AIR
The University of Melbourne Architecture Design Studio: Air Yang Feng 737358 Semester 2 2016 Tutor: Caitlyn Parry Group: 7
CONTENTS INTRODUCTION A1. DESIGN FUTURE A2. DESIGN COMPUTATION A3. COMPOSITION/GENERATION A4. CONCLUSION A5. LEARNING OUTCOMES A6. APPENDIX BIBLIOGRAHY
INTRODUCTION My name is Yang Feng. I am in second year of Bachelor of Environments course, majoring in architecture, at the University of Melbourne. Before I came to Melbourne, I studied IGCSE and A-level course in London for four years. When I was at senior, I was ambitious on business studying. Since I casually read an architectural magazine, I have been keen on architecture study. However, I can’t choose architecture major because I did not study arts in A-level. Also I’m tired of mega city and British weather, so I decide to come to Australia. I really enjoy visiting national park in Australia. In fact, I like nature. That is why I choose nature environment course in my first year and design with plants in my second year. I always wish I could build a kind of communication between nature and human built environment. Therefore, designing in sustainability and new technique in design process become very interesting for me. I also took digital design in last semester. It is very similar to studio air. I’m really interested in how to build real project from the digital model to fabrication.
‘Sleeping Pod’ from last semester Digital design and fabrication
CONCEPTUALISATION
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A1. Design Future
Human have used up the planet’s resources on 8th of august and this day become overshoot day.1 Everyone should consider about our future life or what we can left for our next generation. Tony Fry gave an answer in the book’ design future. He emphasize that we have used too much energy and resource and done too much damage to our ecologic system for boosting the economy2. Also he mentioned that ‘dialectic of sustainment’ is another basic feature of being human. Therefore ‘design future’ is not only design of more sustainable modes for our life, but also design environment that could change people’s thinking2. To response this point, biologist Janine Benyus gives a good example ‘the generous city’. Although it seems very unrealistic from the picture, Dun, Anthony& Raby mentioned that we need
to begin to dream for develop new methods for today’s world3. The new city as shown in the picture will act like nature ecosystem. Citizens could storing and purifying enough water from native ecosystem, sequestering carbon, cleaning air and more. Building skins can breathe like a tree and city can clean water like wetland. It will be self-sufficient in food, water and energy and productive enough to give back to the rest of the biome. This will totally change people’ current life and building will have more functions than now. The whole city will function like nature and human will truly become part of nature4. Although, this city is not real, it is important to influence how people think about future. This design gives a radical think and is very optimistic. According to’ Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice’, it provides an alternative life style to current world2.
1. Press Association & Ryan O’Hare for Mailonie, Earth is now in overdraft for this year: We’ve used up the planet’s resources for 2016 in less than eight months, 8/8 2016 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3729127/Earth-overdraft-ve-used-planet-s-resources-year-EIGHTmonths.html [ accessed 10 august 2016] 2. Fry, Tony (2008). Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg), pp. 1–16 3. Dunne, Anthony & Raby, Fiona (2013) Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (MIT Press) pp. 1-9, 33-45 4. Luebkeman, Chris (2015) Special Issue: 2050: Designing Our Tomorrow ( Architecture Design), 85 (2015), 120121.
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nother good example for design future is house R128. Compared with the generous city, it is much closer to our life. House R128 was designed in 2000 by German architect and structural engineer, Werner Sobek. Sobek used this project to explain how his architectural practice extended a specialised focus on ultra-light facades and structures, sustainable and low-energy solution for our life and innovation with design.1 The most significant element of this build is that R128 has achieve three-dimensional transparency for the first time. The build is also built for personal lived in experiment. Therefore, Three-dimensional transparency provide a special experience of experiential and psychological attributes. After this architectural practice, the architect Christoph Ingenhoven applied this transparency attributes to large scale building such as European Investment Bank in Luxembourg (2007) and Lufthansa Aviation Centre in Frankfurt (2005)1. Furthermore, both lightweight construction and transparency of House R128 contribute to ecological design. Lightweight design means saving lots of material deployed and the amount of energy used so building light becomes a theoretical and ethical position. Transparency also means energy saving. R128 represent a great example for the building structure that could fulfil the simple demands to achieve a triple zero rating. Finally, more and more lightweight structure was built in recent few years, house R128 demonstrate that the logic of lightweight building is a radical principle for ecological design.1
1. Oxman, Rivika &Robert (2010) Special Issue: The New Structuralism: Design, Engineering and Architectural Technologies (architecture Design), 80 (2010), 24-33
A2. DESIGN COMPUTATION Computation, in its basic meaning, refer to the processing of information. In my views, design computation mainly focus upon architecture generation and analyzation from complex geometric and mathematic. According to article ‘Material Articulation’, a few complex geometry has found its physical expression in constructed architecture over hundreds of years.1 Due to development of digital technology, everyone has an equal opportunity to design complex form through the logic of the algorithm. Not only that but performance, morphogenesis tectonics, materialization and fabrication all get benefit from development of computation and digital software.
The Installation Number of Façade Panels Generated From the BIM Models of GALAXY SOHO Project
In case of the Galaxy Soho project by Zaha Hadid architects (ZHA), geometry of this project was developed initially from subdivision surface model and overlaid model in both Maya and Catia. Also, ZHA team built the developable surface definition directly into the parametric models that define shape of the building itself. 1To put this simply, they write a ‘programme’ or ‘formulation’ that could stand for the shape of building in existed software. By doing this, the range of building components could be built within this ‘programme’. As a results, they can change the shape of building by just few steps in order to achieve ideal outcome for project design. According to article’ constructability for fabrication and assembly can be tested and calculated by computation technique as well. For example, the geometric shape and number of façade panel of Galaxy SoHo were generated from BIM models. What is more, performance and cost can be also analysed in these software such as Revit and Ecotect
Another importance concept in computation is ‘digital manufacturing’. This means everyone may built everything from digital model directly to the fabrication though 3 D printer, robot and more another machinery. Reference to article’ Material Computation’ in AD journal, computation offers the possibility of integrating processes of manufacturing and fabrication in the design exploration.1 As Rivka Oxman and Robert Oxman also mentioned in their book, digital design information could be use in computer numerically controlled (CNC) machinery and digital materiality and performance could be integrated and have a potential for a future development by practicing ‘digital manufacturing’.2
1. Menges, Achim (2012) Special Issue: Material Computation: Higher Integration in Morphogenetic Design (architecture Design). 82(2012), 14-21 & 96-103 2. Oxman, Rivka and Robert Oxman, eds (2014). Theories of the Digital in Architecture (London; New York: Routledge), pp. 1–10 3. Universitat Stuttgart, ICD/ITKE Reseach Pavilion 2010,1 http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=4458 [ Accessed on 10/8/2016]
ICD/ITKE research Pavilion 2010 is a good example that could prove these points. Firstly, the innovative structure demonstrates the significant development in mater-oriented computational design. Bending-active structure made entirely of thin and elastically-bent plywood strips are finally outcome.3 Computation was used to process geometric form generation based on mater properties and informed directly by these properties. Therefore, the structure is totally based upon the elastic characteristic of material. Secondly, these strips shown on picture are treated as planar elements due to the result from structural analysis, 80 different strip patterns were constructed from more than 500 geometrically unique part that was directly manufactured by a 6-axis industrial robot. Finally, from designing to final fabrication, computation become indispensable parts in analysis, generation, and efficiency.
A3. COMPOSITION/GENERARecently, design method has shifted from composition to generation. In my opinion, one of reasons is development of concept for computation. In the past few years, architect was not just content with CAD or other drawing tools, which is computerization, but they were looking for the possibility about using the ability of processing and calculating from computer to complex order, form and structure through an understood model.
This is the computation. As Yehuda E Kalay said in book’ architecture’s new media’, computer lacks any creative abilities or intuition (at least for now. more AI robot like Alpha go are being invented. Future can’t be predicted).1 Therefore, architect begin to required algorithmic think in order to know how to use the strong processing abilities in those software like grasshopper.
Algorithmic thinking’ meaning is also explained as taking on an interpretive role to understand the results of generating code and knowing how to modify the code to explore new option and speculating on further design potentials in article ‘The Building of Algorithmic Thought’.2
Generative design can be easily seen in the work of the Specialist Modelling Group at Foster+Partners. One of the work is the knowledge centre as part of Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. The main feature of this centre is the large roof structure which cover the interior
and integrates with large range of energy-generating photovoltaic panels.2 The main structure of this roof was formed of curved Glulam beams and rationalisation of geometry was supported by SMG.
Another global company often use generative design is Skidmore, Owings& Merril (SOM). SOM used automated sear algorithms to achieve greater efficiency in design process. In the work of White Magonolia office tower, gradient-based search algorithms was used to identify the most efficient arrangement for a structure system for complex building shape.2 These types of algorithms operate on a design domain with fixed range of structural material that is distributed across the domain, like a special programme is written for a special project and used in certain case. However, computation and generative design are criticized by Neil spiller. The dominant focus on these new technologies will lose sight of human expression and poetics and humanity is subtracted from the architectural product.3
1. Kalay, Yehuda E. (2004). Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press), pp. 5-25 2. Menges, Achim (2012) Special Issue: Material Computation: Higher Integration in Morphogenetic Design (architecture Design). 82(2012), 22-27 & 48-55 3. Oxman, Rivika &Robert (2010) Special Issue: The New Structuralism: Design, Engineering and Architectural Technologies (architecture Design), 80 (2010), 130-134
A4. CONCLUSION The first part of studio introduce the current important digital design concept for architecture. The developing process of digital design are also represented in the lecture, from computerization to computation, from composition to generation. Design future gives us a direction for architectural studies. Sustainable design become very important approaches and consideration for future architecture. In order to achieve sustainability, Triple zero rating can be used as a guide for buildings. Computation provide a potential development for many aspect of architecture. For example, everyone could build their own house by themselves through ‘file to fabrication’. What is more, by reading’ essential mathematic for computation design’, I realise that mathematics plays an essential role for digital design and algorithmic thinking. Computation and design generation become an inevitable way to develop greater geometric form. However, if generative technology keep developing until the extremity, his concern do influence normal human’s
A5. LEARNING OUTCOMES By learning the newest concept in architecture and grasshopper, my mind has been changed. Many previews view for architecture become so different. Studio air has huge difference from earth and water, which introduce much more traditional and classical concept. In my experience, 3 sessions (A1. 2. 3.) are normally connected together. It is really difficult for me to understand each of them separately but I suddenly understood these theories after I combined them in week 3. Especially, some reading was very hard to understand at beginning of semester. Additionally, feel grasshopper practice helps understanding these theories as well. Generating a new form by computation or considering sustainability is good start to improve my previews design. Also possibility of material and fabrication in different way are another alternative.
A6. APPENDIX
BIBLIOGRAHY
Press Association & Ryan O’Hare for Mailonie, Earth is now in overdraft for this year: We’ve used up the planet’s resources for 2016 in less than eight months, 8/8 2016 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3729127/Earthoverdraft-ve-used-planet-s-resources-year-EIGHT-months.html [ accessed 10 august 2016] Fry, Tony (2008). Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg), pp. 1–16 Dunne, Anthony & Raby, Fiona (2013) Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (MIT Press) pp. 1-9, 33-45 Luebkeman, Chris (2015) Special Issue: 2050: Designing Our Tomorrow ( Architecture Design), 85 (2015), 120-121. Oxman, Rivika &Robert (2010) Special Issue: The New Structuralism: Design, Engineering and Architectural Technologies (architecture Design), 80 (2010), 24-33, 130-134 Menges, Achim (2012) Special Issue: Material Computation: Higher Integration in Morphogenetic Design (architecture Design). 82(2012), 14-21,96-103, 22-27, 48-55 Oxman, Rivka and Robert Oxman, eds (2014). Theories of the Digital in Architecture (London; New York: Routledge), pp. 1–10 Universitat Stuttgart, ICD/ITKE Reseach Pavilion 2010,http://icd. uni-stuttgart.de/?p=4458 [ Accessed on 10/8/2016] Kalay, Yehuda E. (2004). Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press), pp. 5-25
Image Resource http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/earth_ overshoot_day/ http://www.homedesignfind.com/green/clear-glass-house-is-triplezero-climate-friendly/ https://www.google.com.au/search?q=geometry+back+ground&espv=2&biw=1280&bih=551&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwivwOPF17_OAhWIrJQKHXkADoIQ_AUIBigB http://www.archdaily.com/287571/galaxy-soho-zaha-hadid-architects/508ee0a628ba0d7fea00000c-galaxy-soho-zaha-hadid-architects-photo http://network.normallab.com/portfolio/pavillion-2010 http://www.akt-uk.com/projects/masdar%20institute