Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
ARCHITECTURE STUDIO
AIR YANGYANG HE STUDIO 4
CONTENT
INTRODUCTION
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
I N TRODUCTION
1-3
P A RT A - CASE F O R I N N O V A T I O N A.1 A.2 A.3 A.4 A.5 A.6
ARCHITECTURE AS A DISCOURSE COMPUTATIONAL ARCHITECTURE PARAMATRIC MODELLING ALGORITHMIC EXPLORATIONS CONCLUSION LEARNING OUTCOMES
4-13 14-25 26-33 34-35 36 37
P A RT B - DESIG N A P P R O A C H B.1 B.2 B.3 B.4 B.5 B.6 B.7 B.8
DESIGN FOCUS CASE STUDY 1.0 CASE STUDY 2.0 TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT TECHNIQUE: PROTOTYPES TECHNIQUE PROPOSAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE AND OUTCOMES REFERENCE LIST
38-43 44-51 52-57 58-61 62-65 66-67 68-69 70-71
P A RT C - PROJE C T P R O P O S A L C.1 C.2 C.3 C.4
DESIGN CONCEPTS TECTONIC FEATURES FINAL MODEL LEARNING OBJECTIVE AND OUTCOMES
PART B
72-81 82-83 84-87 88-89
PART C
INTRO
INTRODUCTION
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
I am an international student which major in architecture in University of Melbourne. My hometown is a little city which called Guilin in the southwest of China. Because my father is an architect, I was growing up with seeing his work in my hometown. It is incredible when we were walking in the streets and he said the building on the opposite side is his design. And my dream during that time is being an architect like my father, and then I received a lot of drawing training from school which he said is the foundation of being a good architect. But I am planning to study urban design in the future since the work can contribute to more people live than a single building in my concern.
YANGYANG HE
I thought architecture is just about designing a beautiful building that satisfies the customer and me, but after 2 years of learning in the university, it is more complex than what I was thinking before. It is not only what Richard Meier¡¯s believe that it is “the mother of arts” which “connects the present with the past and the tangible with the intangible” but also...
“Achitecture is really about well-being. I think that people want to feel good in a space...On the one hand it’s about shelter, but it’s also about pleasure” by Zaha Hadid It is a language that communicates people and the environments. And I believe a good architecture design should contribute to the environments and people in a variety of perspective such as culture and social. And I will argue that even though digital design is not the only way to produce a nice result but it is necessary for architects since it can help them to express their idea which cannot simply draw by pen and paper.
PART B
1
PART C
Beacause of those previous drawing trainings, I rather do my design by hand drawing before leaning the digital design software. Sometimes it is quite hard for me to visualize my idea in the computer instead of just drawing it by pen and paper. But I know it is necessay to be familar with the comtempary design software if I want to get a job when I graduate.
hand drawing
University is the first time that I am getting touch with digital design. Since I took another subject which is Mapping Environments instead of Virtual Environments, the first design software that I am more familar is Sketchup which is easier to learn as a beginer of 3D modeling. And I usually use it as the tool of visualize the space and refining my design. While I was just knowing a little bit of Rhino from the workshop of Visual Communication which only require some simple stuffs.
practice of rendering
practice of knowing those tools
INTRODUCTION
2
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
But I also got some experiences in Sketchup
PART B
3
PART C
PART A
Richard Williams, 'Architecture and Visual Culture', in Exploring Visual Culture : Definitions, Concepts, Contexts, ed. by Matthew Rampley (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2005), pp. 102 - 116.
INTRODUCTION
4
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
1.ARCHITECTURE AS A DISCOURSE In the ancient time, architecture can be simply described as shelter which is for safety
usage. But as the development of human civilization, it becomes more than the material building itself but also a large range of other things (Richard, 2005, pp103). As the “most public of arts”, architecture, is not only about being beautiful and usable by people nowadays. It is a combination of art, symbolic realm as well as spatial experience (Richard, 2005, pp102).
“In other words, the discourse around them.” (Richard, 2005, pp102). In my opinion, architecture is rather than a simple art which can be done with freedom since it require the architects to consider not only about its visual appearance but also fulfil the clients, the environments, as well as its influence to the culture and urban contexts. It is not engineering as well since it is not only about design the building which can stand and use by the people. It is a discourse between the building and its cultural and natural environments. On one hand, architecture is design base on those requirements such as theory, urban context. On the other hand, it also effects the environments around it, for example, the reshaping of the physical context. In addition, it also influences the people in the context with its physical structure, visual appearance, as well as cultural representation. And the discourse is bidirectional. Moreover, I think architecture is about pleasure by considering those influences to the people as I mention before in the introduction. The approach can be diversified, but usually limit by the physical structure of the building. In order to break this limitation and creating new discourse around it, I will suggest computational design for the Gate Way Project that will be focus in this journal.
PART B
5
PART C
BEIJING 2050 PROPOSAL BY YANSONG MA
Fig A1.1 and Fig A1.2 http://www.i-mad.com/Uploads/ExhibitionsFile/ExhVideoImgFile//20111023/20111023165025_7500.jpg
Because of my background and future interests in urban reforming, Ma’s Beijing 2050 proposal is really impressed me with his “madness” of destruction and creation. The proposal includes three main parts which are accentuating green space in the People’s Park (Fig A1.3), expanding vertically with a floating island over the CBD building (Fig A1.4 and Fig A1.5), and updating traditional housing with futuristic bubble space(Fig A1.1 and Fig A1.2). When he starts thinking of this large proposal, the main idea is trying to serve the urban residents and solve the problems that Beijing is facing in the future. Unlike the futurism approach in Italy before the World War One which is about machinery, speed and movement (Marinetti, 1909), Ma is coming with his idea of improving the living conditions in the old context rather than totally reconstructing the whole environments for future. As said by Nico Saieh (2010), it is a kind of discourse that the architects communicate with the future instead of keep referring to the past, which “the past and the future can thus coexist in a finite, yet dream like world”. Even though the idea of floating island is mainly come from his famous proposal of rebuilding the World Trade Centre in New York which can concern as the past, his strategy is more likely to be considered as the future model.
INTRODUCTION
6
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
Fig A1.3 http://www.i-mad.com/Uploads/ExhibitionsFile/ExhVideoImgFile//20111023/20111023164948_4218.jpg
In general, all of these three aspects are promoting one main idea which is creating new space experience for the people with remembrance of the traditional culture. It can be seen from the updating traditional housing aspect that he is trying to create a mixture of traditional and modern with those bubbles sitting in the Hutong in Beijing. In addition, the floating island is also transforming the horizontal spreading urban space into a vertical space which may solve the problem of growing population in the urban area. Moreover, regarding to Richard (2005, pp108), architecture can also been seen as sign such as the Eiffel Tower. In this case, Ma is creating new symbol for Beijing which make discourse between the people and this proposal. In my opinion, even though this proposal cannot be built in the future, the idea of this proposal will also impact the urban planners and reformers to consider what Ma is thinking of. And the parametric design that use in this proposal is not only look beautiful or strange in others’ thoughts. It is a result of a systematic thinking and designing which may be the answer of future. And I think the idea that architecture or urban designing is a discourse of past and the future may help my design in this course. More importantly, I think using architecture to improve the current situation or the future problems of local urban context will also be the main parts of my approach to the Gate Way Project.
PART B
7
PART C
Fig A1.4 http://www.i-mad.com/Uploads/ExhibitionsFile/ExhVideoImgFile//20111023/20111023165038_7968.jpg
Fig A1.5 http://www.i-mad.com/Uploads/ExhibitionsFile/ExhVideoImgFile//20111023/20111023165052_2187.jpg
INTRODUCTION
8
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
F.T. Marinetti, “The Futurist Manifesto”, (1909) First published in Le Figaro on 20th February, 1909, Text Translation taken from James Joll, Three Intellectuals in Politics, (New York: Harper & Row, 1965). Nico Saieh, “Beijing Hutong Bubble/Mad”, http://www.archdaily.com/50931/beijing-hutong-bubble-mad/, archdaily, 2010 Richard Williams, 'Architecture and Visual Culture', in Exploring Visual Culture : Definitions, Concepts, Contexts, ed. by Matthew Rampley (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2005), pp. 102 - 116. Yansong Ma, http://www.i-mad.com/
PART B
9
PART C
CASA DA MUSICA BY REM KOOLHAAS
Fig A1.6 EL Croquis 134/135, amoma Rem Koolhaas
Rem Koolhaas who is the winner of Pritzker Prize, Cassa da Musica (Fig A1.7) is one that I like the most from his practices. The project is sitting in the Porto which is the city of European culture in 2001. The starting point of this project is creating an odium which opens to the urban. In this perspective, Rem’s architecture is a discourse between the private to the public. He always tries to make communication from interior to exterior environment. In this building, he not only design the building itself but also a large square which surround the building to making living space for the public. Every angle of this design is referring to the surrounding local build environments. http://www.primaverasound.com/galeria/porto/plog-content/images/2012/ambiente--atmosphere/ambientecasa-da-m__sica-01-hugo-lima.jpgFrom the bird view (Fig A1.6), we can see the building itself is separate from the large context by its form and material. But when we further consider this project by looking at the influences on the environments, it creates a different life style and experiences for the residents. Since the site originally has a very high density of building which is lack of space for people meeting with each other and having recreational activities. The square provides the space for those usages and the opening on the ground floor is also connecting the private musical practice with the normal urban life together. Additionally, in terms of transportation, the site is centralizing people’s movement towards the building and creating conversation with themselves and the building. (Fig A1.8 & Fig A1.9)
INTRODUCTION
10
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
Fig A1.7http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Casamusicaexterior.jpg
According to Nicolai Ouroussoff (2005) in The New York Times, Casa da Musica is “A building whose intellectual ardor is matched by its sensual beauty.” And it is Rem’s exploration of the discourse between the building and the “messy social, psychological and economic realities outside the walls of the rationalist modern box”. From this point, we can also see the public is reflect to Casa da Musica in a larger context rather than the diamond like strange shape itself. Moreover, Richard’s point is also reviewed in this project as well, since it perfectly combine and reintroduce the approaches of art, symbol and spatial experiences through its shape, interior space as well as its urban space. From my point of view, the design is destructing the traditional grid building form set by Corbusier which transforming the box into something more comfortable for the visitors. And it also shows that form making in architecture is not just cube or rectangle, it is more about how to create unique experience and making contribution to the people. Again, this project is also under the agenda of offering pleasure to the people and the local environments in a different way from Ma’s proposal. But I think it is also helpful to the Gate Way Project since it provides me a different view to contact to the local environment in the design.
PART B
11
PART C
Fig A1.8 http://w-a.home.pl/official/all_files/userfiles/image/2008/portugalia/casa-da-musica-OMA-Koolhaas_big.jpg
Fig A1.9 http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3605/3370108927_e16b046d21_o.jpg
INTRODUCTION
12
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
Nicolai Ouroussoff, ‘Rem Koolhaas Learn Not to Overthink It’, (New York Times: April 10, 2005), http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/10/ arts/design/10ouro.html?scp=1&sq=casa%20da%20musica&st=cse Richard Williams, 'Architecture and Visual Culture', in Exploring Visual Culture : Definitions, Concepts, Contexts, ed. by Matthew Rampley (Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2005), pp. 102 - 116.
PART B
13
PART C
1.ARCHITECUTURE IN THE PAST
Fig A2.1 http://www.daringideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/ mistakes6gm0.jpg
Yehuda E. Kalay, Architecture’s New Media : Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2004), pp. 1 - 25
INTRODUCTION
14
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
2.
COMPUTATIONAL ARCHITECTURE
1.ARCHITECUTURE IN THE PAST
Architecture as a professional practice in contemporary world is very different from the time before the 1450s when the Italians evolutionally transformed the original building process into principles of architecture (Kalay, 2004, pp6). Designing in architectural practice was more likely based on construction experiences in the ancient time without any specific principles. It is highly limited to the builder’s knowledge and their life experiences. Different from those craft men like builders, architects were separate from the actual construction process after the renaissance period. They are more focusing the design itself rather than trying to solve the problems that engineer are more familiar with. The design process is change from design in site when construction is processing in the same time to having the design complete before construction. According to Kalay (2004, pp7), that “Buildings, prior the Renaissance, were constructed, not planned”. Therefore, in this kind of new design process, architects are planning and designing the building rather than constructing it. However, there are still many problems will appear to this method of design such as incorrect communication between the architects and the engineer as well as the builders which may have side-effect of the building design to the site environments. Even though architects are trying to communicate with the other professionals in each steps of the designing process though scale drawings and models, the results can be very different from the original design by the architect (Kalay, 2004, pp9).
PART B
15
PART C
2.THE TWO FACILITIES OF ARCHITECTURE
Secondly, there are two main facilities in architectural design process which are the analytical facility and the creative facility (Kalay, 2004, pp2). Both of them are equally important to a well resolution of the goals that an architect want to achieve. The analytical facility is associated with fixing problems that the design facing. For example, the topography and climate of the site is one of the major components that architects cannot change much because of variety of reasons such as building code and build budgets. In general, all this analytical data can be systematically evaluate if the designer has enough knowledge and time to deal with. But in real practice, sometimes it is impossible for architects to analysis all of those data without any error forever. On the other hand, human are the only animal in the world that can creatively design and think to solve problemes (Kalay, 2004, pp2). With critical and creative thinking, human can generate a large range of solutions to problems. An in architecture practice, the design may achieve different requirements and express the creativity of the designer in the same time. This kind of creativity should and can only be done by humans. A good resolution of an architectural project should combine systematic analysis as well as designers’ creation. Fig A2.2 Yehuda E. Kalay, Architecture’s New Media : Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2004), pp. 10
INTRODUCTION
16
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
3.COMPUTATIONAL ARCHITECTURE
In current world or even earlier in the modern history of architecture, the invention of computer is revolutionary not only affecting the design process and appearance but also influenced people’s world in almost every parts of their life. Computer can evaluate and store set data in the speed that human cannot achieve. In addition, it is hardly mistake if the program and human inputs are correctly since the process is straight forward. A metaphor of the difference between human thinking process and computer process can be a complex geometric comparing to one single line (Kalay, 2004, pp3). Which means the computer is the perfect tool that architects can use in terms of the analysis and evaluation of the design process with the combination of human creativities. In addition, computer is providing the easy and fast way for the architects to communicate with their partners and clients. For example, the 3d rendering picture of the design can communicate with the clients and the detail modeling is also useful for the constructors to understand how thing should be done in order to perform the way that architects wants to achieve. Moreover, architecture is still changing due to the rapid development of technology which is related to Patrik Schumancher’s parametricism New material and construction possibilities are developed that architects can design some impossible shape and nurb that cannot be constructing or even create by human’s pen and paper. The opportunities of well resolved design are open to more people. Computational architecture is more easily communicate with other professional as well since the program language is the same that engineer and builder can get the information directly from architects with the possibility to upgrade and refined the design during the design and construction process.
PART B
17
PART C
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM BILBO BY FRANK GEHRY
Fig A2.3 http://mk.christogenea.org/_files/ DEGENERATEARTANDCULTURE/15-Disney_Concert_Hall.jpg
Guggenheim Bilbao, as one of the most well-known practice by Frank Gehry, is “a radical affirmation of the spirit of our age”, said by Nicolai Ouroussoff (1997). The giant unsymmetrical building is sitting on the side of Nervion River in Bilbao, Spain which finished in 1997 and covering 24,000 square meters on the site. It is the one of the perfect example of the design revolution of computational architecture in the history. Even though, this kind of free-from architecture which has curve surface can be traced back to the Baroque period that architects started to think “beyond the Cartesian grid and established norms of beauty and proportion in architecture”, Guggenheim Bilbao is still one of those buildings that people will never expect during the 1990s. The Museum is famous of its distinctive titanium curve surface and the soaring glass atrium (Nicolai Ouroussoff, 1997). Both of these materials are developed by the technology improvement in science of the time, and more importantly, they are making reference to the cultural of the city which is shipbuilding. The construction and design are really similar to how people build and design ship. In addition, in order
INTRODUCTION
18
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
Fig A2.4 http://juanjosemonge.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/ guggenheim-2.jpg
to achieve this complex and smoothly form, the use of CAD/CAM technology and digital modeling are necessary (Cesar Caicoya, 1998). Even though the original design was done by sketches and models by Gehry, the real and practical design process was finished by computational design. From here, we can see the combination of the two facilities that I mention, which are analytical and creative facilities working in a harmony. The result is incredible, as the museum is not only surprising and attracting people to visit it but also influence and reflect the cultural and natural environments of the city as well which can be seen as discourse. Moreover, in regards to Kolarevic (2003, pp60), the building “will not stand there without the computational innovation in architecture design, not to mention generating a new era of Architecture.” And he also describe that the design process as well as the construction process is based on digital model as well as a physical scale model which means there is no construction drawings for Gehry’s projects. And this design process is saving a lot of time and money as well. In my opinion, this project is also suggesting that computational architecture is the spirit of this age which should and must be cooperate in the Gate Way Project. Additionally, it provides more opportunity for me and
PART B
19
PART C
Fig A2.5 http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JN855kqMkgU/THgqlQcrb6I/ AAAAAAAAABA/PnTngJkQRaU/s1600/2006_sketches_of_frank_
Fig A2.6 http://moreaedesign.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/model.jpg
INTRODUCTION
20
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
Nicolai Ouroussoff, ‘The Architect’s New Museum in Bilbao, Spain, Emerges as a Testament to One Man’s Optimism Amid a Landscape of Industrial Decay’, (New York Times: June 02, 1997), http://articles.latimes.com/1997-06-02/entertainment/ca-64765_1_gehryguggenheim-bilbao-krens Kolarevic, Branko, Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing (New York; London: Spon Press, 2003), pp. 3 - 28.
PART B
21
PART C
SOUTHERN CROSS STATION BY NICOLAS GRIMSHAW WE
Fig A2.8 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wik
Fig A2.7 David Lister, 2013, Studio Air 2013-lecture 04Performative Design
Southern Cross station, which is the major railway station in Victoria, is sitting at the edge of the Hoddle Grid of Melbourne city. Each time I walk pass by it will be impressed about its incredible structural performance and the wave-shape of this large project. There is no doubt that it is also a result of computational architecture. The vault roof is not simply to make the station looks different but in order to improve the performance which is the way to “extract diesel fumes from interstate trains, and steam from the occasional steam locomotive, without resorting to costly mechanical devices� (Fig A2.9) as said by Keith Brewis (2005). Instead of keep mentioning about the computational design process, Southern Cross Station is an example of the advantage of computational architecture in regards to the performance of the building. After decide the main concept of the building, Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners is using 3D-modeling and
INTRODUCTION
22
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
kipedia/commons/2/2a/Southern-cross-station-melbourne-morning.jpg
software to exam and refine the design before the construction. Almost every problem is considered and express in the design during the design process in computer software. Architects and engineers were working in computer and physical model for the best performance. The advantage of computational architectural is very obvious during this process, since it can be down by the architects himself without sending the design to the more professionals who may waste a lot of money and time for the project. Computational software was used in every steps of the building which made the structural really strong to support the heavy and beautiful roof (. Moreover, linking back this station to the Gate Way Project, I think there are some similar issue may appear such as the steam or gas created by the automobile under the structural complex or the effect to the local environments
PART B
23
PART C
Fig A2.9 David Lister, 2013, Studio Air 2013-lecture 04- Performative Design
Fig A2.10 http://c1038.r38.cf3.rackcdn.com/group1/building3380/media/4cb30d4292aa00.01795463.jpg
INTRODUCTION
24
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
The Age, “The roof transporting us to tomorrow”, (The Age: 2005), http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/The-roof-transporting-us-totomorrow/2005/03/24/1111525284371.html#top David Lister, 2013, Studio Air 2013-lecture 04- Performative Design (University of Melbourne: 2013)
PART B
25
PART C
Ipek Gursel, Dino ( 2012). CREATIVE DESGIN EXPLORATION BY PARAMETRIC GENERATIVE SYSTEM IN ARCHITECTURE, (jfa.arch.metu.edu.tr) pp 218-219 Woodbury, Robert (2010). Elements of Parametric Design (London: Routledge) pp. 7-48 Yeomans, J (1973). The Other Taj Mahal: What Happened to the Sydney Opera House, (Australia: Longman).
INTRODUCTION
26
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
3.PARAMETRIC MODELLING Parametric modelling is defined by Robert Woodbury (2010, pp11) in his article as computational designs generated thought mathematical algorithms. Even though the start point of parametric design can be traced back to the Sketchpad period or further to the architectural practices done by Antonio Gaudi, this new kind of style is accepted and be constructed in reality in the recent decade(Robert, 2010, pp11). From the perspective of the changing history of architectural design, each period has its own architectural style due to the cultural, political and scientific contexts of that time. In my opinion, parametric design should be the style of the future or it can also be described as the style of the contemporary world. Like the rise of modernism, the development of technology, the invention of new material and the important usage of computer, parametric design is developing and spreading all over the world just like the international style occupied in the post-war period. I have to say it is the time to change the design. When discussing parametric modelling, it is usually related to algorithm and complex outcome of it. Before all of those knowledge and technology is available to architects, the form is restricts by the material as well as the simple geometric mind of the architecture education. For example, the most famous architecture practice in Australia which is the Sydney Opera House by John Utzon has its problem of unify the optimal architecture form and the optimal structural design because lack of technology and knowledge during that time (Yeomans, 1973). Architects are very hard to modify and change their design once their drawings are all done when they facing the engineering problems. And in order to find the solution of this kind of problem, architects and engineer need to work corporately and it is quiet time and money consuming. (eg. It takes 16 years to construct the Sydney Opera House) However, parametric modelling can help architects and engineer to solve this problem in a more sufficient method, or even avoid the existence of this problem since the structural system is also considered during the design process of parametric modelling by architects which is done by computer and it will take less time for the builder or the engineer to find the perfect way to transfer this design into reality (Ipek Gursel, Dino , 2012, pp218).
PART B
27
PART C
GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE BY ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS
Fig A3.1 http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6XmCNFeK8Nc/UNxXmfqSgPI/ AAAAAAAAC-M/-JGFz7U-Yvg/s1600/Guangzhou+Opera+House+19.jpg
As described the Arch Daily(2011), the new Guangzhou Opera House which is sitting on the riverside of the Pearl River in the Zhujiang new town of Guangzhou is “like pebbles in a stream smoothed by erosion. “ The whole project is a combination of two components with the exoskeleton which cover the solid interior space. The design is using the analogy of the transformation of rocks in the river by erosion. In this project, Zaha and her partner Patrik Schumacher is obviously using the parametric design and modelling to express their idea and make discourse between the building and the city itself. As we know, rocks are not a geometric object that can simply defined as cube or some other geometries. With the idea of cooperating the building with the landscape or create new landscape by the building, the two main components of the Opera House is design like an extension of the dock and the bank. In the larger contexts, it also response to the other building in the area with its unique parametric design comparing to the other modernism style building as well as the large mass sitting on a low density area comparing to the high density of buildings in the surroundings. It is not hard to see the whole building is using parametric modelling since the most notable feature of the building is the triangular pattern which in the exoskeleton, the structural members, as well as the interior space.
INTRODUCTION
28
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
Fig A3.2 http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zi81S82lVbQ/Tb1-5bLr6jI/ AAAAAAAACS4/Ya6NVpjQH2U/s1600/opera%2Bhouse%2523.bmp
When we look back to the start stage of this design, the original concept is more smooth and evasive. But due to the construction problems in China, it is transforming into what we see today, two large buildings with 64 big surfaces and 47 corners (Nicolai Ouroussoff, 2011). The transformation is one of the typical transformations that happened in the Rhino which is transforming a nurb to polygonal mesh. And within the mesh, we can see that triangular shape that I mention before because when transforming the nurb to the mesh, triangle has the most advantages in the computer modelling as reliability, speed and clarity which is also features of parametric modelling. From the perspective of embryology, the triangle can be seen as the key gene combination that propagates to the whole project. Studying from the nature and using their natural pattern is related to parametric design as well. By using the basic unit, the expression is infinite like the biodiversity of the nature.
PART B
29
PART C
Fig A3.3 http://www.zaha-hadid.com/wp-content/files_mf/cache/th _65d1300db123ce22f6e2569fb36764f8_01062_ld_n12_higha4.jpg
Fig A3.3 http://www.zaha-hadid.com/wp-content/files_mf/cache/th_ 65d1300db123ce22f6e2569fb36764f8_01062_ld_n12_higha4.jpg
INTRODUCTION
30
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
Arch Daily, (2011), Guangzhou Opera Hous/ Zaha Hadid Architects, http://www.archdaily.com/115949/guangzhou-opera-house-zahahadid-architects/ Nicolai Ouroussoff, ‘Chinese Gem That Elevates Its Setting’, (New York Times: July 5, 2011), http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/arts/ design/guangzhou-opera-house-designed-by-zaha-hadid-review.html Zaha Hadid Architects, http://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/guangzhou-opera-house/
PART B
31
PART C
GALAXY SOHO BY ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS
Fig A3.4 http://www.huftonandcrow.com/images/uploads/ZH_Galaxy_Soho_013.jpg
Zaha’s another project in China is locating at the heart of the China, Beijing. Similar to the Guangzhou Opera House, the Galaxy SOHO is also an attractive project which is also parametric architecture from its continuous and floating terrace and the brup shape. The original idea is reflecting the local culture which is the Chinese court yard which can be seen from it plan that six single buildings forming a space in the middle. However, all those single components are not isolated; they are all connected by elevated bridges which makes them as a whole (Arch Daily, 2011). In order to transforming the original square Chinese court yard into this dynamic and curve shape complex, parametric design is really necessary for the architects to achieve this approach. On the other hand, the Galaxy SOHO is also using the parametric design to sectioning its floors which can be achieved in Grasshopper easily.
INTRODUCTION
32
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
Fig A3.5 http://www.architizer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/508ee0ab28ba0d7fe4000005_galaxy-soho-zaha-hadid-architects_ galaxy_soho_zha_12-10_5230.jpeg
Moreover, I can observe from the components lay out that embryology is also used in this project as well. The interior spaces are similar to the shape of animal cells under the microscope. If we see the building as a living object, those internal space created by parametric modeling will be the basic cells of the body. And the part that excites me the most is the urban environment that Galaxy SOHO created in the local context. It provides unique experience for the visitors that they cannot observe the whole architecture from any angle of it. They have to explore and feel the building by themselves. And I think that’s also relevant to the Gate Way Project which the design must provide unique experience for the user not only from its skin but also from the internal space.
PART B
33
PART C
A.4 ALGORITHMIC EXPLORATIONS
This is one of the simple practices that I did in grasshopper, which is transforming the square shape brep into the smoothly and natural shape. It is very easy for freshman to grasshopper like me. But what I want to emphasis through this exploration is that starting from the geometry which I familiar with can be used in the Gate Way Project. The outcome can be really natural curve shape that I want. In addition, the mesh that created by grasshopper can also edit to forming holes which can bring shadow to the interior. And the shadow is one of the most effective ways to create unique experience for the visitors. In addition, the mesh can be some patterns which come from the local environments as a symbol of the local area as well as the project. And after the other experiments of grasshopper, I am strongly believed that parametric design is the most effective and convenient way for the Gate Way Project.
INTRODUCTION
Fig A4.2
34
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
Fig A4.1
Fig A4.3
PART B
35
PART C
5. CONCLUSION
Fig A5.1 http://nomadicform.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/C.22181239_large.jpg
In conclusion, architecture in the contemporary and the future is more about the discourse between the building and social, cultural and environmental contexts around it. Architecture is not only the physical appearance such as the structure and material it used, it is about using those physical concepts to reshape and influence the local area. I will argue that using patterns and shapes which reflect the local cultural background will be the most effective way to design the Gate Way Project. And the design must provide unique experience to the users and visitors by offering them pleasure as Zaha said in the introduction. Moreover, parametric architecture will the most efficient way to achieve this agenda since it can transforming the basic concept into complex multiplex which will affect people socially, psychologically and physically. And it will save money and time for the constructors as well as the architects to realize this dream like architectural approach.
INTRODUCTION
36
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
6. LEARNING OUTCOME
Fig A6.1 http://www.ikuku.cn/wp-content/uploads/project/p50904/080612171627005.jpg
From the past few weeks, I understand that architecture is stepping toward a new style or new approach which is parametric architecture. Even though some of those approaches still have problems at the moment, but those problems are also the discourse from the architect to the environments which may create some interesting influences that the designer never expect. For me, learning grasshopper and rhino is the combination of love and hate. I am struggle with understanding those mathematical concepts of parametric architecture while I am really attracted by the natural and magic outcome it may give us. In addition, architecture as a discourse is also affecting my perspective of designing and architecture. Before reading and researching those parametric architectural projects, I cannot understand the reasons for having the nurb shape and complex structure. But at this moment, I believe that parametric modeling will help me through my architectural practices in a more efficient and interesting way. I think I will surprise by the result of the final design of this project. And I am developed and more familiar with parametric design through this course which will be very useful for my future career.
PART B
37
PART C
PART B
INTRODUCTION
38
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
1.DESIGN FOCUS Why Pattering In order to deeply discuss why patterning is highly related to the Gateway Project design, I have to define what is patterning in first place. In general, pattering is usually defined as something that is “strictly described and commonly available”. However, in terms of patterning in architectural field, it is more related to software architecture which is the tool that we choose to use in the project. There are three main reasons why we are choosing patterning as our main approach, which are:
1. Patterning is a simple and directed method of transferring an idea or emotion to the users. 2. One single pattern can be repeated in the general design which will reinforce the impression of this pattern 3. Pattern can be applied to any shape of the design and it is also fits within the natural flow of the architectural design From my own opinion, every architectural has its own patterning, even the classical architectural also has “ornaments” and “decorations” which is repeated in the same pattern follow by the classical architectural theory. However, in computational architecture, patterning can be the driven factor of the whole design. As we thinking one single pattern as zygote, the final design will be the mature body of a life. The process of designing is the growing and reproduction of the pattern. It is the natural way of designing in computational architecture as well as in the natural environments. It is hard to distinguish patterning from other aspects, such as geometry, tessellation. But in my understanding of patterning, it is more about making the discourse between the pattern and the architecture. In addition, patterning is the simplest elements of a complex object. By using computational software, it is possible to break down one complex object into small patterns or the other way around. The impression of repeating pattern in a systematic way is very impressive as well.
PART B
39
PART C
SOME EXAMPLES OF PATTERNING IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Fig Fo
Fig2.1 OMA - McCormick Tribune Campus Centre
Fig2.4 Herzog de Meuron - de Young Museum INTRODUCTION
40
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
g2.2 &2.3 oreign Office Architects - Spanish Pavilion
Fig 2.5 Aranda Lasch - The Morning Line PART B
41
PART C
LEARNING FROM THE EXAMPLES From the four different projects that shown in the previous pages, we can see that simple patterns can be generate a very complex form or faรงade which create interesting impression and effect to the visitors. It co-operates a large range of elements within the pattern itself. For example, from the McCormick Tribune Campus Centre, OMA is using a variety of small image as their patterns and parametrically placing them which offer the opportunity for the visitors to explore those small patterns by themselves. And from the de Young Museum, circle, which is one of the simplest geometry is using as the pattern of the faรงade. But what is interesting of this faรงade is that the architect is designing and placing those circles in a field which creates a sense of movement and dynamic to the viewer. And another thing that I pick up from those precedents of patterning is that they are all having beautiful light and shadow in the context. Even though the pattern may be simple as the de Young Museum, the patterns as a whole will produce a more strong effect.
INTRODUCTION
42
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
PART B
43
PART C
INTRODUCTION
44
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
2.CASE STUDY 1.0 PRECEDENT PROJECT: Foreign Office Architects - Spanish Pavilion
For case study 1.0, our group is choosing the Spanish Pavilion as the precedent project. It is design by Foreign Architect to represent the Spain in the Universal Expo in Japan in 2005. The whole project is really impressive by its colourful façade with the orthogonal grid. The pattern here is simple but it express the idea of representing Spain by its material as well as its colour. The ceramic façade is a combination of traditional technics of Spain and Japan. And the red and yellow colours represent the colour of Spain’s national flag. The façade is also design to be different even though they are repeating the same pattern in a way that some of those facades have holes in the orthogonal grid and the other didn’t since the sustainability of sunlight and ventilation of the building is another important concept of this project. Those facades are also creating interesting light and shadow through this systematic design of patterns.
PART B
45
PART C
The original pattern and definition of the Spanish Pavilion
Starting from the precedent definition of the Spanish Pavilion, we divided the exploration into four different parts, which are grid shape, image sampling, and field controlling as well as extruding the pattern. This approach is starting from simple 2 dimensional testing to 3 dimensional. As I mention before, it is the process that generate the design from transforming the basic pattern.
INTRODUCTION
46
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
EXPLORATION 1: GRID SHAPE
In the grid shape testing, I am changing the original orthogonal shape into rectangular grid. And I am testing the appearance of the pattern by changing the parameter of the rectangle. The results is very dynamic but in a mathematical way, the most interesting parts that I think is shifting all corner of the basic rectangle in random numbers which is the purple series of patterns.
PART B
47
PART C
EXPLORATION 2 : IMAGE SAMPLING The most interesting part of this exploration that I found is this image sampling. While remaining the original grid, the image that reference to the gird is changed by us. This exploration indicates that pattern is not only the small cell but it also can be a large image created by those cells. It offers us the opportunities to represent cultural or natural background of the site.
INTRODUCTION
48
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
EXPLORATION 3: FIELD CONTROLLING
The field controlling part is creating charging points over the original grid which can create movement effect by the force and scale of the cells. I am quite happy with the results that cells are growing from small to big ones which are also related to the de Young Museum. It will be an effective way of producing unique experience if this field can create interesting shadow by the patterns.
PART B
49
PART C
EXPLORATION 3: FIELD CONTROLLING EXPLORATION 4: EXTRUDING THE PATTERN Extruding the pattern into 3 dimensional objects is really creating something that we did not expect before since the angle of the extrusion can be different. We are extruding the some of the patterns first then applying to all of them with different length and dimensions. But when we observe them in 2d , it is very different from what we think it should be.
INTRODUCTION
50
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
PART B
51
PART C
INTRODUCTION
52
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
3. CASE STUDY 2.0
REVERSE-ENGINEERING In the case study 2.0, we are going to reverse-engineering the precedent project which is the AU Office and Exhibition Space. The project is located in Shanghai, China in 2009-2010. The site is originally an abandoned warehouse of storing fabrics which is the reference of the material of the faรงade of the building. Using the traditional hollow concrete block as the basic pattern, the architect oriented and managed them by image sampling and parametric system. The image sample of the faรงade is the flowing texture of silk which refers to the traditional culture of the place and those blocks is also creating a transparent faรงade of the building which connects the interior space to the outer environment. In addition the visual appearance is very dynamic because of the orientation and light from the interior. The reason we think this project is really relevant to what we want to achieve is that it carries very strong cultural information with its faรงade orientation, material, shape as well as the image sampling. Additionally, the light and shadow created by the faรงade is also what we think will be the main theme of our Gateway Project design. By revers-engineering this project, it is possible for us to using the same method to generate our own design which will also create the discourse between our design and the cultural and environmental background of Wyndham.
PART B
53
PART C
54
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
REVERSE-ENGINEERING 1 Creating a flat surface for referencing in rhino 2 Divide the surface into columns and rows with a reference point in each cell 3 Create X & Y plane by the points from STEP 2 4 Rotate the X & Y planes by ‘Image sampling 4 Create the concrete blocks with the ‘center box’ tool
This image provided by the Archi Union Architects Inc shows how the silk texture is orienting the individual blocks of the façade. It indicates that they using the silk image to create force line of in the surface which creates field and the blocks are oriented by those lines in the X Y vector. Another point that this image shows is they also number all those blocks which is useful for the construction as well as changing the design in detail in the later process.
55
RESULTS OF THE REVERSE-ENGINEERING
INTRODUCTION
56
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES After the reverse enginering process, there are few similarities and differences between our results and the original project. The similarities are : 1. They are both using one single component which is a block and repeat them in a sonsistent patterned manner. 2. They are both monotone in colour which is different from the spanish pavilion 3. The brick blocks are both oriented though image sampling And the differences are: 1. The block is different as the oringial is hollow but our result is solid blcok 2. The installation components are not envolved in our results but the original one is a refine project which is built.
PART B
57
PART C
INTRODUCTION
58
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
4. TECHNIQUE:DEVELOPMENT From the case study 1.0 and 2.0’s exploration, our group start to generate our own version and exploration of our design. And we come up with the concept of combining patterns visual effect and shapes together to create sensorial experiences for the user of the Gateway Project.
In addition, we also have our proposition and thinking about why it is relevance to Wyndham city. Proposition: Creating a parametric structure over Princes Highway with patterning upon lightweight materials to create a strong and lasting visual impression built upon the contrast between shadow and light. Relevance: The City of Wyndham is a region experiencing rapid development and growth, our concept aims to use architecture that has been designed through advanced computational design technology to promote societal advancement. We gained inspiration from the nature of Wyndham, in particular the snake, which inspired us to research and explore the potential of computational designs and patterning. We were taken by snakes’ growth process especially in the way they shed their skin. The concept has been the basis of many of our explorations and corresponds to our design process in which we constantly experiments with different design approaches.
PART B
59
PART C
INTRODUCTION
60
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
PART B
61
PART C
INTRODUCTION
62
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
5. TECHNIQUE :PROTETYPE Our group didn’t do very much about the prototype at this stage, since we are still really not sure about which proposal we are going to use for our final design because it seems impossible to construct the complex structure of our final iteration. And tiffany just create one simple handmade model to text how the orientation of the sunlights may affects our design on site. And I have also done some simple model which is not really based on the digital model we have to test the light and shadow effects. The first one is the shadow texture test of a 2 dimensional pattern and the other two just exploring the may the shadow is if we over lapping different layer with each other and the panel connection as well.
Tiffny’s light testing
PART B
63
PART C
1
2
3
64
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
65
INTRODUCTION
66
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
6. TECHNIQUE PROPOSAL Our group didn’t do very much about the prototype at this stage, since we are still really not sure about which proposal we are going to use for our final design because it seems impossible to construct the complex structure of our final iteration. And tiffany just create one simple handmade model to text how the orientation of the sunlights may affects our design on site. And I have also done some simple model which is not really based on the digital model we have to test the light and shadow effects. The first one is the shadow texture test of a 2 dimensional pattern and the other two just exploring the may the shadow is if we over lapping different layer with each other and the panel connection as well.
PART B
67
PART C
INTRODUCTION
68
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
7. LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES After the mid semester presentation, there are a lot of things we should do to our project at the moment. Nevertheless, even though the exploration that we have for part B maybe not really good but it still helps our thinking and decision making in the later process. From those experiments, we start testing how we are going to produce a repeat pattern on a surface of a object, and the method of applying one prototype with image sampling. In addition, we also have some exploration of the future proposal as well as the experience that we want the visitor to have. Sometimes, I found it really hard for me to applying some of my idea which I can easily draw by pen and paper to the grasshopper, but it is quite interesting that during the process of finding the solution of my idea, there are numbers of other very interesting results that I did not expect before. Moreover, there are still a lot of work to add to our design, such as the final shape and pattern that we are going to use. However, I think it will be very easy since we can get help from those explorations that we did and skills we learn from part B.
PART B
69
PART C
INTRODUCTION
70
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
ARTICLES: Chang, Chih-Hung; Lu, Chih-Wei; Lin, Chih-Hao; Yang, Ming-Feng; Tsai, Ching-Fu (2008-06). "An Experience of Applying Pattern-based Software Framework to Improve the Quality of Software Development: 4. The Design and Implementation of OS2F". ournal of Software Engineering Studies, Vol. 2, No. 6. the Third Taiwan Conference on Software Engineering (TCSE07). pp. 185–194. U. Zdun, “Systematic Pattern Selection Using Pattern Language Grammars and Design Space Analysis,” to be published in Software: Practice and Experience, R.H. Horspool and A.J. Wellings, eds., John Wiley & Sons, 2007. SCHUMACHER, Patrik. Parametric Patterns. Published in: AD Architectural Design – Patterns of Architecture, Vol 79, No 6, November/December 2009. "Architectural Patterns: Definition". AAHN INFOTECH (INDIA) PVT. LTD. IMAGE AND WEBSITES http://c1038.r38.cf3.rackcdn.com/group1/building1315/media/owjg_4_mc_cormik_2.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_h3WH6iXKlzg/TPcFSLCYigI/AAAAAAAAApk/1XnF1HvwReQ/s1600/ deyoung.jpg http://wieesseinkoennte.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/10a_the_morning_line.jpg http://www.architecture.com/Images/RIBATrust/Awards/RIBAInternationalAwards/2005/ SpanishPavilion_530x371.jpg http://aahninfotech.com/arct_pattern.html And thanks for my group members sharing the image as well as the photos of our works.
PART B
71
PART C
PART C
INTRODUCTION
72
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
1.GATEWAY PROJECT DESIGN CONCEPTS C. 1.1 FEEDBACK &IMPROVEMENT Our group is focusing on two problems that were arisen from the midterm presentation. The first problem is the concept of our design is not very clear to our argument and the second problem is that we still do not have one final design which base on the site and can be constructed and made by model. These two problems are highly related to each other since the concepts are the start point which will drive our digital design decision. In order to find a solution of these problems, we were trying to going back to the beginning of our design process. Starting from the simplest geometry that we looked at before, we decided to use the techniques which we learn from the previous section and practices to change it into which we draw in the paper as our final design. In addition, we discussed and draw our different ideas about our design in paper first then choose the concept and approach that we think is related to the site then transfers it into rhino and grasshopper.
PART B
C. 1.2 SITE ANALYSIS The provided site was located at the interchange of the Princes Highway which is known as the Western Interchange. The whole site is divided into three different areas which Site A is about 50, 000 m2 as the largest area which is the land between the two freeways; Site B is measured about 22, 000 m2 which has the existing service station and the most activities except the freeway; then Site C is the smallest place which is only about 4000 m2. The whole site is very flat which means there is nothing will block the view from any perspectives. After our discussion, we decide to place our tunnel on the Princes Highway which is between site A and site B. There are three main reasons to make this decision. Firstly, it is the place where the most traffic is happening on the site since the freeway is going to the city from Wyndham and the service station also has a lot of activities which will provide the users for our project. Secondly, the placing the design on the freeway will also provide us the idea of “transition” which we think as one of our major concepts. And finally, as the project is a Gateway of Wyndham City, even though it is on highway that goes to the city instead of going the Wyndham City, it will also be very “advertising” because it is almost on the middle of the whole site which means the automobiles that go to Wyndham can also view this design as the land mark and have different path experiences from the people who go under it.
73
PART C
INTRODUCTION
74
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
light and shadow
transition
pattern
C. 1.3 CONCEPT AND PROCESS General As we decided before, our concepts of the Gateway Project are “light”, “transition” and “pattern”. Inspiring by the nature, we took the tree as our major source for our innovation. It is because tree can provide light and shadow by its branches and leaves and the leaves; the branches will become the structure and leaves will become the pattern of our design. In addition, the idea of “transition” will deliver by the seasonal change of the tree which will appear in different patterns on the structure and the whole form of the structure.
PART B
75
PART C
Form Our first intention to create the form was making a tunnel composed by overlapping cells which will create dynamic and transition effect to the visitors. And we decide to design the cells into arc shape which will give us the structure which can stand and construct on the site. The shape of our design is generated by Grasshopper. Firstly, we create numbers of curves and their charge points in order to create four different lofts from two different curves. The change of size and arches’ heights provides the sense of transition and dynamic.
Pattern The patterns of the installation are mainly related to the light and shadow which we want to create by our design. By using three different patterns, there will be three different shadow will happened in distinct area of our installation. The patterns are also reflecting the seasonal change idea as well. In winter, there are no leaves which results in our design as the clear structure while spring is the time when leaves start growing which appear as the few simplest triangles on the structure. In addition, the pattern of the summer is triangles with small flipping triangles which represent the leaves will open their stomas in hot weather then the patterns become hollow triangles which stand for the deciduous leaves in autumn.
the 3 different patterns
INTRODUCTION
76
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
Structure For the structure, we were thinking about using voronoi as the branches in the first place, but the result is not working for our physical model. Then we turned to waffle structure which is the most effective for displaying our dynamic form. We first extruded the surfaces one meter as the basic forms to cut the waffle. Then divide the breps into 8 X 8 waffles in winter, spring and autumn and 10 X 10 waffles in summer due to the sizes are different. Furthermore, in order to reinforce our main idea which is “transition�, we decided to place another set of the four season design to represent the life cycle of the tree.
create the waffles
PART B
77
PART C
The form fromation process
1 four 2D triangles
2 rise the curve to form surfaces
3 divide the su
INTRODUCTION
78
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
urface to form waffles
4 apply the pattern and create another set
PART B
79
PART C
INTRODUCTION
80
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
FINAL DIGITAL MODEL
PART B
81
PART C
2.GATEWAY PROJECT TECTONIC ELEMENTS
The material When we are considering the real construction of our installation, choosing the right material is the most important part. There are three major properties that the material should have which are the strength, appearance and the flexibility. For the strength, the material should be strong enough to support the whole structure. For the appearance, it is better to have the reflective surface in order to create nice effect from sunlight and artificial light but it should not be very reflective since it will disturb the driver’s view. And finally the flexibility is mainly for our bending structure and flipping patterns, the material’s ability to bend or moderate is very important in our design. After considering all these properties, we decided to choose two different materials to construct our installation in real life which are stainless steel and anodized titanium.
Joints In our proposal, the stainless steel of the structure cells will be formed in pieces and welded on the site to make our shape and the anodized titanium pattern panels will be bolted in the grid frame which is stainless steel. This joint decision is made because it is how we construct our physical model and we think it can be also work in the real life since our material choice is strong enough
INTRODUCTION
82
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
STAINLESS STEEL The stainless steel is a very hard and strong material which can be the structure by itself. It also has less ability to transfer heat and electricity because of the pureness. In addition, stainless steel has a high ductile strength which means it can be bend and reform easily for our arc waffles structure. Moreover, it is also highly resistant to corrosion and it will retain the strength and resistivity under high temperature or oxidation. The appearance is low reflective with golden variation as in our design.
ANODIZED TITANIUM As a very expensive material, the anodized titanium will be used as our patterns. It has excellent corrosion resistance in the air and lowest thermal expansion which is half of the stainless steel. And it also has the high strength which maintains its form while its flexibility will provide us the flipping pattern and hollow cutting. Moreover, it is warranted for on hundred years against through-wall corrosion which means there will be no maintains fee once the pattern panels are connected to the structure. Furthermore, the appearance is the same as the stainless steel which will combine both parts as a whole in their colour.
PART B
83
PART C
2.GATEWAY PROJECT FINAL MODEL
At the beginning, we are trying to use cardboard as the material for our physical model, we divided the waffles in different parts and tried to construct the model by join them together. Unfortunately, the laser cut model cannot join perfectly because the material is not strong enough to support by itself. And it is too late to laser cut them in plywood which may be the other choice that we can have at that moment.Then we decided to make the physical model in brass because it could imitates the property of the real life materials which is stainless steel and anodized titanium and the appearance will be the same as our design.
INTRODUCTION
84
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
The choice of material has both pros and cons in fact. On the positive side, it has the similar properties and appearance of our proposal installation and it is very strong to stand and support by itself which will not result as same as the failing cardboard laser cuts for our structure members. And the junctions of the model will be the same techniques that we are going to use in the real life. On the other hand, the model has to be made by hand which means it will be not very accurate as the laser cut model or 3d print model which means it is not very good for the patterns since it’s really hard to cut the hollow and flipping pattern out of this material.
The process of construction this brass model was start with constructing the structural members out of curves and welds them together to form the base shape which is exactly as same as our digital model process. After the frame is finished, the patterns were cut in three different shapes as we design and welded on the frame. Before we place the model on the site plane, we have also done experiments of material of the model in extreme conditions, such as fire, rain and snow. Even though our model is made out of hand and not very precise to our digital model, the appearance and the light and shadow effect is same as our design and what we want to show to the crits. And making the physical model and the site model in consistently manner is also creating unique effect which makes our model very different from others.
PART B
85
PART C
INTRODUCTION
86
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
FINAL MODEL
PART B
87
PART C
3.LEARNING OBJECTIVE AND OUTCOME After the final presentation, there were many problems raised by the guest and tutors of our final proposal. The major question is about our material choice which is titanium for the whole structure before, which they think is very expensive and soft which cannot be constructed in real life. In response to this, we decide to change it into two different material as mention before which solve the problem and remain some of our original idea. In addition, the discourse of our design to the site and the Wyndham City is not very clear as well, since it can be place on any of the earth. It is quite hard to fix this problem or we should change the whole design in order to make it more related to Wyndham City. But what I am thinking is there are many designs in the world which can be seen highly relate to some its location obviously but my argument for our design is creating something that not really relevant to the place will make it more interesting. In addition, there is no such a symbol or specific element that can stands for Wyndham, so why we do not create this new landmark out of nothing to be the symbol of Wyndham. Moreover, I think our design is very attractive and beautiful which will enhance the area environment and improve the citizen’s well-being. For the learning of myself, I found it is very interesting and suffering for the whole course. At the beginning I was totally not familiar with any of the computation or parametric design. It is hard to learn something out of nothing but it is also very helpful to create new pathway for my design in the future. But from the learning and designing process of this studio, I received more than I expected before. At the beginning, the discussion of discourse of architecture is teaching me that even modern or parametric design is also based on some classical principles but in different way. For our design process, it was fun to generate those different approaches through Grasshopper, but we lost our way in those many options. After the mid semester critic, we went back to the paper to work out our idea and design first and use the skills that we learnt from the practice to digitalize our design. Even though this is still the top down design process, but our group think this is working best with us. Since the software is not restricting our mind and design in this design process, and it is only the tool to help us refine and find the problems of our design. However, the problems of creating physical model out of digital model is one of the big problems that we had, which lead us to make our final model out of hand. In my opinion, it will be faster and easier if we have good digital model which can be laser cut or 3d print. And it also related to our team and time management skill. Our group work is really hard to combine since we are all not familiar with the software, so if someone has good results, the design is usually used as our design before the final design. And we were always behind everyone, since we were not doing enough things during the break which made us really hurry to produce our final design.
INTRODUCTION
88
PART A
Wydham City Gateway Project S t u d i o: Air
Architecture design is always not easy, it need time and hard work as well as researches. Even though computational design provides us the easier way to finalize our design, the idea is always on our mind. I think I will use the software creatively in the future with critical thinking and avoid the problems that we had during this semester. It will be better if I keep practicing and using the computational software. Learning never ends.
AND THANK YOU MY DEAR GROUP MATES AND TUTORS: TIFFANY AND FERNANDA! DANIEL AND KIRLLY!
PART B
89
PART C
THE END