Liu_Yingli_ 615491_Final

Studio Air

Yingli Liu |2015 Semester 1 | Tutorial 10 | Canhui Chen

INTRODUCTION Hi, this is me standing in front of my favourite architecture in China, Long Museum. My name is Yingli, with the zeal for architecture since I saw pictures of Casa MilĂ on a book ten years ago, now I am a third year undergraduate in the University of Melbourne studying architecture.

To me, architecture is a rational art form. Having experienced four architectural design studio in all, I found that art may be the beginning of the design but sometimes not the ending. I have taken virtual environments in my first year, and found rhino did expand the possibility of our design, which can generate things like a piece of art work. So I am looking forward to the project this semester.

This is my first time to use grasshopper and know the word parametric modelling. Having experienced its logic and flexibility, I am willing to use grasshopper to generate my design.

002 | INTRODUCTION

PAST WORK This is the final performance of our project in virtual environments. Our group design an inflatable system to protect personal space. After concept design, we spent the whole semester designing with Rhino, especially panelling tools. We used Rhino to generate flatten surface to cut the plastic. And I have learned a whole process and theories of design, which can be helpful to my further study.

003 | INTRODUCTION

Contents 008 | A.0. Design Futuring 012 | A.1. Design Computation 016 | A.2. Composition 020 | A.3. Conclution 021 |A.4. Learning Outcomes 022 | A.5. Algorithmic Sketches

PART A | CONCEPTUALISATION

A.0. DESIGN FUTURING Rokko Shidare Observatory Hiroshi Sambuichi

Located near the summit of Mount Rokko in Japan, the observatory covered with framed dome was designed by Japanese architect Hiroshi Sambuichi. As an eco-conscious architect, Sambuichi expresses the earth’s details through architecture 1 by making use of landscape and climate of the site. And the observatory that he aimed to create as a unique ‘energy-scape’2 is also the practice of his idea about earth and nature.

Different from his contemporaries in Tokyo, Sambuichi ‘consider[s] the details of earth’3 and his idea of making architecture is about achieving the balance between the architecture and the earth. Although there is an increasingly attention to sustainability currently, environmental affect is still in a relatively marginalized position while being considered in the design of lots of cases. So it is really rare that the consideration of the earth is set as a main purpose for whether residential or public buildings designed by Sambuichi. As the representative work of him, Rokko Shidare’s structure and form are the materialization of the climate, air, water, earth...each element on Mount Rokko.

“I pursue an architecture that breathes like an indigenous plant by mapping out all moving materials by various methods, mostly on site observations and experiments but also research of local history and culture and even by computational simulation.”4

006 | Design Futuring

In order to build the observatory following the idea of global concern and involving the whole environment of Rokko Mountain, Sambuichi did a painstaking investigations into site and local climate covering the whole year. Based on the celebration of results, wind and rain can be used to cool down the observatory and recycled, which becomes a whole system with the building. He also examined local culture reflecting on the design of the doom made from hinoki wood, a local material5, thereby the observatory gains deeper relation to local environment. Not only the extensive effort that Sambuichi put in study, but also the idea of achieving sustainability by making architecture be a part of local natural system, should be appreciated and applied in the future.

The structure of dome comprised of numerous hexagons enable wind to blow in and cool down the building, at the same time record the flow of natural elements on site. As shown in the figure 1, the structure can attract frost in the winter. Sambuichi created an interconnection between natural phenomenon and architecture, also generated a discourse to relationship between architecture and the earth, which expand the possibilities of involving nature in architectural design.

As a unique scenery on Rokko Mountain, Rokko Shidare have been served as a observatory for visitors and recorded the change of since 2010, continuing being part of the local system and showing the change of seasons.

FIG.1: FRAME OF DOME COVERED WITH FROST

‘Thinking about ‘earth’s details‘ is integral to my thinking about architecture.

Reading in minute detail a site’s topography, climate, and other environmental factors is among my most pleasurable activities as an architect’

Design Futuring | 007

KAIT Workshop Junya Ishigami

As the new generation of architects in Japan, Ishigami inherited the transparency and simplicity form his employee and teacher, Sejima, and also kept exploring and challenging the idea of constructing architecture.

KAIT Workshop, located in the campus of Kanagawa Institute of technology, is the representative work of Ishigami. And it is also the crystallization of his new definition and design approaches to architecture, in which building is seen as environment itself instead of a shelter blocking environment6 and explored through four concepts of natural phenomenon, cloud, forest, horizon and sky.

This one-level square project covered with glass from floor to ceiling and supported by 305 pillars which were set randomly is regarded as a ground-breaking work. This uncommon structure was questioned by some people about its practicability where various activities may interfere with each other. However, the arrangement of pillars is the based on the research of people’s movement and give a sense of walking in forest 7, by which Ishigami created a flexible connection between users and the building.

Ishigami examines the architecture ‘in another scale’8, in which architecture is built as the whole environment without boundaries divide them. So the workshop was conceived from the concepts of cloud, forest, horizon and sky, which expand the concept of architecture into the whole environment and enable it to be built in a greater number of scales 9 and provide a new approach to thinking and designing architecture in the future.

08 | Design Futuring

And in 2009, Ishigami won the 61st Architectural institute of Japan Prize, the top award in the field of architecture in Japan, for the design of KAIT Workshop, owing to his unprecedented idea that using ‘density’ to consider and realize the architecture 10. And the idea of ‘density‘ reflects Ishigami’s idea that ‘to conceive a building as if planning a forest‘11. So the design was free from grid, the pillars were set irregularly to alter the space and provide a flexible layout for students’ various activities. And this new approach to planning a buildings is appreciated.

The workshop reflects the idea of Ishigami not only in terms of planning and structure, but also aesthetics.

Taken architecture as environment, Ishigami made the building melt into the environment 12 . The open plan and the use of glass and white pillars give people the sense of transparency and make the whole building harmonize with the site. The building is design for student of Kanagawa Institute of technology to make projects as well as public usage. Owing to the pillars set irregularly, it can provided appropriate space for student to do different projects.

Both Rokko Shidare and KAIT Work generate a discourse of designers about architecture and its environment.

No matter Expanding the scale of architecture as large as environment or making building be a part of environmental system, these new design ideas provide a new sight of architecture in the future.

FIG.3: KAIT WORKSHOP

‘melt Architecture thus created will into the new environment

now emerging and, simultaneously, give form to a new environment.’

FIG.4: PILLARS INSIDE WORKSHOP

Design Futuring | 09

A.1. DESIGN COMPUTATION FIG.5: INSIDE VOUSSOIR CLOUD

Voussoir Cloud

IwamotoScott Architecture

010 | Design Computation

With the development of the digital in architecture, the technologies have had a progressive influence on the design process13 . Having experienced a design process mainly based on digital technologies, Voussoir Cloud, a material system comprised of thin wood laminates was displayed in SCIarch Galley, 2008.

The origin of the project is the vault shape formed by hanging chains modelled in Rhino. With this initial geometry and structure, designers started to explore the pattern on it. As shown in the figure 6, the final shape of petals were developed from triangular mesh step by step in software. So the analysis of basic vault and the process to get final shape of petal, which are ‘problem analysis’ and ‘solution synthesis’14 in design process separately, all depended on computation.

That is because digital software can show the change of each element directly and tend to get a accurate analysis result, and designer only need to type several commands to change that, which can make the analysis of complex geometry easier.

After getting the solution of petals’ shape, designers went back to evaluate the structure and material of laminates and connection. At the stage, the role of computation is more important, since it relates directly to the performance of the project. With various software can test its structure performance and material behaviour can be tested, whose results are relatively accurate. So computation can make each step of design process more simple and accurate.

Besides, the development of digital technology of have also challenged the traditional way of construction. Take the project as example, Rhino can make 2300 petals unfold and cut the shape accurately form construction15 , which is very efficient. So computation has enabled complex geometry to be built and expand the possible of the structure.

With the influence of computation on the whole process of designing, generation, modification and construction can benefit from the convenience brought by technology. In the long term, computation also can enrich the form and structure of project in future.

FIG.6: FABRICATION PROCESS

Design Computation | 011

FIG.7: CITY HALL, LONDON 012 | Design Computation

City Hall, London Foster + Partners

Located on the River Thames, city hall of London is one of the representative work of Foster + Partner.

Like his other works, the city hall has unusual bulbous and the characteristic of energy-efficient reflecting Foster’s idea of achieving sustainability.

In order to emphasize the special position and use of the building as a city hall, the building shows transparency. At that stage of design, designers have already got their own idea that they want to express in building, the important information gathered from site analysis and brief, and the basic form of the building has been settled; what they need to do is to find the best solution to satisfy the all the requirements and test them. And digital design especially parametric design played an irreplaceable role in this design step.

As shown in the figure below, the building is modelled in 3d, whose shape achieves optimum energy performance by maximising shading and minimising the surface area exposed to direct sunlight. This parametric design a logical rethink of architectural form15 . With the result of evaluation, designer can continue modifying the form or start to arrange space.

FIG.8: DEVELOPMENT ON SOFTWARE

FIG.9: FLATTEN PANELS OF CURVED SURFACE

According to Foster, the construction of doublecurved geometry was constrained by technologies.

With the evolution of digital design, the curved surfaces can be easily flatted and get the economical production of cladding and gazing elements16 , which shown in figure 9. So Foster’s sustainable architectural idea needs aid of computation to realize. So computation can be regarded as the next step after we get our architectural ideas.

Design Computation | 013

A.2. COMPOSITION / GENERATION

MoMA/ P.S.1 Urban Beach Tom Wiscombe

Located in PS1 Art Centre courtyard, New York, the P.S.1 Urban Beach is a project designed to provide various activities for people. This project is composed of two structural systems: the leisure landscape and the Cellular roof with complex geometry form which was designed, manufactured and installed within only two months17. As the outcome of digital fabrication, the design and the construction of the project is significantly different from traditional way, which reveals the change of computation’s role in architecture.

Shown in the picture below, the expanded aluminium skin cladding panel was generated using parabolic surfaces which generated by lofting straight line segments with parabolas or rotated line segments19. So the complex form and each components can be easily generated by software.

Meanwhile, its structure possibility and site response can be analysed by changing the parameters that put into parabola.

With different results, designer can made the design decision.

Different from the large firms like Forster + Partners who have their own modelling team, there is no separation between design intent and computational technique in this design team18 , where computation has been fully integrated in their practice. Computation is no longer an aided tooling for refining design outcome but main way to generate the project.

FIG.10: ROOF PANEL MODEL

014 | Composition / Generation

FIG.9: THE ROOF OF PROJECT

As shown in the picture 11, the panels can be unfolded in software. After being water-jet cut, they were ready for economical manufacture5, which is very efficient and enabled the work to complete within two months. Computation has played a most important role from generating form to generating construction units, which was almost impossible forty years ago without digital technology. The process of building the project is the epitome of the current situation of computation’s development in architecture. It can provide analysis and solution for design in terms of structure and environment efficiently, and enable complex geometry to be built in a short time. However, the conceptual design is missed in several projects similar to this, which start directly from exploring geometry. In this case, the project may only be the outcome of technology with newfangled appearance and rigid structure, instead of an integrated art form19.

FIG.11: UNFOLDED PANELS

Composition / Generation | 015

Metropol Parasol

J. MAYER H. Architects

FIG.12: OVERVIEW OF PROJECT IN MEDIEVAL CITY

Metropol Parasol, the world largest wooden structure, located in Seville, designed by J. MAYER H. Architects. Different from most pure digital design which is located in a limited space such as courtyard and gallery, and designed in a small scale, the Parasol is designed at urban scale and in medieval inner city. This special project with other digital projects in small scale can reveal development prospect and conceptual setting of digital design.

Like the Unban beach mentioned above, some project generated based on computation do not have a design concept. Different from traditional design process, they tend to start from exploring a geometry and generated a new composition. However, As stated by the architect, he was inspired by the vaults of Seville’s expansive cathedral, and tried to define a unique relationship between the historical and the contemporary city 20. Same as the approach of traditional architect, the designer set the concept best on historical aspect of the site. And that is the way to make the project harmonized with environment since they both express the similar idea.

This great work also show the future of digital design, it can generate a much greater structure than traditional way in urban scale. Therefore during the high-speed development of digital design it is also significant to hold the concept of design.

FIG.14: DETAIL OF WOODEN STRUCTURE 016 | Composition / Generation

FIG.13: 3D MODEL

Composition / Generation | 017

A.3. CONCLUSION As the start of the subject, ‘Design futuing‘ provided a new sight to looking into architecture, which is not merely the building itself but a discourse express the thinking of designers. When taken future into consideration, environment, nature and sustainability always the centre of the topic. By studying two precedents, a new idea about what is architecture and its relationship with environment can be gained.

With the new idea of architecture, design computation especially parametric modelling provides a way to transfer the idea into each step of design process, in which we can see the benefits of digital design.

The study of Forster’s work made me rethink the idea I gained, sustainability should be the direction we pursue in the future, which need to rely on digital technologies.

In the final part, the role of digital design is no longer a aided tool to realize the design idea, but can be the origin to generate design. By learning theories and researching the precedents. And it also look into the shortcoming of digital design, in which case concept design may be missed.

After going through Part A, I have a deep understanding of the development and potential of digital design. And I would like to use it to start the design with the concept inspired by site instead of just a geometry. And I think the digital technologies can benefit my design process and generate a more finished work.

018 | Conclusion

A.4. LEARNING OUTCOME Before I started to do week 1 tasks, I thought the content of lecture is very vogue and hard to understand, and the theories introduced in lecture may not be relevant to the design practice. But after examining the precedents, the ideas and design approach behind the work, I started to understand ‘design as a flow‘, ‘design a system‘, and the new idea generated under the background of future. The generation of the new idea about sustainability, gave the chance for the development of new technology. Digital design, computation and parametric design which I used to be unfamiliar with has become the significant part in study. Owing to the language, it is little bit harder to totally understand theory. But after I went through all the tasks and found the connections between them, I got ‘suddenly enlightened’. And analysis precedent can be really helpful to understand the theory, though it is such a pain to write it each week.

As for practice, grasshopper did surprise me. It is not very different to handle, on the contrary, it is like math and quite interesting. Following each week’s task, I can make the forms that seem very complex. And the some projects that are used as precedents are built from the lofting surface or mesh. I have tried to make the model of some interesting projects. And I am considering using grasshopper the rebuild and evaluate the model for Earth tutorial, which has many thin columns.

Learning Outcome | 019

A.5. SKETCH BOOK

Starting Curves

Contour Input multiple curves in sequence into LOFT battery and get curved surfece

Parametric connection within input and output, change the curves can get different surfaces

20

WEEK 1 Lofting ans Trangulation

020 | Conclusion

REFERENCE 1 Hashimoto, Jun. 2011. Hiroshi Sambuichi, (Tokyo: Shinkenchiku-sha, 2011), pp.4 2 Jun, pp.32 3 Jun, pp.35 4 Jun, pp.2 5 Jun, pp.33 6 Ishigami, Jun’ya, and Chinatsu Kuma. Kenchiku no atarashii ōkisa = Another scale of architecture / [chosha/author]: Ishigami Jun’ya ; [kanshū/suppervised by: Toyotashi Bijutsukan/Toyota Municippal Museum of Art ; henshū/edited by: Chinatsu Kuma], (Kyōto : Seigensha, 2010), pp. 270 7 Jun’ya, pp.5 8 Jun’ya, pp.270 9 Jun’ya, pp.2 10 Jun’ya, pp.35 11 Oxman, Rivka and Robert Oxman, eds (2014). Theories of the Digital in Architecture (London; New York: Routledge), pppp. 1 12. Jun’Krauel, Jacobo, Jay Noden, and William George. 2010. Contempporary digital architecture : design & techniques, (Barcelona : Links, 2010),pp.100 13 George pp.100 14 George pp.103 15 George pp.100 16 Foster, Norman. 2001. Foster : catalogue 2001,( London : PPrestel, 2001), pp.12 17 Jun’Krauel, Jacobo, Jay Noden, and William George. 2010. Contempporary digital architecture : design & techniques, (Barcelona : Links, 2010),pp.54 18 Peters, Brady. (2013) ‘Computation Works: The Building of Algorithmic Thought’, Architectural Design, 83, 2, pp. 11 19 Jun’Krauel, Jacobo, Jay Noden, and William George. 2010. Contempporary digital architecture : design & techniques, (Barcelona : Links, 2010),pp.54 20 Spiller, Neil. 2008. Digital architecture now : a global survey of emerging talent, (London : Thames & Hudson, 2008), pp. 187

Conclusion | 021

Contents 026 | B.1. Research Field 028 | B.2. Case Study 1.0 034 | B.3. Case Study 2.0 040 | B.4. Technique Development 048 | B.5. Prototype 050 | B.6. Design Proposal 064 | B.7. Learning Objectives and Outcomes

PART B | CRITERIA DESIGN

FIG.1. NUMEN NET

B.1.MATERIAL RESEARCH FIELD PERFORMANCE

Part A introduced ho of design and fabrica design is to analysis in the project I resear the result of analysis chose to keep explore tensile as my research with timber.

‘Material and surface have a language of their own’1

024 | RESEARCH FIELD

‘Material performanc and relaxation of f materiality and const and found many pote

FIG.2. CLOUD INSTALLATION

ow computation influenced the process ation. A huge advantage of parametric s and evaluate project, which reflected rched in A1, Voussoir Cloud. Its form is s and test the performance of timber. I e this filed but take the performance of h field, which is more flexible compared

ce‘ offers the ideas of minimal surface form which are determined by the truction. I examine several precedents ential of this field.

FIG.3. THE CLOUD

Called “Transparent Landscapes”, the project is made by net was created by Numen which has a layering of levels that are transparent. The inspiration came from a design to reinvent the concept of a backyard and to recreate the sensation of flying. And the social concern behind NET is to create a public balcony2.

Structure is an important component in minimal surface.

The fabric skin of this designed to make visitors feel like they were inside a cloud, creates a calm atmosphere.

In some project the use of tensile can create a dynamic effect, a living architecture. The Cloud project The Cloud can change its shape constantly with air movement, which made project a part of natural system.

025 | RESEARCH FIELD

FIG.4. GREEN VOID

FIG.5. PROJECT WITH LIGHT 026 | CASE STUDY 1.0

B.2. CASE STUDY 2.0 GREEN VOID / LAVA

FIG.6. GREEN VOID

As my project would focus on the natural form and overall effect generated from the performance of tensile material, Green Void designed and fabricated by LAVA is chose to examine the way to generate and fabricate this natural form digitally.

Installed in the central atrium of Customs House Sydney, the project is a 20 metre-high interior installation with a 3-dimensional lightweight-sculptural form produced from the digital workflow.

This natural form is realised by stretching the specially treated high-tech Nylon showing the natural lines, contours and surface-tension of the fabric 3 . And the project can also serve as lighting which increase the potential of design.

In order to created a organic and natural space on site, the following metrics explores the design potential of minimal surface by playing with tension strength (stiffness, length, anchopoint)using Kangaroo Plug-in.

027 | CASE STUDY 1.0

Species 1 | Stiffness Decrease the stiffness ans increase the rest length, tension strength, the model show the performance of other materials such as mesh nets, which show the relaxation of material

Species 2 | Anchorpoint Decrease the number of anchorppoints, the structure of the model changes

Species 3 Change the position of circiles and get varies of natural and organic forms

Species 4 | Stretching Stretch circles and get dynamic shape, the long span can be applied to site

028 | CASE STUDY 1.0

029 | CASE STUDY 1.0

SELECTION CIRTERIA INSTALLATION ON SITE

1

030 | CASE STUDY 1.0

2

3

INTERACT WITH NATURE

POTENTIAL OF USE

FIG.7. TYPE PROJECT BY NUMEN

The outcomes show the various of organic forms can be generated from Kangaroo plug-in, the performance of other materials with less elasticity and effect of interior structure on the form of model.

All of them have interesting and unique forms, which can create special atmosphere and space on site.

And the forms can be realised by tensioned lightweight fabric.

Literation 1 and 2 reminds me of the project of Numen, which is made from types and allows people to play insode the tubes. Literation 1 and 2 with long span can be installed on the trees in merri creek which can create an interesting view in the forest. And it can provide the chance for people to interact with the project in natural environment.

031 | CASE STUDY 1.0

B.2. CASE STUDY 2.0 MINIMAL RELAXATION @MOCA SHANGHAI The project I chose to explore is an installation of the roof terrace of Shanghai Art Museum, a parametric canopy and undulating. This LED-lit landscape that creates prime skyline viewing locations on the museum’s rooftop terrace 4.

Following the classic complex canopy structures of Frei Otto, the design team develop the structure through “dynamic relaxation techniques.” The materials chosen for the Canopy included a custom hand-woven soccer net with a midsized grid. Bamboo, PVC hoops, steel cable, fishing line, and zip ties in order to manipulate the form of the net, which can create a open and flowing space 5.

032 | CASE STUDY 2.0.

The relaxation of fabric material is an important part to develop my concept of Merri Creek, since it can create a overall landscape which can be harmonized with natural environment. According the criteria I decided in B2, the project should be easily installed on site and have the interaction with natural environment. Minimal Surface relaxation of this project can create a flowing form and randomly changing space. It is flexible to change the shape and scale based on site installed on site, especially in the woods.

Besides, the Canopy was illuminated with blue LED uplighting. at night, which provide a potential for design proposal.

FIG.8. MINIMAL RELAXATION

33 | CASE STUDY 2.0

1

2

3

4

5

034 | CASE STUDY 2.0.

035 | CASE STUDY 2.0.

FIG.9. DESIGN PROCESS

As shown in the picture above, after site circles are determined and voroni to divid force to loft geometry to make circles dro to show the performance of material.

036 | CASE STUDY 2.0.

e analysis the position and size of de basic surface. And apply unary op, spring force input to Kangaroo

Although the outcome is not exactly the same as the project, the effects of minimal relaxation, and the performance of are shown. The flowing landscape of the project can be seen from the picture on the right. And the effect of tension on the project can be seem from the plan. The mesh can represent soccer net. However, although I decrease the stiffness of spring force, the softness of the material is not shown well and the four sides of the outcome are too straight.

037 | CASE STUDY 2.0.

B.3. TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT

Start fromt the basic form, by changing the stiffness , anchorpoint and position of circles to get different forms.

038 | TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT

039 | TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT

040 | TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT

Two layers of minimal surfaces - changing the anchor points to get new organic shape, - input organic shpae for a large scale design - explore the flowing of the curves

041 | TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT

042 | TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT

Three layers of minimal surfaces create a more complex geometry change the position and lean of each layer

043 | TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT

SELECTION CIRTERIA 2.0 INSTALLATION ON SITE

PROVIDE DIFFERENT VIEWS IN DIFFERENT DIRECTION

POTENTIAL OF USE

HARMONIZE WITH NATURAL VIEWS OF SITE

INTERACT WITH NATURE

CREATE A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE FOR DIFFERENT USERS

A interesting collection of tensioned minimal surfaces with interesting organic patters. It can also installed inside forest.

044 | TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT

Straight lines interesting effec and it can s playground for ch

can create ct of shadow serve as the hildren.

Shows the effect of inflatable, can be designed as a garden space inside the woods.

045 | TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT

B.5. PROTOTYPES

PROTOTYPE 1 Test the performance of soft tensile web. When it is stretched and pulled down, the web can show a effect of landscape form.

The mesh was attached to small iron hoop whihc can be hung on the tree.

But the web is not heavy and smooth enough to generate the effect of relaxation.

046 | PROTOTYPE

Test the material on site

047 | PROTOTYPE

PROJECT MERRI PARK

B.6. DESIGN PROPOSAL

048 | DESIGN PROPOSAL

As shown in the pictures above, there are various activities in this area, two major function zone are bike trail and playground for child. I am wondering that if there could be a place that can involve or attract both local and visitor.

And the view along the Merri Creek is almost the same, so I want to design a project to provide the site with a more interesting view as well as be harmonized with the original natural view.

So the place I choose for the project is Merri Park, which is in the middle of Merri trail, where visitors tend to have a rest here. The site is surrounded by residential area, playground and basketball club, so the surrounding can be involved in various local activities. So I want to design a space that can involve all the user to make them interact with natural environment and gain a new experience.

049 | DESIGN PROPOSAL

- LIGHTS IN FOREST When I visit the site, I find that there is few light along Merri trail, and I look up online, there are some people want to ride in the evening. So I want to design light facility which can also be a view in the day. The flowing of minimal surface with light inside the forest along the bike trial can create an interesting view and special atmosphere.

And the light can make local resident to take a walk and explore the site in the evening.

- MIST IN THE WOODS According to the brief the architecture should be part of the ecosystem of site, which reminds me of the research of part A, in which the steel frame can attract frost. So I want to design something to show natural phenomenon, which can collect water drops after raining and it can be served as meeting place for people and playground for children.

050 | DESIGN PROPOSAL

Based on the position of the trees on sitre, I remade the shape of the project,, ang the outcome shows the effect of flowing and can be applied to site

051 | DESIGN PROPOSAL

B.7. LEARNING OUTCOME

Throughout the process of exploring and developing techniques, I experience the process of parametric design and fabrication, and realized that how these fantastic form developed step by step from basic shape and basic pattern. Computation makes the development and fabrication possible, which can analysis and generate very complex form which cannot be achieved by traditional design.

However, generating a form by grasshopper is just a beginning of the design, site and the technique are the key to get the final outcome. By setting the selection criteria, site analysis and fabrication issue are taken into consideration and help to make the design more practical.

Instead of only exploring the geometry, the concepts generated from brief also played an important role to modify the final outcome. Thereby the design is completed.

From research field a overall idea is gained and by exploring the precedent step by step, I know the process of parametric design and various of design approaches. The selection criteria in each step keeps site and concepts involved in design.

052 | LEARNIGN OUTCOME

REFERENCE 1 Kolarevic, Branko and Kevin R. Klinger, eds (2008). Manufacturing Material Effects: Rethinking Design and Making in Architecture (New York; London: Routledge), pp. 6.

2 Numen / For Use Design Collective (2012) <http://www.archdaily.com/218341/ public-art-installations-from-numen-for-use-design-collective/> [accessed 22 April 2015].

3 LAVA, GREEN VOID (2015) <http://www.l-a-v-a.net/projects/green-void/> [accessed 22 April 2015].

4. Shapedscape, Minimal Relaxation @ MoCA Shanghai (2015) <http://www. shapedscape.com/projects/minimal-relaxation-installation-moca-shanghaisynthesis-design-architecture-usc-aac-students> [accessed 22 April 2015].

5. Shapedscape

053 | REFERENCE

Contents 058 | C.1. Design Concept 068 | C.2. Tectonic Elements 092 | C.3. Final Detail Model 112 | C.4. Learning Outcomes

PART C | DETAILED DESIGN

C.1.0 SITE RESPONSE

The centre of t tend to start the trail from the co

CERES COMMUNITY

Potential users t

Residents in com

MERRI CREEK BIKE TRAIL

Merri Creek is community and human activitie is also the habit

Potential users t

Bikers & Jogger

MERRI PARK

The designated s the Merri Park, surrounded by t by a row of tow greenland. It is a range of people and bikers, and of serenity and site sits closely interesting expe

A stroll along th know the site bet like the CERES e on the other han Park, so as to d Thereby the nat can be explored which can be the

056 | DESIGN CONCEPT

the community, locals and visitor eir journey along the bike/walking ommunity.

to site:

mmunity Joggers and Bikers

s the link between residents in d natural environment. Various s are related to the creek. And it tat of animals and natives plants.

to site:

rs / Animals & Insects

site that we have chosen lies within where it sits near the The site is the waterway that is curtained off wering trees and a piece of empty a space that is enjoyed by a diverse - joggers, children, local residents at the same time giving a sense d calmness. The trees within the y on a slope, which adds on an erience for our installation.

he Merri Creek trail brought us to tter, in which there are several spots environmental park Our installation nd would want to promote the Merri draw more audience to the area. turial environment of Merri Creek d and experienced more by users, e contribution to the Creek.

POTENTIAL USERS

057 | DESIGN CONCEPT

MERRI PARK

SITE 1

We chose three potential sites within Merri Park.

Site 1 and 3 are the most popular places in the park and the bike trial between site 1 and 3 has most movement of people. However, site 2 is away from this popular trail and quieter than other two sites with fewer visitors.

Site 2 are chosen as designated site. The place is in the corner of the park, and is in a totally natural environment. The slope and tress on site provides design potentials.

The installation can be involved in the natural environment. People being attracted by the installation can keep exploring the site. And the quite environment with the project can create a still atmosphere where people can medicate and focus more on the installation, which can show the concept better.

BRIDGE

058 | DESIGN CONCEPT

SITE 3

SITE 2

PLAYGROUND

BIKE TRAIL BASKETBALL CLUB

059 | DESIGN CONCEPT

MAIN ACCESS - BIKE TRAIL

060 | DESIGN CONCEPT

The site can provide varieties of natural views as well as the view of Merri Creek and bridge, and the slope for further design.

061 | DESIGN CONCEPT

C.1.1 CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

FROM PART B...

The concept I used in Part B was ‘mist in the woods‘, I was inspired by the precedent in part A that a observatory which can collect frost. In order to make the project melt in the natural environment and show the idea of ‘living architecture’ in brief, I decided to show natural phenomenon in my design. And use the project to collect water-drops. However, according to the feedback from my tutor, the concept is not clear enough and did how people can use that.

Material and function should also be explored.

At this stage, we decided to keep exploring the concept of ‘collecting’. Instead of only collecting water, leaves are also involved. With the leaves collected the installation can melt in the trees and the natural environment and provide a special view to people. And how could people get involved in the design, how can they experience inside and outside the installation and what contribution can it make to the site are the issues we needed to consider.

As for the form and installation, the undulating form and hanging on the tree are kept. Since the outcome of my part B is only a form without patterns, the pattern need to be explored from two aspects, collecting leaves and mimicking natural environment. Thereby our research fields, material performance and tesselation are combined together.

062 | DESIGN CONCEPT

MIMIC OF NATURE --- ‘AUTUMN LEAVES’

In order to make the project integrated with trees, the patterns are designed to mimic leaves. The organic and unique shape of leaves can be designed with Grasshopper. And this is the starting point of our concept.

COLLECTING LEAVES --- ‘FLOATERS’ --- STILL LEAVES The process of collecting leaves stops the leaves falling and froze them at that moment. The leaves is like floaters in the air. And the installation itself is like the collection of leaves floating in the air, turning in to still leaves.

EXPERIENCE OF PEOPLE ---SENSORY MACHINE Since the site is very quiet and surrounded by trees and the installation can act as a insulation, when people go inside the project, the five senses can be enlarged. People may hear the sound of the leaves falling on the installation, smell the mold and damp smell of leaves, which can provide a special experience for users.

063 | DESIGN CONCEPT

STILL LEAVES is a delicate organic form that works as a sensory installation to be hang on trees, mimicking the confetti of leaves scattering down, frozen within time. Its a device that enhances the senses of hearing, seeing and touching of the audience.

C.1.2 DESIGN PROCESS

‘COLLECTING’

066 | DESIGN CONCEPT

GENERATE

PATTERN

CREATE FORM

067 | DESIGN CONCEPT

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;COLLECTINGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; --- PROTOTYPE

We made a series of prototypes to find a pattern which can collect leaves as well as mimic leaves.

And also test the material.

In order to create a complex visual effect, we made triangular and rectangular pyramid at the beginning. And we found it difficult to collect things. And we tried hollow pattern in different shapes which can collect leaves by hollows and create a see-through effect.

068 | DESIGN CONCEPT

069 | DESIGN CONCEPT

However, it is difficult to collect leaves by hollows. We found that a small space is needed to hold leaves. So we started to fold the paper and plastic sheet which can collect things as well as have the 3-d form.

After testing the base for pattern, we found that triangular base and triangular pattern are like leaf most. And we decided to put one pattern on one base in order to save time.

And we found plastic behaves best among all the material we used. It is easy to fold and connect, solider than paper and waterproof. And the clear and white materials really match and creates a clean and elegant effect.

Therefore we decided to put white pattern on clear base, both of them are in the shape of triangle and made by plastic.

070 | DESIGN CONCEPT

071 | DESIGN CONCEPT

Form + P

PART B BY YINGLI

Pattern

PART B BY JIAYI

GENERATE Set tens of points in a rectangle randomly and generate a voronoi web based on points

1.

Using Kangaroo to refine the form of voronoi and get the basic voronoi pattern.

2.

Add Sierpinski Triangles subdivision pattern

074 | DESIGN CONCEPT

3.

Add Catmullclark pattern

Input the voronoi pattern into different weaver bird to get the final pattern.

E PATTERN

In order to get the patten that mimic the leaves several definitions of weaver bird are applied to test the outcome.

The advantage of parametric design can be seen from that. With that several tests can be done until get the outcome that satisfy the concept.

1.

Through several steps of explorations, the final outcome composed of hundreds of triangles is gained. It is really like a layer of leaves covering on ground. And owing to the parametric design approach, each triangle is different which can symbolize each unique leaf.

5.

4.

Add InnerPolygons subdivision

Finally add Sierpinski Triangles

075 | DESIGN CONCEPT

CREATE FORM | SUBDIVISION 1.

2.

3.

4.

076 | DESIGN CONCEPT

After generating pattern, the form of the project can be explored. In part B, I created that from by lofting curve and using Kangaroo to relax it. But the form of the outcome is too stiff which cannot show the characteristic of material. Instead of using surface, the mesh with pattern were used to create the form, which can generate a more natural form.

The mesh was input to Kangaroo to generate landscape shape. Owing to the parametric design, the height of each hole attaching to the trees can be adjusted to a suitable height. And pulling-down part made the form rise and fall and allow people to interact with the project.

5.

1. Generate basic Voronoi pattern 2. Create flatten pattern through kangaroo and weaver bird.

3. Pull up the anchor point to different heights to make the mesh hang on the tree and create landscape form.

4. Pull down the anchor point to allow people put their head in the hole and experience the project in a different way.

5. Add the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;inflatableâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pattern to the from which make the form more complex and interesting can collect leaves.

077 | DESIGN CONCEPT

078 | DESIGN CONCEPT

With the pattern added on to patterns, the final outcome is like a mess of autumn leaves being still in the air in the process of falling to ground. And the installation is like curtain hanging in the trees which isolated the users from surrounding areas and allow people to have some quiet time alone can enjoy the still atmosphere created by the design can natural environment. And experience the installation and natural environments through five senses.

The concept of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Still Leavesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; was achieved by creating patterns which can collect leaves and mimic nature, and the form which can involve people and natural environment together.

And the design of pattern and form is the combination of traditional design approach and parametric design.

079 | DESIGN CONCEPT

C.2. TECTONIC ELEMENTS Based on the position of the trees on site the height of anchor point and number of holes were adjusted to gain the final form.

080 | TECTONIC ELEMENTS

The final project was composited of thousands of element shown in the picture above. The folded pattern was generated from the exploration with prototype, which can collect leaves and also create a small sub-form which provides an interesting texture.

081 | TECTONIC ELEMENTS

2.

1.

3.

Each pattern is composed of three layers, the base in the middle and double inflatable pattern on the top and bottom of that. In order to make the pattern inflatable, the pattern is folded and its vertexes are inserted to the holes of the base, which will be fixed by cable tie. (Detailed connection will be shown in the fabrication part).

082 | TECTONIC ELEMENTS

There three joints on the vertexes of each base. The base was connected by cable tie. The connection is quiet flexible and allows the movement of each base, which can generate a natural and soft form.

083 | TECTONIC ELEMENTS

FRONT VIEW

086 | TECTONIC ELEMENTS

RIGHT VIEW

087 | TECTONIC ELEMENTS

PERSPECTIVE VIEW

088 | TECTONIC ELEMENTS

USER EXPERIENCE

089 | TECTONIC ELEMENTS

C.3. FINAL DETAIL MODEL

090 | FINAL DETAIL MODEL

STILL LEAVES...

091 | FINAL DETAIL MODEL

C.3.0. FABRICATION

The original form of contains 5020 surfaces which seems impossible for us to finish. I reduced the number of cones, but it still has more than 4000 surfaces in all. So I enlarge the pattern and only made one cone to test how it works with people.

And we have around 1500 pieces to connect.

092 | FINAL DETAIL MODEL

With grasshopper the form of the design can be changed by setting different anchor points. So we do not have to go through the process again.

093 | FINAL DETAIL MODEL

UpperSkin

MiddleBase

LowerSkin

094 | FINAL DETAIL MODEL

BASE --- CLEAR POLYPROPYLENE After the exploration of prototype in C1 we decided to use white and clear polypropylene to generate a elegant and simple visual effect.

The base in the middle were made to clear to show the effect of floating and its shape was refined to get a more organic form.

Two layers of skin are made of white polypropylene. And holes added on its vertexes for connection.

LOWER & UPPER SKIN --- WHITE POLYPROPYLENE 095 | FINAL DETAIL MODEL

We used digital fabrication through laser cut. Cable tie instead of bead thread was applied owing to its efficiency. And a gap can be created by cable which allow the movement of each pattern. The ‘leaves’ can generate a organic form without hanging on the tree. The shape and the material did express the effect of ‘still leaves’.

096 | FINAL DETAIL MODEL

CONNECTION DETAILS

097 | FINAL DETAIL

FINAL MODEL

098 | FINAL DETAIL MODEL

CONSTRUCTION DETAIL 099 | FINAL DETAIL

HEARI

SMELL 0100 | FINAL DETAIL MODEL

‘SENSORY MACHINE’

ING

LING

MEDITATING

‘COLLECTING’

0102 | FINAL DETAIL MODEL

‘LEAVES COLLECTO

OMANIA’

0103 | FINAL DETAIL

0104 | FINAL DETAIL MODEL

‘STILL LEAVES’

0105 | FINAL DETAIL

VIEW INSIDE PROJECT

VIEW INSIDE PROJECT

C.4. LEARNING OUTCOME The exploration through the whole semester is very valuable to me. It is not only because the design outcome we gained but also the new design approaches I have learnt. Studio Air introduces a new design approach combining computation and traditional design approach, which gave me a new understanding of architectural design.

Having gone through Part C, I have learnt how to use grasshopper to create form, generate pattern, fabricate and even make diagrams.

And I found that computation does not only play an important role in fabrication but also generating design ideas, since the pattern of our final design was created from weaver birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s definition of grasshopper.

Digital technique can help us to achieve the bold design ideas. We explored our design concept through prototype and digital modelling in C1. In C2 we learnt to use computation to solve practical problem, making connection. And we relied on grasshopper to do fabrication in C3. So computation can play various roles in design process. With the skilled being trained I will keep using computation in my further study.