SELF-REFERENCE
Drawing Hands, 1948, M.C.Escher
Wang Meijie No.1239 Siping Road Shanghai, China tjwangmeijie@163.com +86 15821578770
Wang Meijie Architecture, Tongji University
Self-reference occurs in natural or formal languages when a sentence, idea or formula refers to itself. The reference may be expressed either directly —through some intermediate sentence or formula—or by means of some encoding. In mathematics and computability theory, self-reference is the key concept in proving limitations of many systems. Godel's theorem uses it to show that no formal consistent system of mathematics can ever contain all possible mathematics truths, because it can't prove some truths about its own structure. It enlightens me to re-examine architecture as a discipline which continuously look for autonomy within discipline.
In Escher's picture Drawing Hands, a left hand draws a right hand, while at the same time, right hand draws left hand. Once again, levels which ordinarily are seen as hierachical-that which draws, and that which is drawn-turn back on each other, creating a Tangled Hierarchy. Of course, since behind it all lurks the undrawn but drawing hand of M.C.Escher, creator of both left hand and right hand. Escher is out of the two-hand space and at the top of the Tangled Hierarchies.
Claude Nicolas Ledoux is regarded as the first architect who explored the concept of autonomy in architcture history. However, as Godel's Incompleteness Theorem indicates, the completeness and consistency of formal systems can not be proved in the system itself. Exploration of architecture autonomy is within the same hierarchy of formal system and it is impossible to see the limitation of the system without jumping out of the formal system, which resembles left hand and right hand in the picture Drawing Hands. As an architect, instead of confining myself in the exploration of architectural formal system, I prefer to studying from various interdisciplinary, metaphysical Resources, through speculation, extracting the concept, selecting appropriate new medium, appropriate physical operation of this medium to derive new results. And architecture is one of the mediums. This portfolio selects five representative works, their final presented form is the result of achieving a metaphysical thinking. They are neither the purpose of operation nor the meaning of design.
· Ouroboros
The ouroboros is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent eating its own tail.
CONTENTS 01 INFINITE RELATIVITY
1
PERSPECTIVE GRID STUDY & IMPOSSIBLE STAIRS WELL DESIGN
02 'MEMENTO' TRANSLATION
'MEMENTO' MOVIE NARRATION STUDY & INDOOR OUTDOOR INTERSECTED TEA HOUSE DESIGN
03 TANGLED HIERARCHIES
SELF-REPRODUCTION LIVING PARADIGM DESIGN & RESIDENTIAL MARKET TANGLED COMPLEX DESIGN
7 13
04 INVERTED BABEL
23
05 SEMANTIC ILLUSION
28
BORGES PARONOMASIA STUDY & COMMUNITY LIBRARY DESIGN CONCEPTUAL INSTALLATION DESIGN
[ Infinite Relativity ] — Perspective Grid Study & Impossible Stairs Well Design Personal Work Fall 2017
Perspective Grid Study In House Of Stairs
C
a' S b'
C' ZENITH
S
O
V1
HORIZONTAL LINE
N
A C O
v'' v'
d'
N
NADIR
S
c'
HORIZONTAL LINE
d
HORIZONTAL LINE
N
NADIR B
HORIZONTAL LINE
HORIZONTAL LINE
V2
ZENITH
HORIZONTAL LINE
House Of Stairs, 1951, M.C.Escher
Perspective Grid In House Of Stairs
INFINITE HORIZONTAL LINE
Infinite House Of Stairs
NADIR
Concept Diagram
INFINITE
ISOMORPHISM
INFINITE
Transition
RECURSION
ISOMORPHISM
RECURSION
02
Infinite One-point Perspective 'Relativity' Convert 'Relativity' From Three-point Perspective To One-point Perspective
2.
1.
Outward Expansion
Three-Point Perspective
Convert
One-Point Perspective · One-Point Perspective 'Relativity'
· Relativity
Four completely different worlds form a unified whole with a connecting Penrose Stair.
Three completely different worlds form a unified whole.
ISOMORPHISM
Ascending Descending
Expand One-point Perspective Isomorphism To infinite 4.
3.
Popping Hierarchy
Ascending Route Within Hierarchy
Recursion
Infinite
RECURSION 03
Infinitely Ascending Canon
Infinitely Ascending Route Diagram
Infinitely Ascending Canon By Bach ¡ Infinitely Ascending One-Point Perspective 'Relativity' Resemble the form trick of Infinitely Ascending Canon in 'Musical Offering' by Bach, Infinite one-point perspective 'Relativity' achieves visual representation of infinitely ascending or infinitely descending, wandering further and further from its starting point, it suddenly is back.
04
Infinite Two-point Perspective 'Relativity' Two-point Perspective 'Relativity' 1.
2.
Two Point Perspective
Expand Two-point Perspective Isomorphism To infinite
ISOMORPHISM
3.
Ascending Descending ISOMORPHISM
4.
5.
RECURSION
Partial Enlarged Detail
05
Two-point Perspective Infinitely Ascending Canon
Infinity and contradictory space are two major themes of Escher's works. In the project of 'Infinite Relativity', I started from original drawing of 'Relativity', which expresses contradictory space, through a series of perspective grid operations, making 'relativity' infinite. I want to express my salute to Escher by conveying the significance of the two major themes in his works by means of Escherian operation. The effect of my final work is similar to Bach's work 'Infinitely Ascending Canon'.
06
[ 'Memento' Translation ] — 'Memento' Movie Narration Study & Indoor-Outdoor Intersected Tea House Design Tongji Core Studio (6 week personal work) Instructor: Weiyan Zhao Fall 2013 3rd Semester
07
‘Memento’ Narration Analysis
Fabula Versus Sujet In Memento
(Fabula / Story Order)
MOVIE START/ 1:45 STORY END 1:30
Cut to Other Timeline Color Sequences Black & White Sequences
1:15 1:00
MOVIE END
0:45 0:30 0:15 STORY START 0:00 0:00
TRANSITION BW TO COLOR 0:15
0:30
0:45
1:00
1:15
1:30
(Sujet / Plot Order)
'Memento' space translation
The movie 'Memento' directed by Christopher Nolan adopted unique narration method that positive sequence and flashback interweaving with each other and Finally converge on the turning point of the story. By this means viewer's perception of time is obscured. Inspired by the narration method, in the tea house design, I uniform indoor and outdoor space intertwined, and then organize streamline in indoor and outdoor interwoven topological grid. By this means, viewer's perception of indoor and outdoor is confused.
Concept Diagram
black and white
colored TURNING POINT
STORY START
STORY START
STORY END CONCRETE (INDOOR)
Nolan's Narration Method
Transition
black and white
TURNING
VOID (OUTDOOR)
Intersected Spatial Experience
POINT STORY END
colored
08
Concrete Void Intersected Map Generation 1.
2. VOID (OUTDOOR)
3.
VOID (OUTDOOR) 1
2
3
5
4
3
2
1
6
5
4
3
6
1
6
1
2
5
4
2
1
2
3
4
3
3
4
5
6
1
2
SHIFT LEFT
CONCRETE (INDOOR)
CONCRETE (INDOOR)
CONCRETE (INDOOR)
4
Intersected
5
6
SHIFT RIGHT
VOID (OUTDOOR)
4.
Testing Models
Corresponding
GENERATION
RESULT
Simplify
CONCRETE
VOID
Simplify
CONCRETE
LAYOUT
VOID
WALL
09
Indoor Outdoor Intersected Experience Analysis (1)
Space Joint Indoor Path OutdoorPath
10
Indoor Outdoor Intersected Experience Analysis (2)
Space Joint Indoor Path OutdoorPath
11
Isometric Drawing
Indoor-Outdoor Intersected Tea House Resemble the movie 'Memento' where audience's perception of time is obscured, in the tea house, viewer's indoor and outdoor space experience is confused, space perception throughout the tea house is extended. 12
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13
Grid System Study In Print Gallery Escher's Method
Tangled Drawing & Gallery
Fitting The Straight Squares Onto The Curved Grid
Grid System In Print Gallery
DRAWING
Exhibit DRAWING GALLERY GALLERY
Tangled Grid System Study Print Gallery, 1956, M.C.Escher
Print Gallery, 1956, M.C.Escher
Original Print Gallery Before Grid System Operation
Concept Diagram
GRID SYSTEM
DRAWING
GRID SYSTEM
GALLERY
TANGLED HIERARCHIES DRAWING
Transition
RESIDENCE
MARKET
TANGLED HIERARCHIES
GALLERY
14
Self-Reproduction Paradigm Grid System
Residential Units Grid System Study
Residential Units Grid System Transformation
Self-Reproduction Units Plan
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Self-Reproduction living paradigm design tries to set up a grid system where the living units are concatenation units,indicating prefabricated units in architecture. The first floor works as public space. Lift connects upstair and downstair for each unit. The second floor consists of livingrooms and bedrooms for four families. Living rooms share the same entering platform. Bedrooms share the same patio for ventilation and lighting. The third floor consists of dining rooms and private yards.
Master Plan 15
Self-Reproduction Living Paradigm (2nd Floor)
Living Room
Living Room
Shared Courtyard
Living Room
Living Room
Bedroom
Single Living Unit Consisted Of 4 Families
Bedroom
Shared Lighting Patio Bedroom Bedroom
16
Self-Reproduction Living Paradigm (3rd Floor)
Private Yard Private Yard
Private Yard Private Yard
Dining Room
Single Living Unit Consisted Of 4 Families
Dining Room
Dining Room
Dining Room
17
Site & Program Adaptive Grid System For Residential
Site Plan
Site Adaptive Grid System
Site adaptive grid system incorprates several grids into the plan at different angles that run parallel to the surrounding roads and river. This multiple grid system generates units with diverse individual forms and is intended to provide each residence with independence, privacy, and variety. To make the grid system adapt to residential program, internal patios are adopted to take in light and ventilation. The patios were adjusted to avoid conflicting sightlines between residences. Light passing through the patios projects various light patterns into the downstair market, creating a bright common area. The irregularly shaped yards are adjusted to different site relationship, providing residence a quiet place for returning home.
Overall Top View
The 3rd Floor Top View
1
2
3
4
Program Adaptive Grid System
1
2
3
The 2nd Floor Top View
4
5
6
7
The 1st Floor Top View
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
18
Tangled Hierarchies From Residential To Market 1. Tangled Hierarchies Operation
Residential Grid System Riverside Scenery
Lighting Patio Selection
Pillars Generation
Frontier Relationship
2. Crowd Aggregation Analysis
Booth Arrangement
TIME
HIGH MID LOW
18:00 16:00 14:00 12:00 10:00
RESERVATION BUYING WINDOW SHOPPING BARGAIN
8:00 6:00
Fish
Streetside Scenery
Crabs
AQUATIC PRODUCT 3.
Market Scenery
Shrimps
Chicken Beef
Pork
Mutton Beans Semi-Finished Nuts
MEAT PRODUCT
COOKED
Tea
Noodles
FOOD
Eggs
Fruits
Corn
Organic
FOOD TYPE
VEGETABLE
Public Square
Yards For Residential
19
Residential Market Tangled Complex STREET SIDE
RIVER SIDE
Physical Model 1:100 Yards For Residential
No.1 Yard Near Square—Transition
No.2 Yard Backward—Introversion
No.3 Yard Towards Street—Adduction
No.4 Yard Towards River—Openness 20
Residential Axonometric Drawing (2nd Floor)
Market Axonometric Drawing (1st Floor)
Shared Lighting Patio Shared Platform 21
Residential Axonometric Drawing (3rd Floor)
Market Axonometric Drawing (1st Floor)
Shared Lighting Patio Shared Platform
22
[ Inverted Babel ] — Borges Paronomasia Study & Community Library Design Tongji Core Studio (8 week personal work) Instructor: Xiaofeng Zhu Spring 2015 6th Semester
23
Borges Paronomasia Representation " The universe is composed of an indefinite and perhaps infinite number of hexagonal galleries, with vast air shafts between, surrounded by very low railings."
UNIVERSE " Man, the imperfect librarian, may be the product of chance or of malevolent demiurgi " " To perceive the distance between the divine and the human, ......."
" The library is a sphere whose exact center is any one of its hexagons and whose circumstance is inaccessible. " " There are five shelves for each of the hexagon's walls;......"
Jorge Luis Borges
" When it was proclaimed that the Library contained all books, the first impression was one of extravagant happiness. There was no personal or world problem whose eloquent solution did not exist in some hexagon. The universe was justified, the universe suddenly usurped the unlimited dimensions of hope."
Hexagon Unit
Concept Diagram
Invert HUMANIST PERSONALITY
UNIVERSE UNIFORMITY SEGREGATION
INTEGRATION
INTEGRATION
SEGREGATION
24
Invert From Integration To Segregation Operation Method To Segregate
Original Structure System
Dislodge Couryard
Truncate Pillars
Add Roof Truss System
Segregation Type Selection
1
2
3
4
5
6
1
2
3
4
5
6
Inverted Babel
Inverted Babel Deistic belief, infinity, uniformity are main characteristics of the library in Borges's story 'Babel library'. For Borges, book is lofty and library means the universe, while man is tiny when faced up with library. However, my imaginative library is opposite to Borges' Babel. It's humanistic and personal. To convey my speculativeness, in the project of community library design, Instead of directly designing a new building, I take advantage of remainng structure system of an integrated buiding, and invert integration to segregation, invert uniformity to personality.
D VE ER ES PR GS D OL ILDIN U B
T
E RE
ST
MAIN ENTRANCE
R
VE
RI
25
Invert From Uniformity To Personality
BOOK STORAGE
READING SPACE
REST AREA
Invert
1:50 Partial Perspective Model
UNIFORMITY
PERSONALITY
COURTYARD
26
Circulation
Courtyards
2F
1F
27
Axonometric Drawing
[ Semantic Illusion ] — Conceptual Installation Design Theory Course Project ( 2 week Group Work ) Contribution: Concept & Construction Collaborator: Li Zhenshen, Wei jiabin Fall 2014 5th Semester 28
Concept Conversion From Picture To Object
This is not a pillar ? ? ?
Perspective Plane Installation Location This Is Not A Pipe, Rene Magritte Describe
1
Mutual Contradiction
2 Corridor Streamline
Viewer's Position
Semantic Illusion Resemble the paradox of signified and signifier in Rene Magritte's drawing ' This is not a pipe', the installation seeks to create a phenomenon in which structure and space refer to each other but lead to paradoxes, enabling viewers to reflect on the relationship between structure and space.
WORD
IMAGE
3 Installation Position
Negate
Concept Diagram
Shape Describe
IMAGE
Mutual Contradiction
WORD
Mutual Contradiction
Transition
Negate PILLAR
Negate
corridor space
VISUAL ILLUSION
29
Principle And Effect
Visual Extension Effect
Exploded Axonometric Drawing
9:00
11:00
13:00
15:00
17:00
Optical Path Principle
BEARING STRUCTURE
SINGLE MEMBRANE
REFLECTION SPECULARITY
OPTICAL PATH
BEARING STRUCTURE
REFLECTION SPECULARITY
D
D
SINGLE MEMBRANE
C
C
B
B
A
A 200mm
200mm
400mm
Semantic Illusion Principle 1 Corridor Space
2 Emergent Pillar
3 This is not a pillar ?
4 Penetrating Sightline
30
Dragon, 1952, M.C.Escher
Jumping Out Of The System The dragon tries very hard to fight his two-dimensionality. He defies the twodimensionality of the paper on which he thinks he is drawn, by sticking his head through it; and yet all the while, we outside the drawing can see the pathetic futility of it all, for the dragon and the holes and the folds are all merely two-dimensional simulation of those concepts, and not a one of them is real. But the dragon can not step out of his two-dimensional space, and can not know it as we do. let me re-examine myself with this Escherian metaphor, If my body is the twodimensional paper, my mind is the dragon that strives to break away from its twodimensionality. Jumping out of the system, going beyond my body may never be possible, but I will not give up trying to explore the limits of my mind.