018]. Fig 23:Matsysdesign.com. P_Wall(2009) « MATSYS. [online] (2018). Available at: http:// matsysdesign.com/category/projects/p_wall2009/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. Fig 24 & 25:Divisare. Plasma Studio · Esker House. [online] (2018). Available at: https://divisare. com/projects/330820-plasma-studio-esker-house [Accessed 18 Mar. 2018]. Fih 26 & 27：ArchDaily. Esker house / Plasma Studio. [online] (2018). Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/11957/ esker-house-plasma-studio [Accessed 14 Mar. 2018].Fig 28: Matsysdesign.com. Seed (p _ball) « MATSYS. [online] (2018). Available at: http://matsysdesign.com/category/projects/seed-p_ball/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. Fig 29 & 30: Matsysdesign.com. P_Wall (2013) « MATSYS. [online] (2018). Available at: http:// matsysdesign.com/2013/09/02/p_wall-2013/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. Fig 31 & 32: Matsysdesign.com. Weathering (P_Wall) « MATSYS. [online] (2018). Available at: http:// matsysdesign.com/category/projects/weathering-p_wall/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018].

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CONCEPTUALISATION 47

Table of Contents B1.0 Research Field 50 B2.0 Case Study 1.0 58 B3.0 Case Study 2.0 70 B4.0 Technique: Development 78 B5.0 Technique: Prototypes 84 B6.0 Technique: Proposal 94 B7.0 Learning Objectives and Outcomes 102 B8.0 Appendix - Algorithmic Sktetches 104 B9.0 Bibliography 108

B1.1 Research Field Form-finding The research field of our design is the form finding technology that uses flexible formwork to cast a geometry based on P_Wall project. Form finding is defined by Veenendaal and Block as “Finding an optimal shape of a form-active structure that is in or approximates a state of static equilibrium1.”

There are three methods of form finding process: 1.stiffness matrix methods; 2.force density methods; 3.dynamic relaxation methods2.

Form-finding Advantages: Form-finding method can save up to 40% materials of one structure with same strength compared with traditional works. The innovative technology helps sustainability, because the total embodied energy requirement is reduced. Meanwhile, some forms, such as shell structure cannot be designed by freehand drawings. The load-bearing analysis is too complex for conventional technology 3. Form finding simulation software can test the process of structure modeling. Although there are some differences between real situation and digital models 4. These simulating methods can inspire architects about parametric design.

However, every form-finding methods all has limitations that should be overcame. Stiffness matrix methods may case unnecessary computationally cost with uncontrolled structure. Force density methods are not constructionally tested sometimes. And dynamic equilibrium methods needs meaningless complex parameters to process. Fortunately, dynamic relaxation methods are cheaper and freer to be operated than stiffness matrix methods 5. We should decide the optimal methods for our model by considering the stability, casting difficulty, time-consuming and cost efficiency.

1. Lewis, Wanda J., 'Computational form-finding methods for fabric structures', Proceedings of the ICE - Engineering and Computational Mechanics, 161.3, (2008), 139-143. 2. Maxwell, Iain; Pigram, Dave; Pederson, Ole Egholm & Larsen, Niels Martin., Fabrication Aware Form-finding: A combined quasireciprocal timber and discontinuous post-tensioned concrete structure(Proceedings of the 34th annual conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture: ACADIA Riverside Architectural Press, 2014), p. 37 3. Lewis, Wanda J., 'Computational form-finding methods for fabric structures', Proceedings of the ICE - Engineering and Computational Mechanics, 161.3, (2008), 140-142. 4. Veenendaal, Diederik & Block, Philippe., A Framework for Comparing Form Finding Methods (Zurich, Switzerland: ETH Zurich , 2016), p. 3-5. 5. Veenendaal, Diederik & Block, Philippe., 'An overview and comparison of structural form finding methods for general networks', International Journal of Solids and Structures, 49 (2012), p748–752.

Criteria Design

Fabrication Formwork Formwork is the basement of our prototype. Because of the curvy shape of P_Wall, flexible formwork is more suitable for us. Flexible formwork could provide high strength with low cost. It is significant that permeable mold allows the air and water inside concrete to be evaporated. Then the prototype could be cast rapidly with a smooth surface. This type of formwork also provides more freedom of shapes to the model. However, the flexible formwork deformation should be limited during casting to hold the wet concrete and avoid the slump. The concrete self-weight, fabric wrinkling should also be predicted 6. The surface finish quality of concrete is one selection criteria of formwork materials. Keel mold beams K1, K2 and K3 applied fabric formwork: woven from nylon fibers in the concrete casting model7. The advantages of woven are reducing friction and durability. This could be one option for our fabric formwork. Reinforcement could be designed into the prototype to optimize the structure and increase the durability. Textile reinforcement is optional for thin curved casting models, which can not be constructed in a conventional way 8. However, the technology of reinforcement is too complex for us at this stage. Reinforcement is one option for our further development. Shape prediction should be completed first before casting. It can prevent an unexpected accident 9. The more complex the shape is, the more accurate formwork are required.

6. Hawkins, Will.; Orr, John,; Shepherd, Paul. & Ibell, Tim. , 'Fabric formed concrete: physical modelling for assessment of digital form finding methods', 11th fib International PhD Symposium in Civil Engineering, 2016.08-29, (2016), 2-4. 7. Sobek, Werner , 'ON DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE SHELLS', UITVOERINGSTECHNlEK , 11, (1991), 23-24. 8. Sobek, Werner , 'ON DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE SHELLS', UITVOERINGSTECHNlEK , 11, (1991), 23-25. 9. Maxwell, Iain; Pigram, Dave; Pederson, Ole Egholm & Larsen, Niels Martin., Fabrication Aware Form-finding: A combined quasireciprocal timber and discontinuous post-tensioned concrete structure(Proceedings of the 34th annual conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture: ACADIA Riverside Architectural Press, 2014), p. 37

Digital Simulation The UV data of mesh in our definition should be fully considered, because the higher the UV data of the mesh, the smoother surface and more freedom of the digital model we can generate. However, higher UV data of digital model means more complex calculation. Then we would spend more time to get the final result form on Grasshopper. Our model should satisfy the static equilibrium on its surface. More uniform the load distributed, more stable the model will be10. Computational optimization is utilized to predict and load analysis the shape of our prototypes. An appropriate surface discretization is critical for tension structure11. Mesh of lines is the simplest way to get an accurate outcome of the model by controlling possible factors. The significant factors that we should test are the number of tension forces, elasticity, and variety of mesh lengths. Additional iterations might be required for further improvement. In P_Wall, locations of anchors are especially vital for us to analyze.

10. Lewis, Wanda J., 'Computational form-finding methods for fabric structures',Â Proceedings of the ICE - Engineering and Computational Mechanics, 161.3, (2008), 140-143. 11. Maxwell, Iain; Pigram, Dave; Pederson, Ole Egholm & Larsen,Â Niels Martin., Fabrication Aware Form-finding: A combined quasi-reciprocal timber and discontinuous post-tensioned concrete structure(Proceedings of the 34th annual conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture: ACADIA Riverside Architectural Press, 2014), p. 37

B1.2 Horizontal Draping Fabric Forming Architect: Sheena Olimpo, Ivan Rodriguez, Yuna Kubota and David Vuong Location: University of California of Los Angeles Project Year: 2013

Horizontal Draping Fabric Forming is the most similar project to P_Wall. The two project both utilize fabric formwork in concrete casting to get softness surfaces. The flexibility, permeability and elasticity of the membrane texture is opposing to the hardness of cold concrete. These concrete panels are assembled on the wall. Prefabrication is another feature of these projects. The variety of fabric material, casting materials, reinforcements and attachment patterns are essential for the final outcome12.

The scale of HDFC is 2.4m height x 1.2m wide. It is approximately to the one small bike shelter. The size of the precedent could be a suitable reference of our design proposal. However, the weight of HDFC is 362kg. The prototype is too heavy to carry and cast13. According to this situation, concrete would not be an appropriate casting material for the our proposal. I would advice to apply some lighter material for casting.

FIG 6&7: The sketches of Philips Pavilion.

12.SUCKERPUNCHDAILY.COM. (2018).Â Horizontal Fabric Forming. [online] Available at: http://www. suckerpunchdaily.com/2012/05/03/horizontal-fabric-forming/ [Accessed 03 Apr. 2018]. 13.SUCKERPUNCHDAILY.COM. (2018).Â Horizontal Fabric Forming. [online] Available at: http://www. suckerpunchdaily.com/2012/05/03/horizontal-fabric-forming/ [Accessed 03 Apr. 2018].

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FIG 8: The photograph of Philips Pavilion.

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B1.3 Composite System: Sub-structure and Cladding There is one major issue of the P_Wall system. The initial precedent is a 2D wall, which is not a structure elements. Our design proposal works as a bike shelter that plays around with spaces. The shape of our models should be 3D form. To solve the problem of structure supporting of our design, we involve composite system into the design. The composite system of our bike shelter is combined by sub-strcuture and cladding systems.

Sub-structure: The main usage of sub-structure is supporting the load bearing of P_wall cladding system and forming the basic shapes of the pavilion. Grid structure is one suitable option of the sub-structure. Timber or steel could be utilized to construct the shell. The shape of the cladding depends on the geometric pattern of the grid. Normally, triangles or quadrilaterals are applicable. The cladding patterns are joined on the nodes of the structure. Our P-wall is made of cement or concrete, which has a large self-weight. The connections between the structure and cladding are significant as the failure might appear if the connections are not rigid enough. To strengthen the structure, bracing could be applied to reinforce the structure14.

Cladding: P-wall panels are the cladding system of our bike shelter. According to the modularity of cladding system, every iteration of P-wall cladding should base on one shape, eg. Triangle or square. The size of each panel should be similar. These assemblies are joined on one or two side of the sub-strcture. For more variations of our design, we focus on the iteration of single P-wall panel. Every pattern of P-wall is unique. We can also use different patterns as cladding panels on the bike shelter. Moreover, we can either fully cover the structure with cladding patterns or partially build the cladding patterns on the structure15.

14. Shell structures, Shell structures(United Kindon: Bath: University of Bath, Chris J K Williams), p. 1-32 in University of Bath, <http://people.bath.ac.uk/abscjkw/LectureNotes/what-is-a-shell.pdf> [accessed 10 April 2018]. 15.Matsysdesign.com. (2018). P_Wall (2013) « MATSYS. [online] Available at: http://matsysdesign.com/2013/09/02/p_wall-2013/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018].

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B2.0 Case Study 1.0

P_Wall Panel P_Wall is the basic theme of our bike shelter. Because it is a facade system, which does not contain any structure ability, our iteration of Part 2 is based on one plane and 2D geometry rather than 3D shape. Every pattern of the P_Wall precedent has some variations, therefore, we want to try as much as iterations to test the possibility of P_Wall patterns as well.

When we are considering the species of out iterations, we mainly pay attention to Generate the form to 3D; Maximum the distinctions of shapes; Arrange the spaces of the patterns; Show the material properties of concrete and fabric.

It is important to think about the final outcome of P_Wall cladding. Because each pattern of P_wall will be utilized as modular for our design proposal, the visual performance for one single panel would be significantly different with assembled cladding panels. During the iteration stage, we should foresight latent potentials and risks of each varietion. Meanwhile, iteration results are digital models, which might be dissimilar to the real situation. The variations of our iterations should base on workable changes in real life. And we will select some potential variations and test them as prototypes.

There are several species of the iterations: 1.Basic shape; 2.Numbers and locations of anchor points; 3.The depth of extrusion; 4.Elasticity; 5.Lines and shapes of anchors; 6.Trim meshes; 7.Release boundaries;

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FIG 15: The photography of Underwood Pavilion. Criteria Design

Iteration Species Basic shape of panels

Triangle

Paralle

Number & locations of anchor points

The simpliest panel

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Easier to fab

elogram

bric

Sqaure

Regular pattern

Interesting pattern (more variety of patterns, can send more information to visitors, good for university)

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Iteration Metrics - Depth of extrustion & Number o

The Depth of Extrution

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of anchor points

Number of Anchor Points

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Iteration Metrics - Elasticity & Locations and shapes of anchor points

Shape of Anchor Points

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For getting more obvious results of iterations, we choose larger range of elasticity. However, it is significant to find the real elasticity of the formwork materials that we use for prototypes.

1. Anchors can be both points and lines. 2. Anchors can be both regular and irregular.

Elasticity

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Iteration Metrics - Trim meshes & Release boundarie

Connect four corners only

Release Boundaries

Connect several points on the boundaries

Release several bourdaries

The results of release boundaries have some tall columns. If the model can be utilized as a whole structure, these opened and closed spaces can be used as bike shelters. However, due to technical restriction, it is a big challenge for us to cast such big pavilion as a whole. We would choose to apply each iterations as small sizes panels. Therefore, the released boundaries is not suitable to our design proposal. 66

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Iteration Metrics - Load Force

The load forces increase form 50 to 2000. The differences between results are obviously. The higher load force iteration can be used as column in the bike shelter.

Tilt trim meshes Trim Meshes Trim meshes with certain area Trim meshes with selected points Trim half meshes Trim meshes with planes Trim meshes is a good solution to arrange different types of spaces in one P_Wall panel. However, concrete is difficult to be trimmed techniqually. Meanwhile, modularity is the theme of P_Wall. Trimmed panels are hard to assembled and arranged. Therefoer, trimmed meshes will not be Criteria Design 67 considered as our prototypes.

Iteration Selection: Four Successful iterations

Random Anchor Points The basic theory of P_wall is extruded anchor points on the panels during casting. This panel is the iterations that closest to the real form of P_Wall and easy one to be constructed. Its curvy surface is interesting. The panel can be developed deeper. However, it should be mentioned that the extruded anchor points should not be moved during casting. Also, the depth of extruded anchor points is distinct. These two fabrication limitations will increase the difficulty of casting.

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Regular Anchor Points Comparing with the left iteration, this iteration has more regular arranged anchor points. The single panel of the iteration is not very special. However, when we assemble this panels on the structure, the result is amazing. All the anchor points are well arranged. The aesthetics of modularity could be shown. Meanwhile, this iteration is easier to be built as we only need to connect the anchor points on one board. Than supporting these points underneath the panels during casting. But the depth of each anchor points are still required to be considered.

Selection Criteria: The panel is connected to the strcuture elements. The basic shape of selected panels is easy to connect with the strcuture(eg. square) and allocated on the locations. The panel is cladding system. it does not support the weight. It is important to Weight (light) decrease the wirght of panel for avoiding structure failure. We try to increase the variability of the panels to makes the shelter more Variability intereseting and having more usages. The selected panels have more potential alternative forms. The scale of panels will influence the workability, constrcution ability, usage and Scale outcome performance of out bike shelter. The same as scale, the height of panel will effect the workability of the shelter. If Height panels are too high or too plane, the practicality of this pavilion will be achanged. Workability

Anchor Lines

Cross of Anchor Lines

Instead of utilizing points as anchors, we employ lines as anchors in the iterations. One advantage of line anchors is easier to control. We only need to connect the line on the edge of the panel during casting. Meanwhile, by altering the thickness and numbers of lines, the iterations could have more outcomes.

This iteration is the easiest one to be fabricated of the four iterations that I selected. Most materials of formworks and casting are adopted for the panel. The curvature of each bubble depends on the elasticity of fabric materials. I would recommend using more stretchable formwork. Then the shape is more similar to P_wall.

But the materials of casting and formwork should be fully researched because the lines could not be removed after casting if the casting material is too brittle. If the elasticity of fabric is not suitable, the formed shape of this iteration will be too plane.

However, this iterations should be assembled with other iterations on the cladding. The shape of this iteration is too simple, it cannot show much variety of P_wall panels. More complex shapes of line anchors are suggested.

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B3.0 Case Study 2.0 In the case study 1.0, we make the definition of our P_Wall panel and create plenty of iterations to test the potential of P_Wall panels. However, when we start to suppose the geometry of the shelter, we find that our P_Wall panels cannot work along as a shelter. For supporting the P_Wall panel as cladding system rather than structure elements, we develop our system to composite system that is composed of P_Wall cladding system and grid structure. The grid structure is critical for our bike shelter as it will affect the overall shape of our shelter. The spatial arrangement and functions of our design are determined by the grid structure as well. When we create the grid structure, it is vital that the structure is strong enough to support the entire weight. Therefore, the rigidity of the geometry is significant. The grid structure is a kind of strong structure that has lightweight. It has fewer material restrictions. Also, we can fabric grid structure faster in the fab lab. These are the benefits for us to choose grid structure. Grid shell is one type of grid structure that utilize form-finding methods to find the geometry. Except for grid shell, we can use preformed grid structure either. In case study 2.0, we tend to find possible forms and types of our grid structure. Meanwhile, we will generate different basement shape of the grid structure to exam what the most adaptable shape of our bike shelter.

Timber Grid Shell 16. Shell structures,Â Shell structures(United Kindon: Bath: University of Bath, Chris J K Williams), p. 1-32 in University of Bath, <http://people.bath.ac.uk/abscjkw/LectureNotes/what-is-a-shell.pdf> [accessed 10 April 2018]. 70

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Th to

The connection between grid structure and panels are critical.

he P_Wall panel with be connected the nodes of grid structure by each corner. P_Wall Panel

Grid Structure

Steel Grid Structure

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B3.1 Case Study 2.0 - Grid Structure Iterations Grid Structure 1

Grid Structure 2

Grid Structure 3

Grid Structure 4

This model is to test the extrude grid structure.

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Grid Structure 5

Grid Shell 2

Grid Shell 1

Grid Shell 3

This model is a grid shell that created by random curves. We want to exam the workability of freeform.

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B3.2 Case Study 2.0 - Basement shape Iterations

Triangle Basement Shape

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Sqaure

We generate the grid structure with triangle, square and hexagon basement to find the most suitable shape of the grid. Meanwhile, we use a simpler method to simulate the final outcome of the bike shelter after we put the panels on the grid structure.

e Basement Shape

Hexagon Basement Shape

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Iteration Selection: Four Successful iterations

Grid Structure 1 This structure has more open spaces than other forms. The inner space could have more communication with the outer environment. There is a heritage tree on the site. The hole of the grid structure can circle the tree and protect the tree. Then the heritage site will be linked to the public. This grid structure is cute. It looks like a mushroom. However, for a parametric design, more architectural performance is required. We might need to further generate the geometry.

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Grid Structrue 5 The openness is straightly going cross the bike shelter, it is good for circulation. Because both sides of the structure are sited on the ground, its structure capability is qualified. The shape of the structure is similar to a tube. The next step is to give the geometry more functions and improve the outlook of the shape.

Selection Criteria: The gradient of structure will effect the structure ability of the gridshell and the sapce arrangement of our shelter. If the gradient is too large, we would consider to use materials that has high strength(eg. steel). There will be numberous panels of caldding on the structure. Due to the high Structural capability density of metrial of casting, every panel have large weight. The primary issue of sub-structure is load the overall weight of whole shelter without failure. The number, loactions and sizes of openneses will influence the circulation of our Openness pavilion. The shape of opennesses will alter the aesthetics of the shlter as well. The main usage of the pavilion is biking bicycles. If the shape is strange, or some Practicality sapce is too norrow to go through, the practicality will be effected. The overall shape of our shelter depends on the structure element. We should Spacial consider how many spaces we need? Is there any private or public spaces in the Arrangement shelter? How are the spaces be circled? Etc. Gradient

Grid Shell 1

Grid Structure 2

This is one of the grid shells. This shell has a large openness. It is convenient for visitors entering the bike shelter. However, the efficiency of space would decrease.

This grid structure is the most complex one. It is less likely to be constructed in a short time. But I appreciate the geometry of it. It likes a pavilion. We can put more functions on the form.

Comparing with a simple grid structure, grid shell requires more skillful technologies to be formed. We are not familiar with grid shell form-finding methods at this moment. If we want to test the shape, it is better to do more further research.

The four opennesses are sitting opposite each other. It is good for transportation but will disturb the practicality of the bike shelter. If we employ this shelter, we need to consider the way to stop the bicycles and what's the other functions.

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B4.0 Techique: Development - System Analysis

Advantages:

Disadvantages:

1.Our system is a composite system. The sub-structure is used for standing weight and the cladding system is for enveloping the structure. When we are designing each system, we can straightforwardly focus on the most significant aspects of each system. Comparing with the single system, our shelter might have larger load bearing capacity and more outstanding performance.

1.The construction load of the two systems is heavier than one system. We would need more construction time to build two systems and assemble them together.

2.The two system work individually. Once one panel is broken, we can simply replace the panel without affecting the workability of the whole structure. 3.The iterations of our panel have high variety. Several iterations have high workability. We can make and use them as prototypes. 4.Our systems modify the P_Wall system from 2D form to 3D structure. They bring more possibilities of spacial arrangements of our shelter. We deal with the problem of the roof by utilizing the two systems together. 5.The size of our shelter can be redesigned to fit the adjacent environment. 6.Our composite system can be prefabricated in the factory. Then they are transported to the site. The construction process will not disturb the surrounding operations and environment.

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2.Although replacing broken panels are easy, fixing the structure system becomes harder when the substructure is covered by panels. The sub-structure system works as a whole, once damage appears, its load bearing ability will be greatly influenced. Repairing the structure element means taking off then repaving all the panels. It would take a long time and massive labor forces. Therefore, I would recommend use materials that rigid enough. Meanwhile, reinforcing the connections between panels and the structure. 3.Although some iterations are useful, there are some iterations that cannot be constructed, for example, the trimmed meshes and release boundaries iterations. All the iterations of digital models should base on the real situation. 4.The composite system produces more difficulties in our design. We are required to consider more aspects of the panels and structure. We should think about how the panels fit with the structure? Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the curvature of the panels and structure? Etc. We also need to analyze both of the systems. 5.The composite system requires high accuracy of dimensions and curvature of each elements. If the dimensions and curvature of panels and sub-structure are not match with each other, the shelter would collapse.

Our composite system shows a great potential for load-bearing capacity. The scale of the overall shelter can be recreated easily, as the cladding system is assembled. Our system also has a big variety of space arrangement. We can build several types of shapes with both opened and closed spaces. However, the design process will be more complex than P_Wall system itself. The materials of gridshell are restricted to certain types, which should be strong enough and easily joined. The materials of panels are one constraint as well. We try to minimize the weight of each panel to reduce the load of sub-structure. However, the kind of material that has low density, such as plaster, is not rigid enough for casting. The prototype casting results of plaster are underestimated. Concrete and cement are suitable for casting, while they are too heavy to use. Moreover, the joints between gridshell and panels will be problematic. The concrete or cement panels are difficult to trim. We need to leave holes for joints before casting. It will bring technical difficulty for casting. The fixing type of joints should be considered as well. What kind of fixing is adaptable for the shelter? Bolting or welding? To improve the composite system, I think we should fully examine the available materials of the structure and panels. We should not only think about the weight and strength of each material, but also the side effects of the materials. For an instant, if we use steel bolts as joints of the composite system, how can we deal with the corrosion of this type of material? Are the materials of panels and gridshell can work together? Will they damage each other? Besides the materials issues, we should think over the accuracy of each element in our shelter. How to precisely control the fabric variations during construction? On the other hand, the fabrication process would be complex. Is it possible to simplify the fabrication? How can we decrease the construction time? The propose of our design is to construct a bike shelter for the new precinct of Melbourne University. The major user of the bike shelter would be students in the region. The bike shelter can be a public space for not only stopping bicycles but also for communication. The shelter could be utilized as an open environment for students to rest and entertain. Meanwhile, we hope the organic outlook of this shelter would bring feeling about fashion and innovation to the site. However, I would suspect the number of spaces we can create. Because of the limitation of the scale of the site, our shelter is around 20sqm. We cannot design many closed rooms in the shelter, otherwise, each space will be to crowed. At the point, we would choose to make a large open space for the shelter rather than several small rooms. For further development, we will concentrate on optimizing the geometry of our shelter and testing more variations of panel patterns. At the same time, we should select the most adopted materials for our design.

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B4.1 Techique: Development - P_Wall Panel Analy

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Weight:

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Scale:

Height:

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Wokability:

Weight:

Variabilityďź&#x161;

Scale:

Height:

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B4.2 Techique: Development - Grid Structure Ana

Gradient:

Structural Capability:

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Practicality:

Spacial Arrangement:

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Gradient:

Structural Capability:

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Practicality:

Spacial Arrangement:

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B5.0 Techique: Materials Research In the beginning, we decided to apply plaster to casting the prototypes, because plaster is lighter and quicker to cast. However, after several testing of prototypes, we find that plaster is too fragile to be used for casting. Then we chose cement to cast another three prototypes. The cement is excellent adhering ability. It is durable and workable. The results of the last three prototypes are overestimated. Therefore, we decided to use cement as our casting material. We also tried three types of fabrics as our flexible formwork. The three fabrics are polyester that made from woven and cotton, silk and nylon. All of them show the potentials and restrictions on fabrications. We would choose the fabrics depends on the situation and requirements of casting.

Fabric Materials Polyester that made from 1.This type of fabric has the highest density. Therefore, the permeability woven and is very low. When we apply this material, we need to consider the time consuming of casting. It is useful when the cement is too watery. cotton 2.The texture of this fabric is not very visible. It will create a smoother surface on the prototypes.

Silk

3.The elasticity of this fabric is the lowest17. 1.Silk is a very soft material. It has medium elasticity. 2.Silk can cast the most smooth surface of the prototypes. Meanwhile, it is easy to peel silk from casted prototypes. 3.The permeability of silk is adaptable for casting. Silk can be seen as suitable fabric for casting if there are no special requirements.

Nylon

4.However, the price of silk would be slightly higher than other fabrics18. 1.These type of fabric has the higher elasticity than other two fabrics. 2.This fabric has a similar structure with mesh. It can be used as a unique reinforcement in a panel. However, when this type fabric is used as flexible formwork of the prototypes, the casting material might leakage through the holes of Nylon. It is significant to control the ratio of water when casting with Nylon. 3.The texture of Nylon that cast on the prototypes is very beautiful and unique19.

17. Fibre2fashion.com. (2018). Cotton and Poly Cotton Fabric : Know everything. [online] Available at: http://www.fibre2fashion. com/industry-article/5001/cotton-or-poly-cotton-fabric?page=1 [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018]. 18. Inserco.org. (2018). Silk - An Introduction. [online] Available at: http://inserco.org/en/silk_an_introduction [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018]. 19. Fabricforcosplayers.com. (2018). Introduction to Fibers: Nylon – Fabric For Cosplayers. [online] Available at: https://fabricforcosplayers.com/introduction-to-fibers-nylon/ [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018].

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Plaster

Casting Materials 1.Plaster is a material that used for protective and decorative coating proposes. It is not used as casting materials normally. 2.The lightweight plaster is an advantage for casting. 3.The set period of plaster is too fast to control. We should try to pour the plaster as fast as possible before it becomes dry. 4.The surface of the plaster after casting is not smooth enough. Sandpaper is required to clean the surface. A benefit is the texture of the fabric is easier to be casting on the panel when we use plaster. 5.The plaster is very fragile. There are cracks in the panels. The workability of plaster is not adaptable to be used in the real situation20.

Cement

1.Cement is a kind of binder in concrete. It can be utilized to adhere, set and harden with other materials for construction. 2. The type of cement we use is hydraulic cement. 3. For hardening the cement, we can put aggregates with cement during casting. 4. For adding colors or more texture to the panel, we can mix the cement with some small pieces of siltstone or marble during casting. However, it is significant to control the workability and strength after altering the ingredients.

Concrete

5. Cement is the most suitable materials for casting our prototypes. It has stronger and smoother surface than plaster. Comparing with concrete, cement cost less time for curing and easier to control. The only issue is the weight of cement is a little bit high21. 1. The workability, durability and ultimate strength of concrete are affected by several factors. Such as the ratio of watercementitious, the shape of aggregates, and the curing methods. Well designed concrete will bring very optimized outcome, but a professional skill of curing concrete would be required. 2. Concrete will finish casting 25% during first 24 hours and spend 28 days to cast the rest of part. Due the time consuming, concrete is not considered as one option of our casting materials unless we find a solution to reduce the casting time of concrete. 3. Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension. Reinforcement is required when we use this material. However, we aim to thin the layer of our panel as much as possible. Putting another layer of reinforcement will increase the weight of each panel22.

20. Designingbuildings.co.uk. (2018).Â Plaster - Designing Buildings Wiki. [online] Available at: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Plaster [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018]. 21. Members.cement.org. (2018). [online] Available at: http://members.cement.org/EBiz55/Bookstore/EB001.16-Ch.1-Intro-to-Concrete-LR.pdf [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018]. 22. Daily Civil. (2018).Â Types Of Cement and Their Uses In Construction - Daily Civil. [online] Available at: http:// www.dailycivil.com/types-of-cement-and-their-uses/ [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018]. Criteria Design

B5.1 Techique: Prototypes - Process

Stage 1: Sawing the formwork of our prototype into suitable size.

Stage 2: Drilling each parts of timber formwork together.

Stage 3: N flexible fab top of timbe

Stage 6: Stirring the water with powder until the powder solute in water completely.

Stage 7: Pouring the mixture on the flexible fabric.

Stage 8: W the prototyp

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Nailing the bric on the er formwork.

Stage 4: Measuring the amount of water.

Waiting until pe fully dry.

Stage 9: Removing all the nails on the boundaries of the timber formwork.

Stage 5: Measuring the accurate weight of casting materials(eg. plaster, cement or concrete). It is important to control the ratio of water and powder, because the ratio will affect the workability of casted panels.

Stage 10: Stripping the fabric from finished prototypes.

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B5.2 Techique: Prototypes - Special Techniques

SawingFabrics

Release Boundaries

For testing the different elasticity of each fabric, we saw the two distinct fabrics together. Then we put the sew fabric as one single flexible formwork to pour one prototype. Therefore, this prototype has two types of textures on the surface. It also has different curvature at each half side.

We try to test the release boundaries iteration as one prototype. The first step is cutting a fabric that has large elasticity into a smaller piece. Then tieing each corner on the corners of the timber formwork. At this moment, there are four anchor points on the prototype, which are the four tied corners.

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Anchor Lines

Flatten and thin the layer of prototype

This prototype is used to test the third selected iteration of Part 2. We utilize cement as casting material rather than plaster this time. We employ steel wire, which is more stiff than fabric, to create the anchor lines on the panel. The steel wire is allocated on the back of the fabric. Then the wire will stick in the prototype after pouring.

The layers of our prototypes are always very thick. The original P_Wall has sandwich concrete layers that are both strong and thin. If the panel is not thin enough, the prototype will be too heavy. We want to thin the layer of our panel and flatten the surface. However, the result is not outstanding. We still need to tackle the problem in further research.

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B5.3 Techique: Prototypes - Analysis- Sucessful t Plaster 1&2

Cement 1

These two prototypes are made by plasters. Plaster is very brittle. It has a low workability. The powder is difficult to store for a long time. Meanwhile, it cannot stand the extreme weather. The surfaces- of the plaster panels are full of cracks. However, we still get some effective results form plaster prototypes. The first plaster prototype is used to test the elasticity of fabric. It has two kinds of fabric textures on each side and the curvature of each edge are distinct. The second plaster prototype is testing the location of anchor points. The bending surface is interesting. 90 Criteria Design

This is the prototype that used to test the locations of anchor points. Its material is cement. Comparing with the left prototype, which is also about locations of anchor points but made by plaster, the cement prototype has a smoother surface. There are fewer cracks in the prototype. This model has greater workability and durability than the plaster one. However, the model is extremely heavy. The curvature on the top of the prototype is too flat. The texture of the fabric is not shown clearly on its surface.

testing Cement 2

Cement 3

The prototype is about testing the fourth selected iteration in Part 2, which is about cross-line anchor lines. The result is overestimated. Its surface is smooth and the curvature of the extruded bubbles are outstanding. The texture of the fabric, even the folds are displayed. The only thing we should deal with is the thickness of the anchor lines. For standing the heavy weight of the prototype, we use timber sticks as the anchor lines. We can try steel wire(as the right prototype) next time.

This model is about the third selected iteration in Part 2. We use thinner steel wires as anchor lines rather than timber sticks this time. Both of the anchor lines prototypes are constructed by cement. However, the surface of this prototype is not as smooth as the left one. There are some tiny holes and flaws in the model. Its shape is not as regular as the left one. The possible factors are the distinct ratio of water and cement, and the materials of fabrics.

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B5.4 Techique: Prototypes - Analysis - Issues Failure 1

Failure 2

This is the first prototype that we made by plaster. The scale of this prototype is very large, which is around 50cm x 50cm. The scale of the prototype refers to the actual size of one panel. However, the curvature of the prototype is not satisfactory. Because the extruded load is not large enough or the elasticity of the fabric is low, the surface of this prototype is a little flat. Meanwhile, when we strip the panel from the fabric, there is much plaster residue on the fabric. The edge of this model is broken. To avoid this issue, we change the size of prototypes to 15cm x 15cm and replace plaster by cement for other prototypes

This is the back of our first prototypes. To make thin and light layers of panels, we try to smooth out the plaster. The layer of the panel is not too thick on the large panel, because the large panel is easier to control. But the thickness of the small panels become problematic, especially the cement prototypes. We might need to apply some tools to level the surface of our panels.

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Failure 3

This is one of the most successful prototypes. However, it still contains some drawbacks that should be resolved in next stage. The shape of the prototype is irregular. It is difficult to connect the panels together on the structure if the dimensions of each panel are not accurate. The load bearing of the structure might be uneven or the panels might squeeze together. Although the curvature and texture of the fabric are outstanding, there are cracks and holes on its surface. They will influence the aesthetics of the shelter. Moreover, its workability and durability would be affected.

Failure 4

When we are pouring the sew fabric, the plaster is too dilute and the holes on the right side fabric are too large. The mixture of the plaster and water drips through the fabric. It is hard to form the shape of the prototype on the fabric. Then we increase the ratio of plaster with water. The mixture of powder became thicker. The thin fabric can hold the casting material now. But because of the low ratio of water, the plaster became dry very quickly. We cannot control its shape. The prototype is very fragile. Therefore, plaster is not the most adaptable material for casting in this situation. Criteria Design

B6.0 Techique: Proposal - Site Analysis

The new student precinct is located in the south-east corner of Melbourne University. The primary propose of reconstruction this region is bringing more convenience to visitors. The previous site has old infrastructure and equipment. Some necessary facilities were destroyed. Meanwhile, the students all gathered at libraries or union house. This place was not fully used at this moment. Management staffs of Melbourne University want to reuse the spaces as an innovative area for students and visitors for meeting and communication23.

Original Site Context

23. unimelb.eu.au. (2018).Â New Student Precinct. [online] Available at: https:// students.unimelb.edu.au/student-precinct/home [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018].

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The new student precinct has a superior transportation source. It is close to the tram station that on Swanston Street. The main road to union house and Baillieu Library also goes cross the new precinct. Therefore, the population of the site would be extremely high, especially for the peak periods. The circulation of this site might be an issue as the site is too crowded. As architects, we want to solve the problems of spaces and make peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life easier. We want to design a bike shelter for the new student precinct by applying parametric architectural design techniques.

Map of Leveling & Flattening

Initial Map of Excavating & Renovating

The largest restriction of site analysis is limitation of sources. Because the site is currently constructed, we are not allowed to visit the site. The easier way for us is to analysis the excavated and renovated area of the site first. Mapping the leveling of soil. Then we would have a general sense of the geography of the site. Afterward, we list the renovated areas and new circulation to find the opportunities of the site. Finally, we decide three regions as the alternative design areas. Criteria Design

Map of Renovating Areas

Circulation & Infrastructure of the New Student Pricinct

M M

T L e a R

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B6.0 Techique: Proposal - Criteria

Site Selection: 1. The site is beside the openness of Sidney Mayer Asia Centre and the social hangout place. It is a meeting place for the public. A bike shelter could bring convenience to the visitors in the building. However, people tend to stay here for a long period. Siting a bike shelter might block the traffic and make the site more crowded. 2. This region has an old tree and an existing cafe. The bike shelter can service for visitors from the food beverage retail and cafe. Moreover, the shade of the tree is good to shade the bike shelter during summer. 3. This is a lawn area near the main gate. The advantage of the site is closer to major flow of people. However, it might destroy the landscape of the heritage site. Final selected site location: 2.

Potential locations of the design proposal

Main User: Students, teaching staffs, visitors Main Usage: 1. Biking bicycles; 2. Public meeting place; 3. Visitors Rest and entertain area 4. Supporting circulation; 5. Bring more feeling about fashion and innovation to the region. The scale of design proposal: 20-25sqm. Location: Between GSA building and the new building. It can adjacent a wall or the existing tree. It can also circle the tree. The existing tree is not allowed to be removed as it is heritage. Requirements: 1. Directly linking to the tram station on Swanston Street; 2. Cannot block the circulation of the existing road; 3. Having enough biking spaces(For 20-30 bikes). Fabrication Technique: Composite system. The grid structure and P_Wall cladding panels. Criteria Design

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Design Proposal 1.0

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Design Proposal 2.0

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B7.0 Learning Objectives and Outcomes Digital iteration

After the four weeks learning process of part B, I realized that confirming the definition of one iteration is the priority. I did not know how to make the iterations of P_Wall before we affirm its grasshopper definition. After I get the definition, I understand how to change the variations of each iteration by playing with the digital model. The second step is setting up the lists of variations of iterations. Then I can make matrix iteration to compare the results. However, some of my variations are detached with the real situation. Many iterations could not be constructed. These null iterations let me remembered that the selection of variations should be processed before iterating.

Prototype Fabrictaion

We also met some difficulties during fabrication. The materials of casting are hard to control. The first material we used is plaster. However, the casting process is not as easy as we thought. The quality of our first prototype is invalid. However, we did not notify the main problem of fabrication was the plaster. We tried to reduce the size of formwork and change the fabric materials. The results are ineffective. Then we started to think about materials and cast the model by cement. Cement is a more adaptable material for our prototype although it still has some issue that we should tackle with. The last three prototypes of our group have much improvement than before. Therefore, it is critical to fully research the properties of every available material. And do not to forget to examine the possible reason when the failure of fabrication appears. It is wiser to testing more materials. Every material has benefits and drawbacks. We need to select the most proper materials of prototypes under certain selection criterias.

The Composite System

At the beginning of Part B, I was very confused about the system of P_Wall. Because unlike the other self-standable form-finding geometry, the P_Wall is a 2D form. I feel puzzled about how to transfer the system of P_Wall to 3D. In the previous learning exercises, I have not researched much about structure and cladding system. I thought form-finding geometry should be one single element as a whole. Meanwhile, the article of P_Wall introduced it as a modular iteration. I misunderstood the meaning of modular and applied one iteration of P_Wall as a whole pavilion in the first design proposal. These mistakes could be prevented if I could think about the load-bearing capacity of the single panel earlier. It is hard to cast 20sqm cement pavilion. We did not put any reinforcement material in the P_Wall. How can the pavilion stand by itself? The idea of using one P_Wall iteration was not feasible at all. If P_Wall cannot be used as structure, we would need a structure element to support these panels. The P_Wall panels could act as a cladding system on the sub-structure. One appropriate structure of form-finding is grid structure. There are several precedents of the composite system that employ grid structural and panels. After researching these case studies, I started to be familiar with the composite system and understand this technique. We listed the benefits and considerations that we should know to avoid mistakes. After finishing the preparation work of modeling, we generated the form of our composite system. The result of our bike shelter is successful at the last time. I started to know that the work direction of parametric design was vital. The digital models should work for the real situation. No matter how fancy the digital models are, without linking to real life, they means nothing. I should always think about the feasibility and structure ability of one design proposal. Moreover, when I meet the trouble about building systems, I should search for precedents. There are plenty of excellent parametric designs that could inspire me. And there must be one can solve my problem. I should never be afraid of failures, cause failures will push us closer to success. After Part B learning experience. I have had a clear design direction for our bike shelter. I would like to explore more digital modeling and fabrication techniques of parametric design to develop my design proposal. I have get ready to continue my explorations in Part C.

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B8.0 Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches

This is one of my P_Wall iterations. I like the pentagram pattern on the panel. The way I make it is drawing the pattern on the mesh of P_Wall and setting the pattern as anchor lines. We can use the methods to create more interesting patterns on the panel.

I utilize mesh splitter component in this sketch. The mesh split component can control the size of split areas and the slope of each splitter. It is why the highest column is not split but the lower bubble is split. The component brings more possibilities for the form of the mesh. However, the split edge is not smooth enough. I should generate a complete shape of the split mesh.

The topic of this iteration is release boundaries. Comparing with other models, anchor at the boundaries work as series points. The shape of the edge looks like a series of vaults. I could generate the shape as vault corridors. The geometry would-be fancy.

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There are several grasshopper components can trim the meshes, eg. Mesh Split Plane and Mesh Split components. Some of them can control the directions and regions of splitters. These components are used to set the mesh into the appropriate shape. I would explore them in further study.

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B8.0 Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches

The composite system of our bike shelter is combined by grid structure and P_Wall panels. This is the sketch of gridshell that I created.

This model is the developed model for the first gridshell. Instead of using regular curve to set the mesh of gridshell, I drawing a random line as the basic shape of the gridshell. I am surprised that it still works. The shape of the new gridshell is attractive. I would like to explore more potentials of gridshell by applying irregular shapes.

This model is another method to create grid structure. It is not a 'gridshell'. The conventional gridshell is constructed by the form-finding method. However, the grid on the geometry is found by using the geodesic component. This method of grid structure still works for our substructure system, because our structure system is not restricted to gridshell. We can use all types of structures as long as it can stand the overall load. I want to find more solutions of the structure system. Then we can choose the most proper one to make. 106

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Bibliography: Cauberg,Niki.; Tysmans, Tine.; Adriaenssens, Sigrid.; Wastiels, Jan.; Mollaert, Marijke.& Belkassem, Bachir., 'Shell Elements of Textile Reinforced Concrete Using Fabric Formwork: A Case Study', Advances in Structural Engineering, 15.4, (2012), 676-689.

Daily Civil. (2018). Types Of Cement and Their Uses In Construction - Daily Civil. [online] Available at: http://www.dailycivil.com/types-of-cement-and-their-uses/ [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018].

Designingbuildings.co.uk. (2018). Plaster - Designing Buildings Wiki. [online] Available at: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Plaster [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018].

Fabricforcosplayers.com. (2018). Introduction to Fibers: Nylon – Fabric For Cosplayers. [online] Available at: https://fabricforcosplayers.com/introduction-to-fibers-nylon/ [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018].

Fibre2fashion.com. (2018). Cotton and Poly Cotton Fabric : Know everything. [online] Available at: http://www. fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/5001/cotton-or-poly-cotton-fabric?page=1 [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018].

Hawkins, Will.; Orr, John,; Shepherd, Paul. & Ibell, Tim. , 'Fabric formed concrete: physical modelling for assessment of digital form finding methods', 11th fib International PhD Symposium in Civil Engineering, 2016.08-29, (2016), 1-8.

Inserco.org. (2018). Silk - An Introduction. [online] Available at: http://inserco. org/en/silk_an_introduction [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018].

Lewis, Wanda J., 'Computational form-finding methods for fabric structures', Proceedings of the ICE - Engineering and Computational Mechanics, 161.3, (2008), 139-149.

Matsysdesign.com. (2018). P_Wall (2013) « MATSYS. [online] Available at: http:// matsysdesign.com/2013/09/02/p_wall-2013/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018].

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Maxwell, Iain; Pigram, Dave; Pederson, Ole Egholm & Larsen, Niels Martin., Fabrication Aware Form-finding: A combined quasi-reciprocal timber and discontinuous post-tensioned concrete structure(Proceedings of the 34th annual conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture: ACADIA Riverside Architectural Press, 2014), p. 375 - 384.

Members.cement.org. (2018). [online] Available at: http://members.cement.org/EBiz55/ Bookstore/EB001.16-Ch.1-Intro-to-Concrete-LR.pdf [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018].

Shell structures, Shell structures(United Kindon: Bath: University of Bath, Chris J K Williams), p. 1-32 in University of Bath, <http://people.bath.ac.uk/abscjkw/LectureNotes/what-is-a-shell.pdf> [accessed 10 April 2018].

Sobek, Werner , 'ON DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE SHELLS', UITVOERINGSTECHNlEK , 11, (1991), 23-27.

SUCKERPUNCHDAILY.COM. (2018). Horizontal Fabric Forming. [online] Available at: http://www. suckerpunchdaily.com/2012/05/03/horizontal-fabric-forming/ [Accessed 03 Apr. 2018].

unimelb.eu.au. (2018). New Student Precinct. [online] Available at: https://students. unimelb.edu.au/student-precinct/home [Accessed 07 Apr. 2018].

Veenendaal, Diederik & Block, Philippe., A Framework for Comparing Form Finding Methods (Zurich, Switzerland: ETH Zurich , 2016), p. 1-6.

Veenendaal, Diederik & Block, Philippe., 'An overview and comparison of structural form finding methods for general networks', International Journal of Solids and Structures, 49 (2012), p741–753.

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Table of Contents C1.0 Part B Feedback Review 112 C2.0 Tectonic Elements & Prototypes 130 C3.0 Final Detail Model 150 C4.0 Learning Objectives and Outcomes 180 C5.0 Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches 182 C6.0â&#x20AC;&#x192; Bibliography 186

C1.0 Part B Feedback Review

After the interim presentation, our team confirmed the basic structure of our design. We applied composite system, which is combined by the sub-grid structure and P-wall panel cladding(after the reminder of our tutor, we change the name of grid-shell to grid-structure because the system of our sub-structure is not a typical grid-shell). However, there are still some details we need to design and fix in part C.

There are two design proposals of our part B. Both of them are based on the composite system. The first one is a semicircular tube-shaped shelter beside the back wall of 1988 building. The second design proposal is a mushroomshaped shelter that circled the heritage tree. After deliberating about the construction ability, functionality, aesthetics and materiality of our design proposals, we decided to choose the first design proposal as our final design.

Then we started to think about adding more functions to our design. Bike shelter was the original purpose of our model. However, this purpose was not strong enough to persuade our clients paying money for our bike shelter. We were required to create more functions for the shelter. The additional function that we designed for our final model is lockers.

Due to the new function of our design, which is lockers, we needed to redefine the site location. The initial intent of our design was bringing more convenience to the site without disturb the operation of the site. It was the reason why we choose a site that has lower population and circulation in part B. Now, we want to place our shelter closer to the public so that people can access to the shelter and using the lockers easier. The site of our final design is located beside the social hangout area.

The biggest issue for us is the large weight of our panels. As the previous research indicated, our precedent, p-wall, has a big problem with weight as well. The total wall weights hundreds of kilograms1. It means that the structural elements should have extremely high rigidity and load bearing capacity. This issue will greatly impact the cost and construction ability of our bike shelter. Moreover, the shape of P-wall is a straight horizontal wall. Our design is a shelter with a very high curvature. The curvature of the shelter will increase the load of the upper and bottom structure. It means that the structure requirement of our design is even much bigger than our precedent, P-wall. At this stage, we need to tackle this issue. The solution we get is using vacuum formed panels.

The last problem we are required to finalize is the material of our grid-structure. The two adoptable materials for our shelter is timber and steel. After researching and discussion, we determined timber as the material of our grid-structure.

1. Matsysdesign.com. (2018).Â P_Wall (2013) ÂŤ MATSYS. [online] Available at: http://matsysdesign.com/2013/09/02/p_wall-2013/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018]. 112

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C1.1 Comparing Two Design Proposals Design Proposal 1 - Selected proposal

Advantages of the first design proposal(semicircular tube-shaped shelter): 1.Bikers are easily to access and depart the semicircular tube-shaped shelter. 2.The biking capacity of the shape is much higher than the second design proposal. 3.The grid-structure is simple. The cost and construction time for the substructure is lower. The structure is more constructable.

Disadvantages of the first design proposal(semicircular tube-shaped shelter): 1.The load bearing requirements for upper and bottom structure is very high. The structure is easily tilt to one side. 2.The form looks simple.

Result:

By comparing with the advantages and disadvantages of the two design proposals, we found that the semicircular tube-shaped shelter has higher constructability, biking capability and design potentials. While the load bearing issue and functions of the design proposal should be further developed. The mushroom-shaped shelter is less convenient for visitors to use. Also, it has a serious design issue. The form is not acceptable for modular fabrication. Therefore, we decided to choose the semicircular tube-shaped design proposal as our final design. We will improve our design through these aspects that we addressed in later stages.

Our group designed two design proposals in Part B. The first thing we need to confirm is the design proposal. Which shape is more suitable for a bike shelter? Which design proposal is more constructable? And which design is has a higher aesthetics stander? All of them are the aspects of our selection criteria.

Design Proposal 2

Advantages of the second design proposal(mushroom-shaped shelter): 1.People can access from all the directions of the bike shelters. 2.It can also be used as a canopy.

Disadvantages of the second design proposal(mushroom-shaped shelter): 1.The biking capacity is limited by its shape. 2.The shape is difficult to apply more parametric designs. 3.It is more hard to add new functions on this model. 4.The tree inside the shelter is a heritage shelter. It is very dangerous to circle a shelter around the tree. 5.Because of the circled sub-structure, The shapes of panels will be more strange. The prototypes of the panels are more difficult to make. And the connections between panels will be an issue as well.

C1.2 Additional Function - Locker We started to think about putting more functions into our design after determining the final design. The basic purpose of our design is providing more convenience to this site without disturbing its original functions. The main groups of visitors on our site are students and teachers. We needed to consider what is the most required element in our daily life from students' perspective. What they are required when they stay in the university. The most adaptable answer is a locker. We concerned that some students lived far away from the university, they would need some safe areas to place their staffs. The numbers of lockers in the surrounding buildings are not enough. The waiting list for borrowing a locker is quite long every year. It means that there still be many students demand lockers. Fortunately, the size of one panel is suitable for one standard locker. The thickness of panels and grid-structure is wide enough for a locker as well. Creating some lockers in our shelter is the most efficient and feasible way to bring more convenience to the visitors. It is one persuasive function for sale our bike shelter. However, We need to decide which panels we are going to put the lockers in. And all the heights of the lockers should be suitable for people to use. We should also discuss whether we need some special design for our lockers, such as altering the materials or changing the forms. These special designs could guide users to the locations of lockers. Otherwise, the exteriors of lockers will be the same as normal lockers. Our users will be confused that which panels conceal the lockers. Therefore, in the further design, we will use vacuum formed panels as the covers of lockers. The transparent panels are light enough for the structure to carry. Also, the users can open the covers very easily compared with the heavy cement panels.

Locker Structure:

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C1.3 New Site Location

Because the function of our part B design proposal was only the bike shelter, we mainly considered how to store more bikes without disturbing the circulation of this site. We chose the back of the 1988 building as our site in part B because this is a place where has fewer people. However, we determine to add lockers as the extra function of our bike shelter in the final design. Lockers should be located in a convenient place for people to bring things easily. The original site location is too secluded to the center of the new student precinct. People would need to run a far distance to grab their books and bikes. Therefore, a new site location should be chosen. For the new site, we need to consider how people access and departing through our shelter. We want the bike with lockers can become a part of the main circulation. Then users can directly get into the place, go through the bike shelter, stop the bikes, bring the books from their lockers and then leave the bike shelter to wherever they want to go.

The interesting thing is, there is a bus station just in front of Sidney Mayer Asia Centre. This tram station is the place where people change their transportation modes from tram to walking or biking. Therefore, we could put our bike shelter as close as the tram station to convenient people who just get off the tram. There is a broad road between Sidney Mayer Asia Centre and John Smyth building. This road is the only pathway from the tram station to the new student precinct. Luckily, it has 14 meters width, which is wide enough to put our bike shelter. Therefore, we select this location as our new site. We will locate our final design beside the wall of Sidney Mayer Asia Centre to hide the underneath structural members of the shelter. The shelter will face John Smyth building. The two openings at each end will link the Swanston Street and the social hangout area together.

In addition, due to the height differences between the Swanston Street and the main pathway of the new student precinct, a ramp should be created for people accessing and departing the shelter from the tram station. Meanwhile, the slope of the ramp will prevent the circulation of the pedestrian beside the Swanston Street to be stopped.

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MONASH ROAD MONASH ROAD

Alice Hoy

John Smyth building

Sidney Myer Asia Centre

Social Hangout

Doug McDonell

BIKE Route

TRAIN Route

ERC TRAM Route

Food Beverage Retail

John Smyth building

PEDESTRIAN Route

757

GSA

Stop 1

757

Murrup Bank Co working and Meeting spaces

Co working and Meeting spaces

Teaching Learing and Living Lab

GRATTAN STREET

Previous Site Location

SWANSTON STREET

ERC

Student Hub & Library

Doug McDonell

Outdoor Programable space

Student Hub & Library

Outdoor Programable space Social Hangout

UMSU

SWANSTON STREET

UMSU

Sidney Myer Asia Centre

Alice Hoy

Murrup Bank

GRATTAN STREET

New Site Location

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C1.4 Vacuum Formed Panel Due to the curvy shape of our design, the elements on the top should be lighter. However, the density of cement is very high. If we make the top panel as a solid cement panel, the weight on the top of shelter will be very high. The shelter will tend to tilt. Therefore, the greatest problem we need to deal with is the large weight of cement panels. We can either use lighter material for the panels or make a hollow cement panel. In the later design, we will both test the new material and the hollow cement panel. We will also replace the gray cement with white cement for the aesthetical purpose. After consulting and researching, we suggested utilizing vacuum formed panels as the upper panels of our shelter.

Vacuum forming is a technique that started from the 1930s. This technique applied the thermoforming principle of the thermoplastic sheet 2. There are only five steps of vacuum forming: 1. Clamping the edge of the plastic sheet. 2. Heating the sheet to its melting temperature. 3. Uplifting the mold. 4. Vacuuming. 5. Removing the mold after it cold completely.

However, It should be mentioned that the edge of the plastic sheet should be trimmed to suitable size and fitted into a frame after vacuum forming because the sheet is not accurately proper the size of the mold3. This step is critical for our model as well. The size of our panels is consistent. The frames of the vacuum formed panels should be the same size with the lockers and the cement panels. Otherwise, the whole structure cannot be fitted in. We will be careful about this detail and make a 1:1.5 model to illustrate the frame.

Also, the vacuum formed panel has an exactly same shape as the original cement panel. However, there are some differences in the patterns on each panel in our design. It should be noted that the mold of the vacuum formed panel should be the specially made for the plastic panel rather than reusing the cement panel again as the mold in real construction.

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Advantages of vacuum formed plastic panels: 1.Lightweight(its density is the same as plastic). 2.Low cost(one 1mm thick large plastic sheet we buy from our fab lab is only $6.9. Wholesale from industry might be even cheaper). 3.Extremely quick fabrication(each panel only cost around 3mins to fabric). 4.Good appearance(there are three colors of the plastic sheet: transparent, white and black. We can also sand the transparent one into a translucent panel). 5.Smooth finished surface. 6.Uniformity of thickness for each sheet. 7.Many options of sheet thicknesses(there are three options of thicknesses for plastic sheets in our fab lab: 1mm, 2mm, and 2.5mm. There might be more options in the industry). 8. Plastic can be recycled.

2. Yao-Wen Chang & Jung-Ho Cheng (2013) Numerical and experimental investigation of polycarbonate vacuum- forming polycarbonate vacuum-forming process, Journal of the Chinese Institute of Engineers, 36:7, p831-832 3. Formech. (2018). What Is Vacuum Forming? - Formech. [online] Available at: http://formech.com/about/about-vacuum-forming/ [Accessed 18 May. 2018]. Detailed Design

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C1.5 Timber Structure VS Steel Structure Cost: Weight: Speed of Instalation: Feasibility of Fabrication: Detail Design(Connections): Risk: Special Protection: Timber Structure:

Environment Imapct:

Advantages of timber structure: 1. Timber has a lower price than steel. 2. The fabrication of timber material can be tested in our fab lab directly. The whole structure can be made in the fab lab as well. There is no requirement for contacting professional industry. We will make our physical model by employing timber because steel is not a available material for us to test. 3. The connections between timber elements can be designed by applying friction principle. No welding is required. Assembly is easy for timber structure. 4. Timber has a lower self-weight than steel frame. 5. Timber has a lower embodied energy4. 6. Timber is a natural product, which does not contain any toxic or chemical risks. 7. Timber is a recycled material.

Disadvantages of timber structure: 1. The methods of preventing termites should be considered. 2. The old timber will become creaky. 3. The utilization of timber materials will increase deforestation 5.

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In part B, we planned to build a grid-structure as our sub-structure. However, we havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t chosen the material of the grid structure. The sub-structure can be either timber or steel. According to the alternations of our design and the research of materials, we determined timber as the structure of our sub-structure.

Cost:

Weight: Speed of Instalation: Feasibility of Fabrication: Detail Design(Connections): Risk: Special Protection: Steel Structure:

Environment Imapct:

Advantages of steel structure: 1. The connections between each element can be welded. The fixed joints can be much more rigid than timber connections. 2. If all the steel connections are screwed by bolts, the assembly of the steel frame is relatively easy. 3. Steel is more durable than timber. The strength and quality of steel structure are higher than timber frame. 4. Steel is a recycled material.

Disadvantages of steel structure: 1. Steel is prone to rust. Coating or galvanizing the steel materials are required. 2. White ants will damage the steel frame. 3. The shrinkage and deformation of steel are noisy. 4. The steel structure must be finished in the factory. It is not feasible our the fab lab 6.

After comparing all the aspects of steel and timber, our group select timber as the material of our grid-structure.

4. Hassanieh, H.R. Valipour & M.A. Bradford, 'Experimental and analytical behaviour of steel-timber composite connections',Â Construction and Building Materials, 118.15 August 2016, (2016), p63-64. 5.New Living Homes. (2018). Timber Vs Steel Frames For Home Building - New Living Homes. [online] Available at: https:// www.newlivinghomes.com.au/timber-vs-steel-frames-home-building/ [Accessed 25 May 2018]. 6.Hitchcock & King. (2018).Timber Frame Vs Steel Frame - Hitchcock & King. [online] Available at: https://www. hitchcockandking.co.uk/h-k-news/timber-frame-vs-steel-frame/ [Accessed 25 May 2018]. Detailed Design

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C1.6 Finalizing The Concept of Design 1.The purpose of our design is a bike shelter. 2.The fundamental form of the bike shelter will be semicircular tube-shaped. 3.The size of the shelter will be 18 meters long, 2,5 meters high and 4.25 meters wide. Each panel is 450mm x 450mm big. 4.There will be 328 panels on the facade of the timber structure totally, 16 panels of bike racks and 16 panels of lockers. The panels of bike racks will be located in third row from bottom and lockers will be placed in fourth and fifth rows from top for suitable heights. 5.The biking capacity of the bike shelter is 32 bicycles because both sides of the bike rack panels can bike bicycles. 6.The construction system of our bike shelter is a composite system. Its cladding system combines cement panels and vacuum formed panels. The sub-structure system is a timber grid-structure. 7.The fabrication methods of panels will follow the prototypes we finished in part B. We will try to cure hollow cement panels with thinner layer and vacuum form the plastic panels in adequate sizes. 86.The cement panels and plastic panels will be connected by timber frame. The joints of lockers will be detailed in final design. 8.Our site location is the entry of the new student precinct, which between Sidney Mayer Asia Centre and John Smyth building. 10.The main users of our bike shelter is the students or teaching staffs of the new student precinct.

Digital Development - New form of patterns Integration of whole design is the development of our bike shelter. Our precedent, P-wall generates the patterns on each panel individually. In part B. we only tied to iterate the form in one panel as well. In part C, we want to provide more varieties and characters for our bike shelter. So we changed the methods of generating the patterns. We integrate the anchor lines of the mesh. And generating the force on the whole facade. Then the patterns on adjacent panels are linked as one complete line. All the pattern lines start to form the upper right corner, which is the entry point of our bike shelter, to each bike rack white solid cement panels. The idea behind this design is linking the entrance and bike racks together to guide visitors where can bike the bicycles. The function of the shelter and our parametric patterns are integrated. The

Structure Development - Curvature & supports The shape of our selected design proposal is not stable. Because of the curvature of the facade, it is easy to tilt. To steady the structure of our bike shelter, we decrease the curvature of the shape. Moreover, we subjoin additional supports at the back of the structure. For creating an easier accessed entrance, we plan to create a ramp in front of the entrance and lower the level of the ground. The support of our structure can be hidden in the level difference between the back building and our bike shelter. Not exposing the support can protect the support from physical and chemical damages.

Semicircled Shape

Support hidden in the back 124

Detailed Design

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C1.7 Diagram of Technique

The Se

Arc comp loft

Set The

copy Move - 1 Loft

Site Analysis Location Circulation Population Site usage Tectonic

Insert T Grid

Braced G

Digital Design Rhino Grasshopper Kangaroophysics

Grid Structure

Triangle

Cladding Panel

Thicken Pipe

Precedent - P Wall Repetition Modularity Simulation Model

The Se Grid Structure Fabrication

Design Proposal

Detail T

composite system

Cement Panel

Arc comp loft

Create subdiv

Custom Mesh & D

Select

Bike Shelter Locker

Vacuum Formed Panel

Convert Lines of Patterns

Set Anchor Lines

Repeat Generation

Line components X&Y Vectors

Locate the end of lines - points Join curves

Cluster Input Branch

Branch List item Set num Cull patte

Set anc

Add patt Naked V Merge

Set the 126

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Strength Length

ection Shape of Structure

ponent

e Length of Final Model

18m

The Basic Shape of Each

Grid 2D Structure

The Joints Panels

n The Grid Line

ection Shape of Structure

Pave The Panels On The Grid Structure

ponent

Individual Panel vide

Finalize Design

mesh settings Deconstruct Mesh

the special panels

m mber of list ern

chor points Or Lines

terns' lines Vertices

e force

Apply force

Kangaroophysics Detailed Design

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C1.8 Diagram of Construction Process Timber Structure Sub-structure system

Solid Cement Panel White & grey cement Solid & hollow panel Bike rack panel

Higher strength Higher weight

Hollow Lower thickness More workable

Composite Cladding system + Sub-structure system

Place & Clamp The Ed Sheet

Panel

Choose the suitable size of

Cement panel Plastic panel

Heat The Sheet Vacuum Formed Plastic Panel Thickness Color Surface texture

Check the setting Observe the state of the pla Heat the sheet until it gets t

Uplift The Mold

Quickly lift the mold Vacuum the sheet immedia

Vacuum

Immediately vacuum the sh Wait until the sheet become Check whether the shape o Back the mold to original po 128

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dge of The Plastic

f plastic sheet

astic sheet the melt temperature

ately

heet after lifting the mold es solid & cold of the mold is fully formed ositions after vacuuming

Making Timber Frame Saw the timber strip to suitable size nail the 300mm x 300mm edge frame of panels nail the support timber strips underneath the edge frame

Add Fabric Formwork Cut the fabric to 300mm x 300mm size Nail the fabric on the square edge frame

Mix Cement Powder Refer to cement producer's introduction Mix the cement powder evenly Adjust the water ratio of the cement mixture

Pouring The Cement

Solid - fully cover the fabric Hollow - level the cement surface evenly The thickness of cement is 3cm

Cour Cement Take around 1-2 days Spread cement powder frequently on the panel during curing

Sand The Cement Panel Remove the steel rod Cut the edge of the panel Detach the panel from the timber frame Take the panel out Sand the surface

Make Frame & Connections Timber frame Detail the locker & bike rack

Analysis

Combine Two Systems

Time-consuming Fabrication cost Strength Workability Feasibility

The sizes of panels and structure should be consistent to avoid deviation

Finalize Design

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C2.0 Tectonic Elements & Prototypes

In Part B, we have explored the prototypes of P-Wall. We started our testing by using plaster. However, we overestimated the result of plaster panel. Our plaster panel was too fragile. It had a very low workability. We thought plaster is not an adaptable material for our panels although it is cheap and light when compared with cement and concrete. Due to the long curing time of concrete, which is around 28 days, concrete was not an option of our material. Then we tried to making cement prototype. These cement panels have really high strength and workability. They can also show the texture of the fabric. Therefore, we considered cement as the main material of our prototype. In part C, we will explore more possibilities of cement panels. White cement will be applied as the material of our panels this time. We will also experiment the possibility of a hollow cement panel. Making hollow cement panels can significantly reduce the risk of structure failure because of their lighter weight. However, making the hollow panels requires higher construction skill. This is the challenge of our new prototypes. Meanwhile, we attempted three types of fabric formworks in the part B. Polyester that made from woven and cotton was the most suitable fabric formwork for our prototype. We will continue utilizing this material as the fabric formwork.

In addition, we will involve vacuum formed plastic panels into our design. This type of lightweight and transparent or translucent panels could bring more varieties and benefits to our bike shelter. Firstly, we will learn this technique from the staffs in our fab lab. And then we will test different thicknesses of the plastic boards. Finally, we will decide which cement panel can be used as the mold of the plastic panel. It should be mentioned that the mold of our final plastic panel is the final cement panel. The cement panel should be finished as soon as possible to avoid the time insignificancy issue of our fabrication. Fortunately, vacuum forming is a really fast process, which only takes 3-5 mines.

At this stages, we need to confirm the actual sizes of our structure and panels, what are the scales of the model we want to show, what type of connections between frames and panels we will use. After prototyping, testing and adjusting our fabrication methods and materials, we believe 450mm x 450mm is an appropriate size for each panel. The actual size of the bike shelter will be 18 meters long, 2.5meters heigh and 4.25 meters wide. This sized bike shelter could have larger biking capacity without disturbing the site. Because of the restriction of sizes of materials and vacuum machine, we consider the detail prototypes of cement and plastic panel will be 1:1.5 scale. This scale is available to show the connections. And the site model will be 1:100 scaled to show the relationship between the bike shelter and the surrounding area.

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C2.1 Hollow White Cement Panel - Prototype, Te Step4

The cement fabric is moulded by the timber frame and a dowel Fabric formwork

Step3

Timber formwork

A dowel is attached to the timber frame as pattern formwork Step2

Fabric soaking attached to the edge of the timber frame

Step1 Fabric soaking in white cement in a big tube

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est, Adjust and Diagram

Plaster panel tested in part B This is the first prototype we cured in part B. Its material is plaster. As we examined previously, the plaster panel is too brittle. It is not a suitable material for our model.

Grey cement panel tested in part B These are the three grey cement prototypes that we made in part B. These three panels successfully illustrate the basic form of P-wall panels. They also show the texture of the fabric on the surfaces. however, the sizes of these panels should be redefined. The weight of these models should be decreased. Also, the color of the panels can be changed to white. Detailed Design

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C2.2 Hollow White Cement Panel - Prototype, Te

The top of hollow white cement prototype1 in part C

The formwork of final hollow white cement prototype in part C

The back of hollow white cement prototype1 in part C This is the first successful prototype of hollow white cement. The first hollow cement panel is failed because the cement is too watery. The failed panel cannot get the required strength after couring. However, the surface of this panel is prone to crack as well. The gaps on its surface will effect the workability and performance. The fabric formwork is difficult to be taken off.

The detail of final hollow white cement prototype in part C This is the final 1:1.5 scale hollow white cement model. The size of the timber frame is 300mm x 300mm. We controlled the water and cement ratio accurately this time. Also, we frequently spread cement powder on its surface until cement gets the highest strength. Therefore, the panel is more rigid than the previous one. This panel also has lower weight because it is hollow.

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est, Adjust and Diagram

The final hollow white cement prototype in part C

We installed a dowel underneath the panel during curing. The pattern of our panel was created. This panel has a smoother surface because the surface was sanded. However, we still need to deal with the edge of this panel, which is not straight and clean enough. After the testing of white cement panel, we decided to use white cement rather than grey cement for the final model due to the aesthetical purpose. Detailed Design

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C2.3 Hollow White Cement Panel - Fabrication P

Stage 1: Spreading white cement powder into the mixing container.

Stage 2: Adding appropriate amount of water into the mixing container.

Stage 3: St cement po water unti fully m

Stage 6: Sawing and nailing the timber formwork. Installing the dowel inside the timber frame.

Stage 7: Placing the fabric and liquid white cement on the timber frame.

Stage 8: S timber fra white cem

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Processes

tirring white owder and il they are mixed.

Setting the ame of the ment panel.

Stage 4: laying the fabric in the bottom of the big box.

Stage 5: Pouring white cement on the fabric and leveling liquid white cement

Stage 9: Adding some white cement powder until it gets the suitable thickness. Leveling the liquid white cement until cement is even paved on the fabric formwork.

Stage 10: Curing the prototype until it reaches the adaptable strength.

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C2.4 Hollow White Cement Panel - Analysis Tec The failed hollow white cement panel

Frequently spread cement powder on panel's surface

This is our first hollow white cement testing. There are two reasons for the failure. The first reason is the low cement and water ratio. We tried adding more water to the cement to reduce the density of our panel. However, the liquid cement is too watery. It does not have enough durability and workability. The whole panel split into two pieces when we took off the fabric. Therefore, in the later fabrication, we controlled the amount of water very carefully. The second reason is the material of fabric. We employed silk as the fabric formwork. However, water is difficult to get out of this fabric. The surface of the panel was always wet. It was difficult to cure cement. So the cement panel did not reach its highest strength. 138

Detailed Design

To avoid the mistake of our first failed prototype, we learned to control the cement and water ratio carefully and adjusted the ratio before curing the cement panel. There is another strategy we utilized to increase the strength of our cement panel. We frequently spread cement powder on panel's surface until the curing finished. We would add some powder on the surface every 4 hours. This method can fill the cracks on the surface before the panel dries completely. The strength and performance of the panel will be greatly increased.

hniques and Developments

Take off the white cement panel

Taking off the white cement panel was not an easy job. Because there was some cement soaked into the gaps of timber frame, the white cement panel was glued on the timber frame closely. We had to chip the connection between timber frame and panel firstly. Then pulling the whole panel out of the timber frame. The partial surface of panel and fabric formwork were destroyed. We could explore the easier way of taking off the panel or preventing the soaking of cement into gaps in further studies.

The cracks on the boundaries of panel

Although the final model has a high strength, there are some small cracks on the boundaries of the panel. These cracks will affect the workability and durability. We need to consider how to reduce the cracks. Adding reinforcing might be a good option. Meanwhile, although we have sanded the surface, the area that touched the dowel left some rust. The pattern is not beautiful and smooth enough. A thinner timber dowel might be a better choice of the dowel in this situation.

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C2.5 Vacuum formed Plastic Panel - Prototype,

Heating machine Steel frame to lock the plastic sheet during vacuum forming

Plastic sheet

Vacuum forming machine

Mold(the final white cement panel) Lifting platform of mold

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Detailed Design

test, adjust and diagram

The first vacuum formed plastic panel This is our first vacuum formed plastic panel. Because this is only an experimental plastic panel, we used the previous prototype as the mold. But the result is successful.

The failed vacuum formed plastic panel This the failed vacuum formed plastic panel. When we heated the plastic sheet and then lifted the mold, we forgot to press the vacuum button. The plastic sheet was not fully vacuumed on the surface of our mold. Therefore, the shape of the panel is not clear enough, The plastic panel cannot fit into our frame. Another reason of failure might be the thinkness. This sheet is 2mm thick, which is 1mm thicker than the final one. Thicker plastic sheet is more difficult to control.

The final vacuum formed plastic panel Before making this prototype, we reviewed the process of vacuum forming. When the plastic sheet reached the adequate temperature, we lifted the mold and vacuumed the sheet immediately. So the plastic panel is clean and clear. Detailed Design

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C2.6 Vacuum formed Plastic Panel - Fabrication

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Detailed Design

Stage 1: Putting the mold on the lifting platform

Stage 2: Dropping the mold.

Stage 5: After the plastic sheet reaches the melting temperature, lifting the mold.

Stage 6: vacuuming the mold and plastic sheet.

n Processes

Stage 3: Placing the plastic sheet above the mold.

Stage 4: locking the plastic sheet and heating the sheet.

Stage 7: After the sheet is fully vacuumed and cold, dropping the mold.

Stage 8: Taking away the plastic sheet and mold.

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C2.7 Vacuum formed Plastic Panel - Analysis Te

Unsmoothed surface

The surface of our plastic panel is not smooth. The mold we used was the white cement panel. The surface of our panel is rough even we had sanded it. Because the plastic panel is transparent, the texture of rough surface becomes more obvious. It will influence the outlook of our model. To get a smoother surface of the plastic panel, we could employ 3D print panel as the mold. But the price will be an issue. Or we can sand the surface of the plastic panel. The surface will shift from transparent to translucent. I think this is a more feasible method.

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Failed prototype(no

The shape of the cannot show the s correctly, because we did not vacuum quickly. The plastic solid again when temperature. There to vacuum the shee the sheet changes to liquid. The failed used in the bike sh size of each panel and con It should be mentio is another factor i plastic sheet is 2mm vacuum. Therefore, thick sheet in t

echniques and Developments

ot fully vacuumed)

Locker handle

e failed prototype shape of the mold e when we made it, the sheet and mold c sheet will become it backs to normal efore, it is significant et immediately after the state from solid d panel cannot be helter because the should be accurate nsistent. oned that thickness in the failure. This m thick, it is harder to , we employed 1mm the final model.

We will use the plastic panel as the cover of the locker because it is light. Before we vacuuming the plastic panel, we put a timber handle as part of the mold near one boundary. After the plastic sheet was vacuumed, it had a handle beside one edge as well. Then we dug a tinny hole through the handle. The handle can be applied as the lock and handle of the locker.

Detailed Design

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C2.8 Connections - Prototype, test, adjust and d

Plastic panel & frame - Female connection po

Panel Frame Female dowel connection point

Prefabricated timber panel frame

Grid Structure Male dowel Connection point

Timber locker bo

Typical Panelling Structure

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Locker Structure

diagram

& timber e dowel oint

Male dowel connection point

Prefabricated panel frame Female dowel connection point)

Cement facade

All the connections between elements are male and female dowel connection. There are several advantages of this type of joints: 1. Can be used for aesthetic purpose because the connections are concealed into the elements. There are no joints expose in the exterior of the bike shelter. 2. Protecting the joints from rusting, chemical erosion or physical damages because the whole joints are covered inside the structure elements. They block the joints and outside environment. 3. Easy installation. 4. Providing seamless connections between elements. The bike shelter can have better outlook and performance. Leakages of water inside gaps are prevented. To increase the rigidity of the connections, rougher surfaces can be applied on the joints because the rougher surfaces will increase the frictions between elements are joints.

Bike Rack Panel

Detailed Design

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C2.9 Connections - Fabrication Processes

Stage 1: Digging several holes on one timber panel

Stage 2: Cutting some small timber sticks. Fixing the size of the holes to make sure the holes and sticks are fitted

Stage 3: Inserting the timber sticks into the holes.

Stage 1: Sawing and nailing the frame of the plastic panel.

Stage 2: Screwing two steel connection plate on one side of the timber frame.

Stage 3: Screwing another timber panel on the other side of the steel connection plate.

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Stage 4: Inserting one row of timber sticks into the frame of cement panel.

This is the connection between the cement panel and the grid structure. There are two rows of the small timber sticks. One row of the timber stick will insert into panel frame, the other row of timber sticks will interject into the grid structure. Then the sub-structure system and cladding system are joined.

Grid structure

Plastic panel frame This is the detail of locker panel connection.

This is the connection between grid structure and plastic panel. The plastic panel is used as lockersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cover. There is a timber frame circled the plastic panel. The top timber panel indicates the grid structure. Its bottom is the plastic panel frame. The steel connection is rotatable.

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C3.0 Final Detail Model

Following the several weeksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; experimentation and development, our group has had a clearer design direction. In the exploration of prototypes, we have successfully made the hollow white cement panel and vacuum formed plastic panel. Also, we have adjusted the connections between grid structure and the panel cladding. It signifies our design is workable in the real situation.

In the final phase, we will accomplish our design. To better present and explain our bike shelter, we need to use regular architectural languages to present our concept. These architectural languages include architectural drawings(plan, section & elevation), diagram, rendered perspective view, and physical models. The site location had confirmed at the beginning of part C. According to the site location, we decided to make a 1:100 site model. Because the size of our 1:100 scaled bike shelter is not large, we choose to 3D print it. 3D print the bike shelter is our first option because it can save time and effort for us although the 3D print is an expensive modelmaking technology. However, we had to send the 3D print file as soon as possible to avoid the last minute rush to the Fab Lab because the 3D print list normally is very long and 3D printing itself takes a long time as well. For the structure of the 3D printed model and surounding site of our site model, we select to laser cut it.

Meanwhile, this is the first time we rendered a transparent shelter. None of us know how to render a transparent item in Vary, Rhino or Photoshop. It means that we need to learn this render skill from the start. Fortunately, there are many useful websites and videos that teach and explain these techniques. We can follow the online tutorial video and overcome the technique issue.

The precedent of our design is P-wall. There are some various patterns on these p-wall panels. We provide some patterns on our panel as well. Instead of generating the patterns of each panel individually, we integrate the anchor lines of the mesh of our whole bike shelter. So the start points and end points of the pattern on each panel are linked together. In addition, the overall anchor lines start from the bike racks and lead to the entry point of the bike shelter. The design intent increases the unity and integrity of our bike shelter. It makes the patterns more reasonable and meaningful.

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C3.1 Site Plan & Detail Plan MONASH ROAD

UMSU Outdoor Programable space Social Hangout

ERC TRAM Route

Food Beverage Retail

TRAIN Route

Student Hub & Library

Doug McDonell

BIKE Route

Sidney Myer Asia Centre

Alice Hoy

757

Stop 1

GSA

SWANSTON STREET

PEDESTRIAN Route

Murrup Bank Co working and Meeting spaces

Site Plan Scale 1:2000

Teaching Learing and Living Lab

GRATTAN STREET

A Underground Structure

A 152

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Site Plan Scale 1:200

Locker

Plan Scale 1:50 Detailed Design

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C3.2 SectionAA Scale 1:10

Sidney Myer Asia Centre

Locker

Underground Structure

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0 Transparent Vacuum Formed Plastic Panel

Translucent Vacuum Formed Plastic Panel

White Hollow Cement Panel

White Solid Cement Panel

Detailed Design

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C3.3 Bike Rack

The white cement panel has a very high rigidity. There are grooves between two extruded surfaces of panels.The grooves are utilized as bike racks. The cement panels, which besides the bike rakes, are stretched out to create deeper grooves. At the same time, the stretched cement panels can be applied to support bikes.

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The grey cement prototype that we made in part B has some deep cross grooves on the surfaces as patterns. We could also use these cross patterns as the bike racks. However, these cross patterns would influence the consistency of the patterns of the whole bike shelter. Therefore, utilizing deep cross grooves on the panel surfaces as bike racks will only be a backup.option.

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C3.4 Locker White Hollow Cement Panel

Transparent Vacuum Formed Plastic Panel

Translucent Vacuum Formed Plastic Panel (Locker)

Stretched White Solid Cement Panel (Bike Rack)

White Solid Cement Panel

Detailed Design

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C3.5 Panel Diagram

White Cement Panel - White cement has a high density. The lower white cement panels are solid, the upper cement panels are hollow. Then the lower part of the bike shelter is much heavier than the upper part. The whole structure becomes more stable.

Transparent Panel - Vacuum Formed Transparent Plastic Panel - Provide lightness and bring sunshine to the shelter

Translucent Locker Panel - Covered by Vacuum Formed Translucent or Sanded Plastic Panel - Provide lightness and bring sunshine to the shelter Locker Box - Timber Structure

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Bike Rack - Stretched White Cement Panel - Both sides of the panels can bike bicycles. Students can circle the locks of bikes on the stretched panel. The holes between underneath solid panels will stable the bicycles.

Anchor Pattern - We integrate the anchor lines of our panels, rather than generate the patterns for each panel individually. These lines illustrate the anchor lines of the panels. The lines connect the bike rack panels and the entry point of the bike shelter. They are employed to guide visitors to the locations of bike rack panels.

The four different types of panels provide more variety of the facade. The transparency of the facade increases from the bottom solid cement panels to upper transparent panels each layer by layer. The bottom to the top of our shelter changes from heaviness to lightness. Meantime, because our shelter is located in the back of the building, sunshine is blocked. Transparent and translucent panels can bring more light to the shelter. Detailed Design

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C3.6 Axonometric Drawing of Light Tunnels

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Grid Structure - Timber frame

Vacuum formed plastic Panel Locker Box

White Cement Panel

Bike Rack - Stretched White Cement Detailed Design

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C3.7 Elevation 1:50

Exit - Walking

164

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Lighness

Heaviness

Entrance - Biking

Detailed Design

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C3.9 1:100 Scaled Site Model

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C3.9 1:100 Scaled Site Model

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C3.10 1:100 Scaled 3D Printed Model

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C3.11 Final 1:1.5 Scaled White Cement Panel

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C3.12 Final 1:1.5 Sclaed Vacuum Formed Plastic Panel

Detailed Design

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C3.13 Plaster Panel Prototype

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C3.14 Grey Cement Panel Prototype

Detailed Design

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C3.15 First White Cement Panel Prototype

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C3.16 First Plastic Panel & Failed Plastic Panel Prototype

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C4.0 Learning Objectives and Outcomes Digital Techniques

In part C, we have a great development of the patterns. The patterns on the panels are linked together. Our design logic shifts from individual generation to integration. However, the new design brought several problems to us. We had to generate the anchor lines on both the individual panels and the whole facade together. Also, creating grid structure is new for us. We need to learn it from the start. I was afraid that we were unable to create the digital model on time because we only had three weeks to finish the digital model. Although the task was difficult, we had to have a try. The online tutorial videos helped us a lot. We could generate the basic forms after watching it. But the patterns of the panels were difficult to set. And the panels were not able to match the shape of the grid structure. Luckily, we could book the help session to get help. After changing the size and reorient the panels, we completed our final digital model. It looks nice. Another new digital technique that we learned in part C was rendering transparent items. Because we increased the plastic panel into our design, we needed to show the transparency of plastic in the hero shot. This time, we watched the online tutorial videos and finished the rendering by photoshop in two days. I am very proud of our rendered images, although we are still not specialists of rendering. From these learning experiences, I feel that it is never too late to learn and try anything. Do not be anxious about learning something new or making mistakes. Moreover, search online sources or ask help from experts are always good options for learning.

Prototype Fabrication

We improved the cement prototype in part C. The layer of cement became thinner. However, The structure was more brittle as well. The cracks on the panelsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; surface increased. To deal with this issue, we changed the permeability of the fabric formwork and controlled the water ratio of cement and water. From this, I understand the significant importance of formwork material and cement water ratio in concrete curing. Meantime, we spread white cement powder on the panel surface every four hours to infill the cracks. These treatments of concrete cracks are really useful for our further development of concrete. In part C, we added vacuum formed plastic panels into our design. We only made the cement prototypes in part B. Vacuum forming was a new challenge for us. I was not familiar with vacuum forming previously. It was surprising that vacuum forming was such beneficial technology that saves cost, time, labor forces and so on. I was very excited to learn this fabrication skill. The vacuuming process is easy and fast. Therefore, I did not review the vacuuming forming process before I vacuumed forming the final plastic model. After heating the plastic sheet, I totally forget to press the vacuum button. The plastic sheet was not fully cover the mold. This prototype failed. The plastic sheet was wasted. This mistake could be prevented if I reviewed the fabrication process before vacuum forming. Meanwhile, I was lucky that the failed result was not influential. It would be extremely dangerous if I did not have enough knowledge about the fabrication when I was using fire or other advanced big machines. I will review the operation process and be more concentrate during fabrication in the future. In fact, the original material of our bike shelter was steel. However, because of the restriction of testing steel material in our fab lab, we could only make timber frame for our prototypes and models. Our guest tutors suggested that we should use the right material for models. If we utilized steel as the structure, we should test steel rather than timber. The consistency of the materials for fabrication and digital model is very significant. The reality could be different with digital iterations. There are some mistakes of design we cannot realize until we test the material in real life. Therefore, using the available materials is critical. I think our group has the same problem with translucent panels. Although, there is no translucent sheet in fab lab, we should still test it by sanding the transparent panel. After the presentation, I did some research about steel and timber. I was surprised that timber was more suitable for our structure. So, I changed the structure material to timber. The mistake of material could be avoid if I could do research earlier. In the future, I will fully research before designing.

Cooperation Ability

The most growth of our team was the cooperation ability. Our group was not organized and communicated well in part B. We spent too much time arguing about design directions and division of tasks. We have arguments about the understanding of design, design proposals and fabrication methods. It was fine to have different opinions as long as we communicate well and tackle the problems together. However, we did not clearly and fully explain our ideas. We misunderstood each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concept. Everyone insisted on their own thoughts. The direction of our design were always changing. We did a lot of useless jobs due to the wrong design direction. However, we confirmed the design direction and proposal together at the beginning of pat C. To avoid wasting time, we planed a task list. Every group member could choose the tasks that they were skilled at. Clear divisions of jobs maximized the efficiency of our work. We did not do any extra worthless job in part C. And the final result is satisfactory. No one can build a skyscraper individually. Architectural design is a teamwork. Therefore, not only design skill but also communication ability is essential for architects. Air studio is the first design subject that I work with others. It was hard for me to explain my ideas to our group members in the beginning. I could not accept others' opinions at the start as well. During the study of this semester, I improved my communication skill and realized the process of group works. These collaboration capabilities that I gained will be strongly valuable for my architectural career in the future. Moreover, I will increase both my physical and verbal presentation qualities in the later study. Our diagrams and perspective views has some errors, they poorly demonstrated our design intent. It made our guest tutors felt a little confused about our design. They advised we improve and add more presentation methods. I think a video is a good option. Architectural languages are not limited in parametric design. I will find out more possibilities of presentation technologies. At the same time, I will reinforce my ability of utilizing basic architectural languages because poor drawings can lead incorrect communications. I am so glad that I learned a lot of knowledge through the studying of Air studio. The learning experiences of digital modeling and fabrication methods are precious for me. The most memorable thing I learn is balancing the design. Just as the guest tutors said, the patterns in our design were too specific, it might mislead the visitors. The more flexible design is better. Also, we need to think deeper and put more 180 Design functions into our design.Detailed Therefore, I will focus on balancing the depth and specialization of my design in the future.

Parametric architecture is a young design technology. It still has a prodigious potential. I have get ready to continue my explorations of parametric architectural design in the further study.

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C5.0 Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches Our grid structure is a linework. We could construct it by using a grid. So we generated the grid structure in grasshopper. However, I am also curious about the definition of a shape if we construct it in sheets rather than a grid. Therefore, I searched the online tutorial and generated a circular tube and iterated it into pieces. After unrolling and laser cutting these pieces. The physical model of the tube can be fabricated very easily. I can use this technique to build the contour lines of landscape as well.

Our panel is paved on the sub-structure. I am very interested in how to convert a mesh into geometry in grasshopper and how to pave panels on the curved surface of our bike shelter. Therefore, I reused the one of our iterations in part B and try to pave plane cladding on its surface. This is the result of my exploration. All the small quadrangles on its surface are single items. They all have different planes. This definition can be employed in the real construction of curvy surface. But at this stage, it is too simple, a further development is required.

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Detailed Design

Because all the edges of quadrangles are straight. There must be some gaps between each panel, especially for the areas where have higher curvatures. The gaps would cause structural failure or rainwater leakage in real situations. More strategies are required to fix the problems of these gaps.

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C5.0 Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches

This is the image sampling function grasshopper. Because we put so patterns on the surface of our panels in p C, I want to know whether we could put images of p-wall on the surfaces as w The result is not very outstanding due to low darkness contrast of the image. But variation of sizes of circles is clear enou It means that put images as patterns on cladding are feasible as long as I choos more suitable ima

This is the improvement of my last sketch. It is also t sampling function of grasshopper. But I added a form height and loft the circles. Then the circles become t height of the tubes is varied by following the darknes image. This is a good way to illustrate a picture in the model. I can use this skill to create the basic shape o well. It must be very interesting

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n of ome part the well. the the ugh. the se a age.

the image mula of tubes. The ss of the e digital 3D of a face as

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Bibliography: Formech. (2018). What Is Vacuum Forming? - Formech. [online] Available at: http:// formech.com/about/about-vacuum-forming/ [Accessed 18 May. 2018].

Hassanieh, H.R. Valipour & M.A. Bradford, 'Experimental and analytical behaviour of steel-timber composite connections', Construction and Building Materials, 118.15 August 2016, (2016), 63-75.

Hitchcock & King. (2018).Timber Frame Vs Steel Frame - Hitchcock & King. [online] Available at: https:// www.hitchcockandking.co.uk/h-k-news/timber-frame-vs-steel-frame/ [Accessed 25 May 2018].

Matsysdesign.com. (2018). P_Wall (2013) « MATSYS. [online] Available at: http:// matsysdesign.com/2013/09/02/p_wall-2013/ [Accessed 15 Mar. 2018].

New Living Homes. (2018). Timber Vs Steel Frames For Home Building - New Living Homes. [online] Available at: https://www.newlivinghomes.com.au/timber-vs-steel-frames-home-building/ [Accessed 25 May 2018].

Yao-Wen Chang & Jung-Ho Cheng (2013) Numerical and experimental investigation of polycarbonate vacuumforming polycarbonate vacuum-forming process, Journal of the Chinese Institute of Engineers, 36:7, 831-841.

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