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“ C r u m p l e d , f o l d e d , r o u n d e d s h o w - o f f “ w o w ” b u i l d i n g s w i l l b e c o m e i n c r e a s i n g l y c o m m o n p l a c e — b u t t h ey ’ l l n o l o n g e r b e d e s i g n e d by t h e s t a r s . T h e o n l y t r u e s t a r s w i l l b e t h e g u y s w h o d e s i g n t h e p a r a m e t r i c s o f t w a r e . ”

K a r r i e J a c o b s

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The Water Cube, or Beijing National Aquatic Centre, it is an eye-catching Olympics architecture designed by Australia’s PTW Architects in 2008. $200 million was invested on this project to become China’s elegant and light-weight rectangular box thatcovered in iridescent bubble wrap. The design of this fabulous architecture associates water as a structural and thematic leitmotif that is important in Chinese mythology. The undefined cluster of foam bubbles in façade symbolizes a condition of nature that is transformed into a condition of culture.

ETFE, Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, is the main material used in bubble construction in Water Cube. The 100,000 square meters of translucent EHFE allows the bubble cladding to receive much solar heat, therefore, it makes easier to warm the building. At night, bubbles are lighting by the futuristic LED inside that creates aesthetical feature in this architecture.

Overall, Water Cube is a symbolic architecture that provokes the hope to the limits and potential of parametric design and digital fabrication. This example proved that the complexity can exist within very simply designed form, the cuboid of Water Cube, therefore, it will encourage us to approach easier to the complexity in design for Wyndham project.

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‘Buildings, prior to the Renaissance, were constructed, not planned’

Before the period of Renaissance, most buildings were constructed by craftsmen without proper plans or design ideas. Only the well-trained and outstanding craftsmen were qualified to construct architectures. However, restrict rules and hierarchy among them existed by the pride provoked from training and specialization, therefore, they were slow in adapting new technologies.

‘…architects ceased to be technicians…became designers’

Renaissance architects started to do design with scaled drawings which became the primary medium to communicate with builders. Moreover, it enabled designers to interpret their ideas and design approaches to their clients to help them understanding.

ONCE UPON A TIME...

Parametric Modelling

Ambitious architectural design has similarity that they often rely on contemporary computational technologies. Parametric design and freeform surface modelling tools enable the creation of complex geometries that challenge present construction methods. The effort of work and the process of geometry translating into shop drawings, producing construction elements and collecting them on site are multiplied by the numerous different parts and the element variations, therefore, complexity in construction goes up extremely high.

To handle projects in parametric design, drawings and specs are supported and completed by CNC production code, parts labelling and other special strategies. To manage this various elements and minimization of the variation, documents are normally produced by parametric 3D models which are highly specialized BIM, Building Information Modelling.

BIM

BIM (Building Information Modelling) software are invented and developed only for the people work in architecture and construction industry. BIM software has similarities to CAD software as it enables architects to produce 2D and 3D documentations such as plans and sections, however, BIM contains architectural information which CAD doesn’t. For example, when designers draw a wall in CAD, CAD does not categorize it as a wall (it categorizes it as a long rectangle closed by 4 lines), however, BIM can categorize it, therefore, it shortens the time for architects to produce documentations.

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FLUX EXHIBITION

The Flux Exhibition was a design exhibition organised and hosted by the students of California College of the Arts in 2009. The description of the exhibition was expressed as an exploration of contemporary architecture and design that forms a connection with new design strategies based in parametric modelling, digital material fabrication and scripting.

An innovative exhibition has been designed in which advanced software and generative design methods create an engaging and beautiful structure upon which document briefs merge with the offset planes consisting of design works from professions like architects and designers. By utilizing the computational techniques and digital fabrication tools, this unique and spatial experience in Architecture was able to be constructed.

For Wyndham project, the use of software, especially rhino and grasshopper scripting, will encourage us to design something looks more flexible and repetitive that would provide opportunities to architecture to give a sense of movement and also to provoke beautiful light effects.

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GRASSHOPPER DEFINITION

The image shown below is the final grasshopper definition that enabled designers to create these aesthetic but complex Flux Exhbition panel.

By looking at this definition, it definitely discourage us to approach to the parametric design for Wyndham City project. However, it also

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We were asked to generate numerous matrix with given CUT grasshopper definitions. There were three different categories: inputs, associations and outputs. By combining each definition, we were able to create number of matrix in various patterns and shapes. And, various patterns and shapes of matrix created something more interesting that they visualised features such as movement, hierarchy and more.

Rotation definition for outputs enables the matrix to be spread or squeeze along XYZ vector axis. Most rotation defintion outcomes visualise the sense of movement.

Throughout numerous experiments with grasshopper function and CUT definitions, we were able to create matrix points in different figures and shapes such as matrix in sphere (below).

The 4 matrix above are made up of same 3 definitions. The difference in extrusion length and density between points enable us to create various and dynamic shapes.

Matrix below visualises the hierarchy with irregular differences in extrusion length.

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Airspace Tokyo, JapanAirspace Tokyo by Faulder’s Studio is four multi-family dwelling units located in the Kitamagome Ota-ku district in Japan. The extraordinary façade was designed by Thom Faulders, and then developed in collaboration with digital technologists to make it exist in real life. The façade design was inspired by the abundant vegetation that previously existed site; the façade comprises 4 different overlapping organic patterns. Each screen has an air gap of 15cm in-between; however, the thickness of the screen is visually enlarged by the effect of the compressed patterns making the screen a dynamic buffer of shadows and oddly framed views.

Voronoi Pattern

The pattern used in façade skins of the Airspace Tokyo is the voronoi pattern which I explained briefly in week 2 journal. As it was mentioned in previous page, design of the façade was inspired by the abundant vegetation that existed in the site before construction.

The use of voronoi pattern on the skin enabled designers to express respect towards the nature. Also, pattern encourages people to bring up the image of sense of movement. Light and shadows generated through the holes from voronoi pattern amplifies the visual rhythm of this architecture.

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REVERSE-ENGINEERIn grasshopper plug-in, there are functions which enable to create 2D/3D voronoi pattern. However, it was tough for scripting beginner to create voronoi without information and assistants. Through watching numerous videos on YouTube, I was able to create very simple voronoi onto 3D surface.

The holes generated by voronoi pattern were variable depending on points. Difference in number and density of the points had enormous effects on pattern and size. By giving or non-giving fi llet radius to the voronoi, I was able to create voronoi in same pattern and regularity but in different atmosphere.

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