studio air journal part a, xing yi, 692049

STUDIO AIRAlgorithmic Journal2016 SEMESTER 1, SonyaXing Yi692049

Contents

INTRODUCTION

PART A: CONCEPTUALIZATION

A.1 Design Futuring

A.2 Design Computation

A.3 Compsition & Generation

A.4 Conclusion

A.5 Learning Outcomes

A.6 Algorithmic Sketches

INTRODUCTION

I’m Xing, born and raised in China, currently taking Architecture as my major under the Bachelor of Environment.

My family engaged in garment industry, so I was brought up under the influence of costume design. And I truly used to dream about my future about being a designer. But the real life isn’t just that easy to progress what you want to be. However, I feel very luck that I am doing architecture now which I think it is pretty similar to the costume design, both of those need to convert the idea into digital form by using various design tools and manufacture them into physical. I really enjoy the progress of making a conception in real. It satisfies me, eventhought the process was full of pain because my lack experience of using 3D modeling software. I used to spend whole week on figuring out how's the rhino work or how can I use illustrator more efficient. I always went crazy at that time and wanted to give up in every second. I even felt it was so annoying to open my laptop, it just so difficult for me. It was my hard time that I seldom slept for learning those tools. Fortunately, I finally went through the trait after my efforts, and I am delighted to have a good result at the end. Those experience always facilitate and support me right now.

Eventhought, I have none experience on Grasshopper and new in Autocad, I think I can deal with them and push myself to study hard to catch up with the study process. As the development of digitization become more and more significant, the digital design tools start to increasing use in Architecture trades. Such as computer modeling, programming, imagine and so on . The digital technology really help the architects to create both virtual forms and physical structure. It rotates the architcture art in to new tendency, more declica, more elaborate, and more powerful than the traditional drawing and manufacture.

The 3D modeling structure on the right was the project that I done in Digital Design and Fabrication. Used Rhino to model my conception of second skin protection on human body, then transfered the 3-dimentions model into 2-dimentions drawing. After that, used laser cut to print out various geometries drawings in plates and connected those plates to form a physical model. This was my inital experience on digital design tools, it was impressive and it totally renew my notion of architecture which was drawing and modeling by hand. So hopefully, I can keep going and discover more attractive perspective of Digital Architecture.

4 CONCEPTUALISATION

FIG.1: DIGITAL DESIGN AND AND FABRICATION , SECOND SKIN , SEM 1, 2015

CONCEPTUALISATION 5

PART A: CONCEPTUALIZATIONA1. DESIGN FUTURING

Frei Otto as one of the most famous architect who engineered the future, he contributed many ideas of various structures and building which many of them would not be exist without him. Most of his projects have indicated the ability of architecture to transform different ways of thinking. The project that I choose for design futuring is his design of tensile Arch that constructed at the entrance of the Federal Garden Exhibition.

Instead of working in the usual structure of a construction, unlike the other structures, the Entrance Arch was mainly dediated in tensile structure(cabl-net structure) which brought out a new aesthetic in architectural design, the varied utilization method of material and spatial qualities. It was built in arch-spported membrane strucutre, 314m2 fabric membrane span 34m to cover the skeleton frame.

Base on the idea of spatial management, the Entrance Arch bedded with 2.7m high masts hold up 6m high arch and extra 24m high membrane, that most of the structure is suspended in tha air as much as possible.

Project Name: Entrance Arch at the Federal Garden Exhibition

Architect(s): Frei Otto

Location: Cologne, Germany

Date: 1957

As the structure like this, roof of a tent, which use piece of fabric hanging between two points in tension, it often refer to lightweight, inecpensive membrane(fabric) strung but must engage with a complex hardware frameworks which can create a huge volumes that easy for assembling and disassembling.

This project is the pioneer of many architectural designs nowaday. The inspiratioin of this project is based on nature, bubbles, spider webs, trees which also always illuminate by many architects in theris design now

The most famous project that followed by Otts's cable- net structure is the Munich Olympic Game which designed with Gunter Behnisch. With the principle of utilizing tensile strength in archtiecture explore the progress of architecture development and inspire most of architectural work.

DEZEEN MAGAZINE, 2015. FREI OTTO: A LIFT IN PROJECTS. HTTP://WWW.DEZEEN.COM/2015/03/11/FREI-OTTO-A-LIFE-IN-PROJECTS/

CAMPBELL-DOLLAGHAN, K. 2015. 9 BUILDINGS BY FREI OTTO, THE ARCHITECT WHO ENGINEERED THE FUTURE, GIXMODE AUSTRALIA. HTTP://WWW.GIZMODO.COM.AU/2015/03/9-BUILDINGS-BY-FREI-OTTO-THE-ARCHITECT-WHO-ENGINEERED-THE-FUTURE/

FIG 1&2: Entrance Arch at the Federal Garden Exhibitionn

FIG 3: HABITAT 67, PCTURE FROM WIKIPEDIA, PICTURE FROM : HTTPS://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/HABITA_67

FIG 4: HABITAT 67, PICTURE FROM DAMI LEE,HTTP://WWW.DAMILEE.COM/HABITAT-67/8 CONCEPTUALISATION

Project Name: Habitat 67

Architect(s): Moshe Sadie

Location: Montreal, Canada

Date: 1967

Habita 67, designed by Moshe Sadie is a project that haven been known as an architectural landmark and one of the most recoginzable and significant buildings in both Monteral and Canada right now. It used to be very controversial because the rereinvention of usual residential living, but it still remains Habitat 67 a funtional icon at that time.

As the architectural design becomes more and more like LEGO, many designs pursue innovative architectural concept, such as simplicity, symmetry or geometrical, but less of architects triy to make a change in residential house, the signficant concept of a living always be the comfort, the architecture reach the client's comfort that was the primary mission.

Sadie's project broke the boundaries of comtemporary architectural rules.Unlike the other residential buildings, the habitat 67 located throughtout the border of Monteral and Canada and used to be a architecture project that was ued for World Expo. It standed out with its unique structure.The special geometric construction were certainly a successful notion, through its anti-symmetry, decentralize and irrgular form, a fresh architectural aesthetics was introducted.

Also for me, this project inspire me to think about our social life, isolate and group, disperse and centralized which I think the sensibility of this project really deep into life. The relationship between human and human in society is prefectly emerged on this residential builidng. The criss-crossing structures just like the network of relationship, several graphics(building blocks) pieced together to form a whole, the tortuous passages forming a bridge of communication, like the partnership between human.

On the other hand, in this staggered and complex building, there are a trace of hightlights on it. People now have a concertration on enironment, and purse a healthy lifestyle in this chaos. The exceptional arrangement of the structure contributes to the sustable design method, the staggered blocks present a spacial founctionality. It is not extends the pubilc area for residents but also allows the natural light come in and connect people with nature, people can live in a house that might have light from every aspects. The new spacial structure reach the harmony of human and human, human and nature.

This project not only redefine the architectural aesthetics, but also redefine the city living. And this concept is currently used in current residential building, like the student builidings that near the university. Same structure, but more sophisticated and modern in appearance and material.

THE GUARDIAN, 2016. HABITAT 67, MONTERAL’S ‘FAILED DREAM’ - A HISTORY OF CITIES IN 50 BUILDINGS, DAY 35. HTTP://WWW.THEGUARDIAN.COM/CITIES/2015/MAY/13/HABITAT-67-MONTREAL-EXPO-MOSHE-SAFDIE-HISTORY-CITIES-50-BUILDINGS-DAY-35

WIKIPEDIA , 2016. HABITAT 67. HTTPS://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/HABITAT_67

FIG 4: HABITAT 67, PICTURE FROM DAMI LEE,HTTP://WWW.DAMILEE.COM/HABITAT-67/CONCEPTUALISATION 9

A2. DESIGN COMPUTATION

Project Name: Ordos Art & City Museum

Architect(s): Chinese MAD architects

Location: Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China

Date: 2011

The architecture is closely associated with its content production. Only the architect who mastered the convenience of both of them can design a proper construction of the pragmatism. like the Ordos Art&City Museum designed by Chinese MAD Studio and and is focused on the history of the ordos area, as well as on the culture and traditions of Inner Mongolia. The entire construction extudes a powerful and solemn atmosphere which also demonstrates the historic information and echnology as a whole.

Away from the traditional Chinese museum, this Ordos Museum is shaped like a huge undulating blob and cladded in polished metal tiles. The framework can efficiently prevent the sandstorms problem which always happen in Ordos.

Inside the museum, on figure 7, we can see the unfinished structure where the polished metal ciss-crossing together and the simulated diagram on figure 6 show the complex the museum and it is a difficult mission for the architects to consider every details and issue.

.

Within the use of computational design tools, the architects will be able to modelling the structure quickly and also be able to develop adaptable solution for the architectural mistakes. The design computation is not only a efficiential technology for converying concept to structure but also prompted the architects to illustrate more precision architeture.

Design Computation can also encourage the architect engage in a formulative thinking which benefit them to create a greater solution to a complex project like the museum. The use of the computation have developped the framework system of the building, which the metal were arched in a curve to form the shell shape and can also be refined through the computional process. Once the refinded done, the structure is more energy-saving than before which this is also respond to material consumption of building itself and apparently, it helps to save energy in future architecture.

.

DESIGNBOOM, 2009. MAD ARCHITECTS: ERDOS MUSEUM, CHINA. HTTP://WWW.DESIGNBOOM.COM/ARCHITECTURE/MAD-ARCHITECTS-ORDOS-MUSEUM-CHINA/

ARCHDAILY. 2012. ORDOS ART & CITY MUSEUM / MAD ARCHITECTS. HTTP://WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM/211597/ORDOS-ART-CTY-MUSEUM-MAD-ARCHITECTS

10 CONCEPTUALISATION

FIG 5: ORDOS ART & CITY MUSEUM, PICTURE FROM :HTTP://WWW.DESIGNBOOM.COM/ARCHITECTURE/

FIG 6: INTERIOR 3D MODELLING, PICTURE FROM :HTTP://WWW.DESIGNBOOM.COM/ARCHITECTURE/MAD-ARCHITECTS-ORDOS-MUSEUM-CHINA/

FIG 7: INTERIOR UNFINISHED STRCUTRUE OF THE MUSEUM, PICTURE FROM:HTTP://WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM/211597/ORDOS-ART-CTY-MUSEUM-MAD-ARCHITECTS

CONCEPTUALISATION 11

FIG 8: ABSOLUTE TOWERS. PICTURE FROM: HTTP://WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM/772466/LACMA-DISTINGUISHED-ARCHITECTS-LECTURE-SERIES-MA-YANSONG-MAD-ARCHITECTS

FIG 9: ABSOLUTE TOWERS. PICTURE FROM: HTTP://WWW.DEZEEN.COM/2012/12/12/ABSOLUTE-TOWERS-BY-MAD/

FIG 10: ABSOLUTE TOWERS. PICTURE FROM:: HTTP://WWW.DEZEEN.COM/2012/12/12/ABSOLUTE-TOWERS-BY-MAD/


Project Name: Absolute Towers

Architect(s): MAD architects & Burka architects

Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Date: 2012

In this information-digitalized times, "a technological revolution that impacts the way that information is processed has the potential to affect core architectural processed and products, and also have a revoluting effect on the profession and disciplines of architecture." by Design Workshop lecture. Indeed, a new architectural design technology is developping and is emerging with us through computation.

With the rapid development of technology, the computation design has also faciltated the performance and efficiency of architectural work in a better manner. Make use of computation in architecture can encourage the architect to construct the project in various ways and develop suitable method to perform the structure. Given the Absolute Towers as example. Unlike the usual skyscraper which establish the building in straight line, this project set the basement as the center of rotation which each storeys have rotated in certain degrees toward the same direction.

.

By using the 3D modelling rhino with new tools Grasshopper, the architect can demonstrate the data of the degree that each storeys should shift and the potential rendings of the project. With the parametric system in grasshopper, the simulated model can preform various form of the structure, then the architect can assess the different of the structure in variouse degree, direction and even in diferent material. This is the benefit that computation bring out to contemporary design which traditional design can not reach.

On the other hand, the revolution of drawing technology also shift the architectural method in a new trend. Instead of drawing the project in plane, model the project in 3D can show more aspects than 2D does. Using Rhino can allow us to play around with the model, like the towers shown on the left, in rhino, we can illustrate the model in 360 degrees in every angles and enable to discover the significant detail of the project. So, as conclusion, the computation do bring a ot of benefits to architectural design, it creates a new dynamic structure in future project.

.

ABSOLUTE TOWERS BY MAD ARCHITECTS, 2016. HTTP://WWW.HOMEDIT.COM/ABSOLUTE-TOWERS-BY-MAD-ARCHITECTS/

ARCHDAILY. 2015. LACMA DISTINGUISHED ARCHITECTS LECTURE SERIES: MA YANSONG, MAD ARCHITECTS. HTTP://WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM/772466/LACMA-DISTINGUISHED-ARCHITECTS-LECTURE-SERIES-MA-YANSONG-MAD-ARCHITECTS

DEZEEN. 2012. ABSOLUTE TOWERS BY MAD. HTTP://WWW.DEZEEN.COM/2012/12/12/ABSOLUTE-TOWERS-BY-MAD/


Project Name: United Kingdom’s Pavilion

Architect(s): Heatherwick Studio

Location: Shanghai, China

Date: 2010

Computation requires a extent comprehension of the relationship within the project itself and also need to incorporate the approach of geometries and algorithmic thought.

The United Kingdom’s Pavilion (UK Pavilion) was constructed by the team Heatherwick tudio. It is one of the most famous Pavilions that exhibit in World Expo in Shanghai. As the budget for this project is very small, they designed to do a pavilion that is powerful and simply in visual and also enought strong to make the visitor to have a deep impression, so the UK Pavilion is sucessfully reached the brief of the project.

This project can be determined as a exploration of design computation, it demonstrates an alternative theory of using programming system.

A3. Compsition & Generation

As the less of the budget caused the architect to be strategic and pragmatice, they came out with a clear, simple but firm concept of the structure itself. They had certain thought that want to use in the design process, such as “hair as forming the outward projection of the its orginal shape” “let the texture become its form”. The notion of texture is actually form the entire structure of the project. Once the theory is made, it is a challenge to do with generation within computation.

The computation won’t be able to change architect’s mind if already make, it always doing prefect job and provide the best outcome of the project where the architect who is less meticulious and more focus on the exist idea of the structure itself, he might has ignored the important process of generation. Architects always find and fix the problem during the gengerative process, without it, the project might has inherent risk. So a enough generative process in computation is necessary and is a signficant process in modelling object.

HEATHERWICK STUDIO. 2010. HTTP://WWW.HEATHERWICK.COM/UK-OAVILION/

2SEBASTIAN JORDAMA. 2010. HTTP://WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM/58591/UK-PAVILION-FOR-SHANGHAI-WORLD-EXPO-2010-HEATHERWICK-STUDIO


FIG 11: UK Pavilion. picture from http://www.archdaily.com/58591/uk-pavilion-for-shanghai-world-expo-2010-heatherwick-studio

FIG 12: INTERIOR OF UK PAVILION. PICTURE FROM HTTP://WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM/58591/FIG 13: DETAIL OF UK PAVILION. PICTURE FROM HTTP://WWW.ARCHDAILY.COM/58591/UK-PAVILION-FOR-SHANGHAI-WORLD-EXPO-2010-HEATHERWICK-STUDIO


Project Name: Beetls Shell Inspired Pavilion (ICD ITKE Research Pavilion

Architect(s): The University of Stuttgart Studio

Location: Stuttgart Germany

Date: 2013-2014 for exhibition

With the computation gradually deepen in architectural design process. The digital technologies has been commonly use in contemporay archtiectural practice. The architect have been shifted to use programming system instead of traditional architectural technique. By manipulating the program system is to discover more novel methods and invent more potential structures which can promote the architect to think in a more creative manner so architect would have more opportunities to develop their ideas step by step. And a more accurate design process would provide a better exploration in final design project.

Take the Pavilion that designed by The University of Stuttgart as a example, a project that is big and complex like that, it generate in a very slow process to manufacture. It contains a lot of components and incorporates various design concepts like bend arch, hole, tensile structure, cross strusture and also the material uilization. Undoubtedly, the computation can evaluate the object in a more detailed and efficient way.

.

Refer to the picture that shown on FIG 15. The pavilion was insprited by the beetls shell which is irregualar, geometric and lumpy. The drawings were all made within computational programming, showing the generation of the structure. We can see that the structure and being transform from polygon to circle inside and also the structure lines have been rotated that create a structure which is criss-cross. The concept have been generated from a simple object to final structure through computation. Architects gain information follow the programming process and therefor would be able to develop the most suitable structure for the project.

However, programming is not always work prefectly as we want, it has a limited understanding of what we want to show, the program always have a limitation in the structure setting, once our ideas excessed its boundedness, the computation would be incapable to finish the work.

.

BERLY MOK, K. 2014. TREEHUGGER - SUSTAINABILITY MADE SIMPLE.. HPPT://WWW.TREEHUGGER.COM/GREEN-ARCHITECTURE/ROBOTICALLY-WOVEN-CARBON-FIBER-PAVILION-BIOMIMICS-BEETLE-SHELL-ICD-ITKE-UNIVERSITY-STUTTGART.HTML


FIG 14: BETLS SHELL INSPIRED PAVILION, PICTURE FROM: BERLY MOK,K. 2014. TREEHUGGER-SUSTAINBILITY MADE SIMPLE

FIG 15: ASSEMBLING DRAWINGS OF BEETLS SHELL PAVILION. PICTURE FROM:


A4. Conclusion

Part A explores the relationship between architectural precedect and its potential development in design computation as well as the development of computation technology itself. On the other word, the contemporary architectural design has been influenced by the promotion of the algorithmic thinking and computional theory.It has generally change our current design method in architecture. It is certained that our concept has become more and more accurate and clear to show on the construction throught the computation process. It is a revolution that influences the way that architects thinking in various ways and have different method on problem-solving. The computation development in architecture not only improve the productivity and efficiency of the design, but also provides a better condition for architects to explore their creativity.

In the case of Merri Creek, a good understanding of the site and rational analysis of the relationship between each system can make us have better conception of what should we dispose and what arhictectural theory we intend to involove in this area. Make use of the algorithmic thinking, we would be able to have a better comprehensioin of the interrelated systems of the site and then have a clear response to the environment, And for me, I intend to develop my design in process by using parametric computation which is not only more efficiency and accurate than traditional design thinking but also bring out a more sustainble and better problem-solving in future architectural practise.


A5. Learning Outcome

After learning the conceptualization, my knoweledge of architectural design has completely change. My privious understanding of design is only the discipline that I need to try my best to sell my project to the audience with beautiful layout and diagram in the presentation, a lot of CAD work, modelling my project more accurate in digital form, what I know was the better literial work that you done, the better result that you got. However, learning the algorithmic thinking and design computation, I always gain suprise during the process. Like the use of Rhino incorporate with Grasshopper can provide various potential development instead of only in one dimention.

By using the algorithmic design, I can see the relationship between each pattern in Grasshopper, how can they connect together, and what cause them disconnect, althought applying Grasshopper make the work more complex, I am still trying to figure out the meaning and the function of each pattern. Well, it is actually very annoying to see the failure of the connecction, what can be done by rhino does not always work the same on grasshopper. However, in the grasshopper pattern network, we can clearly see the relationship between each action, it can be understanded that architecture likes nature is under sequence, it has origin which generate to the consequence, and we would be able to manipulate it if we comprehend the process.

My new understanding of architecture with algorithmic theory and computational process can help me to expand my creativity in future design practise. As I have learned a lot from the computation, I might able to develop my knoweledge in various disciplines and discover more architectural aesthetics in my studio and future career.


A6. Algorithmic Sketches


studio air journal part a, xing yi, 692049

Documents