AIR JOURNAL 2015

AIR

semester 1, 2015 tutor: CANHUI CHEN

UT THI HIEN TRAN #633948

M

Ut Thi Hien Tran

y name is .A Vietnamese international student in Melbourne, Australia.

I am doing Bachelor of Environments majoring in architecture at the University of Melbourne and currently in my third year.

Why

architecture?

I do not even know, which is true because it is hard to justify your . Architecture is a challenge for me who used to love science and maths back in high school time. I shifted myself from a girl stuffened herself with numbers and formulas to a free one exploring Arts and new notions of herself. And I enjoy it.

passion

PAST DESIGNS CONCEPTUALISATION 3

4

CONCEPTUALISATION

Table of Contents CONCEPTUALIZATION

6

DESIGN FUTURING

6

CONCEPTUALIZATION

12

DESIGN COMPUTATION 12 CONCEPTUALIZATION

22

COMPOSITION/GENERATION CONCEPTUALIZATION

22

30

APPENDIX- ALGORITHMIC SKETCHBOOK 30

CONCEPTUALIZATION

34

CONCLUSION 34 CONCEPTUALIZATION

36

LEARNING OUTCOME 36 CRITERIA DESIGN 40

CONCEPTUALIZATION

PART A 6

CONCEPTUALISATION

DESIGN FUTURING

DESIGN FUTURING As mentioned in the reading “Design Futuring” by Tony Fry, architecture is growing into a critical moment of our human existence, which I think is literally selfish, not only to the planet but also to our own unseen future. Since there is a strong correlation and respond between human race and natural world, we are expected to take the process carefully by balancing creation and destruction which is practically hard.

And that is why we need Design.

The project is a good example of human-animal, or in a broader image human-nature relationship.

I am really interested in the idea of showing our concern also respect as well as protection toward wildlife, in this case the bat species. The project is a strong example of design futuring where human is taking care of the nature for a longer existence of the planet.

Design generally has a broader definition that there is not specified border line for it. However, let’s just talk about architecture, what does design do and how should we approach it? To me, the reading has changed my thinking completely. It is not about myself, how I want things to be, but it is more about how things want to be so their habitation and environment will not be affected. Or in another word, sustainability should have been counted and well considered.

Figure 1 is an environmental-solution project by Matt Fajkus Architecture: the Bat House Visitor Center.

FIG 1: THE BAT HOUSE VISITOR CENTER

BY MATT FAJKUS ARCHITECTURE

CONCEPTUALISATION 7

D

esign can be seen and speculated in different directions and fields under variety of levels of posisbilities and social desires (Fig 2). Within these areas, design are explored with alternative sceenarios so that it will be more likely to approach better outcomes for defuturing.

I do understand analytical design should be a part of radical design, however, I wonder how we can define the frontier between these zones and that actually has been a block in design since we , human, are not capable of predicting and analysing the outcomes before hand.

FIG 2: ILLUSTRATION BY DUNNE AND RABY

8

CONCEPTUALISATION

SkySong ASU: The Center Scottsdale Innovation built in 2008 in Scottsdale was a massive innovative fabric structure. The design appears to me with a strong image of functionality for shading purposes, also for rainwater collecting.

The rainwater is collected by the tensile membrane then directly transferred down to rainsed planting beds located right under the end of the fabric funnels.

By that way, rainwater will be used as a useful water source for local plantation system, also, cause less harm to urban sewage system since amount of water run-off carrying pollutants due to rainwater is reduced.

The design has hit 2 goals, for both human and nature.

The people live there are provided with shading and simultaneously, the local environment has been cared and saved up an amount of natural resources, in this case, water.

The membrane covers up , what I observe, a small “botanical� garden below, and importantly provides water for trees to grow underneath.

Sky Song membrane structure serves well in functionality aspect. It is quite clear to see the concept combines from rational thinking which makes the design more meaningful to users because it actually contributes something into local users life, not just standing there for nothing.

In another word, this membrane structure participates into sustainability system of the site in order to last the surrounding environmental context, and specifically natural drainage and local plantation. And For sure, we would love to have more of these for a better future.

As what I understand, this is a part of what I should aim for this subject, also for architecture.

Fig 3: SkySong ASU: The Scottsdale Innovation Center

CONCEPTUALISATION 9

THE EDEN PROJECT 10

T

in UK.

he Eden project is an attraction not only for its unique and radical shape but also for its function as well as its distribution towards local ecosystem

The project is a dome complex with skin and bone structure cooperating with inflatable cover and parametric exterior design.

Spiritually, the dome carries educational message about human-plant connection by sheltering thousands of species and local biome.

To me, the project is a real radical design, not for its special shape, but its outcome brought to the local community also global visitors.

Radical design in my own understanding, derive from speculation. Speculation broadens alternatives sceenarios, and sequentially, probable future where everything would be better and different not only to our human race but also to the Mother Nature.

CONCEPTUALISATION

Eden Project becomes a popular national and international tourist attraction. Why? I think because of its extraordinary initial concept and that concept is conducted well. The design does not “educate” people with dry words, instead, it illustrates a realistic image of nature to push us closer to it.

Even though the concept of protecting and preserving natural habitat is quite dry, at least to me, but the way they transform it and bring it alive via architecture is very impressive and somehow appears to be innovative to people. So in this case, architecture appears to be a tool to get people aware of their environment status, involved and think more about future in term of coexistence.

In conclusion, architecture can play pretty well as a tool to visualize and engage people with futuring and sustainability in an easy but effective way.

FIG 3: THE EDEN PROJECT MULTIPLE GREENHOUSE COMPLEX DOME, INSPIRED BY J. BALDWIN’S PILLOW, ST BLAZEY, CORNWALL, UK

CONCEPTUALIZATION

PART A 12

CONCEPTUALISATION

DESIGN COMPUTATION

P

arametric design is a completely new term appeared recently in modern architecture.

Parametric design brings architecture to an innovative digital level of technology that derives from the need of materiality and fabrication.

Based on paremeters and variables under the control of algorithmic commands and formulas, ideas and concepts are allowed to expand their ability also, designers are able to predict and visualize their designs in a realistic way, with both negative and positive outcomes.

The introduction of parametric thinking intobuilding technology and design coursespromotes qualitative and analytic thinking instead of the descriptive or metaphorical. Transcodingconceptual design into highly interdependentand parametric sets of relationships confronts uswith the need to understand design in acomprehensive way.

The ideas will be tested fornew possibilities.

From a set of divergent ideas, computational via analysis will narrow the process down via chains of critical elimination or modification in order to ensure the quality as well as the future performance of ideas/projects.

CONCEPTUALISATION 13

Heydar Aliyev Centre 14

Heydar Aliyev Centre

designed by Zaha Hadid is noted for its distinctive architecture and flow embracing surrounding context into the design form through image of flowing fluid. From the divergent concept of also adjustment with the help of parametricism in order to test whether the idea works well to come to a convergen and impressed by the perfect computational curves that bring people a complete modern taste of architec Why curves?

Why up, and why down?

I roughly know the brief requires for something that ““modify this plaza surface into an architectural landscap to modify and blend the design into the landscape. And technocally, parametric programs would have give

I know there must be reasons for Hadid to come up with this as final design, however, what I have experience professional in the field. Somehow and sometimes, parametric designs are not so friendly, but a part of archit

FIG 1: Heydar Aliyev Centre designed by Zaha Hadid, Bak

CONCEPTUALISATION

wing, curved style that eschews sharp angles. Zaha Hadid keeps in mind her original design thinking of FLUID, the design process gets narrowed down and more specific through modification and elimination nt outcome. However, with my own sense, I am not quite convinced. Inevitably, I do get amazed cture, but in contrast, this leaves me a lot of questions and confusion. What I am asking is “WHY?”

pe that performs a multitude of functions”, nevertheless, there are many ways en out millions of outcomes based on the change of the parameters.

ed through this design is the confusion that parametricism creates not only to me, also to people who are not tecture is about being friendliness to the users in order to convey something.

ku, Azerbaijan, 2007-2012

CONCEPTUALISATION 15

T

his curvy structure obviously cannot be done manually by human since it requires accurate calculation of each cell panels, directions and angles and especially, how to bring it into construction and parametric design gets involved.

Figure 3 is a set of images of curves that dominates the design. These complicated and dynamic curves sucessfully illustrate the initial concept of a fluid in a very direct way. However, it contains a lot of knowledge and understandings and requirements behind, which means, only computers can do it.

The series of computational modelling showed in Figure 2 indicates digital analytical as well as parametric performance of the design. The diagrams show the way how the idea is built and dissected for examination, and significantly, how to build it. This represents a strong relationship between architecture and technology, or moreover, computational process gradually engage architecture with engineering .These two fields are merging together in order to satisfy parametricism requirements for a better outcome. Additionally, architects/ designers have a chance to understand their designs in all aspects.

FIG 2: Heydar Aliyev Centre and process of parametric modelling

16

CONCEPTUALISATION

ANOTHER ASPECT

FIG 3: Heydar Aliyev Centre and its curves

CONCEPTUALISATION 17

BEIJING NATIONAL STADIUM, “THE BIRD’S NEST” 18

T

he “Bird’s nest” stadium in Beijing is the very first parametric architectural design that I know, in Olympics 2008, and it parametric computational methods had me impressed at that time. However, I did not like it only because of its magnificent appeance, but rather the way its visual effect implanted its own meanings as well as concept in my mind. To me, parametric tools are sucessful in this design since it has transferred the original architectural concept to me very well. I can see an enriched imagination of the architects, the spirit of Olympics, the power , the dynamism spreaded by this “bird’s nest”.

As what I have known, the initiator for the design began the concept with an illusion of a nest that nurtures creatures or, abtractly, life. The idea is amzing, however, transferring that into a massive stadium with a capacity of 91,000 is not easy at all. The design requires heavy constructional design with massive structures and all elements have to go into details, hence parametric tool is an obvious tool to scale up the idea. Morover, it is the only way to build up a coherent and intereactive system.

In this case, parametric design helps to scale up the ideas, put in more resolution, add in more elements and allow architects/engineer to zoom in every details for easier construction as well as management and modification.

Parametric design are supposed to support the ideas and concept, spread them and imprint them into people’s minds, not to cover our senses by the fancy looks.

CONCEPTUALISATION

Fig 4: BEIJING NATIONAL STADIUM, “THE BIRD’S NEST”, CHINA

CONCEPTUALISATION 19

Fig 5: explanatory diagrams of Bird’s nest stadium

20

CONCEPTUALISATION

ANOTHER ASPECT

T

he Bird’s Nest national stadium seems to successfully transfer design concept and still keeps its purity, however, according to diagram series in Fig 4, it has overcome a lot of computational changes before arrived to final decision.

-earth quake test -flexibility and safety -internal and external loading capacity

structure

These indeed led to changes in number of seats, material and some division in construction and transformation of the design.

In a word, since computational process aids designers to predict and test the outcomes before hand, it importantly plays a decisive role in the design process so that it can orientate the concept, the physical geometries or the whole structure.

Additionally, computational analysis gives architects/engineers a chance to cooperate and examine more about the site context in order to put the design into a hierarchical system where there are huge impacts from external as well as internal factors.

This improves the performance of the project later on, helping it last longer over time and reducing negative impact from the habitation also from the project towards the environment.

Again, this relates to A1 DESIGN FUTURING since performane of a project can be controlled effectively for a better future.

CONCEPTUALISATION 21

CONCEPTUALIZATION

PART A 22

COMPOSITION/GENERATION

CONCEPTUALISATION

P

arametricism has driven architecture to another digital stage in term of practice.

Modern architects tend to replace drawings with digital computational softwares and take adventages from them in order to predict and modify outcomes easier.

When the context get more complicated and tougher, technology seems to transform composing architecture into generating architecture. And modern architects do have to adapt to that and somehow redefine the notion of architecture. Parametric design gives us an open doors “WHA IF....?� for speculative exploration. This second aspect of parametric thinking encourages designers to join technical knowledge with creativity. These new creative factors reflect technical,functional, programmatic, or deeper knowledge feeding into the design process.

Thanks to computational tools, Design becomes a logical, cause-and-effectsequence that can be executed in bothways, from divergent to convergent or convergent to divergent.

This enriches different branches of ideas and provide us more choice.

CONCEPTUALISATION 23

fig1

UTS BUSINESS SCH

“

The fold is primitive, you’re in your mother’s arms when you’re a child, and so we tried to do that with brick,”

24

CONCEPTUALISATION

HOOL

, SYDNEY,2012-2015,FRANK GEHRY

T

he design originated with “paper bag” idea of Frank Gehry. The idea was abnormal because somehome, I consider it lacks of rationality which results in its free-style that does not follow any rules or orders at all. And obviously, this concept cannot be processed mannually or drawings because the form is too unpredictable and hard for measurements.

By that chance, computer is a must. Computational technique is not longer a tool transferring ideas into final outcomes, it completely participates into the design process. Or in another word, computation ,from being an aiding component of the design process, become a chain generating and manipulating ideas.

In my opinion, it is a very harsh design since it is composition between “primitive” and modern thinking. The material : brick which is primitive, however, will be utilized and built in a completely different way and totally depends on computers and machines.

To me, I see this design as a very new and innovative technique of construction.

CONCEPTUALISATION 25

Fig 2: Center Pompidou Metz 2010 by Shigeru Ban Architects Europe

Fig 3: Parametric BIM models mimic adaptablestructural components

26

CONCEPTUALISATION

Somehow, the process is a bit opposite to what I have known. Instead of generating ideas first then plug into computer to modify it, in this case, computers and BIM seems to shape the ideas at the end. This is a totally new design thinking to me.

CENTER POMPIDOU METZ 2010

C

entre Pompidou Metz, designed by ShigeruBan and Jean de Gastines features with a roof surface, a wooden lattice, naturally adapts frombeing a roof into elements such as columns (fig2). This represents design strategy for the realization of flexible structural systems used an idea of asurfacebased patterns as design generators forspace frame design. I consider this design strongly shows the transition as well as harmony between structural performance test (fig 3) and defining design system via parametric hierarchy.

Specifically, the columns ultimately becomes architectural elements which eventually shape the design concept and qualitatively generate the outlook.

CONCEPTUALISATION 27

3D-printed houses built in Shanghai

3D-printed houses

T

en houses have been built of construction waste using a 3D printing technology in 24 hours in Shanghai.

This precedent brings me another understanding of computational design as well as a new vision toward future architecture. Computational design officially generates ideas and give birth them into reality. We need machines to modify and test ideas, and now, we use machines to construct things physically.

These houses are fairly too simple for us to seek help from computational process. However I reckon it is an scientific innovation, a cutting-edge idea that potentially lay out our architecural future. At this point, composition is turning to generation.Or, in contrast, I start asking whether computers will replace architects because our ideas start to rely on them a bit too much. Will we use parametricism as a method or become its slaves?

Fig 4: 3D printed houses in Shanghai built in 24 hours

CONCEPTUALISATION 29

CONCEPTUALIZATION

PART A APPENDIXALGORITHMIC SKETCHBOOK

30

CONCEPTUALISATION

DIFFERENT STRUCTURES AND DENSITY

CONCEPTUALISATION 31

These exam parameters fundamenta

32

CONCEPTUALISATION

mples show my attempt to vary the outcomes with different s and inputs in order to investigate contours, effects and al structures.

CONCEPTUALISATION 33

CONCEPTUALIZATION

PART A 34

CONCEPTUALISATION

CONCLUSION

D

ESIGN FUTURING is a completely new but old term. It is old because it has always been our goal of global development. It is new because the solution is kept updated and changed and adopted under the concern of the whole design industry. The more we define “modernism�, the more we start considering about our next generations and care more for the planet.

So, how can we control our influence?

However, we-human- cannot predict and visualize the future and the effects of our products since our environment keeps changing and transforming into harsher conditions. Hence, we need an aiding and supportive system to do that, something can reduces the risks and guarantee the outcomes. And specifically for architecture and engineering, we have parametricism for that purpose.

DESIGN FUTURING

CONTROL

ARCHITECTURAL COMPUTING

However, during that process, parametric tools is no longer an additional component. It starts participating and contributing into design process, and design concepts and ideas are changed and generated from that.

I find it innovative, but there are pros and cons depends on how we use it.

DESIGN CONCEPT

CONCEPTUALISATION 35

CONCEPTUALIZATION

PART A 36

CONCEPTUALISATION

LEARNING OUTCOME

A

rchitectural computing to me is a huge step I have to take to approach and learn about modern architecture. Part A has given me fundamental “history� of parametricism, its effect and consequences that I can apply for my future study in order to run it in right way. I also had a chance to critically analyze some precedents, understand them and practically take some experience for the future projects. If I knew how to operate algorithmic programs earlier, my past works model could have visually look better and have stronger respond to its context.

CONCEPTUALISATION 37

“Heydar Aliyev Center / Zaha Hadid Architects” 14 Nov 2013. ArchDaily.

Accessed 18 Mar 2015. http://www.archdaily.com/?p=448774 Dunne, Anthony & Raby, Fiona (2013) Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (MIT Press) pp. 1-9, 33-45

R E F E R E N C E L I S T

38

Frank Gehry’s “paper bag” business school opens in Sydney, 3 February 2015, Dezeen Magazine, http://www.dezeen.com/2015/02/03/frank-gehry-paper-bagdr-chau-chak-wing-uts-business-school-sydney-opens/ Fry, Tony (2008). Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg), pp. 1–16 Heydar Aliyev Center, Zaha Hadid Architects, http://www.zaha-hadid.com/ architecture/heydar-aliyev-centre/ Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center Studies for the Build-up Roof Substructure,ROK, http://www.rok-office.com/projects/1000-haider-aliyevcultural-centre/ Issa, Rajaa ‘Essential Mathematics for Computational Edition, Robert McNeel and associates, pp 1 - 4

Design’,

Second

Kalay, Yehuda E. (2004). Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press), pp. 5-25 Kelly, Scott, SHANGHAI COMPANY 3-D PRINTS VILLAGE OF HUMBLE CONCRETE HOMES, April 3 2014, Architect’s Newspaper Blog, http://blog.archpaper. com/2014/04/shanghai-company-3-d-prints-village-of-humble-concrete-homes/ Matt Fajkus Architecture, “The Bat House Visitor Center by Matt Fajkus Architecture”, Inhabitat design will save the world, http://inhabitat. com/matt-fajkus-architectures-bat-house-visitor-center-provides-vitalnesting-grounds-for-bats/matt-fajkus-architecture-bat-house-visitorcenter-7/ Mc Comick, Ken, “Bristol Arena: architects of Olympic Stadium and Eden Project among those in running to design it”, Bristol Post (2014), http:// www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-Arena-architects-Olympic-Stadium-Eden/ story-24509064-detail/story.html Membrane Project, ASU SkySong, http://www.ndnsoftware.com/ Pilloton, Emily, BEIJING’S OLYMPIC STADIUM by Herzog and DeMeuron, Inhabitat design will save the world,2007, http://inhabitat.com/beijings-olympicstadium-by-herzog-and-demeuron/ Pookanoodle, “Eden Project Dome Roof”, Trekearth Learning about the world through photography (2003)http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/United_ Kingdom/England/Cornwall/Near_St_Austell/photo2082.htm

CONCEPTUALISATION

CONCEPTUALISATION 39

CRITERIA DESIGN

PART B

40

DESIGN

CRITERIA

CONTENT B.1

RESEARCH FIELD- BIOMIMICRY

B.2

CASE STUDY 1.0

B.3

CASE STUDY 2.0

B.4

TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT

B.5 PROTOTYPES

41

B.6

TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL

B.7

LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

B.8

APPENDIX- ALGORITHMIC SKETCHES

CRITERIA DESIGN

WHY ASK NATURE?

O

ur human world always faces different challenges and issues that requires regular changes and solutions for our adaptation and survival. And nature has become an infinite inspiration in different aspects, specifically for architecture, nature provides us good examples of structure, shape and systematic development.

Why so? Because, natural living organism owns ability to adapt well with the habitation and they keep changing their biological systems to cope with unstable living conditions.

Moreover, nature incessantly produces its own alternatives solutions due to natural evolution (2). That process is a combination of creation and elimination under the control of natural selection (3).

Learning from nature has been a “tradition” of architecture at the beginning of its history.

Figure 1 is a famous drawing of Leonard Davinci on human proportion-which is actually a study of natural proportion.

This strongly influenced the notion of architectural proportion in buildings afterward.

Vitruvius himself has also claimed “Architecture is an imitation of nature” (4)

Fig.1 :Leonardo Davinci’s familiar Vitruvian man

Nature since then is an endless theme for architectural research in order to explore more durable and stable and resilient forms as well as structures, such as shown in Fig.2 is carbon molecule, a product of nature for bettern force distribution and strength (5).

And personally, I found biomimicry is not so fussy because it gives designers freedom to generate their ideas without limitations.

Biomimicry then also somehow becomes a source for abstraction. Abtstraction indicates general concepts, not specific ideas(7), thus, is a good start for ideas divergence.

Since natural selection is filtration for successive generations, biomimicry always provides diversified good options with the most sustainable structural and systems. Natural forms and and structure are often responsive to their living contexts, which reinforces their performances and survival.

B.1 B I O M I M

“ CRITERIA

design inspiration from nature

the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems.(1)

DESIGN

42

”

Fig.2: Carbon molecule.

Fig.3: Diamond molecule structure model

The Hakone Soap Bubble Castle (fig 2) designed by Peter Pearce imitates the structure of diamond (fig 3) is sucessful playground project for kids. Pearce came up with this idea of a “world full of nature-inspired kit-of-parts-based architecture” (6). The design fulfills requirements of structural stability, also brings along an interesting perception of nature in architectural concepts.

Fig.4: Peter Pearce Curved Space Diamond Structure, aka The Hakone Soap Bubble Castle

I C R Y 43

(1)Vincent, Julian F. V. et al. (22 August 2006).

“Biomimetics: its practice and theory”. doi:10.1098/ rsif.2006.0127. Retrieved 7 April 2015.

(2)Wikipedia (3)Wikipedia (4) Oi Gim Seng 2009, Historical Architectural Explaination.

(5)Bradley Hudson, 2013,morphing skin concept development (6) Peter Pearce Curved Space Diamond Structure, aka The Hakone Soap Bubble Castle,2014. The Web Blog for new dads (7)Robert Woodbury 2014, pg 159

CRITERIA DESIGN

B.1

“

MOLECULAR

When we think of molecules, we think of them in their traditional guise, as tiny connectors linking the smallest atomic particles(1)

A

s Biomimicry plays as a source for form definition in a more sustainable architecture, design theories have been expanded under the theme of nature across variety of fileds including biology, geology, science, and chemistry. These have been studied and explored within different techniques in order to approach the most sustainable and inspiring forms as well as structure.

The field I am focusing is Molecular Biology which is basically about molecules and their connections (1). Molecular study combines the knowledge of both chemistry and biology based on definition of “molecules”. Molecule, from its biological statement, is an electrically neutral group of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds,and is the matter that make up most of the oceans and atmosphere (2). Or in another word, molecule is the unit forming most of natural materials.

CRITERIA

DESIGN

ARCHIT

A specific technique for Molecule Biological forming is Packing, and this can be directly transferred into architectural technique for form experementing.

Packing technique allows to form space through the 3D patterns of the molecules, which also examines the differences between internal and external spaces with molecules as boundary.

This provides a wide range of rational posisbilities for architectural sustainable solutions. Morover, together with the aid of computational processes, the patterns can vary as responses toward the natural environment.

Two striking examples of molecular architecture with packing technique is Climing Boxes (Figure 1) and Historical Nakagin Capsule Tower designed by Kiso Kurokawa(3). The designs are divided into molecular units which defines each individual system that reinforces selforganization and contribute to the whole form.

44

”

TECTURE &

PACKING

TECHNIQUE

” Fig 1: climbing boxes at Kodomo No Kuni park in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture (1)

“Sort of a weird modular building. Perhaps this is what the inside of a beehive looks like. (1)”

Fig 2: Historical Nakagin Capsule Tower (4)

“It is a prototype for architecture of sustainability and recycleability(5)”

(1) http://www.stylepark.com/en/architecture/ magnificent-molecules/336829 (2) Wikipedia (3) Wikipedia (4) Historical Nakagin Capsule Tower, Airbnb (5) Stott, Rorry, 2013. Nakagin Capsule tower Prototype for Today’s Micro Housing.

45

CRITERIA DESIGN

B.2

CASE STUDY 1.0

THE MORNING LINE ARANDA LASCH, ISTANBUL 2010 THE MORNING LINE is famous for its “controversial” form. I said “controversial” because it raises up arguments about “PAVILLION” and “ANTI-PAVILLION” structure (2). Instead of enclosing an internal space, it gradually opens up and reveals individual elements of the structure. The form tends to grow and peel off its core, from 3D to 2D, as what I observe, from a block, to surfaces then edges. As seen in Figure 1, I suppose the structure belongs to molecular properties since the individual blocks pack up together like molecules, which obviously proves it carries biomimicry features also.

Fig 2: The Growth Pattern (4)

The randomness tranforms the design into a form of nature that mimic the growth of living plantation(figure 2), nurturing itself and falling apart simultaneously (4), creating fantasy patterns also somehow experimenting the shadow works.

CRITERIA

DESIGN

46

“

The Morning Line is a drawing in space, where each line connects to other lines to form a network of intertwining figures and narratives with no single beginning or end, entrance or exit (1)

�

Fig 1: THE MORNING LINE EXPLANATORY PARAMETRIC DIAGRAMS. (3)

(1) http://arandalasch.com/works/the-morning-line/ (2) http://www.tba21.org/augarten_activities/49/page_2 (3) https://www.flickr.com/photos/arandalasch/3191703998/ in/set-72157612286717885 (4) http://www.designboom.com/art/the-morning-line-bymatthew-ritchie-with-aranda-lasch-and-arup/ (5) http://arandalasch.com/works/the-evening-line/

47

CRITERIA DESIGN

SET 1

SET 2

SPECIES

2D

equillateral triangle

circle

MOLECULE M truncated tetrahedra faces 7; 3 major, 4 minor vertex: 4

sphere 2 diameters: 1 and 4

packing method. faces adjacent faces d=0

packing method. touching or overlapping -2<d<=0

ASSEMBLY A

d= distance between molecules

CRITERIA

DESIGN

48

SET 3

SET 4

square

cubes 2 sizes: 1 and 4

packing method. grow in all directions. faces adjacent faces d=0

diamond

wface: 12, all identical rhombus 2 sizes: 1 and 4

packing method. vertex to vertex. with rotation d=0

49

SET 5

pentagon

truncated triakis tetrahedron faces: 4 hexagons 12 pentagons edges: 42 vertices: 28

packing method. vertex to vertex. with rotation

CRITERIA DESIGN d=0

SET 1

SET 2

SPECIES

INTERNAL PATTERN IP fractal pattern using scale and solid subtraction

fractal pattern using scale and solid union

GROWTH G packing method. faces adjacent faces d=0

packing method. touching or overlapping with rotation -2<d<=0

SHATTERING S

CRITERIA

DESIGN

solid explosion and deletion faces projction and continuity

50

solid explosion and deletion faces projction and continuity

SET 3

fractal repetition 3x3x3 rubik, d= 2

packing method. grow in all directions. faces adjacent faces leaving gaps d=0, 1<d<3

solid explosion and deletion falling apart

SET 4

random pattern solid subtraction

packing method. vertex to vertex. with rotation d=0

solid explosion and deletion faces projction and continuity

51

SET 5

scaled faces and surface subtraction factor f=0.8

packing method. vertex to vertex. with rotation d=0

solid explosion and deletion faces projction and continuity

CRITERIA DESIGN

SET 1

SET 2

SPECIES

F1 FREE-FORM

tree-branches system r=0.3, t=2

F

radiolarition structure d=6, r=0.3

F2

In free-form species exploration, I attempt to push the iteration go further, out of the confine of fractal hedra in shape formation. Based on researches about biomimicry, freeform species is a series of naturallike exploration, in term of structure, shape and pattern.

CRITERIA

DESIGN

tree-branches system r=0.6, t=1

52

surface morphing technique u=3, v=20

SET 3

radiolarition structure d=3, r=0.3 u=20, v=20

radiolarition structure d=1, r=0.3 u=20, v=20 weavebird surface smoothened

SET 4

3D voronoi cells

3D voronoi cells scaled

53

SET 5

continuous surface. surface division u=20, v=30

radial array structure. r=0.01

CRITERIA DESIGN

G

rowth pattern with cubes. The strongest feature of this outcome is its high possibility of structural flexibility. The cubes are easy for construction and modification. It reminds me of removeable structure to adapt usage and functionality and different purposes. However, aesthetically, cubic forms do not look flexible and dynamic enough, that the space and vision is somehow limited. That why in term of biomimicry, cubic structure, in my own rating criteria, is not so efficent.

G/SET3

SELECTION CRITERIA

R1 **** 4/5 R2 ***** 5/5 R3 **** 4/5 R4 *** 3/5 R5 ** 2/5 R6 ****4/5

RATING HIERARCHY R1- AESTHETICISM R2-STRUCTURE R3- BUILDABILITY R4-MATERIALITY R5-BIOMIMICRY R6-MOLECULE FORM

D S/SET 5

R1 **** 4/5 R2 ***** 5/5 R3 *** 3/5 R4 ** 2/5 R5 ***** 5/5 R6 ****4/5

CRITERIA

DESIGN

eveloped from growth pattern, shattering technique seems to give the structure a stronger sense of aestheticism and better visual performance. Deriving from natural form (similar to hexagons), tetrahedron is quite structurally sustainable. Moreover, since it originated in rigid 3D form and packed up with molecular order, forces are restrained and transformed well in all directions.

Personally, this inspires me with ideas for the final design, since it is the most related to molecular architecture and biomimicry.

54

B.2 SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES AND EXTRAPOLATION T

he form strongly links to biomimicry. It was a sample of branching L-system that gives random growing pattern, however, a natural way to build 3D forms. However, It does not present any feature of molecular system even totally different to what I have been researching on. In term of structure, it is buildable and can take and spread load evenly in many directions but each branch has to be designed carefullly with aids from engineering. This form is able to fit in any shape and structure, but mostly pavillion or a structural form for example Skin and Bone.

F2/SET2

R1 **** 4/5 R2 ***3/5 R3 **2/5 R4 *** 3/5 R5 ****4/5 R6 -0/5

Packing technique was one of the step of the process, however, each face of the cell seems not to match up with the others. Using surface morphing brings biomimicry characteristics to the form. The thorns might lead to shadow effects and contributes into internal spatial arrangement.

However, materiality will be a concern since this has to be fabricated absolutely.

The form inspires me of designing a massive structure which plenty of cells which are all connected to each other and allow people to walk though. However, in order to enhance and break its confine, interior design might be needed to differentiate the cells.

IP/SET4

R1 **** 4/5 R2 **** 4/5 R3 **2/5 R4 **** 4/5 R5 ****4/5 R6 ****4/5

55

CRITERIA DESIGN

B.3

CASE STUDY 2.0

HEXIGLOO PAVILLION Tutors: Tudor Cosmatu, Irina Bogdan, Andrei Raducanu Location: Bucharest, Romania

H

EXIGLOO PAVILLION is a parametric designed structure that based on a hexagon gril projeced on a curved surface with a result of 14 rows + 14 columns – having 196 elements (1).

The structure explores different light effects via hexagon grid geometrical potentials, or more specifically, the interest of the design was aiming for interior space and its correlation with external surrounding (2).Via parametric techniques, external surface is enriched with openings in different sizes that successfully varies internal effects due to natural lighting.

Different computational techniques are applied to modify internal spatial patterns such as extrusion and scale.

Remarkably, the project brings along a concept that ,in my own opinion, relates to environmental sustainability. It is the material that is utilized: recyclable and biodegradable cardboard (3).

Hexigloo has discovered a new perception on hexagon, in term of form, and cardboard, in term of materiality.

Hexigloo, in conclusion, successfully achieved its aim, however, in some extents, it is partiallly restricted because it does not encourage users experience anything further than what has been provided. For example, the enclosed interior limits spatial continuity and seems to detain whatever comes in.

Instead, maybe they should lift the pavillion up at some points to erase the “entrance” which defines the narrow boundary of the form.

Why do I choose Hexigloo as my case study 2.0? Because HEXIGLOO investigates a further possibility of hexagon grid which relates to Biomimicry. I intend to look into hexagon structure and its hidden potential and hopefully, can turn that into ideas for final design.

(1) Hexigloo Pavilion | Tudor Cosmatu, Irina Bogdan, Andrei Raducanu, Arch20, (2)Homedid, Hexigloo – pavilion in Bucharest, (3)Lisa A., 2011. HEXigloo: Honeycomb Cardboard Pavilion Pops Up in Bucharest! Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

CRITERIA

DESIGN

56

Fig 1: HEXIGLOO PAVILLION RENDERING. Courtesy of Bence Pap,ARCHI20,2012 (1)

57

CRITERIA DESIGN

1

2

DRAWING BOUNDARY CURVES

LOFTING SURFACE BASED ON CURVES

EXTERNAL SURFACE

R E V E R S E CRITERIA

DESIGN

58

E N G I N

3

4

SCALE THE HEXAGON CELLS

APPLY HEXAGON CELLS ON SURFACE USING HEXAGON CELLS COMMAND OF LUNCHBOX

USING ATTRACTOR POINTS TO VARY THE SIZES OF THE OPENINGS THE DISTANCES BETWEEN ATTRACTOR POINTS AND THE CELL’S CENTER DETERMINES THE FACTOR OF SCALE

E E R I N G

59

CRITERIA DESIGN

5

6

ADJUST THE DIRECTION OF OPENINGS. LARGER OPENINGS LOCATE NEAR THE ENTRANCE.

EXTERNAL SURFACE

R E V E R S E CRITERIA

DESIGN

60

E N G I N

7

8

CREATING SURFACE BETWEEN ORIGINAL CELLS AND SCALED CELLS USING “RULLED SURFACE” COMMAND

E E R I N G

61

CRITERIA DESIGN

ATTRACTOR POINTS CONTROL OPENNINGS SIZE

SCALE THE EDGES OF THE CELLS AND MOVE THEM DOWN IN Z-DIRECTION, THEN LOFTING

INTERNAL SPACE

R E V E R S E CRITERIA

DESIGN

62

E N G I N

RULLED SURFACE BETWEEN CELLS AND SCALED CELLS

EXTRUDED VERTICALLY IN Z-DIRECTION

PUT THEM TOGETHER FOR ALTERNATIVE LIGHTING EFFECTS

E E R I N G

63

CRITERIA DESIGN

CRITERIA

DESIGN

64

F I N A L

O U T C O M E

Similarity The

command â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hexagon Cellâ&#x20AC;? provided

by LunchBox is really useful that the outcome hexagon grid mostly looks similar to the original project because the hexagons are adjacent to each other.

The technique of extruding the surface downward in Z-direction works and give similar internal effect that is aimed for the design.

The variation between the thickness of the pavilion as well as the opening sizes using attractors mainly reach the target and the design ideas behind it.

Dissimilarity:

The curved surface of the Pavilion cannot be exactly imitated, hence, that leads to some corrugation and distortion in the surface and the hexagon grid.

The amount of hexagons is uncontrollable and totally depends on the surface. Hexagonal cell individual size is hard to be detected also.

The factor of scale that is used for opening creation is unknown, hence, may cause overlapping or intersecting.

The pattern induced by attractors is not accurate since the position of the points or lines are random and unknown.

Conclusion:

Overall, I mainly mimic the general form and structure, understand the techniques and the process of making it.

However, it has been impossible for me to modify it to gain the exact patterns.

65

CRITERIA DESIGN

B.4

T E C H N I Q U E DEVELOPMENT DEFINITION EXPLORATION Definition exploration is my own interpretation in order to explore and go further based on B.3 script. My aim is to distort and transform “Hexigloo” form into something else that go beyond the confine of previous definition.

CURVES

CRITERIA

DESIGN

EXTRUDE

SOLID

PANELLING

LOFTING SURFACES

HEXAGONAL GRID

SCALE

SQUAD GRID

ATTRACTOR

EXCLOSED

DOME

OPENED

FACADE

TRIANGULAR PANEL

66

E

RS

MOVE OUTWARD

MOVE INWARD

CAPPING

OPENINGS

BOOLEAN DIFFERENT

LINES

CURVES

EXTERNAL SURFACE

TO CENTER

Z AXIS

INTERNAL SURFACE

ATTRACTORS

EXTRUSION

POINTS

TO POINT

ALONG NORMAL

67

CRITERIA DESIGN

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

[25]

[26]

[27]

[1] u=5|v=5. Ruled Surface

[5] u=5|v=5. Scaled pattern

[2]u=5|v=5.Extrusion along y

[6]u=5|v=5.Extrusion curve along y [10] u=10|v=8.Openings

[14]u=10|v=8.Extrusion curve

[3]u=5|v=5.Extrusion to point

[7]u=5|v=5.Extrusion to scaled

[11] u=10|v=8..Extrusion to point

[15]u=10|v=8.Extrusion to poi

[4]u=5|v=5.Extrusion of openings

[8]u=5|v=5.Extrusion of center

[12] u=10|v=8.Extrusion of openings [16]u=10|v=8.Extrusion to cen

CRITERIA

DESIGN

[9] u=10|v=8.TriangularPanel

[28]

68

[13]u=10|v=8.Trenches

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[21]

[22]

[23]

[24]

[29]

[30]

[31]

[32]

[17]u=10|v=10.HexGrids

[21]u=10|v=20.HexGrids t=0.3

[25]u=10|v=2.SquadGrid

[29]u=10|v=1. Lofting

[18]u=3|v=2.HexGrids

[22]u=10|v=15.Extrusion curves

[26]u=10|v=2. Openings

[30]u=10|v=2. Lofting

int

[19]u=10|v=10.HexGrid t=0.3

[23]u=10|v=10.Extrusion to point

[28]u=10|v=2.Offset

[31]u=10|v=2.Loft to point

nter

[20]u=10|v=20.HexPanel

[24]u=10|v=20.Extrusion to center

[28]u=10|v=1. Lofting

[32]u=10|v=1. SolidPanel

es

69

CRITERIA DESIGN

[33]

[34]

[35]

[36]

[41]

[42]

[43]

[44]

[49]

[50]

[51]

[52]

[33]u=5|v=5.HexPanel

[36]u=5|v=5.Trenches

[39]u=5|v=5.Extrude+Loft d=-2

[42]u=10|v=10.Sectionings

[34]u=5|v=5. Extrude+Loft d=5

[37]u=5|v=5. Extrude+Loft d=2

[40]u=5|v=5. Extrude+Loft d=-2, f=0.3

[43]u=10|v=10. f=0.1,d=6

[35]u=5|v=5. Extrude+Loft+Cap

[38]u=5|v=5. Extrude+Loft d=6,+Cap f=0.3

CRITERIA

DESIGN

[41]u=5|v=5. Openings Vary size Attractors

70

[44]u=10|v=10.

Extrude+Loft+WeavebirdThicken t=3.2

[37]

[38]

[39]

[40]

[45]

[46]

[47]

[48]

[54]

[55]

[56]

[53]

[45]u=10|v=10.

Extrude+Loft+WeavebirdThicken t=6 [46]u=20|v=20.Loft cone cells d=2 [47]u=20|v=20.Loft cone cells d=5

[48]u=10|v=10.extrude curves [49]u=10|v=10.

Lofting+Weavebirthsmoothing t=0.4 [50]u=10|v=10.

Lofting+Weavebirthsmoothing t=2

71

[51]u=10|v=10.

Lofting+Weavebirthsmoothing t=2,r=0.7

[54]u=10|v=10.

Lofting+Weavebirthsmoothing t=2,r=1.5

[52]u=10|v=10.

Lofting+Weavebirthsmoothing t=0.4,r=0.3,d=-2

[55]u=5|v=5.Lofting curves to center [56]u=20|v=20.

[53]u=10|v=10.

Lofting+Weavebirthsmoothing t=2,r=0.1,d=-3

CRITERIA DESIGN

B.4

SELECTION CRITERIA

M SELECTION CRITERIA

R1- AESTHETICISM R2-STRUCTURE R3- BUILDABILITY R4-MATERIALITY R5-BIOMIMICRY R6-MOLECULE FORM R7-FUNCTIONALITY

y selection criteria aims for structural stability, functionality and some aesthetic extent. For overall form, biomimicry is the priority for my selection .

During iteration process, I was attemtping to imitate familiar or recognizeable natural structure, for example, beehive structure was what I have been aiming for.

In term of functionality, the chosen outcomes must be flexible for different purposes and activities.

The structure should fit variety of forms including enclosed or opened pavillion, a nest or fence.

Additionally, it should be easy to adapt some modification, or in another word, modular construction can be taken as a method.

And the most significant feature is load bearing capacity. My design concept is a pigeon shelter which is lifted up above the ground.

That will lead notable amount of windload exerted on the whold system.

CRITERIA

DESIGN

72

My final chosen outcome is not the best or the prettiest or coolest one.

However, it it the most buildable and efficent trial. The extruded hexagon edges enables natural lighting effect and transition from exterior to interior, which results spatial possibilites and accessibility. variation in openings allows circulation and reasonable correlation with surrounding context.

[34]

[39]

[37]

[39]

[38]

[36] [35]

[40] [35]

SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES

73

CRITERIA DESIGN

B.5

T E C H N I Q U E PROTOTYPE

“EXPLOSION AND JOINTS”- FABRICATION TECHNIQUE Through out part B.2 to B.4, the algorithsm has been produced to approach a new phase of biomimicry, particularly, I attempted to invent my own understanding of hexagonal structure. However, in order to bring these exploration into reality, materiality and actual construction must be mentioned in order to transfer aestheticism into engineering/architectural phase. Unfortunately, all of my hexagonal structures do not embedded any of these properties yet. This eventually may end up with diminution between architectural and materiality(1).

In this part, B5.0 prototype, a fabrication technique is adopted to zoom into the design for real construction and ideas divergence.

It is “explosion and joints”-which is my own way to name it. Explosion will break the system/structure into fragments for the ease and accuracy of measurement as well as spatial variation. Joints are used to connect the components structurally and support load bearing capacity.

CRITERIA

DESIGN

Practically, laser cutting will be the method to visualize the prototype for this part. Laser Cutting allows the flexibility of joints creation in a high level of details , which is beneficial for design structural and aesthetic testing.

Experimential 3D printing should be avoided since it limits material exploration and the details of joints also any specific feature of the form. 3D printing restricts learnings and comprehensive approach to the recent design and further development.

1. Peter Booth, Digital materiality: emergent computational fabrication, 43rd Annual Conference of the Architectural Science Association, ANZAScA 2009, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia

74

Image: The final outcome chosen for prototype, from B.4, number [39]

75

CRITERIA DESIGN

“EXPLOSION AND JOINTS”- FABRICATION TECHNIQUE

4

2

5

3

CRITERIA

DESIGN

76

1

1- overall form with joints.

The structure is fixed by the joints between fragments. These joints are in fact flexible and moveable.

2-Details: Joints are created by cylinders connecting between 2 fragments. The cylinders and fragments are joined by glue. These are rigid joints that do not allow any movement in each cell 3- Each fragment will be lazer-cut with gaps at the edge for cylinders.

4-This joint system can enable 3D mode, which hold different pieces in different direction, result in an unified structure 5-Different cells with different sizes are attached together in a curving pattern to create a coherent surface. The tail of each cells are placed heading toward the center.

6-FLEXIBLE joint system using a L-shape piece that is etched at the corner to enable bending and elastic capacity.

6 L-shape joints etched at the corner allows flexible movement.

77

CRITERIA DESIGN

Single cell front view

PROTOTYPE MODEL scale: 1:75

cell view from the back CRITERIA

DESIGN

78

2 cells

interior of a cell

interior of the cell, view toward center

side view of a cell

79

CRITERIA DESIGN

PROTOTYPE MODEL CELLS CONNECTION: 10 CELLS FRONT VIEW scale: 1:75 CRITERIA

DESIGN

80

81

CRITERIA DESIGN

REFLECTION ON

FABRICATION PROCESS Now I really recognize prototype is a must when design using parametric method. The joints and junctions I have used are not stable and structurally supportive enough. Those circles with flat surfaces cannot hold the elements in place but relying on amount of glue instead. I should have trim some pieces our of circles so that will hook the fragments better. Moreover, transforming a model from computer to reality is seriously not easy at all. The angle between fragments cannot be made accurately hence, result in gaps and tension in the structure and even the joints. In a word, this trial system is not so resilient and cannot be used for further development.

As an experience drawn from B.5, I would need to standardize my designs a bit more for the ease of manufacturing and fabrication. As theory, standardization “ raises not only the obvious question of wha t (and where ) thenew limits are, but, mor e fundamentally , to what ends- to what effects an d affects - should thi s new formal and materia lliberty be directed”(1). Fabrication and manufacturing in digital ages need to be taken under serious concerns which is referred as “material discipline” (2).

Nevertheless, aethetically, this prototype sucessfully illustrates the effects that I aimed for initially. Overall, the prototype gives a strong sense of functionality that can be continue for future design.The shadow effect (photo number [4]) inspires me what to do next in B.6 proposal, for example using light to broaden sensation for cultural linkage (3).

(1) Kolarevic, Branko and Kevin R. Klinger, eds (2008), pg21.

(2)Ibid,pg 21.

(3) Moussavi, Farshid and Michael Kubo, eds (2006),pg 818

CRITERIA

DESIGN

82

[1]

[2]

up-side down

PROTOTYPE MODEL scale: 1:75

[3]

face upward

[4]

lying flat

shadow effect

[5]

[6]

83

CRITERIA DESIGN

“IT IS ALL ABOUT HEXAGONS” -Ut Thi Tran-

B.6 CRITERIA

DESIGN

T E C H N I Q U E PROPOSAL

84

MAP: EXPORTED MAP FROM GOOGLE EARTH PRO

85

PHOTOS TAKEN ON SITE by Ut Thi Hien Tran 2015

CRITERIA DESIGN

PROBLEM IDE

MERRI CREEK MAP

CRITERIA

DESIGN

86

ENTIFICATION “ T

”

MERRI CREEK , NOT VERY MERRY

he specific area I am focusing on locates below the Bridge at St George Road. This area, according to what I saw during site visit, has a large amount of birds in different species. Besides, this part of the Creek stands out with its narrowness and high pollution because of littering.

I also observed pigeons and sparrows were living in the clearance box, the space beneath the bridge, in extremely poor condition.

Even though there are other problems/dilemma detected, bird habitation and their living condition, to me, is quite exigent since it directly influences natural habitation along the Creek.

NOISE POLLUTION The bridge is a part of a bustling intersection on St George Road where there is a large amount of residents and dwellers with public transports and social infrastructure. These result in a serious level of noise pollution from vehivles and human social life.

(3)

LITTERING People litter from the bridge. People litter while picnicing. People little from residential area.

People little while visitting. A large amount of littering that is not biodegrade remains on the bank and accumulates maybe over years.

Toxicants in sediments of the Creek basin derived from wash-off from roof and catchment at nearby industrial area(1)

WATER POLLUTION Due to rubbish remained on the banks, water flows are stopped. This causes terrible smells and low water quality. Sadly, Melbourne Water has identified Merri Creek as having the worst water quality of Melbourne’s urban streams(2).

Before the water go through any treatment or purification, the bird habitation along the creek directly drink it.

EXTERNAL DISTURB FROM HUMAN

FOCAL AREA AROUND ST GEORGE ROAD

Cars/vehicles on the bridge or on the trail seem to frighten and disturb bird population along the creek. Since they do not have a proper shelter, they live anywhere possible near the water.

Some of them were found trapped in litter. This gradually will damage natural habitation/wildlife on the site.

1.Up the Creek. accessed 2015.

2,3.The Age Gallery.

87

CRITERIA DESIGN

MAP: EXPORTED MAP FROM GOOGLE eARTH PRO FOCAL SITE FOR DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

CRITERIA

DESIGN

88

NATURAL BIRD HABITATION

According to some research, there are 2 distinctive groups of birds at the Creek, Some live here all the year (sparrows, bulbuls, crows, Eurasian jays, blackbirds, doves and pigeons are amongst the most common town birds); – but in Spring and Autumn Israel witnesses an enormous number of migrating birds – swallows, storks, cranes, birds of prey (very high up), wagtails and others too numerous to mention(1).

Merri Creek in fact is quite rich in bird population. With 73 species (2), birds can be heard and observed seasonally. Looking deeper into the problem, pigeon takes the largest amount on the site. Especially, in a larger scale. pigeon from surrounding area may affect the performce of the creek also.

relate to DESIGN CONCEPT & BRIEF

From what I have found and looked at above, I decide to design something to support the Merri Creek natural reserve, and particularly, protecting bird habitation with pigeon as majority.

As a respond to the given Brief, the design will be a living system that amplify technical and natural system connection. This system will help to improve the living quality of local pigeon habitat which is both influenced and influential to the Creek. My intervention will seek help from computational/parametric softwares and mechanicism to renovate and maintain bird biodiversity, which hopefully will induce positive effect to the site and local area.

Additionally, mechanical systems and some engineering concepts will be supportive elements to realize my architectural design. As “Architecture needs mechanisms that allow it to become connected to culture”(3), I would love people to accept it in a practical way especially when parametric tool turns the form into something abstract.

(1),(2)Merri Growler, The Friends of Merri Creek Newsletter,2012.

(3) Moussavi, Farshid and Michael Kubo, eds (2006),pg 616.

89

CRITERIA DESIGN

VISUALIZING CONCEPTS

SURFACE

applying hexagonal pattern

created by dynamic twisting movement

each of hexagonal cell will shelter a pigeon or a family of pigeon depnend on their sizes

House Sparrows

Pacific Black Duck

Red Wattlebird

Silvereye

Rock Dove

Rainbow Lorikeet

MERRY CREEK

2000

0 Figure 1: Number of birds in different species compared to the total of the site. (the diagram is drawn based on information provided by Friends of Merry Creek Newsletter 2012)

CRITERIA

DESIGN

90

SINGLE BIRDS SHELTER the size of each cell can only fit one BIRD

150 cells = 150 birds

BIRD FAMILIES SHELTER the size of each cell can take more than 2 BIRDS. 80 cells = (3 x 80) pigeons=240 birds

=390 birds in a tower According to Figure 1, the diagram says there are 2200 birds along the whole creek. Hence, the project will shelter half of that bird population since it locates half way of the creek.

1200 is the aim for this project since bird population may grow later and it will not be overcrowded. I need 4 towers to shelter 1200 birds.

91

CRITERIA DESIGN

1.RAIN WATER COLLECTING SYSTEM 2.BIRD SHELTERING TOWERS 3.PLANTATION TUBS 4.RAIN WATER ROOF COLLECTOR

5.DOCKING AREA FOR DUCKS

6.BAYS FOR HUMAN ACTIVITIES

MECHANICAL OPERATING SYSTEMS ARRANGEMENT CRITERIA

DESIGN

92

7.EXCREMENT COLLECTOR

8.PURIFIED WATER POND 9.EXTERNAL WATER FILTERING SYSTEM

93

CRITERIA DESIGN

6

7

8 5 4 3 2

SAND

1

AGGREGATES PEBBLES

PIGEON EXCREMENT FILTRATING SYSTEM

CRITERIA

DESIGN

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

OUTLET PIPES OF EXCREMENT TO PLANTATION TUBS AS FERTILIZER PUMPER MOTOR CONNECTED TO ELECTRICITY EXCREMENT TANK (quantity = 3) STRAINING MESH FOR AGGREGATES SMELL ABSORBER RUBBISH DRAIN RAIN WATER PIPE-RAIN WATER HARVESTING SYSTEM SURFACE HOLES AS EXCREMENT IN-LET

94

MECHANICAL OPERATING SYSTEMS 1 . RAIN WATER COLLECTING SYSTEM

6. BAYS FOR HUMAN ACTIVITIES

Rain water is collected on the roof of each tower. The water then will be transfer through hexagon cells from top to bottom of towers and end up in the pond within the region. Rain water will be treated and purified along the way. This provides clean water for the pigeon.

Human have chances to come, however, quite limited for accessibility.

Enables human/nature environment.

7 . EXCREMENT FILTERING AND COLLECTING SYSTEM

Plants are grown in a number of hexagonal tubs over the site in order to provide food to birds and bring nature to the design. Moreover, local farmers can use these as well.

Pigeon excrement is inevitably problematic since it negatively affects local hygien and sewage system.

Hence, in order to cope with that, I consider to adopt an excrement filtrating system that helps to reduce that effect and simultaneous, benefit from it. This mechanical system will collect pigeonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fecal matter then filter and store it in the tanks under the ground. Fecal matters partially is transferred to plantation tubs near by to fertilize, or will be kept to be collected by local farmers. This process also helps eliminates odours and bad smells.

4. RAINWATER ROOF COLLECTOR

8. PURIFIED WATER POND

Rainwater roof collectors harvest rainwater and provide water to all of mechanical systems.

Purified rainwater ponds supply clean water for pigeon to drink.

2. BIRD SHELTERING TOWERS 4 towers in different heights can shelter around 1000 pigeons and other birds (possibly).

3. PLANTATION TUBS

5. DOCKING AREA FOR DUCKS To embrace site contextual feature: SLOPE and enhance water/land relationship.

95

9.EXTERNAL WATER FILTERING SYSTEM Creek water may be cleaned and filtered partially.

CRITERIA DESIGN

BIRD-HIVES ARIEL BIRD VIEW RENDERRED BY VRAY

CRITERIA

DESIGN

96

97

CRITERIA DESIGN

BIRD-HIVES INTERIOR OF PIGEON TOWER RENDERRED BY VRAY

CRITERIA

DESIGN

98

99

CRITERIA DESIGN

OBJECTIVE 1 INTERROGATION

BRIEF

Under the pressure of technolog needs as well as higher build performance, architecture is requ to adopt engineering under the con of computational driving force in or to fit the building better into its con simultaneously reponse wiser to environment. I found myself thro part B engaged partially with the b since I always attempted to link iterations back to my research field a part A. However, I did not comple follow the brief since shaping ideas w computational methods are challeng and do require more experiences.

OBJECTIVE 2 VARIETY OF DESIGN POSSIBILITIES

I attempted to vary my iterations a explore their limitations.

Howe sometimes I found them irrelevant a hardly belong to any species. Some of outcomes, because of being â&#x20AC;&#x153;explor too far beyond the domain, comple switch to something else that I can explain or classify. Nevertheless, knowledge got enriched thanks to try different weird commands and dragg sliders blindly. My concept is there righ the middle whereas computational explode it into bunches of new ones t inspires me to other ideas.

CRITERIA

DESIGN

100

gical ding uired ntrol rder ntext the ugh brief my and etely with ging

and ever, and f the redâ&#x20AC;? etely nnot my ying ging ht in tool that

B.7

LEARNING OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES

OBJECTIVE 3 3D MODELLING SKILL

OBJECTIVE 6 ANALYSIS SKILL

I would mark myself 5/10 for my 3D modelling skill. I am still a beginner. I understand commands themselves but quite struggle when using them practically.

I barely analyzed my iterations throughout the process. I also found them not so responsive to its context. This should be defintely improved in part C. Fabrication process made me realize there are both positive and negative correlation/ transformation between computational model and physical model. 3D modelling at this stage somehow lacks a sense of structure and buildability.

Air provides fundamental notions and first chances to get in touch with contemporary design methods. Part A pushed me crazily and rapidly via researches and analyze precedent works. By understanding the former works, I got experiences for myself, and building my own knowledge from learning from them. However, Air is a bit loose in design concept since everything started up iteration instead of dissecting the brief.

OBJECTIVE 4 ARCHITECTURE & AIR I gradually comprehend the role of parametric designs. It just helps to multiply anddigitally fabricate your ideas/ comcepts. However, I need to go through part C to understand Air more since Air is a totally fantasy world compared to what I have known about architecture. However, in a vague way, Air saves more time for ideas divergence. Instead of sitting down and sketches for hours, computers give you 10 iteration in just 30 minutes.

OBJECTIVE 5

PROPOSALS

Since Air is so effective and efficient in generating ideas, it was a bit controversial and challenging to pick the successful ones. However, I guess it is also beneficial because I did go through every iteration again, select and eliminate. That ultimately triggerred my own judgement and analytical thinkings while filtering ideas.

101

OBJECTIVE 7 COMPUTATIONAL UNDERSTADINGS Honestly, not so deep. It has been only 8 weeks and it is hardly possible for me who is a real beginner to swallow and comprehend all about computational design industry. However, I am glad that I have been absorbing knowledge in my own ways. Playing around with grasshopper, I found myself reacting quicker to scripts and started to memorise commands. Randomness reduced when I move to the end of part B. I knew what I was doing and how to go from divergence to convergence.

OBJECTIVE 8 PERSONALIZED REPERTOIRE Driven by pressure of workload the massive amount of commands to learn, I did explore more ways to do things faster and less time-consuming. My skils and experieces are expanded tremendously by trials and online research, especially Grasshopper Food.

CRITERIA DESIGN

B.8

APPENDIX ALGORITHMIC SKETCHES

FRACTAL TETRAHEDRA

5 SEGMENTS

6 SEGMENTS

CRITERIA

DESIGN

102

LOTUS-SHAPE. The aim of fractal hedra is mostly aetheticism and tesselation.

103

CRITERIA DESIGN

FIELD FUNDAMENTALS simple 2 positive and 1 negative charge

using field lines to produce the field environment and connection between point charge and boundary

CRITERIA

DESIGN

104

simple 5 pin force points and their effect within their fields on external points

divided spiral curve give points that are input for spin-force result in a pattern that depends on the radius of the spin-force

105

CRITERIA DESIGN

WEAVEBIRD SMOOTHENING

CRITERIA

DESIGN

106

107

CRITERIA DESIGN

REFERENCES Evolution, Wikipedia, edited 2013, accessed 2015, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution Gim Seng Oi, 2009,Historical Architectural Explaination, history and theory in architecture,accessed 20th April 2015 http://architheory.blogspot.com.au/2009/04/historical-architectural-explaination. html Historical Nakagin Capsule Tower,Airbnb,URL: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1305889, accessed 24th April 2015.

Huson, Bradley, 2013, W13: morphing skin with concept development https://bradleyhudson. wordpress.com/2013/06/03/ Kolarevic, Branko and Kevin R. Klinger, eds (2008). Manufacturing Material Effects: Rethinking Design and Making in Architecture (New York; London: Routledge), pp. 6â&#x20AC;&#x201C;24 Magnificent molecules ,2012, Stylepark, accessed 20th April 2015, http://www.stylepark.com/en/ architecture/magnificent-molecules/336829 Merri Growler, Help Protect Merri Creek.The Friends of Merri Creek Newsletter,2012.

Molecule, Wikipedia, edited 2014, accessed 22nd April 2015. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Molecule

CRITERIA

DESIGN

108

Moussavi, Farshid and Michael Kubo, eds (2006). The Function of Ornament (Barcelona: Actar) Natural Selection, Wikipedia, edited 2013 , accessed 22nd April 2015 http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Natural_selection Peter Booth, Digital materiality: emergent computational fabrication, 43rd Annual Conference of the Architectural Science Association, ANZAScA 2009, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia Peter Pearce Curved Space Diamond Structure, aka The Hakone Soap Bubble Castle,2014. The Web Blog for new dads, accessed 25th April 2015, http://daddytypes.com/2014/04/14/peter_pearce_ curved_space_diamond_structure_aka_the_hakone_soap_bubble_castle.php Stott, Rorry, 2013. Nakagin Capsule tower Prototype for Today’s Micro Housing,Architecture Daily.Accessed 21st April 2015. URL http://www.archdaily.com/443609/nakagin-capsule-towera-prototype-for-today-s-micro-housing/ The Age Gallery http://www.theage.com.au/photogallery/national/merri-creek-not-very-merry20111116-1niqi.html Up the Creek. accessed 2015. http://media.leadernews.com.au/Editorial/UpTheCreek/intro. html Woodbury, Robert F. (2014). ‘How Designers Use Parameters’, in Theories of the Digital in Architecture, ed. by Rivka Oxman and Robert Oxman (London; New York: Routledge), pp. 153–170

109

CRITERIA DESIGN

CRITERIA DESIGN

PART C

CONTENT C1. DESIGN CONCEPT

C2. TECTONICS ELEMENTS& PROTOTYPE C3.FINAL DETAIL MODEL C4.LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUCOMES

SITE OBSERVATION

MERRI CREEK

VISITED AREA

AREA OF OBSERVATION

ST GEORGE STREET/ BRIDGE

1

2

3

4

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

â&#x20AC;&#x153; MERRI CREEK IS NOT VERY MERRY â&#x20AC;?

5

6

7

8

Problems detected on the site all involved local environmental conditions.

Particularly, Environmental conditions at Merri Creek can be roughly described with pollution. Pollution level is seriously terrible. As seen in the photos on the left handside, Pollution along the banks becomes obvious and haunting. These derive from human impacts and local acivities and intensively influences the performance of natural habitation on the site.

Particularly, one problem we recognized on the site is Birds living conditions. Like any other natural habitation, birds, from different species, are struggling and sufferring from decaying environment in which they live. They drink polluted water, they get trapped in litters till death, they eat contaminants. That directly corrupts sustainability on the site.

MAP: EXPORTED MAP FROM GOOGLE eARTH PRO FOCAL SITE FOR DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

NATURAL BIRD HABITATION

According to some research, there are 2 distinctive groups of birds at the Creek, Some live here all the year (sparrows, bulbuls, crows, Eurasian jays, blackbirds, doves and pigeons are amongst the most common town birds); – but in Spring and Autumn Israel witnesses an enormous number of migrating birds – swallows, storks, cranes, birds of prey (very high up), wagtails and others too numerous to mention(1).

Merri Creek in fact is quite rich in bird population. With 73 species (2), birds can be heard and observed seasonally. Looking deeper into the problem, pigeon takes the largest amount on the site. Especially, in a larger scale. pigeon from surrounding area may affect the performce of the creek also.

relate to DESIGN CONCEPT & BRIEF

From what I have found and looked at above, I decide to design something to support the Merri Creek natural reserve, and particularly, protecting bird habitation.

As a respond to the given Brief, the design will be a living system that amplify technical and natural system connection. This system will help to improve the living quality of local pigeon habitat which is both influenced and influential to the Creek. Our intervention will seek help from computational/parametric softwares and mechanicism to renovate and maintain bird biodiversity, which hopefully will induce positive effect to the site and local area.

Additionally, mechanical systems and some engineering concepts will be supportive elements to realize my architectural design. As “Architecture needs mechanisms that allow it to become connected to culture”(3), We would love people to accept it in a practical way especially when parametric tool turns the form into something abstract.

(1),(2)Merri Growler, The Friends of Merri Creek Newsletter,2012.

(3) Moussavi, Farshid and Michael Kubo, eds (2006),pg 616.

C.1 DESIGN CONCEPT

118

BIRDS HABITATION We have decided to narrow the problem down to specific concernment. It is the wide range of birds living along the creek. Of the birds known to utilise the Merri Creek corridor at least four of those considered to be of regional significance (Beardsell op.cit.) are likely to heavily depend on the instream habitats associated with the waterways including the Great and Little Egrets, the Nankeen Night Heron and the Sacred Kingfisher (1) These and other bird species would benefit from water quality and habitat improvement in-stream, and from an increase in wetland habitat in the catchment (2). Unfortunately the water condition at the creek is terribly poor , which consequentially decelerate the growth of birds as well as the performance of Merry Creek natural reservation.

How do birds relate to sustainability of the Creek?

In facts, the birds and the creek both influence and tightly connect to each other. The Creek provides the shelters, food and water to birds. Bird habitation on the other hand directly contribute to the ecosystem on the creek. Birds directly have impacts on plantation and cleanliness of the place.

When birds come together, the impact is getting more critical. They might affect the growth and health of plantations, the area in which they live.

Particularly for Merry Creek, birds live randomly in bushes and on trees along the river affect the cleancliness and water quality of the stream.

Their excrement disposed into the creek, their nest material discarded as rubbish floating on the surface of water that traps other birds and blocks the flows. Dead birds bodies then decompose int he water, directly release poisons that consequentially eaten by fishes and aquatic species.

In order to control and degrade the problems listed above, birds species need to be evaluated to generate stuitable and reasonable solutions.

-------------------------------------------(1) (2) )Meeri Creek Management Committee http://www.mcmc. org. au/i ndex.php? o pti o n =com _content& vi ew =a r ti cl e& i d = 2 8 4 : m c e s 33&catid=32:mces&Itemid=341

119

CROWDED: >40 BIRDS

MEDIUM: 20-40 BIRDS

SPARSE: <10 BIRDS

AMOUNT OF BIRD NESTS

PROBLEMATIC AREAS

POPULATION

The population investigated along the creek included all species and counted generally. The area of counting is restricted within circles of radius of 50m.

AMOUNT OF BIRD NESTS

Amount of bird nests are counted within the same region of population.

The Circles sizes reflect the amount of bird nest in the comparison with the bird population

PROBLEMATIC AREAS

What I mean by “problematic” is the bird habitation’s health and their living conditions in the context.

These sites are problematic because: -water poluttion -rubbish float on the creek -plantation status: the density, the colour.

-bird health through how they look: they look wet, injured and sick -birds trapped in rubbish, dead bodies found -bird nest dropped into the river, partly destroyed or totally abandoned.

-the water level -aquatic species life

BIRDS POPULATION

AMOUT OF BIRDS IS LESS THAN AMOUNT OF NESTS

AMOUNT OF NESTS ABANDONED IS ENORMOUS

AMOUNT OF BIRD IS MORE THAN AMOUNT OF BIRDS

PROBLEMATIC

AMOUNT OF SEASONALLY MIGRATING BIRDS

AMOUNT OF PERMANENT BIRDS

AREAS OF INVESTIGATION

BIRDS FOUND. THE SIZE OF THE CIRCLE REFLECTS THE POPULATION SEASONAL MIGRATION DIRECTION

PERMANENT BIRD SPECIES There are bird species that stay on the site all around the year.

They stay there, build permanent nests and constantly influence the performance of local ecosystems.

MIGRATING BIRD SPECIES There are several bird species that come to the site occasionally.

At least 24 of these 42 species are seasonal visitors, and some have strong associations with particular sites each year. “A number of species appeared to strictly favour the grassland sites and have strong seasonal fluctuations.For example, Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters and Mistletoebirds appeared in May, robins were most abundant in May and August; and cuckoos favoured August and November.

In November, White-necked Heron, Rufous Whistler, Rufous Songlark were usually recorded, but rarely at other times.” (1)

---------------------(1)Merri Growler, Friends of Merri Creek Newsletter, May-July 2014. http://www.friendsofmerricreek.org.au/media/newsletters/ Newsletter_May14_Jul14.pdf

BIRDS SPECIES DISTRIBUTIO

PREDATORS FOUND

FLY

NORTHERN IN SPRING ING

N

FOCAL AREAS

NATIVE GRASSY BUSHES

NATIVE TREES

AREA OF INVESTIGATION

BIRDS LOVE NATIVE GARDENS Acoording to what I found from research, birds live along Merri Creek because of the density of native vegetation on the site.

Most of big native gardens on site are found right on the bank of the creek Non-indigenous trees such as willows, poplars and elms have limited habitat value when compared to native vegetation, and inhibit native vegetation and are classified as environmental weeds (1).

Native vegetation is developed everywhere by the community in order to provide the birds place to shelter and food to eat.

Moreover, native grassy bushes help to cover their nests and hide them from being attacked by the predators.

This vegetation pattern will aid the design process especially site specification.

----------------------------(1) Merri Creek Management Committee. http://www.mcmc.org. au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=284:mces33&catid=32:mces&Itemid=341

VEGETATION PATTERNS

AMOUNT OF MIGRATING BIRDS

0M 40

AMOUNT OF PERMANENT BIRDS

AMOUNT OF NATIVE VEGETATION

0M

40 SELECTED LOCATIONS

According to benefits mentioned above, my concept will aim to create a stepping stone habitation on the site. Why? Because it will not dramatically affects existing natural habitation, in fact, it will just slightly rearrange the bird habitation that can positively control the relations between birds and the creek corridor. Hence, that will also enhance creekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sustainability by accmodating the birds in more organised ways.

-----------------------------------------SOURCE: HABITAT STEPPING STONES http://www.habitatsteppingstones.org.au/faq

SITE SPECIFICATION

0M 50

HABITAT STEPPING STONES: - Facilitate the migration of species to buffer the effects of drought and fire -Encourage genetic diversity which lessens in-breeding and susceptibility to disease -Enable species to migrate as climate changes

400 M

A habitat is an animalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surrounding physical environment. All animals, from the smallest bug to the largest mammal (including us), need certain things within their habitat to survive and to thrive. By providing the types of food, water and shelter that benefit local wildlife, you can create a habitat link between the existing wildlife corridors in your area.

Providing habitat stepping stones between existing wildlife corridors enables animals to move through the landscape and is one of the most important factors in maintaining biodiversity.

400 M

0M

60

STEPPING-STONE HABITATION

PREDATORS FOUND

SELECTED LOCATIONS The locations are selected based on: -the largest amount of permanent birds -the largest amount of migrating birds -the largest density of native gardens -to avoid predators -near the creek/water -they are evenly spaced -the distance are not too long or short for birds to fly along the creek

PERMANENT B PHYSICAL FEATURES EURASIAN JAYS

• beautiful Corvidae easy to identify thanks to the bright blue wing patch.

• Eurasian Jay is secretive and wary, often heard rather than seen.

BULBULS

• It has a pointed black crest, white cheeks, brown back, reddish under tail coverts and a long white-tipped tail.

• Bulbuls are common in urban areas

CROWS

• Australian Ravens are black with white eyes in adults.

• The Australian Raven is found in all habitat types, with the exception of the more arid areas of Western Australia.

• Australian Raven is mainly carnivorous.

DOVES

• White Doves are small birds.

• Dove they are quite hardy. If they are kept outdoors and are accustomed to cold weather, they can take below freezing temperatures for a short period of time.

PIGEONS

• Crested Pigeon is a stocky pigeon with a conspicuous thin black crest. Most of the plumage is grey-brown, becoming more pink on the underparts. The wings are barred with black, and are decorated with glossy green and purple patches. The head is grey, with an pinkishred ring around the eye.

BLACKBIRDS

• deep orange to yellow bill, a narrow yellow eyering and dark legs.

• found in urban areas and surrounding localities, but has successfully moved into bushland habitats.

•

SPARROWS

Sparrows are small, plump, brown-grey birds with short tails and stubby, powerful beaks.

• The house sparrow is a very social bird. It is gregarious at all seasons when feeding, often forming flocks with other types of bird.

• Well adapted to living around humans

BIRD SPECIES HABITATION

FOOD

• Both sexes build a well constructed platform of twigs. The cup is fairly deep and lined with softer plant materials. Nest is situated in fork near the centre of the tree or lower crown, concealed by foliage and vegetation, at about 4-6 metres above the ground.

• feeds primarily on invertebrates such as caterpillars and beetles during the breeding and nesting seasons. It gleans from foliage in trees. But as other Corvidae, it also takes eggs and nestlings of several bird species. uring autumn and winter, it feeds on seeds and berries, chestnuts and acorns

• inhabit parks, gardens and along creeks.

• an open cup nest of rootlets, bark and leaves, lined with soft fibre. The nest is usually placed in a low tree fork. Two or three broods may be reared in a season.

• feed on a variety of native and introduced fruits, insects and flower buds.

• construct a large untidy nest, normally consisting of bowl or platform of sticks, lined with grasses, bark and feathers.

• a wide-ranging diet that may consist of grains, fruits, insects, small animals, eggs, refuse and carrion;

•

flimsy nest builders so it is best to provide them with an open nesting container. Suitable housing for a White Dove would be a large cockatiel cage along with some flight time outside the cage.

•

White Doves are very clean birds and love to bathe.

• The Crested Pigeon builds a delicate nest of twigs, placed in a tree or dense bush. Both sexes share the incubation of the eggs, and both care for the young.

• builds a cup-shaped nest of dried grass, bound with mud, and lined with fine grasses.Also use tree hollows.

• • Favorite: • social activities such as dust and water bathing, and “social singing”

• They not only enjoy their greens, but will also enjoy spray millet and such things as crumbled cornmeal and bread. Grit is essential as all Ringneck Doves swallow their food whole, and it helps grind up the food.

• The Crested Pigeon’s diet consists mostly of native seeds, as well as those of introduced crops and weeds. Some leaves and insects are also eaten. Feeding is in small to large groups,

• Food: eats insects, earthworms, snails, spiders and a range of seeds and fruit. It mainly forages on the ground, lands and soils.

• Food: grains and weeds, but it is opportunistic and adaptable, and eats whatever foods are available

SIZES: WEIGHT LENGTH EUROASIAN JAYS

28-29 cm

BULBULS

~21 cm

CROWS

~52 cm

DOVES

~30.5 cm

PIGEONS

~33 cm

BLACKBIRDS

~23.5-29 cm

SPARROWS

~15 cm

T AND LENGTH WEIGHT 120-130 g

32 g RANGE 557 g

15-36 CM

AVERAGE 27 CM

170-200 cm 27-200 GRAMS 207 g

80-125 g

~27 g

200 GRAMS

BIRDS NESTS FEATURES To successfully design bird accomdation, natural bird nests should be a compulsory precedent to study from. Bird nests show birds living habit anfd their favourite living conditions. Natural bird nest will help me to understand how birds build their nests in nature, what materials and what forms they prefer. And I believe that is what biomimicry means.

There are countless types of nests built by birds in nature, however, I am only looking at the type of nests built by the birds on Merry Creek.

In order to successfully mate, lay eggs, incubate them and produce a new generation of birds, each bird species must have an appropriate scheme that is suitable to their life style(1).

However, I am attempting to look for similarities between the nest type, then standardize it into a type of shelter that can accomodate any kind of birds.

In that way, the design is flexible and responsive at the same time.

It respects natural decision since it only provides the space for birds to stay and allows birds to do whatever to the rest of their nests.

Similarity: the form Difference : the nesting materials Morover, based on what we observed on the site, bird nests are abandoned after the migrating birds leave. The Design will aim to fix that problem since the provided nest â&#x20AC;&#x153;moleculesâ&#x20AC;? will we useable and cleanable. Birds can reuse the nests and will not build more nests and abandon after using which negatively affects the ecosystem sustainability and cleaniliness of the site.

--------------------------------------------(1)Bird Nest and Nesting Scheme featarts/2013/BirdNests.htm

http://www.utahbirds.org/

BIRD NEST FORMS EURASIAN JAYS

BULBULS

CROWS

DOVES

PIGEONS

BLACKBIRDS

SPARROWS

134

BIRD NESTING MATERIALS

SOFTER PLANT MATERIALS

BARK

DRIED LEAVES

STANDARDIZED CONTAINER

INDIVIDUAL NESTS

TWIGS BIRDS ARE ALLOWED TO BRING THEIR OWN FAVOURITE NESTING MATERIALS INTO THE BUILT NESTS. THAT HELPS TO SERVE DIFFERENCE REQUIREMENTS AND NEEDS OF EACH BIRDS

TWIGS

GRASS

MUD

GRASS

WOOL

FEATHER

135

CELLS SIZE AND NUMBERS

ITERATION

FORM FIGURE

FORM 136

INTERNAL OPENINGS

EXTRUSION LENGTH

EXTRUSION

OUTCOME 137

138

ITERATION

SELECTION CRITERIA

139

EXPLANATORY DIAGRAM

FORMATIVE CURVES

Primary curves are placed in a dynamic position. The curves illustrates the body of a tree trunk which has cavity inside where birds usually love to live. By imitating the overform of the tree trunk to accomodate birds, the design intends to embrace biomimicry theme to seek for the most comfortable way that birds live. Tree trunk will provide a vertical structure that can be raised up and down in height to fir the birds view.

LOFTING CURVES FOR SURFACE In order to have a sense of enclosure and “housing” something in the middle, curves then are lofted to form interior space. The lofted surface creates a border surface between internal and external areas.

That theoritically approachs the traditional defition of a shelter for any species. It helps to provide birds with privacy and something to protect them from external environment.

INWARD EXTRUSION FOR INTERIOR SPACE Internal space is then divided up into smaller units for different birds/ bird families. Since birds are not so happy to live next to each other, especially birds from different species, these cells after division will provide them with their “persona” space. The cells are linked by joints and connections, however, not accessible from one to another. Hence, birds in each cell can determine their own living conditions that does not affect othe birds.

OUTWARD EXTRUSION FOR CELLS OPENINGS Outward extrusion are placed in front of each cell. They are designed with specific features for specific functions.

-extrusion gives “eaves” that protect nests and birds eggs or nesting materials from the rain as well as excessive sunlight in summer that ca n lead to burning.

-at tip of the extrusion, it is cut pointed to create a “poky” form overall. That helps to keep the predators away from attacking the eggs and small birds.

-transparent external skin to control the natural sunlight penetrating through the cells.

FINAL OUTCOME

NEST INNOVATION

The final outcome is a combination of 2 different layers . The extrnal skin plays as a shield that reduces the impact from the surrounding environment as well as predators.

The internal cage helps to hold the nest stably , forming a space in the middle to protect the eggs also avoid direct winds that can blow the nesting materials away.

Morover, when the 2 layers come together, the design will again insulation properties which is not achieved by natural bird nests.

CELLS ORGANIZATION CELL 1 DIMENSION: H= 10CM|W=12CM

CELL 2 DIMENSION: H= 25CM|W=25CM

CELL 3 DIMENSION: H= 10CM|W=13CM

CELL 4 DIMENSION: H= 22CM|W=20CM

SPLIT INTO HALVES CELL 5 DIMENSION: H= 16CM|W=13CM

142

CELL 6 DIMENSION: H= 13CM|W=12CM

CELL 7 DIMENSION: H= 24CM|W=20CM

CELL 8 DIMENSION: H= 13CM|W=12CM

CELL 9 DIMENSION: H= 17CM|W=19CM

CELL 10 DIMENSION: H= 17CM|W=15CM

143

SECTIONS

TOP SECTIONS

MIDDLE SECTIONS

BOTTOM SECTIONS

144

TOP SECTION

20-40 CELLS

- CLOSED AT THE TOP - SMALLEST CELLS - GAPS FOR RAINWATER TO PENETRATE

MIDDLE SECTION 40-70 CELLS

30-40 CELLS

- ROUND IN SHAPE - VOID FOR AIR VENTILATION - BIRD COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE STRUCTURE -SMALL AND BIG CELLS

BOTTOM SECTION - CLOSED AT THE BOTTOM - BIGGER CELLS TO SUPPORT THE STRUCTURE - ENCLOSED TO COLLECT RAINWATER AND EXCREMENT

145

Cells in increasing order

Cells in decreasing order

Small Cells: -Cells below 10 centimeters in size - For human interaction ; Pot planting, plant seedlings, provide food for birds, etc (before the nest is hung) -Birds excrement system

8 cm Medium Cells: - Ranges from 10 - 25 centimeters - Shelter for smaller birds such as Bulbuls, Sparrows and Blackbirds

32 cm Big Cells: -Ranges from 25 - 30 centimeters -For bigger birds such as Jays, Doves, Pigeons and Blackbirds

146

147

PARANEST DIGITAL MODEL

148

FRONT

LEFT

ELEVATION

BACK

RIGHT

149

RAINWATER COLLECTING SYSTEM RAINWATER HAVESTING RAINWATER IS COLLECTED AT THE TOP. THE ANGLE OF THE CELLS ONLY ALLOWS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RAINWATER TO PENETRATE THROUGH THE STRUCTURE.

RAINWATER DISTRIBUTION RAINWATER PURIFICATION RAIWATER IS PURIFIED ALONG THE WAY BY FILTRATION SYSTEM TO PROVIDE BIRDS WITH CLEAN WATER.

RAINWATER ARRIVAL AT EACH CELL RAINWATER ARRIVES AT EACH CELL AFTER BEING PURIFIED. THE PIPES GO AROUND THE EDGES OF CELLSM USING MOTOR TO PUMP WATER GO AROUND.

RAINWATER OVERFLOW EXIT IN RAINY SEASONS, RAINWATER MAY EXCEED THE ACCEPTABLE LEVEL AND POSSIBLY CAUSE FLOODING AND MOISTURE DISRUPTION. OVERFLOW RAINWATER WILL DRAIN OUT THROUGH PIPES AT THE BOTTOM.

SECTION 150

CUT IN MIDDLE

GRAVELS

RAINWATER PIPES

COAL

RAINWATER PIPES RUN AROUND THE CELL EDGES, PURIFY RAINWATER ALONG THE WAY

SAND RAINWATER

PIPE SECTION

SAMPLE CELL

CLEAN WATER CONTAINER CLEAN RAINWATER ARRIVES IN A LITTLE CONTAINER ATTACHED TO EACH CELL. BIRDS USE THIS WATER TO DRINK OR SHOWER.

151

EXCREMENT COLLECTING SYSTEM

EXCREMENT COLLECTING EXCREMENT IS PRODUCED BY BIRDS IN EACH CELL RESULTING IN UNCOMFORTABLE ODOR AND HYGIENICAL ISSUE THAT AFFECTS LIVING CONDITION OF THE BIRDS.

EXCREMENT

COLLECTING EXCREMENT TECHNICALLY GATHERED AND COLLECTED AT EACH CELLS THROUGH THE PANELS

RAINWATER ARRIVAL AT EACH CELL EXCREMENT THEN TRANSFERRED DOWN TO STORAGE THROUGH PIPE SYSTEM THAT RUNS AT THE EDGE OF THE CELL, USING PUMP AND WATER TO ACTIVATE THE PROCESS.

EXCREMENT STORAGE EXCREMENT IS STORED IN THE CELLS AT THE BOTTOMS, THEN COLLECTED BY LOCAL FARMERS FOR PLANT FERTILIZER.

152

WATER FOR CLEANING

EXCREMENT PIPES

WATER VALVE

EXCREMENT IS TRANSFERRED TO STORAGE THROUGH PIPES RUN AROUND THE EDGE.

EXCREMENT MOTOR ENGINE

PIPE SECTION

CLEAN WATER CONTAINER CLEAN RAINWATER ARRIVES IN A LITTLE CONTAINER ATTACHED TO EACH CELL. BIRDS USE THIS WATER TO DRINK OR SHOWER.

153

CAMERA SYSTEMS FOR SURVEILLANCE

EXCREMENT COLLECTING CAMERAS ARE PLACED AT THE TIP OF EACH CELLS AND WHAT IS RECORDED WILL BE BROADCASTED TO LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICE, IN ORDER TO: -MONITOR BIRDS -RESEARCH STUDY ABOUT BIRDS SPECIES -EASILY TRACK POPULATION

154

BIRDS

AND

CONTROL

THEIR

CAMERAS LITTLE CAMERAS ARE PLACED TO RECORD AT EACH CELL.

155

C.2 TECTONIC ELEMENTS & PROTOTYPES

156

157

PROTOTYPES MATERIALS: -BLACK CARDS -LUAN PLYWOOD : PAINTED AND UNPAINTED JOINT SYSTEMS: SPLIT END JOINTS. UHU GLUE , DOUBLE SIDED TAPES

158

159

FABRICATION

160

161

T E M P L A T E L A Z E R - C U T T I N G 162

cut lines

etched lines

dash cut lines for folding

INTERNAL CAGES sample cells 1-15

labels for assembly dash cut lines to fold internal cutout etched lines to fold

tabs to form the cells

labels for assembly dash cut lines to fold tabs to connect to cages

EXTERNAL SKIN sample cells 1-11

163

FOLDING

18cm

21cm

INTERNAL CAGE

ATTACH 22 22cm 22

9cm 22cm

EXTERNAL SKIN

CELL ASSEMBLY 164

FINAL OUTCOME: EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL CAGE FORM AN INTERIOR SPACE TO HOLD THE BIRDS

HING

EXTERNAL SKIN AND INTERNAL CAGE ARE ATTACHED USING THE PREFABRICATED TABS WITH DOUBLE SISDED TAPE

COMPLETED CELL

165

JOINT SYSTEM - AESTHETICALLY GOOD - LOW STRUCTURAL STRENGTH

166

DOUBLE SIDED TAPE

BUILT-IN TABS

STAPLES

167

INTERNAL CAGE

JOINTS

EXTERNAL SKIN

CELL 2

CELL 89

CELL 1 CELL 77

ASSEMBLY DIAGRAM 168

CELL 19 CELL 32

CELL 40

CELL 20 CELL 37

CELL 92 CELL 16

CELL 84

CELL 72 CELL 53

CELL 5

CELL 63

169

FABRICATION PROCESS

170

I

totally agree fabrication is a effective method to understand the design. It was a long process to realize a design in 1:1 scale.

In fact we were actually building something that is ready to use.

In details, the process includes numerous steps and stages. After receiving the cut pieces from laser cutting, we had to fold them and form cells individually. Since the labels on each cell does not go in the order from smallest to biggest number, it was terrifying to connect the cells that are arranged randomly.

The tools we used are: double sided tapes and staple guns for connections. And the result turned out, it did not work so well since the cells were too huge and heavy for the tapes to hold everything together. It was out carelessness.

The prototype was made with cards (paper) and tapes were able to hold it. But the final model is in Polypropylene which is much harder to glue and fabricate.

171

FABRICATION PROCESS

F

oremost, I used the laser cutter for fabrication process as it was the most costeffective and efficient for the form that I was trying to create.

With the etching and cutting options available, the laser cutter enabled folding and facilitated my modeling process in overall.

Transforming my design from a 2-D layout to a 3-D object was the most challenging part of the process as I had to envision the cutting template, the folding lines, directions, and the feasibility of pasting / connecting before sending the job into the machine.

Moreover, I used polypropylene (white and transparent) to mimic the product as it is in the real world. Unlike card, which is flimsy, water-absorbent, and translucent, polypropylene is waterproof and structurally stable, which is ideal as a birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nest which may be exposed to extreme, external environmental conditions. Furthermore, the inner parts of the nest is opaque as a protective sun-shading device from all-directions, to maintain the optimal temperature for living and ensure the health of its inhabitants.

ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM - MIGHT LOOK BUNKY - STRONG STRUCTURAL STRENGTH

C.3 FINAL DETAIL MODEL SCALE 1:1

ELEVATION VIEWS SCALE 1:1

PHYSICAL MODEL Z O OSCALE M - 1:1 IN SCALE 1:1

DETAILS SCALE 1:1

PERSPECTIVES SCALE 1:1

ON SITE 1:1

ON SITE 1:1

INTERIOR 1:1

RENDERED PERSPECTIVES UT THI T.

RENDERED INTERIOR OF CELLS UT THI T.

192

193

C.4 LEARNING OUTCOMES OBJECTIVE 1

OPTIONEERING

During the process of design, I have been always attempting to relate my design back to the given brief. It was challenging honestly since it was hard for a beginner like me to control and manipulate Grasshopper in the way I want it to be. However, after “wandering” around Grasshopper and seeking for solutions, I had a chance to explore the programs by trying different commands and plug-ins. Gradually, I understood fundamental ideas of how and why designers need computational programs to help them diverge their brief and produce different possible outcomes to choose from. However, to select the right technique and develop it in the right track, I still had to struggle to “tape” myself with the brief and together be creative at the same time.

OBJECTIVE 2

DESIGN POSSIBILITIES

By dragging the sliders up and down in Grasshopper, I produced heaps of outcomes for fabrication. However, the pain of parametric design does not only exist in the computer, the outcomes have to be buildable. That turns the process into hardship to decide which one is buildable and which one is not. It was even worse when the best looking outcomes are impossible to construct in reality and I had to twist the script to satisfy fabrication requirement as well as the brief.

Nevertheless, that actually brought me closer to my design that I understood it in different phases and comprehend the process of making it.

194

OBJECTIVE 3

WORKING IN 3D SPACE

OBJECTIVE 5 PROPOSALS

It was a long journey for me throughout the semester to get familiar with Grasshopper bit by bit. It was terrible at first when I could not understand a thing about algorithmic commands. It was too scientific for me, to be honest. Gradually, the more I work with it, the more I understand its logic and know how to classify commands according to their usages. Within 3D space of digital design,I understood the connection between designs and science. Even though it is not comfortable at all to merge these two together, I have to admit it is totally a new method to me to approach design and explore my concept in a “fancy” way. It is time saving, effective and accurate. Especially using mouse to rotate objects is extremely intriguing, which saves much more time compare to hand drawings.

My proposal in part B was “half-baked”- according to my tutor. I realised it was a failure because I directly propose my imagination without testing or analysing them. There was not correlation or connection between the site and the design, in term of contours and linkages. It was a down side of parametric design since it easily takes us away from the design track and gives us something irrelevant and we can not really justify it. However, the proposal was my first attempt to solve the problem and respond to the brief. At least I tried. At least I realised it was not right. At least I learnt from it and I knew what to do for part C. That helps me understand more about architecture. Architecture lies between divergence to convergence.

OBJECTIVE 4 ARCHITECTURE AS PHYSICAL MODEL

OBJECTIVE 6&7

It was fun but seriously it was a nightmare making that huge 1:1 model. I started to realise how terrifying an architect’s life would be. It was not only about time, or our strength or the expense I spent on the model, it was my brain that got hurt since I had to construct a real thing.

It is 1:1 scale, it is not a model anymore. Mistakes were made during the process. The worst mistake is the joint systems we chose initially. I thought I was in modelling world that I used staple guns to build a real bird house.

At least, I learnt something from it. It took me to a higher level when its not about architecture anymore, but rather construction for my fabrication process.

At the beginning of the semester, I did not understand Grasshopper at all. I wrote my scripts byfollowing step by step shown in tutorial videos. It took hours and hours to do sectioning on a simple sphere. However, that process penetrate into my brain somehow and I realize, the more you do it, the more you will know what it is and how to use it. At this stage, I may not understand the components or real definitions of commands, but I know where and when to use it. And my goal for Grasshopper in the future is getting familiar with it, use it and lastly, understand it. Bringing something into practice is the best way of learning.

OBJECTIVE 8

UNDERSTANDING

PERSONAL REPERTOIRE

I am glad I am still alive after Studio Air. There were countless times I got stuck, I got frustrated, I got overwhelmed and exhausted. There were no other way to go but Grasshopper. I hated it so much since it was not ideal at all to learn a computational program in 3 months and design something with it. HoweverI realised, it is not necessary to have excellent Grasshopper skills to get along with parametric design. Even when you have a simple script but you understand it throughout the process, you know how to fabricate it, you know how to improve it, you know its functions and you can explain what you have done, then parametric design works!

Studio Air tested my understanding of architecture and my capability to suffer from it. And finally, at this stage, I overcome the test, learnt new skills, gained more experienced and especially, how to architecture involves everything else when computational tools come in.

195

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(3)Merri Moussavi, Growler, Farshid The and Friends Michael of Kubo, Merri eds Creek (2006),pg Newsletter,2012.

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