Week II Journal

COMPUTING IN ARCHITECTURE

RE FLECTIVE JOURNAL

WEEK II

Introducing digital technologies brings a huge impact for the development of architecture, involving conceptual realm, computational, digital architectures of topological, non-Euclidean geometric space, kinetic and dynamic systems, and genetic algorithms.

SMOOTH ARCHITECTURE

TENSEGRITY PAVILION

It is a new generation that digital technologies change the whole design process for architecture and architects design curvilinear form building. Before the digital technologies’ era, people just use hand-drawing to memories and realize the object that they were imagining, which is quite difficult for them to draw something in non-Euclidean geometry. However, architect can build up the conceptual model easily by using different kind of software, for example auto-CAD, revit, rhino or archi-CAD. We just need to draw points or lines on it, the computer will generate the surface or solid automatically. It creates more

Using digital technologies during designing can provide variable conceptual model thought stressing or twisting it, take Tensegrity Pavilion as an example. The designer use computer to generate different configurations of compression and tension members. To form mutiple shape, we just need to re-adjust the location of points.

PHAENO SCIENCE CENTER WOLFSBURG

The Science Center, the first of its kind in Germany, appears as a mysterious object.

Visitors are faced with a degree of complexity and strangeness, which is ruled however by a very specific system of structural organization.

Unveil Massive Mobius Strip Library for Kazakhstan (concept: mobius stip)

RE FLECTIVE JOURNAL

WEEK II

NEW STRUCTURAL SYSTEM

SANTIAGO CALATRAVA

Architects spend more time on developing the structural system. In the past, architects only need to think about how to transfer the load form horizontal to vertical and down to the ground. However, it gives new architectonic possibilities for architects to think about the structure system from two-dimensional to threedimensional. They would try to emphasis the relation between form and structure eventhought the structure are very complex.flexibility for the design.

Moreover, architects tend to form “organic” and dynamic shapes for their project.

It became fewer obstructions about the structural system since using digital technologies can build up three-dimensional complex structure. Which means architects may create crazy design without structural consideration.

Calatrava is the architect who well known the relationship between the process of construction, generative movement and the final form of structure, he give a specific geometrical shape the te various part of the structure, and these structural elements can resist external forces more efficiently and effectively.

“Y”-configuration’s column, Stadelhofen branch

BCE Place Galleria uses white painted steel to form steel trees. These trees are held in tension by a two tiered network of arches and steel webbing topped by a vaulted glass roof structure. All structure of the trees are meant to be separate from the buildings on either side to allow for both expressive and structural flexibility.

Modeling geometrical transformation of 3D frames into more compact arrangements

Calatrava’s expression of structure is clearly seen in every aspect of this design. All members are exposed and visible. He embraces the properties of the material and uses very geometric shapes as well as rhythmic and mathematical patterns to encompass the structure.