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Design Journal M.arch Thesis
The Information Exoskeleton Ou Shi Loon Timothy | A0140108X Supervisor: Wu Yen Yen Go to Content Page
Content Page Acknowledgements
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Preface
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Abstract
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1.0 | Thesis Prep 1.1 | Starlink and Old Urban Stock
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1.2 | The Sharing Economy
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1.3 | Human Agency
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1.4 | Site and Program
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2.0 | Spatial Translation 2.1 | Co-dependent Space
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2.2 | Tectonic Development
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3.0 | Design Investigation 3.1 | Pre Interim 1 - Junko Tamura and Lim Pin Jie
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3.2 | Interim 1 - Lai Chee Kian and Tsuto Sakamoto
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3.3 | Interim 2 - Chaw Chih Wen, Bobby Wong and Tsuto Sakamoto
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3.4 | Interim 3 - Lilian Chee and Peter Sim
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3.5 | Internal Review - Wu Yen Yen
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4.0 | Final Design 4.1 | Finalised Architectural Guidelines
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4.2 | Final Drawings
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4.3| Final Model
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Acknowledgements The thesis journey has been a long and arduous process, of which the final outcome would not have been as it is without the mentorship, support and care of these special people in my life. I would like to thank Yen Yen for her commitment and dedication to the thesis. I really felt like I was working along side someone who cared for the project as much as I did. She has been a great mentor who rationalized the comments made by tutors during interim sessions and condensed those comments into easily digestible bite sized pointers in order for me to progress further on. Her passion, care, and commitment towards my project has inspired and pushed me on greatly. She has taught me how to think better as an architect. For this, I will never be able to thank her enough. I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to Yujun. She was the one whom I could turn to when I felt down spirited in both semesters. She was the person that I could consult for instant feedback and was always ready to give me a listening ear to the design process that I formulated each week. Even though she is not an architect, I feel that she has grown more to think like one due to my frequent consultations with her. She has been a very important person in this entire process and the outcome would not be the same without her.
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Lastly, I would like to thank my parents for their care and love throughout the entire process. They have given me an opportunity to pursue an education and career that I feel strongly passionate about. They have been supporting and cheering me on for the past 5 years and even more so during this last year of the thesis.
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Preface When I first read about Starlink, the first satellite-based broadband internet service set to enter full orbit in the near future, I was shocked at how much technology had advanced over the years. Any person who subscribed to Starlink would have a completely IP-less address. Not only that, it boasted a peerto-peer connection. A peer-to-peer connection eliminates the need for servers or stable hosts that divide the consumption and supply of resources between network participants and servers. The photo that I share with my friends on Instagram is no longer stored on Instagram’s own server; instead, because of Starlink, I am able to take full ownership of my own data, as I become my own server. This internet revolution spoke volumes of how the field of technology was constantly changing the face of innovation, while architecture, on the other hand, stayed stagnant. To me, architecture has become somewhat ‘boring’, and even repetitive over the years. Hence, I wished for architecture to leverage on the constant innovation of the internet. However, the ‘internet’ is somewhat an invisible entity. For example, we cannot see the ‘wifi’ around us. In contrast, architecture – our act of designing and constructing buildings – are highly visible. Therefore, this thesis aims to trace the complex and ‘invisible’ flow of information relayed through the internet and manifest this flow of information in a physical form. My thesis aligns with my passion and interest for both architecture and technology. While architecture and the Internet are often treated as separate and autonomous spheres, this thesis hopes to foster a strong relationship between these two spheres and demonstrate how architecture can also respond to the constant ways in which the Internet is shaping the nature of relationships. It goes without saying that the Internet has transformed our lives in unmistakable and significant ways. Architecture also has this potential. While architecture cannot solve global issues, innovative architecture, as demonstrated through my thesis, can definitely change the way we perceive and utilize our spaces in tandem with technology.
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Abstract What is Starlink? Launched by Elon musk in 2019, Starlink plans to launch a 42,000 strong satellite constellation orbiting the earth in low earth orbit. Currently, it has over 300 satellites orbiting the earth and launches 120 every month to reach its goal of achieving full global coverage by 2023. One merely has to purchase a pizza box size receiver from Starlink and be in a physically higher place to prevent other radio signals from interfering. A middleman in the flow of information is eliminated with Starlink. A New Social Logic of Space The emergence of technologies like Starlink and Bitcoin reveal the change in human relationships. These technologies allow people to connect directly without the need of an intermediary. Such co-dependent, peer-to-peer behaviour is premised on the logic of how people constantly wish to look at what, and how, their competitors or collaborators are doing. A spatial realization of this logic would involve clusters – containing growing numbers of people – which have been designed with certain defining characteristics.
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Spatial relationships of Bitcoin users The architectural method used to derive new spatial relationships between users of a bitcoin marketplace stemmed from the architectural theory of discrete systems. A local rule established between specific users of the bitcoin marketplace results in the emergence of a global form. This local rule follows a social spatial logic of co-dependence, which create different spatial relationships dependent on the user’s competitive or collaborative behaviour. Hence, an architect must create spatial incentives for online communities to come together to meet physically. A new Spatial Parti The four bitcoin user specific relationships are manifested through a unified hexagon. The hexagon was chosen as it was flexible enough to fulfil all four spatial relationships surrounding bitcoin users. This results in an open/closed cellular cluster that interlocks structurally, which gradually increases in size as it follows the size of people in the cluster. A new tower is designed in place of the existing telecommunication tower according to these new spatial guidelines. With this tower, an architectural blind spot is transformed into inhabitable infrastructure, and people now replace the cell towers. This new tower contains three stratifications that, firstly, question the value of ground space. Secondly, the tower creates a new cellular spatial typology. Thirdly, this tower will question high value of real estate spaces. On an urban scale, the middle part of the tower acts as a catalyst for new clusters – inhabitable infrastructural spaces – to form an organic replicating network, populating rooftops once occupied by cell towers. With Starlink, people now replace physical cell towers as they relay information directly. They are now fully responsible of their data, while being dependent on others in their further gain and usage of information.
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Thesis Prep | Starlink and Old Urban Stock
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1.1 Starlink and Old Urban Stock
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Thesis Prep | Starlink and Old Urban Stock
The Transition
Starlink replaces the role of state-owned ground stations like those found on Sentosa and Bukit Timah, as everyone now becomes their ground station by possessing a Starlink receiver. This role reversal has diverted the power from Singtel from managing their data into the hands of people. Architectural footprints of the internet vis-Ă -vis sea cables, satellite ground stations, data centres, and relay towers were once the vehicles for transmitting information between people. However, with Starlink, there is a shift of power, as people now become the carriers and relay points of information. Go to Content Page
Starlink Diagramised
Thesis Prep | Starlink and Old Urban Stock
How does Starlink affect physical space?
Anyone that possess a Starlink receiver becomes a ground station.
People replace cell towers as the relayers of information. As more people congregate, the signal becomes stronger.
A sense of place is formed with the congregation of people because of the incentive of a stronger signal. ‘Spatial attractors’ are created from the gathering of people and their Starlink receivers.
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60 Hudson Street
Thesis Prep | Starlink and Old Urban Stock
A case study of an architectural blindspot
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60 Hudson Street Elevation This study tries to understand the current adaptive reuse strategy surrounding old telecommunication buildings. 60 Hudson Street in New York City was once populated with telegraph operators who lived and worked in the building. Over the years, however, it has become an architectural blind spot. Humans who once occupied the building has been replaced with wires and machines. Its ghostly presence was further highlighted through its façade – windows covered completely with louvers – blocking anyone from viewing what went on inside. Go to Content Page
Tracing the Historical Shifts in telecommunication and the corresponding urban manifestations in Singapore
The Telegraph Exoskeleton (1912)
Malacca Sea Cable
Thesis Prep | Starlink and Old Urban Stock
Telegraphic Lines spawning Telephone Exchanges
Batavia Sea Cable
Telegraphic Lines to Malacca and Batavia Connecting Sentosa Island
Cable Landing Station
Tanjong Katong still a relevant sea cable landing point for now
The Internet Exoskeleton
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Tai Seng Industrial Estate
Fibre Optic Sea Cables spawning Data Centers
Data centers strategically planned Concentrated in Industrial estates
Retroffited buildings as data centers and Cable Landing Stations
The Wireless Exoskeleton
Wireless connection spawning Cell Towers
Architectural footrpint mirroring populated areas
Correlation between populated areas and density of cell towers
Singapore’s Telecommunication History
From Singtel to Starlink 1879| First Telephone Exchange located at Collyer Quay 1882| Second Telephone Exchange located at Robinson Road 1889| Third Telephone Exchange Located at Tanglin Road 1907| Second and Third Exchange combined at Hill Street | Central Telephone Exchange 1912| Telephone network connecting Sentosa to Hill Street and Fort Canning 1955| STB (Singapore Telephone Board) formed 1971| Sentosa, Earth to Outer Space ground station
1976| International Direct D ialing 1979| Singtel HQ located at Pickering Street 11
1980 | Construction of Tuas Cable Landing Station 1986 | Bukit Timah, Earth to Outer Space ground station 2000 | Wireless Nation, Singtel renting rooftop spaces to place their cell towers 2020 | Data Center built in Punggol Digital District 2020 | SpaceX launches 300 Starlink satellites
Thesis Prep | Starlink and Old Urban Stock
1974| Singapore Telecoms established
2024 | Starlink fully operational
Starlink’s attributes and how it can inform design guidelines
1. Peer to peer mode of sharing information -> Informs the design of co-dependent spaces 2. Low latencies -> Informs the design of high in elevation spaces 3. Online annonymity -> Informs the design of face to face authentication spaces 4. View to Sky -> Informs the design of “open to sky” interior spaces
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1.2 The Sharing Economy Starlink causes people to shift from merely sharing data to become co-dependent on each other through information sharing.
Thesis Prep | The Sharing Economy
However, before we can design spaces that are co-dependent in nature, the thesis prep will delve deeper into the logic behind the current design of shared spaces.
12 Through sharing, a product becomes cheaper and more affordable
Access
The logic behind sharing of spaces is that it allows people to experience a lifestyle i.e a way of living, working, commuting that they could not otherwise afford.
Incentives
We Work is an architectural example that designs a variety of rentable space for individuals, small companies and larger companies to use. Co-working spaces attract customers with lower costs, while encouraging collaboration between people of different socio-economic strata.
Conclusion
This phenomenon of space-sharing has flattened social and spatial hierarchies, while offering the economic incentive of affordability.
Different varieties of rentable spaces of differing sizes
Thesis Prep | The Sharing Economy
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Division of rentable spaces in a very efficient way and is divided from a typical open office floor plate
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1.3 Human Agency Starlink allows people to have a communication pipeline that is encrypted and anonymous. How would this communication pipeline affect physical space?
Thesis Prep | Human Agency
The ways in which the internet as a communication tool between people affected physical space was further brought out in this thesis prep. The case study I focused on was the Hong Kong protests in 2019 – specifically, how the protestors communicated with one another during this incident.
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Access and Event
The flash mass riots in Hong Kong revealed that the chances of such events occurring was closely related to the physical accessibility of a venue. Even though there were police constantly guarding the MTR lines, the protestors continued conducting flash protests near their home – a safe haven that was both convenient and easily accessible.
Self-organising
The internet is a valuable communication tool for discrete individuals to be connected regardless of place and time. Therefore, the internet gives birth to a self-organizing phenomenon – people can turn empty spaces into ‘places’ through the ways in which they occupy and engage the spaces.
Conclusion
Starlink, as an encrypted communication tool, will transform empty spaces into ‘places’ with the help of individuals’ ability to conduct self-organization.
Thesis Prep | Human Agency
Newspaper articles showing the self-organising ability of people using the Internet
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Diagramatic analysis of people’s movements corresponding to public event
Pokemon Go users turning a space into place Go to Content Page
1.4 Program and Site Selected Program A Bitcoin Marketplace
Starlink’s technology, which promotes co-dependence among users, mirrors Blockchain, whose ability to function depends on every member’s functioning of one another.
Thesis Prep | Program and Site
A bitcoin marketplace was selected as the main program of the tower as its main users of this space traders and miners - have an inherent co-dependent relationship.
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Co-dependence between users
Traders are dependent on Miners to validate their transactions i.e. buying and selling of bitcoin. Miners are dependent on traders to increase the value of Bitcoin so that they can earn a higher profit.
User Behavior
The thesis prep also investigated the different kind of behaviors online users might exhibit. These behaviors are not just exclusive to bitcoin users. The two kinds of behaviors exuded by online users and focused on in this thesis are either collaborative or competitive in nature.
Conclusion
A bitcoin marketplace, along with the members’ use of Starlink, will best exemplify the co-dependence and co-reliance necessary for this system to work.
Co - dependency
Starlink
Cube Sats forming part of the satellite constellation
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Cube Sats forming part of the satellite constellation
Co - reliance
BlockChain Decentralised Verification System that creates Co - reliance beteen people
Thesis Prep | Program and Site
A new Internet forged from a Peer to Peer System
Miners
Verifies the Public Ledger
low
nf
tio
ac ns Tra
Anonymous User part of the BlockChain Anonymous User’s ledger that matches the public ledger
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Selected Site Site Selection Criteria based on the conclusions from Thesis Prep
1. Using an old telecommunication building -> Historically significant building 1.1 (Singapore’s Telecommunication History) 2. Located in the city center -> Highest internet usage is in the city center 1.1 (Tracing the historical shifts) 3. Tallest location -> Least interference from cell towers, best connection to Starlink 1.1 (Diagramming Starlink) 4. High amount of human traffic -> Event and accessibility link 1.3
Thesis Prep | Program and Site
Chosen Site
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Singapore Historical Map 1893
Thesis Prep | Program and Site
Selected Urban Site
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Chosen Urban Site indicated in red
Central Telephone Exchange immediate site photos Go to Content Page
Site Model
North Bridge Road
Hill et
Stre
Thesis Prep | Program and Site
This is a physical site model built at 1:1000 Scale. I decided to site the urban intervention across a series of plots that contained a good range of rooftop spaces (shown in blue foam), currently being used to house infrastructural machines like cell towers and air con compressors.
Bird’s Eye SouthWest view of Site
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Thesis Prep | Program and Site
Road
Hill S
idge
treet
h Br
Nort
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Bird’s Eye North East view of Site Go to Content Page
Spatial Translation
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Spatial Translation | Co-dependent Space
2.1 Co-Dependent Space
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Local Rule | Social - Spatial Logic Clustering of people in various layouts
Spatial Translation | Co-dependent Space
A speculative stance on how people self-organise based on a proposed spatial rule.
Layout of Clusters
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Spatial Rule based on peer to peer sharing: I am dependent on the information that you have, and you are dependent on the information that I have. I need to see what you are looking at and you need to see what I am looking at.
Dimensions of Clusters
2 People cluster
3 People cluster
4 People cluster
5 People cluster
6 People cluster
Reference dimensions used for bending of slab
Spatial Translation | Co-dependent Space
Dimensions based on athropometry
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Immobile ~ Mobile
Miners ~ Traders Collaborative
Competitive
Collaborative
( Miner ~ Miner )
~
( Miner ~ Miner )
Collaborative
Competitive
Collaborative
( Trader ~ Trader )
~
( Trader ~ Trader)
Nuanced Spatial Relationship within and between clusters
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2.2 Tectonic Development
Spatial Translation | Tectonic Development
All Process Blue Foam Models
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Spatial Translation | Tectonic Development
Some 1:5 details were done in concrete to test the viability of the proposed fin-like detail.
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A very rough first cut of the massing based on the studies as shown.
The Intelligence of the spatial deformations are “programmed� into the bendable slab by the Architect
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Spatial Translation | Tectonic Development
Initial Massing of Tower
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Massing Development models
Design of the existing telecommunication tower that is currently being demolished 29
Spatial Translation | Tectonic Development
from pre Interim 1 to Interim 3
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Design Investigation
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3.1 | Pre Interim 1
Critique Panel Junko Tamura and Pin Jie Lim
My Argument I presented the Urban Strategy of tapping onto the existing and programmatically diverse building rooftops. The design of a new urban scape for a new economy would feature the new tower as the HQ.
Design Investigation | Pre Interim 1
Referring to the studies shown in 2.2, I also present my initial translation of a co-dependent space. This space, expressed architecturally, features a bendable concrete slab that changed based on the weight of people standing on it.
The Critque 31
The panel wanted my design to be focused more on the tower than the urban scape. Junko described the tower as having three philosophical spaces: The Socrates Space, the Discrete Space and the Descartes Space. Instead of solely housing a bitcoin marketplace, the tower should host multiple activities. Pin Jie advised me to focus on the concept of co-dependence. He suggested me to think of a variety of scenarios where this concept of co-dependence could be played out.
Progression Thereafter I began to focus specifically on the tower’s design. Site conditions, such as pedestrian circulation, influenced the massing of the tower. I also thought about the expression of the tower’s overall form, and considered adding more programs to the tower.
Proposed Masterplan on Urban Site
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Architectural collage (WIP)
Design Investigation | Pre Interim 1
This is a collage that shows the impact of telecommunications on the physical city historically and what is to come in the future. What I have envisioned in the future, is that elevated spaces i.e rooftop spaces being populated by Starlink users.
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Peninsula plaza being used as the main vertical ciruclation up to the new elevated promenade
Design Investigation | Pre Interim 1
Roof tops being activated by a new elevated promenade
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Possible ways the bendable slab could be used to change the spatial relationships between people
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Design Investigation
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3.2 | Interim 1
Critique Panel Lai Chee Kian and Tsuto Sakamoto
My Presentation My tower’s design contained spaces with strong and weak connections to Starlink. In retrospect, these spaces were too literal in tying my design to Starlink. Hence, the concept of co-dependence was lost. I also proposed a structural system which highlighted the possibility of executing the bendable slab tectonics in the tower. This structural system used a combination of façade mullions for tension load and columns for the compression load.
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Design Investigation | Interim 1
The Critique The panel questioned the design method. They felt that I should not design the form of the building without first taking into account the spaces occupying the building. The tower’s design should first consider people’s interactions within the building, instead of just massing. The biggest question remains: If people could access Starlink at home, why would they be incentivized to come to a physical space? As a new tower in the city center, what larger message was it projecting?
Progression Thereafter This critique session provided me with two key words: Access and Incentive. These key words redirected my attention to the design methodology. Instead of designing a form containing solely bendable spaces, the architecture needs to take into account ‘Access and Incentive’ in order to design new spatial relationships.
Section through tower from Hill Street
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Design Investigation | Interim 1
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Transalation of Data into Form
Design Investigation | Interim 1
An architecture with Huamn Agency
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Structural considerations on mulitple scales
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View 2
View 3
View 4
View 5
View 6
View 7
View 8
View 9
View 10
View from North Bridge Road
View from Stamford Road
View from Hill Street
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Site Photos and Perspective studies
STAMFORD ROAD 1
2
3 4
HILL STREET
Design Investigation | Interim 1
View 1
5
6/7
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9/10 Site Plan 1:300
Site plan and ground floor integration
Design Investigation | Interim 1
Section 1 1:300
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Section 2 1:300
Section 4 1:300
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Design Investigation
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3.3 | Interim 2 My Presentation
Critique Panel Chaw ChihWen , BobbyWong and Tsuto Sakamoto
With ‘Access and Incentive’ in mind, I designed the next iteration of my tower. My tower was to be divided into three parts. The bottom portion would house a Starlink retail space. The middle portion would constitute a mix of new economic activities created through the bitcoin marketplace, and contained the bendable slab tectonic. The topmost portion would be an e-sports arena space. These programmes provided an incentive for online communities to meet physically.
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Design Investigation | Interim 2
The Critique The panel did not understand the purpose behind the bendable slab tectonic. However, one panelist felt that the tectonic could be effective in demarcating private spaces. However, the crux of the thesis - spatial peer to peer co-dependence - was insufficiently expressed through this tectonic. The tower’s external material was questioned, as the panel felt that a different facade material, other than glass, should be considered.
Progression Thereafter I strengthened my argument concerning the relevance of bendable slabs to the design of co-dependent spaces. I proceeded to think about the social logic of space under the premise of a peer to peer human connection, and how this might affect the tower’s overall expression.
Section through tower from Hill Street
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Design Investigation | Interim 2
Architectural collage (WIP)
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Interim 2: Panel 1
Design Investigation | Interim 2
Architectural collage (WIP)
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Interim 2: Panel 2 Go to Content Page
Design Investigation | Interim 2
Massing transformations based on site and programmatic conditions
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Pre planning the deformed slab in collaborative and competitive spaces
Dimensions of the deformed slab based on anthropometrical study
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Design Investigation | Interim 2
Slab and column structural layout
The amount of deflection of a slab can be controlled by how much material is added below. Thus a tapering beam was considered. Alternatively, controlling the amount of rebars placed underneath the slab could also change the level of deflection within the conrete slab. Structural Considerations of the Bendable Slab
Different applications of the Bendable Slab Go to Content Page
Design Investigation | Interim 2
Integration of circulation, program and structure
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47 Program Strategy
Structure Strategy
Circulation Strategy
Design Investigation | Interim 2
Exploded Axos of circulation, program and structure
Bitcoin Marketplace planned in detail Go to Content Page
Design Investigation | Interim 2
North South Section Cut 48
EastWest Section Cut
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Design Investigation | Interim 2
Perspective showing the tectonics of the bendable slab
Different uses of spaces caused by people standing at different locations
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Design Investigation
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3.4 | Interim 3
Critique Panel Lilian Chee and Peter Sim
My Argument I presented an architectural strategy that combined the social spatial rules for designing the different clusters with the bendable slab tectonic. This combined strategy became an open plan, where areas of deformation were designed according to the social spatial rule defining the organization of clusters. Using rendered perspectives, I visualized specific scenarios, in which bitcoin users, along with gamers, could use this space.
The Critique
Progression Thereafter By the end of this interim, the viability and effectiveness of the bendable slab tectonic as a design response to a codependent space was questioned too heavily. The design strategy was too flexible, as the use of
Design Investigation | Interim 3
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The panel questioned the tower’s role. With digital activities occurring in a decentralized manner, designing a centralized tower in the city center would be acting contrary to the nature of such activities. Hence, I argued that architecture’s role should be in creating a sense of place for these new activities. However, the panel rebutted, questioning the value of the bendable slab tectonic for online activities, which need no physical space to operate. The panel stated that I had not yet explored other strategies to determine whether the bendable slab tectonic was currently the most appropriate strategy to use. Section through tower from Hill Street space became determined by the people instead of the architect. After taking all this feedback into account, I decided to narrow the scope of my argument to design specifically for bitcoin miners and traders. I also decided to focus on Starlink and Bitcoin.
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Design Investigation | Interim 3
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Interim 3: Panel 1
Design Investigation | Interim 3
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Interim 3: Panel 2
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Tectonic Exploration
A case study of an architectural blindspot
Design Investigation | Interim 3
Speculated Cluster Layout forms a ‘local rule’ order
Walls with gaps
Walls with door
Columns with gaps
54 Urban promenade
Spatial Parti Diagram
Bitcoin Mining Spaces with private access Column tectonic act as segregations between clusters
Urban promenade
Trading space facing the elevated urban promenade
Public Circulation
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Reasons for placing the mining spaces on the outer perimter 1. Best connection to Starlink 2. Does not conflict local rule of internal peer to peer views 3. Placing them in void spaces of the “local rule� order
Massing Strategies
Middle Massing Size
Internal Circulation
Break Out Spaces
Extended Floorplate
Bitcoin Trading Floors
Bitcoin Mining Cores
Design Investigation | Interim 3
Parti Diagram in Plan
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How will these clusters distribute themselves within a floor plate? Spatial Hierarchy of a floor plate
Program Distribution in Section
Design Investigation | Interim 3
1. Spatial Incentives
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2. Circulation and Spatial Incentives Intersection
Distribution of clusters on a floor plate
1. Speculative Spatial Layout 2. Dimensions of Boundaries
4. Human Agency occupying pre bendable spaces
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Process of “programming� the Deformable Slab
Design Investigation | Interim 3
3. Structural Deforamble Slab
Perspective showing the slab being weighted down by people and furniture
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Design Investigation | Interim 3
Level 15 Plan
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Level 16 Plan
Level 17 Plan
Distribution of clusters on different levels of the bitcoin marketplace
Full Stadium Spatial Layout
59 Theatre / Conference Spatial Layout
Design Investigation | Interim 3
Runway / Exhibition Spatial Layout
Exploded Axonometric of the “crown”
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Design Investigation
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3.5 | Internal Review
Critique Panel Wu Yen Yen
My Argument
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Design Investigation | Internal Review
During this review, I presented an extension of the social spatial logic (detailed in 2.1). This extension covered the spatial incentive for bitcoin miners and traders, who exuded either collaborative or competitive behaviors. These behaviours generated four unique spatial partis. These partis acted as design guidelines for a bitcoin marketplace. The bitcoin market is expressed as an organic and constantly replicating form that spreads beyond the constraints of its plot. This architectural strategy was then extended to four other secondary users to design the bottom and top portion of the tower.
The Critque The panel thought that the four unique spatial partis did not possess a coherent design language. The tower’s external form was also questioned as it did not capture the increasing size of clusters. The bottom portion of the tower was also questioned as the retail space proposed for this space did not strengthen the contrast between the old telecommunications infrastructure and the new Starlink prototype.
Progression Thereafter The hexagonal design language was taken up to explore sectional relationships within the tower. The overall global form resembled a beehive – as it possessed a smaller base and a larger top. The bottom portion of the tower became an open space;
Section through tower from Hill Street a ‘non-space’, which reflected the increasing devaluation of ground floor spaces as opposed to the higher floor spaces which are currently valued more than ground floor spaces . The ‘non-space’ would house M&E machines which supported the tower. The ‘non-space’ would
also house reused cell towers. As a result, the bottom part of the tower would be reminiscent of the old telecommunications infrastructure – a contrast to the new world lying above. Go to Content Page
Architectural Theory - Discrete Systems
The social logic of space - Bill Hillier and Julienne Hanson | Bartelett School of Architecture and Planning 1984 The Logic of Discrete Systems , p.33 A discrete system can be visualised as a stationary cloud of midges (flying insects).
discrete space consists of mobile discrete individuals whom inherently have a “background randomness” (Human Agency) in their own unique actions. This “background randomness” becomes ordered by a local rule (Peer to Peer mode of sharing) that gives a restriction on the randomness of human behaviors. This local rule gives rise to “new levels of order” (an open-sourced tectonic) that is visible as a spatial -temporal reality in its global form. The global form has a distinct recognisable form that has changes its overall shape because of the “background randomness” (Human Agency).
Design Investigation | Internal Review
A
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A swarm of birds forming a global form
Spatial Parti for specific users Spatial Parti for Bitcoin Miners and Traders User
User Behaviour
Spatial Incentives
Miners
Collaborative
Miners
Competitive
Peer to peer knowledge of type of equipment incentive
Traders
Competitive
Peer to peer emotional information incentive
Traders
Collaborative
Peer to peer stronger signal Incentive
Spatial Relationship
Spatial Parti for Entrepreneurs and Gamers User
User Behaviour
Spatial Incentives
Spatial Relationship
A space for ground up, open-soured communities to engage the public
Bitcoin
Collaborative
Entrepreneurs
Competitive
Physical authentication as an incentive for commerce activities to be conducted safely
Competitive
Transformative competitive arena atmosphere incentive
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Gamers
Design Investigation | Internal Review
Mobile
Immobile
Peer to peer sharing of mining servers incentive
Spatial Parti for Retail Businesses User
Starlink Retail
User Behaviour
Neutral
3x3 core spreading out horizontally on site
Spatial Incentives
Spatial Relationship
Open to Sky interior spaces incentive
Staggered frame to place retail units
Staggered retail units with open to sky interior spaces
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Spatial Relationship to Space Miners | Collaborative
Incentive logic
Organisation within Clusters
Design Investigation | Internal Review
Organisation Between Clusters
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Spatial Relationship to Space Miners | Competitive
Incentive logic
Sectional Relationship
Sectional and Planar Relationship
Spatial Relationship to Space Traders | Competitive
Rule applied in 3D Space
Overlapped 3x3 core grid
Design Investigation | Internal Review
Incentive logic
Overlapping of spheres
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Spatial Relationship to Space Traders | Collaborative
Incentive logic
24 Columns
36 Columns
48 Columns
From Trader’s Perspective
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Spatial Relationship to Space Open-sourced community | Collaborative
Incentive logic
Base Typology
A space for ground up, open-sourced communities
Design Investigation | Internal Review
Hexagonal Language
Proposed Event Program: Open-sourced Conferences i.e. Bitcoin, Blender, 3D Printing etc‌
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Spatial Relationship to Space Entrepreneurs | Competitive
Incentive logic
Base Typology
Physical authentication as an incentive for commerce activities to be conducted safely
Hexagonal Language
Proposed Event Program: Exhibition space for e-commerce
Spatial Relationship to Space Gamers | Competitive
Incentive logic
Base Typology
1. Height and low latency incentive 2. Transformative competitive arena atmosphere incentive
Proposed Event Program: E gaming competitive arena
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Spatial Relationship to Space Starlink Retail | Neutral
Design Investigation | Internal Review
Hexagonal Language
Incentive logic
Open to Sky interior spaces incentive
Retail Units
Cafe Starlink Anchor Retail
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Design Investigation | Internal Review
Organisation of Spaces Connection to urban promenade
Horizontal Circulation Traders | Competitive
Organisation of Mining Clusters Miners | Collaborative
Temporary occupation of Traders Traders | Collaborative
Orientation of Mining Clusters Miners | Competitive
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Organisation of Spaces Connection to urban promenade
Organisation of Mining Clusters Miners | Collaborative
Temporary occupation of Traders Traders | Collaborative
Orientation of Mining Clusters Miners | Competitive
Design Investigation | Internal Review
Horizontal Circulation Traders | Competitive
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Bitcoin Marketplace
B Plan configuration
2 people Mining Clusters
3 people Mining Clusters
B Plan configuration
A Plan configuration
4 people Mining Clusters
5 people Mining Clusters
6 people Mining Clusters
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Final Design
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4.1 | Finalised Architectural Guidelines
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The emergence of technologies like Starlink and Bitcoin reveal the change in human relationships. These technologies allow people to connect directly without the need of an intermediary. Such co-dependent, peer-to-peer behaviour is premised on the logic of how people constantly wish to look at what, and how, their competitors or collaborators are doing. A spatial realization of this logic would involve clusters – containing growing numbers of people – which have been designed with certain defining characteristics.
A New Spatial Parti The four bitcoin user specific relationships are manifested through a unified hexagon. The hexagon was chosen as it was flexible enough to fulfil all four spatial relationships surrounding bitcoin users. This results in an open/closed cellular cluster that interlocks structurally, which gradually increases in size as it follows the size of people in the cluster. A new tower is designed in place of the existing telecommunication tower according to these new spatial guidelines. With this tow-
tower creates a new cellular spatial typology. Thirdly, this tower will question high value of real estate spaces. On an urban scale, the middle part of the tower acts as a catalyst for new clusters – inhabitable infrastructural spaces – to form an organic replicating network, populating rooftops once occupied by cell towers. Final Design| Finalised Architectural Guidelines
A New Social Logic of Space
Spatial Relationships of Bitcoin users The architectural method used to derive new spatial relationships between users of a bitcoin marketplace stemmed from the architectural theory of discrete systems. A local rule established between specific users of the bitcoin marketplace results in the emergence of a global form. This local rule follows a social spatial logic of co-dependence, which create different spatial relationships dependent on the user’s competitive or collaborative behaviour. Hence, an architect must create spatial incentives for online communities to come together to meet physically.
Section through tower from Hill Street er, an architectural blind spot is transformed into inhabitable infrastructure, and people now replace the cell towers. This new tower contains three stratifications that, firstly, question the value of ground space. Secondly, the Go to Content Page
Architectural Guidelines
Final Design| Finalised Architecutral Guidelines
In designing a Bitcoin Marketplace
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A New Spatial Parti
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Final Design| Finalised Architecutral Guidelines
formed from new spatial relationships
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Final Design| Final Drawings
4.2 | Final Drawings
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Final Submission: Panel 1
Final Design| Final Drawings
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Final Submission: Panel 2
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Final Design| Final Drawings
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Final Design| Final Drawings
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Final Design| Final Drawings
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Final Design| Final Drawings
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Final Design| Final Drawings
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Final Design| Final Drawings
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Final Design| Final Drawings
Old vs New Tower
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Final Design| Final Drawings
The Non-Space
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Final Design| Final Drawings
Experience of a Bitcoin Trader
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Final Design| Final Drawings
Experience of a Bitcoin Miner
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Final Design| Final Drawings
Experience of open-sourced communities
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Final Design| Final Drawings
Experience of an E sports gamer
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4.3 | Final Model
Final Design| Final Model
Final Model - Interior Spaces
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Final Design| Final Model
Final Model Exterior growing clusters
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