STUDIO AIR
2018, SEMESTER 1, Jack Mansfield- Hung YING KAI CHEN, 834103
A1| Design Futuring 1.1 Precedent 1 1.2 Precedent 2 1.3 Precedent 3
A2| Design Computation 2.1 Precedent 1 2.2 Precedent 2
A3| Composition/Generation 3.1 Precedent 1
A4| Consulsion A5| Learning Outcomes A6| Appendix
INTRODUCTION
My name is Ying Kai Chen. I am 20 years old and currently in my third year in the bachelor of environments. I have a Chinese background but was born in Australia and I’ve lived in Melbourne for my entire life. I am interested in the arts and I am found of drawing and painting both traditional and digital. I initially chose to study architecture,
Second year digital Design and Fabrication Project
when I was in high school as I had the desire to put my design skills to use by designing buildings and houses for the less fortunate and in essence making the world a better place for everybody.
Studio Earth
Digital Painting
A1|
Design Futuring
PRECEDENT 1 Buckminster Fuller’s Geodesic Dome
The geodesic dome is an example of bio-
This was to be achieved with the
mimicry in architecture resembling the
aim of granting more and more life
shape of a bubble. Made possible due to
support for everybody with less and
the advancements in new building tech-
less resources. Due to the use of
nologies and the introduction of new
triangulation, the optimal form of
materials.
strength retention, a high level of
Constructed out steel and
aluminium, the domes are “the stron-
strength is maintained without the
gest, lightest and most efficient means
need for pillars, thus maximizing
of enclosing a space known to man” [1]
internal space and conserving mate-
according to the American Institute of
rials. Fuller’s ideas have influenced
architects.
many over the years.
Buckminster’s dome was created to
Image Source: http://pacificdomes.com/frequencies/
achieve a goal called “Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Science”[2] which was his own attempt at solving the resource problem that humanity will inevitably face in the future.
1. History of Domes, Solardome Industries Limited, retrieved March 9 2018, http://www.solardome.co.uk/about-us/history-of-domes/ 2. About Fuller, Buckminster Fuller Insitute, retrieved March 9 2018, https://www.bfi.org/about-fuller/big-ideas/geodesic-domes
https://www.tripsavvy.com/montreal-biosphere-2391694
PRECEDENT 2 Rachel Armstrong’s Persephone: Living Architecture
While the geodesic dome embodies bio-
in order to establish a livable
mimicry in the modern world, project
non-terrestrial space as well as es-
Persephone envisions a potential future
tablish what a ‘sustainable’ life-
where humanity is building a spaceship
style maybe [1].
to inhabit the void taking on board the Fuller’s ideas of future design scienc-
Thus lessons of strength retention,
es.
conservation of materials and space maximization from Fuller’s domes
The size and nature of the site allows
would nevertheless be crucial. As
ships conditions help to depict a hypo-
such, the project attempts to pro-
thetical future Earth where we are put
vide solutions to the “Dialect of
under the resource constraints that is a
sustainment” [2] as the possibili-
result of global modern industrial pro-
ty of growing our own resources can
cesses.Using nature itself to birth and
help to mitigate the costs of mass
mould form into structure, the Perse-
resource extraction.
phone team works on designing and engineering a possible physical network of chemical exchanges
Image Source: https://www.dezeen.com/2014/05/25/movie-rachel-armstrong-living-architecture-project-persephone/
1. Black sky thinking, Rachel Armstrong, retrieved March 10 2018, http://www.blackskythinking.org/project-persephone.html 2. Dezeen and mini Frontiers, Ben Hobson, retrieved March 10 2018, http://www.dezeen.com/2014/05/25/movie-rachel-arstrong-living-architecture-project-persephone/
https://www.dezeen.com/2014/05/25/movie-rachel-armstrong-living-architecture-project-persephone/
PRECEDENT 3 Ant Farm’s Dolphin Embassy The Dolphin Embassy by Ant Farm was a
The building was quite a departure
project designed to help bridge the
from the ordinary for its time as it
gap between human and marine relations
was a semi aquatic mobile structure
particularly with Dolphins. Considered
constructed out of asbestos cement and
to be a
powered by solar panel and motor.
“vehicle of dreams” [1] it is
designed as a city built to “accommodate people with species amidst a healthy
The embassy was unfortunately never
atmosphere of debate and discussion
built due the scale of the project. The
between them”. “The idea is that it’s
project was however quite influential,
a floating city not bound by any nation-
albeit very ambitious, as it brought
al borders. People can come together to
about the idea of using building ar-
live in a different way and discuss im-
eas were two species can potnetially
portant issues of the day” [2].
conexsist on an equal footing, rather than merely as a zoo.
While the team
The primary reason why dolphins were
was ultimately unable to achieve their
used was due to their high intelligence,
goals, the project helped to further
being the second smartest creatures on
the fields of understanding dolphin
the planet after humans.
physiology. Image Source: https://www.dezeen.com/2015/10/07/workac-ant-farm-utopian-floating-city-concept-chicago-architecture-bi-
1. Hidden Architecture, Ant Farm. Retrieved March 11 2018, http://www.hiddenarchitecture.net/2016/02/dolphin-embassy.html 2. WORKac and Ant Farm design a utopian floating city for humans and marine animals, Jenna Macknight. Retrieved March 11 2018, https://www.dezeen.com/2015/10/07/workac-ant-farm-utopian-floating-city-concept-chicago-architecture-biennial-2015/
http://www.hiddenarchitecture.net/2016/02/dolphin-embassy.html
A2|
Design Computation
PRECEDENT 1 Ai Build and Puddle Chair Ai build is a large scale autonomous 3D
While fully relying on the advent of
printing group that takes full advantage
new opportunities provided by the ro-
of the robotics and the benefits of gen-
botics and digital mechanisation does
erative design. The group aims to turn
the raise the concern of the poten-
factories in to intelligent machines that
tial death of creativity. Ai build
operate autonomously. Their robot named
is fully aware of these flaws, there-
the “AiMaker” utilises the “converts
fore during their design projects
digital files into physical products by
they collaborate with various design
extruding a wide range of thermoplastic
groups and firms.
materials”.By following a set program
The Puddle, is one such project
the robot is able to take full advantage
created through the collaboration
of being a machine which is that it will
between Ai Build and ZHD (Zaha Hadid
be able to perform the same task repeti-
Architects).Utilizing the human minds
tively without tiring and without making
of the architects and designs at ZHD,
“arithmetical mistakes” [2] that humans
coupled with the productive capabili-
are so prone to. As such Ai build aims
ties of the machinery and parametric
to intregate the full potential of ad-
modeling, the chair is designed and
vancing technology in this ever evolving
constructed through the symbiosis of
landscape of digital design and digital
human and machine [3], where knowl-
fabrication, thus paving the way for a
edge is shared and creativity is not
society where machine replaces manual
lost, while also in turn producing
labor.
the teams desired outcome.
Image Source: http://www.ai-build.com/puddlechair.html
Image Source: http://www.ai-build.com/puddlechair.html
1. Software Ai-Sync, Ai-Build. Retrieved March 12 2018, http://ai-build.com/technology.html#hardware 2. Kalay, Yehuda E: Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2004),p. 5-25. 3.Kalay, Yehuda E: Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2004),p. 5-25.
Image Source: http://www.ai-build.com/puddlechair.html
PRECEDENT 2 Penn Complex Phenonema Diverting from conventional methods of
The use of Algorithmics in the shap-
building, the structures created in
ing of tomorrow’s landscapes will be
these projects were made possible through
the contemporary counterpart to Frank
generative design. Exploring the poten-
Gehry’s Guggenheim in Bilbao which was
tial power of using digital computation,
heralded as part of the “transformation
complex and strange phenomena can be
of the modernist ethos” in architecture,
explored and investigated under a diverse
by the allowing building to take on more
set of levels. As such the nature of
Deleuzian and Rhizomatic form rather
these systems can be broken down and un-
than the Euclidean.As such computation
derstood in the application of practical
has infinitely expanded the possibilities
design in the real world by seeing how
of design,while developments in digital
“non-linear systems interact and operate
fabrication are making the realisation
within geometry in response to a set of
of these ideas a reality rather than
architectural criteria” [1]. Using com-
being conceptual.Similar to how “scale
putation to both recreate and understand
models helped architects experiment with
sophisticated patterns and create reason
alternate design solutions” [2] computa-
in what may seem to be unordered chaos.
tion design has allowed many architects to rapidly experiment with various design iterations and potentials.
Image Source: http://www.kokkugia.com/PENN-COMPLEX-PHENOMENA
Image Source: http://www.kokkugia.com/PENN-COMPLEX-PHENOMENA
1. Penn Complex Phenonema, Roland Snooks, Retrieved March 13 2018, http://www.kokkugia.com/PENN-COMPLEX-PHENOMENA 2. Penn Complex Phenonema, Roland Snooks, Retrieved March 13 2018, http://www.kokkugia.com/PENN-COMPLEX-PHENOMENA
Image Source: http://www.kokkugia.com/PENN-COMPLEX-PHENOMENA
A3|
Composition/Generation
PRECEDENT 1
In the Silk Pavillion, Neri Oxman com-
The pavillion shape and structure is
bines the ideas biological fabrication
ultimately dictacted by Oxman through
with digital utilises a natural way of
the hexagon forms created by digital
fabrication of a structure. As such
computation, the skin of the pavillion
Oxman is using the silkworm as liv-
produced by the living 3-D printer is
ing algorithm. The silkworm as its own
not. In essence the man made portions
program similar to a computer, however
of the of the design can be viewed as
like a computer you can control it to
being the begins of an algorthim while
an extent. But in the end, the worm is
the silkworms form the secondary half.
programmed to create silk under its own devices and form patterns to the way
The use of a biological form of com-
the creature is programmed to do. It is
putation and fabrication is somewhat
merely guided by the Oxman.This idea is
reminiscent of the work
similar to that of the symbiosis between
Armstong and her conceptual ideas of
humans and robotics. As humans we under-
Persephone. The utilisation of nature
stand how a silkworm creates its silk,
itself to birth building materials can
however the silkworm isn’t familiar
also fullfill the ideas of design futur-
with how the human mind envisions the
ing, where the planets natural resourc-
creation of a design [1].Therefore the
es can be used in a more sustianable
silkworm can also be seen as an allego-
matter, supporting both the lives of
ry to how modern day parametric design
humanity and creature alike.
by Rachel
Image Source: http://matter.media.mit.edu/environments/details/silk-pavillion 1.Kalay, Yehuda E: Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2004),p. 5-25.
Image Source: http://matter.media.mit.edu/environments/details/silk-pavillion
A4|
Conclusion The precedent research conducted in Part
However while digital design is becoming
A really helped to broaden my horizons on
more and more ubiquitous, their the symbi-
what is really possible in architectural
osis of human creativity and design compu-
design approaches. Not only did it rein-
tation is still important in the creation
force my understanding of societal issues
of future buildings and structures.Through
such as sustainability but also provid-
precedent studies I am also made aware of
ed me ways of designing for the future
the different possibilities of materiality
through the concepts provided by Fry,
in design and how it can help me utilise
Dune, Raby and Fuller.
materials in a unique
The advent of the digital age with intro-
Knowledge and understanding of design
duction and proliferation of algorith-
strategies and methodologies of past proj-
mic computation has allowed architects
ects will be pivotal in assisting me in my
and designers to both understand complex
design work on Merri Creek. Merri Creek
designs as well as the realisation of
provides a canvas for many design possi-
potentially being able to fabricate said
bilities that would allow me to experiment
designs.
and understand the techniques utilil-
way.
ised in my precedent studies. Through the analysis of the site, I will be able to understand the natural topography of the land and allowing me to better understand the contextual needs of the clients.
A5|
Learning Outcomes In the past two years I have been familiarised with the design process and the working with iterations in my design work, how ever I’ve never had any experience in using algorithmic programs such as grasshopper. Through the course content provided over the past 3 weeks , I am slowly gainly a better understanding of the use of parametric design methods as well as its importance in helping me come up with various design concepts. A better understanding of the processes that go in to how projects are designed through the analysis of iterations would help me in understanding how potential designs would work and how to ultimately fabricate and build my designs. As I slowly develop my skills and knowledge of using parametric design, I hope to use it through my studies and future work life.
A6|
Appendix
Wk1 Sketchbook Task 1
In the first task we to create a pseudo algorithm in rhino in order to model of a spiralling shell shape. The first thing I had done was to create to spiral lines in rhino which i then used the sweep rail command to loft the two spiral lines. I then simply repeated the same step again to fill in the gaps left from the first sweep rail.
Wk1 Sketchbook Task 2
2 Curvlinear 1 Rectalinear Lofted
3 Closed Curves Lofted
3 Curvlinear Lofted Rotated
2 Curvlinear 2 Rectalinear Lofted Rotated
In this task we were asked to create families and iterations using various line types with a combination of the loft and rotate commands. This resulted in the creating differring versions of the same algorithm which demonstrated the potential grasshopper has when creating different design solutions .
Wk1 Sketchbook Task 3
2D Triangulation The third task we had this week was to experiment with the creation of using triangulation tools in order to create 2-Dimensional drawings. Utilising the poplulate 2D tool with the combination of the Voronoi/ Delaunay component. The results achieved were very geometric triangular and Hexagonal grids.
Wk1 Sketchbook Task 4
3D Triangulation The next task was similar to the previous task, this task asked of us to experiment with the 3D Geometry tools. Exploring propulate 3D and Voronoi 3D I was able to create cuboid forms made out of smaler irregular portions, of which I deleted parts of it, to create a unique almost honey comb forms. I had also experimented with the OcTree and Populate Geography whhich create more uniform structure in the forms.
Image Source: https://www.lfwseq.org.au/ blue-banded-bee/
The Client This week we did research on the client,the Blue
Blue banded bees are solitary bees, unlike many
Banded bee is a kind of bee native to regions of
other kind of bees. The females build nests where
south east asia and Australia, they are the im-
they can lay their eggs. Females leave supplies of
portant to the well being of many crops due to the
pollen and nectar for their larva once they hatch
their unique method of pollination.
from their eggs during the spring. The Males
stay
outside the nest and sleep in nearby vegetation. The blue banded bee gets its name sake from
its
Adult bees fly during the warm months of the year
pattern of blue bands around its black abdomen.
(October till April) all adults die as the colder
Males and Females can be distinguished by the
weathers set in. The blue banded bee typical grows
amount of bands
to around 10mm -12mm.
they possess, with males possess-
ing five and females possess four [1]. These bees are attracted to violet and blue co-
In the wild the blue banded bee lives woodlands,
lours and favour flowers of with those colours such
forests and areas around the cities. In urban ar-
as lavender. The blue banded bee are one of the
eas the bees nest in mudbrick walls or in the soft
few native bees that are able to perform a parti-
earthen banks underneath houses. The blue
ulcar type of pollination known as “buzz pollina-
bee are very active forager and visit around 1200
tion”[2]. This involves the bee releasing pol-
flowers per day. They make at least nine foraging
len by grabbing onto a flower and vibrating their
flight per day with a range of 300m. The bees typi-
muscles to dislodge pollen. The method of polli-
cally forage in temperatures of 18°C and 40°C.
nation cannot be performed by honey bees and is mportant for 30% of Austrlian crops such as such as tomatoes, blueberries, cranberries, kiwi fruit,
banded
Image Source: https://haydensanimalfacts.com/2016/06/08/5-interesting-facts-about-blue-banded-bees/
1. Crew, B (2014, September 18) Blue-banded bee a native beauty. Retrieved 12, 2018. http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/creatura-blog/2014/09/blue-bandedbee-a-native-beauty 2. Salleh, A (2015, December 15) Australian blue-banded bee’s head-banging pollination technique captured in slow motion video. Retrieved March 12, 2018. http://www. abc.net.au/news/science/2015-12-15/australian-blue-banded-bee-is-a-head-banger/7019074
A2
Wk2 Sketchbook Eroded 1.
In week 2,
2.
our sketchbook task was
3.
The first solid primitive was the
3 was based on a closed surface
to experiment with the Morph and
“eroded� shape created from using
with a opening on top, I feel like
Box Morph components to create fam-
spheres and using boolean differ-
this iteration was the weakest,
ilies and iterations. After being
ence. This primitive was based on
since the primitive was based on
instroduced to the client we were
the female bees behaviour to favour
the idea of encouraging bees to
to create morphs based on solid
eroded sandstone to build their
borrow into the surface, while a
primitives created from character-
nest.
opening in the top will midigate
istics of the bee and its behaviour
Iteration 2 and 4 are based on a
this idea.
and nature.
walls and are relatively linear which can allow several bees to create burrows at a time whether that be straight down into the surface if horizotal or into the side of the wall if vertical.
4.
Wk2 Sketchbook Floral 1.
2.
3.
The Floral primitive was creat-
For this primitive, I felt like
ed through the use of a cone then
the wall iterations wouldn’t really
using the ArrayPolar command to
matter to the bee since the floral
array the cones in 360 degress. It
solid was to attract the bee. As
is based on the bees attraction to
such I felt like iteration 3 and 4
flowers. As such this primitive may-
would be more desirable with the
be worth further exploration when
openings.
potentially combined with research in to colour.
4.
Wk2 Sketchbook Bulbous 1.
2.
3.
The bulbous solid was based on the
The results of the box morphing in
segmented bodies of the bees bod-
this family was quiet surprising
ies. It was also meant to be a
as I didn’t expect the spherical
visual representation of the bees
forms
soft and relatively placid nature.
it did. As a result the iterations
to warp and elongate the way
created seemed to form a very stone and pebble like quality. I didnt think this iteration would be that successful in exploring the clients needs due this hard stone like appearence. Although iteration 4 does bare resemblance to a pot which can allow bees to use it as a burrow.
4.
Wk2 Sketchbook Tunnelling 1.
2.
3.
As explored in the previous iter-
Iteration 2 and 3 are based on the
ations, I had a heavy emphasis on
ideas of creating multiple nesting
exploring the burrowing capabili-
sites for the bees. With 2 be-
ties of the bee. This primitive is
ing concaved and 3 being convexed.
easily the most simple as it was
Iteration 4 was deffinetly the most
created by merely using the hol-
interesting concept as it possesses
lowed cylinder tool in Rhino.
the various sized holes which can allow the bees to used different holes or different purposes, such as smaller holes for larvae, larger holes for sleeping chambers etc.
4.
References About Fuller, Buckminster Fuller Insitute, retrieved March 9 2018, https://www.bfi.org/about-fuller/big-ideas/geodesic-domes Black sky thinking, Rachel Armstrong, retrieved March 10 2018, http://www.blackskythinking.org/project-persephone.html Crew, B (2014, September 18) Blue-banded bee a native beauty. Retrieved 12, 2018. http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/ blogs/creatura-blog/2014/09/blue-banded-bee-a-native-beauty Dezeen and mini Frontiers, Ben Hobson, retrieved March 10 2018, http://www.dezeen.com/2014/05/25/movie-rachel-arstrong-living-architecture-project-persephone/ Hidden Architecture, Ant Farm. Retrieved March 11 2018, http://www.hiddenarchitecture.net/2016/02/dolphin-embassy.html Salleh, A (2015, December 15) Australian blue-banded bee’s head-banging pollination technique captured in slow motion video. Retrieved March 12, 2018. http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2015-12-15/australian-blue-banded-bee-is-a-headbanger/7019074 Kalay, Yehuda E: Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2004),p. 5-25. Penn Complex Phenonema, Roland Snooks, Retrieved March 13 2018, http://www.kokkugia.com/PENN-COMPLEX-PHENOMENA Salleh, A (2015, December 15) Australian blue-banded bee’s head-banging pollination technique captured in slow motion video. Retrieved March 12, 2018. http://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2015-12-15/australian-blue-banded-bee-is-a-headbanger/7019074 Software Ai-Sync, Ai-Build. Retrieved March 12 2018, http://ai-build.com/technology.html#hardware WORKac and Ant Farm design a utopian floating city for humans and marine animals, Jenna Macknight. Retrieved
March 11
2018, https://www.dezeen.com/2015/10/07/workac-ant-farm-utopian-floating-city-concept-chicago-architecture-biennial-2015/