Studio AIRSemester 1Jin Dai 726716

Hello! I am a 3rd year student in The University of Melbourne undertaking the bachelor in Environments, majoring in Architecture. I have an undying passion in design, especially in architecture. To me architecture is the ultimate artwork form in which it consists of beauty in 3D space that could surround the user, creating an experience not only pleasant to the eyes, but also other senses. It is didactic and the fantastic, made real by physical and phenomenological. I have come to understand that Architecture is a process of constant examining, analyzing and reinterpreting reality. It has provided an opportunity to investigate man’s essences and to attempt to fathom his nature.

Architecture is trying to solve problems by design.

I have no previous encounter with algorithmic design; however I am really excited to know how those algorithmic in parametric modeling software could generate mind blowing results, and how this will benefit me in the future.

About Me and Architecture

My previous experiences in the field of architecture are mainly in Singapore. In Singapore I graduated with Diploma in Architecture from Singapore Polytechnic in 2014. In polytechnic I develop a strong foundation to the bases of architecture design and construction. After my graduation, I worked in a Singapore base architectural firm as an architect assistant. I was able to apply the skills that I learn in school in to real life projects. As I was put in charge of couple of smaller scale projects, I gain a lot of experience working with architects, engi-neers, contractors and clients; therefore had a wider perspective about architectural prac-tice in the working field.

Previous Work/School Experience

ZA11 Pavilion Dimitrie Stefanescu, Patrick Bedarf, Bogdan Hambasan

The ZA11 Pavilion started out as an student base endeavor to design and built at 1:1 scale the flagship pavilion for ZA11 speak-ing architecture event in Cluj, Romania.

The design faced challenges such as specific materials and limited resources. Therefore the design approach was scalable in terms of materials and fabrication techniques. The final product con-sists of 746 unique pieces, which formed a free form of curvation, which can also subdivided into hexagonal shapes. Every panel is connected to anther with a hex-agonal shape clip. As hexagon is the highest-sided tessellable regular polygon, these hexagonal shapes allow the flexibility in the form of the final product.

The realization of the design was made possible by the use of para-metric design techniques and soft-wares, from the generation of the exact geometry panel to the piece labeling, assembly logic and actual fabrication.

The ZA11 Pavilion has successfully emerged as algorithmic design as it make full use of the tessellable natu-ral of hexagonal shapes and created a design that has so much flexibility for all kinds of space use. It created a comfortable space for different events pertaining to the Pavilion, such as temporary bookshop, open-air cinema, sleeping in the sun etc. to unfold. Furthermore, it also achieved its initial propose, to attract people from all levels to the place.

Bird NestJacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron

Designed by the Swiss architects-Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, the Olympic stadium built in 2008 lives up to its aspira-tion as global landmark. Known for its epical latticework shell, the stadium was known as the Bird’s Nest.

The design started out with the concept of rethought the relationship between solitart human and the crowd, the common and the heroic. However the structure attests to a great ambition, it is aesthetic at the same time functional.

Herzog and de Meuron were chosen for the stadium in Beijing partly on the strength of their design, their ability to emerge high-tech into the design and creating a much more comfortable space as a result.

For the Bird’s nest, the architects were clearly striving for something more manifi-sion. The matrix of crisscrossing columns and beam was conceived as a gargantuan work of public sculpture. From a distance, the contrast in between the bent steel col-umns and the bulging elliptical form gives the stadium a surreal appearance, as if they were straining to contain the force that are pushing and pulling it. Philosophically, it suggests the tensions beneath the surface of a society in constant turmoil. Structural wise, the architects and engineers designed a series of cantilevered trusses to support the roof, and shades the seats. The second-ary pattern of random crisscrossing beams is woven through the frame, creating the illusion of a big web of rubber bands strain-ing to hold the building in place. Like the Bird’s nest the grass strips hold the whole structure together. As those beams are

separated from the main concrete structure inside the stadium. It was meant to act as a frame support, so that if an earthquake shake or break the concrete structures, the frame will stop the roof from collapsing.

Herzog and de Meuron strived to break down the purity of late Modernism; they turn to asymmetrical forms and mysteriously trans-lucent materials. From close up, the tilting beams appears to be a dark and enchanted forest that leads to somewhere mysterious.

The Visitor’s path is also guided by those iconic structures. From the ground level con-course, they could go down to the lower level seats or climb slender staircase through the matrix of beams to the upper concourse. The crisscrossing columns create an effect that one ascends through the structure.

In conclusion the Bird’s nest can be courted as an parametric architecture as it successful-ly repudiate the look and function of the Bird’s nest, the shell structure on the outside work as a strong support to hold the structures together, prevent it from shaking, moving or collapsing. The design of the outer shell will not be possible with out the use of parametric design techniques and softwares, from the generation of the exact angle for each column and beam, assembly logic and actual fabrica-tion. The Bird’s nest has achieved both the aesthetical look and functional abilities.