STUDIO AIR

LEE TZE YUNG F I O N A 3 6 9 9 7 3 FRIDAY 9AM

A GREAT BUILDING MUST BEGIN WITH UNMEASURABLE, MUST GO THROUGH MEASURABLE MEANS WHEN IT IS BEING DESIGNED AND IN THE END MUST BE UNMEASURABLE.

LOUIS KAHN

GATEWAY PROJECT

CONTENTS

Introduction A. Expression of Interest Architecture as discourse Computing in Architecture Parametric modelling Case Study 1.0 Case Study 2.0 Matrix Exploration Fabrication Reflection Proof of concept Project Research B. Project Proposal C. Reflection

F I O N A L E E A R C H I T E C T U R E A R T & D E S I G N T R A V E L

M Y - P R O F I L E Born and raised in Hong Kong. I’ve been living in a place with a sophisticated fusion of east and west with a rich blend of cultures. My interests includes art, design and continuously exploring new opportunities, I’ve a great obsessed in visual art and enjoy traveling around the world. Through travelling it has broaden my horizons significantly, I found myself inter-ested in the world of architecture and design, which guides me to choose architecture as my major. What I am looking forward to, and wish for, is the ability to combine my past aesthetic skills and experience to architecture field and en-hance the quality of my work. As a 3rd year architecture student, I have been using digital software such as Sketch-Up, Auto CAD and Photoshop in my previous project. Also

WEEK 1

Not a beginner but an elementary learner of Rhino & In-design, I was quite desper-ate as this subject required the knowl-edge to digitalize the model by using a software which I am unfamiliar with. I re-alize Rhino was an important and profes-sional software which are frequently used in architectural industry. I can see the benefits I can gain from, if I am able to master the software well. Although it takes time to pick up with those techniques, it is worthy and valuable. Therefore, I will definitely spend more effort and hopefully achieve a great improvement in my Rhino & Grasshopper skills after 12 weeks studies.

Introduction

A D S - W A T E R B O A T H O U S E R I C H A R D M E I E R

The boathouse was design in a free structured building. Us-ing the idea of pilotis, I have placed columns in grid style to enlarge the horizontal openness by lifting building off ground. Size of shape and floor plans were shaped in different ways. The project is about exploring the formal rules, compositional and aesthetic principles of an architect – Richard Meier . Af-ter observing and analyzing Meier’s work, i have tried to follow his style and design a boathouse in the manner of the master. It enabled me to create a two or three story voids in my design, it pro-pose a changeable reading of space and volumes during the day-time through sunlight. Public place were usually seated in enclose area yet serving place were bounded by walls. All these helps to cre-ate a great contrast of public & servinig area as well as solid & void.

B R I E F

WEEK 1

Previous project

WEEK 1

A S Y M O T O T E A B U , D H A B I

THE YAS HOTEL

TOPOGRAPHIC VEIL

THE

Architecture as discourse

Although the veil only had one surface and one edge, it was actually preserved under a continuous deformation of objects. Deformation is caused by stretching, the veil comprised of two hotel towers and a link bridge, whilst acting as a tunnel- like sculpted shell above the Formula 1 track which enables cars to pass through. The well use of topological space in the architec-ture inspires me a lot. I will try testing on stretching, twisting and bending a simple shape to combines different elements together and see if I can link building and external environment together.

On the other hand, the complex geometric structure and its unique outline shaping gave people a delightful impres-sion. The pixelated lighting designed by Asymptote cre-ates a dynamic appearance at night, with colors flowing smoothly across the double curved surface and create a stunning picturesque style of architecture. The well use of lighting and reflection in the architecture brings a dramatic ef-fect to the design as a whole. By analysising the style of this structure, it has given me ideas and also allow me to under-stand how architecture may convey and express different message of various kind of feelings in day and night times. I

PTW ARCHITECTS, CSCEC, CCDI, ARUP

THE BEIJING NATIONAL AQUATICS CENTER

BEIJING, CHINA

WEEK 1

IRREGULAR CUBE

THE

The Water Cube shows a discourse of generating various geometry structure. It’s not only visually striking but also shaped in a simple regular form with a vary complex geometry.Behind the irregular, organic patterns foam bubble structures, it was sup-ported by digital technology. The digi-tal device facilitated the translation of geometrical information to the fabri-cation machine. It significantly breaks the constraints of the grid. Therefore, the geometric pattern was independ-ent from the internal structure grid.This give me an insight that every kind of shapes had a potential to form a building structure. Aside from the limits of regular grid structure, more opportu-nity can be discover during designing process. And the parametric software and digital fabrication will be a pow-erful tool to express various expression.

Architecture as discourse

WEEK 2

COMPUTERHAS BECAME AN UNAVOIDABLE PART OF HUMAN LIFE, AS WELL AS THE ARCHITECTURAL DISCIPLINE.

Computing in Architecrure

Computer displays data graph-ically and numerically. It has the ability to avoid arithmetical mistakes as well as the ability to store heaps of information. This does not only create con-venience for designers. But also ensure the accuracy of design outcome. Computer can do things quickly and repeatedly, furthermore able to alter mis-take in a much easier way.

Architect could adopt a design process that would ensure that their creation met the design goals, abided by craftsman-ship’s constraints and reduced the likelihood of errors. The use of computer could also help with fabricate and construct the resulting building in a very short amount of time, where the traditional way of design which was very time consum-ing since it is all done by hand.

Computation in architecturall design was known as a problem analysis, also feasibility analysis. With computer, it expanded ac-cess to information, for exam-ple, site condition. Using these information as a starting point, it make things much easier for architects to determine size of building, use of material and es-timate develop process. All of the above attempts to forecast the effects and problem may appear during design process. Computation can definitely help in discover possible side ef-fects and aftereffects that po-tential solutions might create.

BETTER PRESENTATION OF IDEA

BREAKING LIMITATION

INSIGHT OF PROBLEM

WEEK 2

People move – Architecture stops. People desire – space defines. The designer as spatial programmer collects movements and desires and releases them into theconcep-tion of building. (Anderson, 2011)

Digital modelling has greatly affected the design method. Digital generated forms are not design in conventional ways, new shapes and forms are developed. This can be illustrated by the Mobius House in Netherlands. The house was shaped in a 3-dimensional torus and strip shape. And it was created by generative processes based on topo-logical concept. Design of architecture can be more crea-tive and complex since the information can be extracted, exchanged and utilized with far great facility and speed.

THE MOBIUS HOUSE

U N - S T U D I O HET GOOI, HOLLAND 1 9 9 3 - 1 9 9 8

Computing in Architecrure

It provide a better presentation, since the digital model was cohesive and complete enough to contains all the infor-mation necessary for designing and producing a building.

The digital model of the Walt Disney Concert Hall was express in four-dimension. It not only clear enough to show the plans, sec-tions, and elevations of building but also the volume and spatial re-lationship within the architecture. The four dimensional model also shows the interior structure of the building, this allow audience to figure out the circulation, flow of journey and orientation of building much easier than simple looking at 2D plan and section drawings.

WALTDISNEY CONCERT HALL L O S - A N G E L E S , U . S . ( 1 9 9 9 – 2 0 0 3 )

PERFORMATIVE ARCHITECTUREPerformative architecture is a kind of architecture that building per-formance is a guiding design principle as an emerging approach to architecture. The emphasis on building performance is redefin-ing expectations of the building design, its processes and practices.

De Younf Museum by Herzog & de Meuron is a remarkable revival of a build-ing that has been badly damaged in the past earthquakes. To help with-stand future earthquakes, the new design of the building was able to move up to three feet due to a system of ball-bearing sliding plates and vicious fluid dampers that absorb kineticenergy and convert it to heat. The design-ers were sensitive to the appearance of the building in its natural setting. The landscape was designed to create a pleasant, functional environmen-tal that would allow visitors to enjoy California’s welcoming climate. The rest of the landscapes design focuses on creating a link between the build-ing and its surroundings through historic elements from the original museum.

DE YOUNG MUSEUMJ a c q u e s - H e r z o g Pierre-de-Meuron S a n - F r a n s i c o C a r l i f o r n i a , U S A

WEEK 3

The emphasis on building performance is redefining expectations of the build-ing design, its processes and practices.

The outside skin of the De Young Museum was clad in a copper panels covered with ab-stract pixelated patterns derived from over 650MB of images. The complex covering pro-cess was produced by mechanical process and sheet metal skills came from A. Zahner Co.

Computation make architect’s life much eas-ier as digital softwares allow them to iterate the extraction process as many times as need-ed, giving them complete artistic freedom. The software made it possible to accurately and efficiently manage the massive amount of data, fabricate the panels correctly, and ship them halfway across the country while making it easy to install the in a correct order.The abstract texture of canopy was cre-ated by mapped high-constrast digital im-ages onto the building surfaces and pixelat-ed into a finite set of depths or diameters.

How PARAMETER PATTERNS are used? PERFORATED SKIN

Parametric Modelling

WEEK 3

FEDERATION SQUAREDonald Bates, Peter Davidson Lab StudioM e l b o u r n e A u s t r a l i a Only possible to create by

COMPUTER. Federation square was one of the most complex and ambitious con-struction projects undertaken in Australia. Federation square was form within a triangular pinwheel grid, the fractal façade and sur-face was combines with small and fragment component unit, the complex design contains connection of thousands little seg-ments and patterns which was only possible to create by computer.

In other words, It has successfully break the pass limitation and expressed the advantages of digital architecture by expressing more possibilities of forms and effects. It’s a kind of invention that digital programmes helps to deal with a variety of configuration and arrangements. With the help of comput-er, unique patterns, figurations and surface qualities can be developed.

Parametric Modelling

It allows the grid and building patterns to treated in a continu-ous changing and visually dynamic way. It not only proposed a new language which the traditional architecture elements such as plans, elevations and sections cant express but also allow a better presentation of idea.

WEEK 3

Parametric Modelling

Advanced computational technologies were required in the structural design of the Opera House. Organized by scripts of the dynamic systems of parametric design, theauditorium was represents in a NURB surfaces, the organic shape helps to form a continuous, seamless surface. Meanwhile, the faceted structural skin was covered intriangular tiles made of glass and granite. It combines parametric geometry with tra-ditional methods, such as the sand-casting of the main structural steel nodes, and It is vaulted off of a separate, interior volume of concrete that houses the opera theatre.

GUANG ZHOU OPERA HOUSEZ a h a - H a d i d G u a n g Z h o u , C h i n a

Parametric modelling / Project One

WEEK 3

The Sagrada Familia church had a protracted period of construction since 1883, building was completed be-tween 10 and 100 years. During the time, the build-ing access was constrained and information are hidden within the building fabric.

By adapting parametric mod-elling, Gaudi designs the col-umns by varying sizes and shapes and treating the initial shapes as parameters. It allows types of transformation and design creates were consistent with the historical information on the church and able to test different design solutions and find out the most potential one.

S A G R A D A - F A M I L I AA n t o n i - G a u d i , B a r c e l o n a

As a parametric models generation system, the possibilities for application of the design procedures are absolutely boundless.

Parametric modelling systems pose a challenge to expend the design process beyond current limitations by: - Offering more flexible to design parts and assemblies of complex nature- Provide reliable system to test instances of designs from a single model - Expand design exploration of at the initial stages of the process

Parametric modelling requires rigorous thought in the process to build a model that is appropriate for the needs of the designer and a very sophisticated structure. Even it can be time consuming, a good parametric model has the advan-tages to provide a solid structure that will act as a container of infor-mation of the design history.

Parametric Modelling

Parametric modelling / Project Two

WEEK 4

CUT CASE STUDY 1.0

McCormick Tribune Campus Center [ OMA ]

Cut Case Study 1.0

GRASSHOPPER ADAPTION

With a parameter space of grid of cir-cles surface. I taken the definitions and create new works from them.

1 - 3 Images are always 2D and made up of numerous pixels. By using the image sampter in grasshopper, i tried to associate the size of circles with the image by adjusting the radius of circle and the number of rows and columns of the grid. Density and quantity of circles were change according to the brightness of image, In the process of modifying the surface i can see how the circles develop and the surface out-come was getting more likely to the input image.

4 - 5 Than i start to change the plane of the surface by transform it from 2D to a 3D surface. A+fter baking all the commands, i select con-trol points from different portions and adjust their Z value. This was a kind of mapping skil

6 I tried to create new work by adding ver-tical lines to the surface, and the differ-ent height of the vertical lines also creat-ing an interesting outcome, which may contribute in mapping and landscape making.

WEEK 4

TAICHUNG METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE

T o y o - i t oT a i c h u n g , t a i w a n

Geometry deals with shapes, but in actually handling these shapes. Geometry deals with the construction and represen-tation of free-form curves, surfaces, or volumes. The language and knowledge of geometry chitecture has grown and de-veloped giving a view into a fabulous world of pure order. The expression of these ideal forms in the world as structure and ornament and continues to be an activity of architecture.

“ Building such a structure containing three-dimensional curved walls was

generally thought impossible but we are making the impossible possible.”

Wu chun-shan, president of lee ming construction

Group Research & Argument

GEOMETRY in Taichung metropolitan opera house.

It is formed with several connecting curved walls, inlaid floors, inlaid interior and exterior walls. The freeform geometry was express in a rational and efficient manner, the continuous surfaces in an open structure which actively engages its surroundings in all directions and creates great opportunities for artists and visi-tors, stage and auditorium, interior and exterior.

WYNDHAM CITY GATEWAY PROJECT

The Taichung metropolitan opera house give me an insight in applying geometry theories in the Wyndham city gateway project. With the prominent site location and open landscape, it would be very interesting to applied con-tinuous structure and open structure. Initially the open structure could help to maximize the accessibility of the wide public and con-ventional lighting.Besides, with the geomet-ric approach, the shape could be freeform and abstract, it can seat to unite three site of the Gateway installation together as well as provide a great viewing from all directions.

WEEK 5

MVS HARBOUR STUDY & CORNER STUDY

is a surface which has zero mean curvature at all points. The mean curvature of a surface is an extrinsic meas-ure of curvature that comes from different geome-try and locally describes the curvature of an embed-ded surface in ambient space. an equipoise of tensions. These two studies were trying to explore a type of mini-mal space and sort out the equipoise of tensions to its maxi-mum potential. Developed by continually subdividing a precursor, gravitating the gradients to their lowest energy configurations, it’s noticeable that the surface could still re-tain their ability to develop, to link and extend continuously.

M I N I M A L - S U R F A C E S

R E F L E C T I O N

Parametricism has its roots in the digitalanimation techniques of the mid-1990s, it has only fully emerged in re-cent years with the development ofadvanced parametric design systems.The structural framework composedof a mesh constructed with linear steelmembers, the joint conditions is par-ticularly complex as it receives multiplelinear elements from varying anglesand pitches connecting to one point.The different dimension of steel andconnection angles in the architecturereveals that parametric design allowselement to change flexibly and resultin interesting outcomes.

Cut case study 2.0

WEEK 6

GRASSHOPPER ADAPTION

Matrix Exploration

Creating the model by continuously mirror-ing a single surface, the surface enables a continuous surface with sidedness remained. Both projects were likely a subtracted struc-ture, however the re- engineered model was more symmetry between different faces and less abstract compare to the real pro-ject. The result shows varied density and perception of distance and depth can be achieved. Having different variations is essential to produce the most ideal out-come that can be best performed my de-sign criteria in the Gateway Design Project.

S I M I L A R I T I E SD I F F E R E N C E S

RE-ENGINEEREDOUTCOME

WEEK 6

MATRIX EXPLORATION

Matrix Exploration

These definitions are created by combining inputs, outputs and associations together. After attempt-ing different methods, we explored some particu-lar combinations which can give rise to innovative design solutions for the Wyndham Gateway Project.

Our development are trying to incorporate the main focus of geometry and minimal surfaces in a matrix format. Hopefully provide us a starting point from which we can further develop in the gateway design.

“ The starting point for many design methods has been the notion that design is a process of searching for a so-lution that satisfies a given set of goals and constraints.”

Kalay seems to suggest that playing around with various shapes and producing different outcomes are always preferable in starting a design. Architec-tural design typically uses a combination of search methods and we are engaging in this process through this matrix exercise. The exercise was con-cededly stimulative. By exploring different combi-nations and forms of matrix, it helps us to brainstorm our ideas and explore possibilities of our design.

G E O M E T R YM I N I M A L S U R F A C EI N T E R C O N N E C T I NF R A M E L E S S

Yehuda E. Kalay

WEEK 6

MATRIX EXPLORATION

After exploring and analysing various matrix combinations, we discov-ered that grasshopper is an exciting and evolving modelling platform, the numerous combinations our group attempted had develop a range of geometric examples to explore the potential of minimal surfaces.The intent visual effects that our group wanted to achieve are illusion, move-ment and uncertainty of inner and outta space. The chosen design had not only created an indefinite spatial boundary of exterior and interior, it also shows an interconnection of minimal surfaces. The arch was fabricated with various polygons arranged in descending size. Each component was fea-tures with a unique stretch system. Acting as an entry for the municipality, such combination creates a sense of mystery and richness to the gateway.

Matrix Exploration

CONCEPT BREAKDOWN

1. Take any surface input

2. Generates a system of inter-connecting panels

3. Breaks the surface into mod-ules and creates a series of components.

4. Combines together ef-ficiently to form a cohesive experience allow flexibility in final outcomes

FABRICATION

OUR INDIVIDUAL CREATIVITY IS THE INPUT, AND OUR MODEL PROVIDES THE PARAMETERS.

WEEK 7

TOGETHER THEY PRODUCED PARAMETRIC RESULTS...

Fabrication

Stretching are ideal for compound or organic forms, as they allow the interior framework to push through the fabric to create stalactite-like shapes. Acting as both walls and ceiling el-ements, the organic shape defines a tunnel space. The elastic capabilities of stocking are used to their full potential, creating not only unique forms and shapes but interesting shadow-ing effects caused by the unusual architecture. Stretch fabrics, such as stocking we used in our model, are also ideal for flutes, funnels, or other or-ganic shapes. By pinned the stocking on different location of the Perspex, shape can be easily modi-fied or distort, this helps us to shape the interior with dramatic effect and surprising ease. Nevertheless, the fabricated stocking can be any colour and different degree of transparency. Hence, light will go through the sculpture from different layers and display an ever- changing visual effect and makes the pattern appears to be 3-dimensional which is necessary for the visual aesthetic we desire.

S T R E T C H I N G

WEEK 7

Fabrication

CUT CASE MODEL

WEEK 7

Motorists can experience the dy-namic change of space and move-ment while traveling high speed. Meanwhile, the sculpture was ab-stract and eye catching enough to catch visitor’s attention and curios-ity to check out and experience the interior. The outcome has success-fully translated and re-emerged the idea of minimal surfaces into an individual component. Never-theless, the iconic appearance had undoubtedly inspired and enriches the municipality with his modern design intent behind.

D E S I G N V I S I O N

Fabrication

REFLECTIONAt first I was confused about what a minimal surfaces is and how it was related to parametric architecture, but as time goes and spending time goes through the readings and materials provided on LMS every week makes me have better understanding on the logic of minimal surfaces. It was roughly about a surface that is not limited to various constraints, had a continuous structure with unreferenced boundary. However, as I look in some of the cases deeper, some minimal surface architecture existed in reality were just look like but not actually an minimal surfaces. Such as the FRAC Centre, the organic and nature structural network creates various opening within a sensation of enclosure. Although the spatial environment was undefined, the cur-vature was broke up in singular elements, being unrolled and cut out, eventually fabricated by combining all flat pieces together. By using fabric for the small scale mod-elling in our EOI mid-semester presentation, it had suc-cessfully define and separate spaces. In the following weeks our group will develop this idea more and try to merge it together with the structural elements in our gate-way design, from floor to wall , wall to column, column to ceiling, and hopefully achieve a stunning outcome.

WEEK 7

THE FRAC CENTREMarc Fornes, Jon Becker, Peter Nguyen

Fabrication

DIGITAL TO PHYSICAL

From the digital model to the physical model, dif-ficulties occurred in the way. Organic shapes such as flutes and funnels has attached in the design. The fabricate process involves altering and reform-ing, It is not possible to create it by simply stretch-ing the fabric material without any framework or constrained. The solution was let the stocking penetrated the ring in middle and pinned them in several fixed points to create minimal surfaces.

The advanced fabrication process was originally in-spired by the San Gennaro North Gate. The architec-ture was in a weaved and stretched structure. We found it was quite innovative that the structure was actually defined by a few points rather than fixed curves. The way of overhanging and unevenly place of point has express the sculpture itself is abstract.

This stimulated us to represent our physical model in an aesthetic form, it can be an ornament, a freeform minimal structure with flexible framework.

The They Co. & Commissioned Two Bridges Neighborhood Council.Mulberry Street Btwn Houston and Prince, NYC

WEEK 8

F U T U R E - P L A N SAfter the mid semester presentation, I con-sidered how our design can be actually built in site. I start thinking about the material used, lighting and construction techniques of our design. Often mentioned as a pio-neer in lightweight tensile and membrane construction, the Munich Olympic Stadium in Germany had gave me an insight of what our design can actually does in reality.

The overall form can reference aspect from the surrounding landscape. The You Yangs are a series of granite ridges rise above the Werribee Plain. The landscape was clearly identifiable and iconic from nearby Geelong, Melbourne and be-yond. The undulating roofs may act as a continuous of natural landscape, togeth-er with the dramatically sculpted earth-scapes, all elements were unify in one.

S I T E

Proof of concept

S T R U C T U R E

After spending time go through the feedbacks from tutors and cleared up all the question in mind after the mid semester presentation. I realize the Per-spex frame used to fixed the stocking had actually constrain the maximum potential of expand and spread of mini-mal surfaces. In Munich Olympic Stadi-um, polyester fabric was suspended on hangers independent of the cable net. The supporting masts held the main cables in tension, thus providing the necessary support for hanging roof areas. Therefore, instead of bound-ing the minimal surface in a box, we decided to expend the surface out-wards and create a frameless structure.

WEEK 8

M A T E R I A L S

The canopy of tunnel was to symbolize the new, iconic entry to metropolitan Mel-bourne, we want to make it visually and technically impress. A translucent fabric material will be desirable. As it will be able to avoid rigid, rectangular shapes emerging from the design process yet the material had their own reaction to the variance in sun light. Translucent fabrics screen out harsh light and bring texture or pattern to light coming into the interior. Tensotherm, as the world’s first and only translucent and insulated ten-sile fabric roofing material, It’s an in-novative thin insulated compos-ite roofing material created from proven PTFE tensile membrane fabric, with the most efficient insulation material .

Proof of concept

P R O J E C T R E S E A R C H MODELL ING

Originally inspired by minimal surfaces, the physical out-come our group achieved was presented similar to a tent structure. The way we structure our fabric could si-multaneously affect the lightness, mobility and struc-ture elegance of the final outcome. In order to cre-ate a beautiful tensile structure in our final work, we looked at some passed works by senior master students and concepts models of the Munich Olympic Stadium. The wide-ranging of past built models shows the excit-ing possibilities of contemporary tensile building and the give us some new ideas to build a feasible final model.

Concept model is not only an experiment of testing the feasibility of the model in reality but also an experiment, a brain storming which may lead us to build something more creative.

WEEK 8

Net construction concept models for the Munich Olympic Stadium

Models were constructed in different method with various type of material, such as net, rubber band, and even bubble soap. Looking at these concept models, it provide a brain- stormed effect which led me to construct the model in a more creative way. All of the models was inspiring, especially the striking models produced by soap and rub-ber band. The outcome was mostly freeform, and you can’t predict the final result until you try it out.

Project Research

Pavilion built by master students located outside ERC

The pavilion itself is made up of a trian-gular frame and consist of three pole like longitudinal timber membranes. Pole, rod, string and hooks are used to complete the model. Our group is interested in the joint system, rather than simply hanging the fab-ric on hook and use string to life up the fab-ric, curtain roller was attached in the joint. Hence, the tensility and form of shaping can be easily alter by the roller and conse-quently create vary form of outcomes. This gave me an insight that it is feasible to at-tach alterable component in our design to create a changeable effect in our project.

WEEK 8

WORK IT OUT...

In order to text the feasibility of design, we start with building concept models .

Project Research

Even though the model outcome looks extremely similar to our original design, the minimal structure beneath was very fluid and hardly to understand. Construct by setting fixed point and stretching free-ly, the outcome would be unpredictable which is hardly express by renderings and drawings. Computer can do it but it is more immediate to try to do something with the fabric to really understand its proper-ties. Therefore, this concept model was not merely a refinement of idea but also acted as a prototype but a frame of ref-erence for us to do further improvement.

PROTOTYPE

C O N S T R U C T I O N D E T A I L E D - M O D E L

WEEK 8

- A steady frame work welded on site.

- A better junction.

Enlarge the size of holes in each component and enable screw to tighten in.

- Choose a more rigid model-ling material. Since cardboard are easily bended and distort-ed in shape during fabrication. Balsa wood or clear Perspex would be preferable.

THINGS TO IMPROVE

Project Research

F A I L U R E

After the first prototype, we did sec-ond attempt with some modification. We changed the material and use balsa wood instead of cardboard for building modules. Although it was rigid and strong, the form of module was twisted a lot in Rhino, and balsa wood was too hard to bend and made it difficult to stick to-gether. On the other hand, we start test-ing on the Perspex frame. However, the outcome was too thin. We just apply lit-tle force and the Perspex arch ribs frag-mented into bits. Since we did not de-signe any holes on the Perspex surface, we use double-sided tap to tap the fabric on frame, and the tap was actually un-able to hold the fabric stable and tight.

WEEK 8

R E F I N E M E N T

Come across failures in prototype, we did some final refinement.

1. Extend the width of the Perspex arch2. Use cardboard to build modules3. Instead of tap, use strings to fixed fabric on frame.

Project Research

F I N A L M O D E L M A K I N G

Our group decided to produce three models for our final presentation. A A0 site contour site model to show the scale. A Perspex model attached with fab-ric to show the in overall form and the interior minimal surfaces. A construction model to show it’s construc-tion detail and how it actually looks like in reality. As this was a large amount of work, we receive 5kg weighted cardboards and Perspex from Fab lab and started our three days non-stop model building time.

WEEK 8

We build 80 little modules and join them together to form an archway. In the fi-nal stage, we tried out some new tech-niques for model making. We spray paint our construction detail model in silver colour to present it as iron steel material.

Puzzle the Perspex rib frame together than we start sowing fabric on. The transparent Perspex frame looks good with the black stretchy fabric, and it successfully show how minimal surfaces would actually look like in out tunnel.

P R O C E S S RECORDING

Project Research

Our proposal integrates a pannelised floral system on the exterior and a con-tinuous minimal surface on the interior. This ambiguity of perception leaves the viewer unsure and overwhelmed by a total experience of light and material.

F I N A L PROPOSAL

Minimal surfacesStructure modulisation

PannelisationLight infiltration

Referencing and integrating withthe natural landscape

and cultural of Wyndham

WHAT HOW

Week 9-11

GATEWAY PROJECT

Create an experienceBlurred boundaries between interior & exteriorStructure mimics the YouYangsA clash between a digital and natural landscapeThe site requires efficient constructionOur design will become an icon for Wyndham and promote andadvertise Wyndham as a vibrant convergence of country and city

WHAT HOW

The gateway project

P R E C E D E N TFORMAT ION

SIMILAR TECHNIQUES SIMILAR AREA OF INTEREST

SAN GENNARO NORTH GATESoftlabs

This precedent has shown how architecture could present aesthetically. Using multi- col-our, patterns and craftsmanship in design, it could suggest as a polychrome architecture. The suspended structure was defined by points instead of fixed lines. And the way it being hanged and formed looks similar to the result of stretching minimal surfaces. Rather than a simple art craft, it was sculptural and experiential.

Week 9-11

MUNICH OLYMPIC STADIUMF. Otto, G. Behnisch, H. Peltz, C. Weber

Similarly, the stadium was using a tunnel like structure in design. The whole structure was framed by light-weighted steel cable, it’s ef-ficient and able to span a large distance. The large scale of design created a continuous shell of the architecture. The transparent ma-terials acrylic glass also allows light to pene-trate the structure.

SOUTHERN CROSS STATIONDaryl Jackson

In this Melbourne example, the Southern Cross station had a similar function as our gateway project. It was designed a roof cov-ering a transport route with a pannellisated of a frame. With the Smooth deceiving exterior, it has a showcases interior structure. Pedes-trian will experience different visual impres-sion from inside and outside. It had a different perceptions depending on viewpoints.

The gateway project

S I T E A N A L Y S I S

Week 9-11

L O C A T I O N P O S I T I O N

The site was dominated by a flat open grassland, with a small hill in the middle area. The orange arrow shown in diagram indicated the traffic circulation of site. Drive from the west, motorists were travelling from a dormitory area to a metropolitan Melbourne, the gateway was actually filled with sur-prise. Featured as a continuous of mountain ridges, the interior was filled with changeable minimal surfaces, when motorists passing through, the tunnel was transforming the surrounding into a mysterious spatial area which totally different from the exterior. When they finished the journey, they will face a prospered city and experience another kind of feeling. It would be exciting that motorist can broaden their horizon by experienc-ing three different kind of visual feeling during high speed movement.

Melbourne, Prosperous metropolis Werribee, Conjunction of city and suburban area Geelong, Natural scenery and cultural heritage

The gateway project

R E F I N I N G C O N C E P T

How it link to the site? Youyangs landscape

Our vision is to reference the gateway to the surrounding landscape visually through

SHAPING, COLOUR & PAVEMENT. Represent the gateway as a mountain-like sculpture and enable it to blend with the nearby You Yangs granite ry-dges. Resonate the nature and provide a sense of har-monies with the environment. Hence, the model had re-sponses to the topography and vegetation of the area. Situated half way between Melbourne and Geelong, on the Prin-cess Highway, the You Yangs Regional Park is 23.9km south-west of the Wyndham City, take approximately 24 mins drive by car.

Week 9-11

SHAPING

These panels was sep-arated in two major group and aimed to express two differenti-ate idea.

1. Vegetation 2. Lighting system

YOUYANGS STATE PARK

ICONIC SKYLINE

TUNNEL FORM

MODULIZATION MINIMAL SURFACE

THE YOUYANGS ABSTRACTIONWe modify the gate-way in grasshopper and reform its’ border into mountain outline.

PLAN

SOUTH ELEVATION

SECTION

The gateway project

VEGETATION MAP PANNELISE NATIVE FLORA

PAVEMENT C O L O U RThe name "You Yang" comes from the Australian aborigi-nal words “Wurdi Youang” or “Ude Youang” meaning "big mountain in the middle of a plain". The iconic You Yangs landscape attracted artists to paint them and feature most strongly in works by one of Australia's greatest artists, Fred Williams. Drawing inspiration from one of William’s painting, we decided to place veg-etation on top of the gate-way, and they are all native to Victoria and Wyndham.

ORANGEThemeda triandra(Kangaroo Grass)1.5 m tall, 0.5 m across

LIGHT GREENCalocephalus citreus(Lemon Beauty head)20-50 cm high by 30-60 cm wideFlower: late spring to summer

DARK GREENPrickly Spear-grass.Up to 50cm in height.

LEGEND

Week 9-11

L I G H T I N GM I N I M A LS U R F A C E S

As the fabric stretched from outside to inside, there were 8 openings on the tunnel exterior. During daytime, natural sunlight can easily access the interior, penetrating through mini-mal surfaces and fabric, interesting shadow were created. During night time, lighting system inside the tun-nel in the tunnel performed with the high speed vehicles light. Bound-ed by a semi-solid exterior shell, it gave people a sense of mysterious.

The gateway project

EXTERIOR VEGETATION CLADDING50CM LAYER OF SOIL

WOVEN MESH TO ALLOW DRAINAGE

RUST PROOF EXTERIOR TRAY PREFABRICATED STEEL MODULES BOLTED TOGETHER FOR EFFICIENT CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCTION

As the gateway was formed by numerous pieces of modules, each mod-ule could be constructed separately. After finishing the interior struc-tures of each module, workers can screw eight modules as a group to form an archway and join all the them together to form the whole thing.

Considered as a busy and frequently used site, an efficient construction method was extremely important in the project. While constructing the tunnel, sizes of each individual module are able to deliver on site by normal trucks. Workers could work on separate module off site during the busy traffic hours and joined them on site during off peak time. This method could not only benefit the entire construction progress of the economies of time but also avoid the problem of traffic disturbance.

How the work in transported to site & build around a busy freeway?

Week 9-11

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

MINIMAL SURFACES FABRIC +

MODULATE STELL FRAME

The gateway project

S T E E L F R A M E

Week 9-11

Week 9-11

I N T E R I O R

The gateway project

The gateway project

Week 9-11

I N T E R I O RM I N I M A L S U R F A C E S

The gateway project

Week 9-11

The tunnel was managed to cov-ered partially with vegetation and partially by minimal surfaces. By adding real vegetation and trans-parencies minimal surface cover-ing on top, it increases the vital-ity and visual stimulation as a whole. The concept of the living top was ref-erences to the surrounding natural environment, and sunlight will pen-etrated the whole tunnel through the minimal surfaces. With its unique combination, the living roof adds to the picturesque beauty of the gateway. For the aesthetic en-hancement in, lighting system will be added within the vegetation, and provide lighting effect at night time.

THE LIVING TOP

The gateway project

Week 9-11

NIGHT VIEW

The gateway project

WEEK 12

EXPERIENCE OF USING DIGITAL AND PARAMETRIC TOOLS

DESIGN WITH COMPUTER

Being lack of skills in computing software, I faced lots of constrain in the beginning stage. Throughout this semester, I have learned how to use grasshopper to produce stunning and changeable parametric form. Using comput-er to fabricate the final outcome allows me to refine my design efficiently and generate a far greater range of possibilities of outcomes. This skill can definitely benefit for my future de-sign project.

MODEL MAKING AND COMPUTER FABRICATION

Focusing on minimal surfaces in our pro-ject, the referenceless and suspended structure created many failures during the modulating and panelling process. How-ever, in physical model making we can cre-ate hundreds of different outcomes with evident result which we are happy with it.

Attempt on unfamiliar materials such as Per-spex and fabric, new model making technique such as spray painting, sowing and screwing had been exercised in the project. I had many chance to practise my model making skills this semester, from various concept models,

Final analysis

COMMUNICATION VIA PHOTOGRAPHY & DIAGRAMS Spent loads of time in rendering and producing digital diagrams, I realized I am too dependent on physical model in past project. After seeking help with peers in the past few weeks, my photography and digital rendering skills are getting better and I have learned to use high quality photos and vector drawings to communicate visually. A good render and concept diagrams will be visually stimulating and capable to explain the idea of building itself. And this definitely is an aspect I have to put efforts for improvement in the future.

PRECEDENCE“Precedence in architecture is and always has been present. it is the invaria-ble outcome of an architect being human and living in a built environment.”

Being the first time to write an EOI, the studies and analyse of precedence allows me to look at architecture holistically and take away lessons that can inform our future design thinking. Giving direction and referencing for how we design, view, analyse and synthesize our own project, I learned how to argue persuasively by citing examples from precedence and investigate their design reason behind. This definitely improved my critical thinking skills and teach me how to ‘read’ a building thoughtfully.

R E F L E C T I O N

Started with fragmental idea, elementary grasshopper exploration and a few prec-edence studies. There include much hard work to progress an incomplete design brief to the final proposal. Architecture is always a tool to stimulate human brain to its great-est extent. In this studio I have learnt a wide-range of useful knowledge. Analysing prec-edence, mastering professional software, computational fabricating, digital presen-tation, every part of the course had defi-nitely enhance my architectural learning.

Regards to the journal, it was once very frustrating that I have been loss all my previous work at the end of semester due to In-design file damaged. Although it was exhausted to reallocate and lay-out everything again, I benefited a lot from the process and realised that it is extremely important to set up a better system and back up all works constantly.

At the same time, I’m glad that I had two responsible and nice group mates accom-pany me to finish the whole project. Through the process of generating knowledge, ex-changing ideas and criticising each other works. I learnt more than what the textbook taught me. Our work are improving through practise of argue and critically present of idea. This was a good practise as this is a practise that how real practise go about things and It is a useful task in long run.

To sum up, I looked up numerous paramet-ric projects that apply advanced com-putation outcome techniques in design, analysed the design intent of architecture by different famous architects and did pre-cise research of the chosen site and con-struction details. This subject had certainly broaden my horizon and enriched my ar-chitectural life experience. I learnt how to read an architecture in different perspec-tives . Although it has been really hard core during these 12 weeks, this design studio is certainly the one I learnt and benefit most in these three years of university life.

WEEK 12

Final analysis

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTSThis is the first time for me to adopt parametric design and this has obviously change my perspective to read an architecture. In the world of parametric de-sign, it was kind of fluid as it’s generative, computational and associative char-acters. With different definition, it is easy to create massive different outcome and design something which may not possible with normal approach. With the help of digital software and computer fabrication, It will be more possible to turn my idea in reality. This maximized the potential and creativity in the field of de-sign. I am looking forward to undertake my next design studio and applied the knowledge I obtained from the course. And I will certainly use more computer fabrication in the future as it saves up a lot of time and make my life much easier.

WEEK 12

REFERENCE

AASD. (Unknown). Williams, Fredericks (Fred) Ronald. 1927-82 Australia, Britain, Available : http://www.fredwilliams.me.com.au/hillock.html Last accessed 2 Nov 2012

Carter, P. (2012). Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Discovery Centre by Minife van Schaik Architects. Available : http;//architectureau.com/articles/with-all-thw-views/. Last accessed 18 Jul 2012

Clay, S (2006). Minimal Surfaces. Available: http:// hans.math.upenn.edu/~shonwil/reaserch/talks/Minimalsurfacesprintnomovie.pdf. Last accessed 20 Sept 2012

Laura, B. 2011. Melbourne, beautiful train station. Available: http://whimsicalworldoflaurabird.blogs-pot.com.au/2011/02/beautiful-train-staions.html Last accessed, 15 Oct 2012Makmax. (Unknown), Tensotherm. Available: http://makmax.com.au/membrane/tensotherm Last accessed, 10 Oct 2012

Marc, F & theverymany. (2011), 11 Frac Cente. Available: http://theverymany.com/constructs/10-frac-centre/ Last accessed 15 Oct 2012

Otto, F. 2011. Olympic Park of Munich. Available: http://netconstructions.blogspot.com.au/2011/112olympic-park-of-munich.html. Last accessed 15 Oct 2012

SoftLab. (2011), San Gennaro North Gate. Available: http://inspir3d.net/2011/10/24/xtra-moenia-installation-by-softlab/ Last accessed, 15 Oct 2012