Design Studio : Air Part A. Conceptualization Changhao Wang 300380
Introducation
This is Changhao, who currently is a bachelor student under the Departments of Architecture in University of Melbourne. If allows, I wish I would rather lie on the cosy sofa and watch television with popcorns all day. Unfortunately, it has never been realized. Oh…and I need to confess that, I am a combination of moderate procrastination and very slight OCD. But you know…nowadays in society…who don’t have a few sicknesses on them… In the field of design, I preferred to read some history and theoretical idea at the beginning, maybe I was obsessed with those fascinating historical stories. And for those idea, it is built gradually, piece by piece, step by step, accumulate from those historical events, which the process is exciting for me. Like other teenagers in same ages, I begin to wonder and confuse my own life. What is me? What is the purpose I serve during my life? What I come from? If I change my body to another one, who would I be, it is the same me or not me? These things bother me a lot. Perhaps I have too much spare time and less pressure compared with those who are already independent, hence think these messy questions. However, I do believe philosophic problem is the end of all subject and fields. We can say the purpose of a architect is not a real purpose of a architect because it always change, today we are dedicated to resolving problems, tomorrow we think the design is about new perspective to see things, then what is true design? If the purpose of building built for containing people comfortably, giving their a shelter then the architect should see demand as a purpose but why a bunch of people rush to contribute to “useless” designs? Is there a design utopia fincally? I would find the answer in the future, I believe.
3
Hobby Photograph
Previous Work
5
A.1. Design Futuring
No.1 Precedent
Wexner Center for the visual arts and fine arts library Location: Columbus, Ohio Year: 1983 – 1989 Area: 10033 square meter Client: The Ohio State University Program: Museum and Library Status: Built
7
Dunne & Raby 2013 said that the most of
architectural design is for the purpose of problem-solving, only think how to fix in function, even those who intend to design beautiful architecture, but no more other than solving aesthetic problem. However, Eisenman’s deign is not, as Eisenman himself considers, architecture is the realization of theoretical ideas which is a mixture of new perspectives that inspire thinking go freely.
Wexner Centre for the arts is an outcome under this notion. The architecture would only exist on paper until it is built by Eisenman. It can be seen that a large part of the design is set below the ground which is suitable for almost 60% of the art exhibition program. Hence, this constructs a generally raising landscape. Furthermore, sunken walkways are built to grade the rising as well as the falling level of the building. It may be shows randomness and isolation when viewing these design elements on foot. However, when they come under a bird eye, they become inseparable on visual as well as on physical. According to Eisenman when he talks about these architectural elements, he said he washed it could be read as “prehistoric artifacts” that “out of earth” or as the reference of the “burial mounds in India”. From this it can been understood that Eisenman contributes critically to escape his architecture from realm of theory into realm of practice and the architecture built by him, can be considered as a great experiment to realize these thoughts that only exist in mind.
It is no exaggeration to say the Eisenman’s design is controversial and confused at that time. It criticises that buildings are act as a single and solid as well as an ordered object that sitting in the space at that time. However, Eisenman rejects the approaches of these conventional building but emphasis that, a building should attempt to move beyond the present to a multiple and dynamic world. Hence, it would be no architecture similar with the one of Eisenman which looks like an amalgam of unfinished and broken-apart brick minaret with the disconnected steel set that cut through the middle of the building. The design of the library is closely related to the deconstructivism which begins at 1980s. However, not like other architects did, he not only showed the float free architecture, but also established the connection with the surroundings. This building wedges firmly between the adjoin auditorium and recital hall which stands at the edge of the campus. It fits into the landscape of the Ohio state university due to the design of main entrance. 11
A medieval- like faรงade is constructed at the main entrance. It constitutes of a number of tower observations, an indented ached gate, which is built by concrete with brick veneer and white painted on the edges of it as well as the openings. These towers at the entrance pay tribute to the armory in the historical times. However, they have been reconstructed with the architectural manifestation of the surface of the tower for showing aesthetics in modern ages.
The architecture composes grids and axis inside and outside with the company of a substantial grid structure at the middle of library which performs an axis of the campus. It is found that an effort is put into creating the difference between the axis of the city with the campus noting by 12.25 degrees. Eisenman considers it acts like a “compass of future” that represent “new north” affecting by continuous explore of new perspectives and revolutionary thoughts. Furthermore, the difference of grids between city and campus resulting from the difference of axis gives people a new pathway to explore as Eisenman said.
13
The extension of the Columbus street grid generates a new pedestrian path into the campus, a ramped east-west axis. The major circulation spine of this scheme, a double passageway – an asymptote extending from the central oval of the campus – wracks out of the ground and runs north-south. This passageway – one half glass-enclosed, the other half of which is enclosed in an open scaffolding plate is perpendicular to the east-west axis. The crossing of these two ‘found’ axis is not simply a route but an event, literally a ‘centre’ for the visual arts, a circulation route through which people just must pass on the way to and from other activities. Thus, a major part of the project is not a building itself, but a ‘non-building’. Scaffolding traditionally is the most impermanent part of a building. It is put up to build, repair or demolish buildings, but it never shelters. Thus, the primary symbolization of a visual arts centre, which is traditionally that of a shelter of art, is not figured in this case. For although this building shelters, it does not symbolize that function - Peter Eisenman
No.2 Precedent Wujin Office Location: Wujin District, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China Year: 2009 – 2012 Area: 27300 square meter Client: Wujin District Local Government Program: Mixed ( government office plus five star hotel ) Status: Built
15
The model building has been digitally stimulated for measuring the sun shadow resulting from the different position of the sun during four seasons. The architect tried to integrate the sustainable design onto the building. Hence, the shape of building is designed for minimising the sun affect by manipulation of the surface of the building in digital world. The faรงade can be varied along with the sun shading in order to optimise the most comfortable interior environment to those visitors and staffs. The digital way to analysis one building was less common in past times, but it opens the gate to the future.
17
It may be considered as a “normal� building that have less spotlights than others. However, the landscaping of the building may be worth discussing. The building is built in the middle of flat field without any other architectures nor other noticeable landmarks. It may emphasis the existence of this building as the undeniable seriousness of the government. Meanwhile, a moat is constructed surround by the building meters away with an artificial lake excavated besides for prompting the views from the building. The high-tec design, which emphasis the building itself instead of surroundings, shift the sight directly to the building.
19
A.2. Design Computation
“Parametricism is architecture’s answer to contemporary, computationally empowered civilisation…”
21
It is perceived that the present architectural style can take advantages of computational revolution which is based on computational analytics and optimisation techniques. Except this, all other tools may be considered as incapable of working as efficiency as it does.
23
“A process based on algorithmic thinking that enables the expression of parameters and rules that, together, de ne, encode and clarify the relationship between design intent and design response�
The computation design allows to modify elements of the building regardless of structural or non-structural. Furthermore, it can show the results simultaneously resulting from its design process, namely algorithm, which simplifies handling process into input, operating, output. This substantially free the architects from the situation that one detail is modified then the whole project would be redo again.
25
A.3. Computation/Generation
It is not a sudden change from old school composition to generation, but a general development along with the growth of technology. Parametricism analysed that algorithm was not born due to computers but have long exists since ancient times. It is more in composition way, such as use algorithm simply add geometry onto another geometry. It is all done with hand drawing on paper. However, nowadays technology allow us to see computer as a powerful tool with the favour of much more processing speed, able to produce more precise as well as complex design even to a surface on screen instead of simple subtraction or composition on paper in old times.
27
Nanjing Baoli Great Theatre
Location: Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China Program: Theatre ( Symphony, recital etc.) Status: Built
First time I was surprised when I actually saw this building, It shapes like a splendid spaceship that stays on the ground. Benefit from the computation technology, the surface of the architecture allows to be designed critically dynamically, especially the surface connection to the twin buildings which sits right behind the theatre.
29
Although this is an amazing architecture, the actual cost on construction may be substantially expensive due to the complexity of computation surface which may need extra effort and material to realize. 31
Swanston Square
Location: Melbourne, Victoria Program: 34-storey apartment tower Status: Built
Although I lived in this apartment, the knowledge of it is told by an Uber drive, who seems to be an architecture enthusiast. The design uses digital algorithm as a main tool to generate a face onto the surface of the building, whose belong to a settler of Melbourne City.
33
It is amazing to stick someone’s face onto the building nowadays. Furthermore, it may be a symbolic celebration that honour the history and also be a landmark for those victors to know the history of Melbourne.
However, because of the contribution of the face design, interior space arrangement has been compromised, it becomes small and unconfortable. The overheated bedrooms or sitting rooms without sunshine are various in the apartment of building. 35
A.4. Conslusion
It is surprising of the substantial technology development over past decades. It could say that the digital computation is not just a trend but a future of the architecture. The surface designing is substantial to explore the new perspectives as well as problem-solving at the present. It can easily build the past designs in old ages, moreover, it is capable of building the designs that cannot imaged in the past. Furthermore, the computation is not only helps the architect, but also the engineer, the more precision construction statics improve their efficiency as well.
A.5. Learning Outcome
After reviewing the precedents, I feel it is important to develop digital manipulation. Furthermore, the design is limitless, it includes lot of purposes such as problem-solving and exploring new perspectives. At the beginning of semester, I was doubt about using Grasshopper as I think it may not have such impact for a such plug-in. Then it proves me wrong. The digital computation gives me a whole new perspective to see the designs, it makes design as one component which can to modify freely on the hand. Furthermore, I feel computation offers more possibility to design.
A.6. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches
Week 01
During the first week, I explored the function of grasshopper for the first time. Though the input and output data with the specific algorithm, it can produce the models that surprise me.
Week 02
39
Reference Dunne, Anthony & Raby, Fiona (2013) Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (MIT Press) pp. 1-9, 33-45 Goldberger, Paul (1989) ARCHITECTURE VIEW; The Museum That Theory Built Retrieved fromhttps://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/05/arts/architecture-view-the-museum-that-theory-built.html Wiley
&
Sons
(2016)
Parametricism
2.0
(Wiley
Library
Express)
vol
86