Studio AirQian Chen387183

Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel

“As it become clear, architec-turc is as much a philosophical, social or professional realm as it is a material one, and it is through the consideration of architecture as discourse that one can engage with it as vi-sual culture. I suggest how by exemplifying three related, but distinct, approaches to archi-tecture: architecture as a form of art; architecturc as a sym-bolic realm; and architecture as spatial experience.” --Richard Williams, ‘Architecture and Visual Cul-

ture’

Architecture is always considered a visual art as its scale, cost and require-ment of public patronage. According to William, architecture embraces both aesthic appreciation and functionality, and influenced by social and cultural movement, it is not only a form of art but a symbolic realm and spatial expe-rience. Eiffel Tower is an good example, it is the result of the new technology and modern movement in 1890s. The tower is a giant steel structure, located on the city of paris, and creates huge contrast between it and surroundings. When the Eiffel Tower was first been built, it receives huge attentions, and brings longstanding debate about re-lationships between architecture and engineering. Now this cold, solid, giant piece of steel became the symbol of Paris, as well as the representation of romantic. The gateway project need to be an identification and a symbol of Wynd-ham. It is also important to encourage a sense of pride within the local com-munity. By using the new technology and grand scale, we can achieve the similar effect.

Architecture As Discourse

Airspace Tokyo

Thom Faulders+Studio M

Architecture, because of its unique position in the public realm, is a uniquely compromised art. -Richard Williams Architecture and visual culture

Architecture as public art, it provides not only the visual effect, but also the connection between nature and people. Airspace has a complex skin, the skin makes it as a zone where the artificial blends with nature, the sunlight is refracted along its metallic surfaces; the rainwater is channeled away from exterior walkways via capillary action. With the skin, it creates privacy for users, as well as the interesting view from both inside and outside. In the context of Wyndham coucil̀ s Gateway Project, we can create another unique public art by using the complex skin, as well as providing some functionality.

Architecture As Discourse

Gughenheim Museum

Frank Gehry

The use of digital media by avant-grade parctices is profoundly challenging the traditional processes of design and construction, but for many architects, trained in the certainties of the Euclidean geometry, the emergence of curvilinear forms poses considerable diffculties. -Yehuda E. Kalay, Architecture’s New Media : Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design

computing in Architecture

Digital techonologies are changing the architecture design in many ways. Compare to the traditional architecture design techniques (hand drawing, physical model making, etc), computer aided design allows more possibilities and plays a significant role.

Computer aided design rise the new possibilities as the design process is digitally driven, characterized by dynamic, open edned and experinment unperdictable three-dimension structures. It have impacts on not only building design but also construction practices, and open up new opportunities by allowing more complex forms.

The use of computer aided design is simultaneous ubiquitous. Especially the construction is increasingly relying on digital techniques. Frank Gehry’s Gughenheim Museum is one of the best known examples that use computer aided design techniques to design and contruct buildings. The shiny surface of the building is bended in three-dimensions. To find a suitable material for the surface becomes a big challenge. The architects use computer aided design techniques to experinment various of different materials and come up with a solution of half-millimeter thick titanium.

Computer aided design helps us to achieve a more complex, smooth, dynamic forms easily. It opens up the possibilities of interesting building form for the Wyndham Gateway Project.

computing in Architecture

Parametric modelling is normally based on a set of math equations and the has unbeatable advantages. First of all, it allows a greater potential outcome for same investment time and lower production costs; secondly, it frees designers from software and they are able to creat their own design tools; thirdly, it makes the modelling process much more efficient with digital modelling and fabrication technologies.

As mentioned last week, computer aided design rise new possibilities in both building form and design process. However, it still has limititations as we may experience difficulities when we making changes to the model. Like most of the computation programs, parametric modelling approaches aim at representing change. In parametric modelling, the designer establishes and modefies the relationships between different parts by observing the outcome rather than creating the design solution directly.

Morphogenetic Lattice

Supermanoeuvre + Kokkugia

pArAmetric moDelling

“Parametric design is such that it is the parameters of a design that are declared, not the shape... Equations are used to represent the relationships between objects. The ability to define, determine and reconfigure geometrical relationships is of particular value.” --Mark Burry, ‘Paramorph’, 1999

The Morphogenetic Lattice is an experinment in the effects created by morphogenetic algorithms. It uses algorithms to generate ornamental distortions within geometry through the internal logic of cellular automata. It is interesting how they achieve the outcome by using a set of self-similar elements in space and continually change their state in a feedback loop.I think it could be a good example of using parametric or scripting techniques.

However, there are still shortcomings. The outcome is depending on defining relationships and abilities of the designer. And it requires the designer to focus on the logic but also bind design together. This could be the reason why it’s still hard to transfer parametric modelling into building industry.According to Burry, the current use of parametric is still superficial and skin-deep, due to lacking of large framework of referents, narratives, history and forces.

Digital Origami

UTS master class + Chris BosseAfter the ”first wave” of digital architecture broke in the mid nineties, architecture was split between the digital visionarise and the ’real’ architects who build. In the ”second wave”, digital enables designers to conceptualize and build in an different way. In this project, the aim of Digital Origami is to research current trends in parametric modelling, digital fabrication and materials and apply it to a space-filling installation. “Ecosystems such as reefs act as a metaphor for an architecture where the individual components interact in symbiosis to create an environment.“ In the term of architecture design, every individual elements multiply into a bigger organizational system. In the Gateway project, we can apply the similar techniques, by using the huge amount of small individual geometry, and form together as a whole.

pArAmetric moDelling

Troika Cloud

Troika

The “Cloud” is a kinetic sculpture is installed at British Airways in Heathrow’s Terminal 5. It is an signature piece at the entrance of the new British Airways luxury lounges. And it attracting pedestrains’ attenions by using a audibly flipping surface to perform different patterns. The surface of this “Cloud” is covered with 4638 black and silver flip-dots. Those flip dots can be individually adressed by a computer to animate.

By audibly flipping between black and silver, the flip-dots create mesmerizing waves as they chase across the surface of ‘Cloud’ transforming the mechanical mass is into an organic form that appears to come alive.

This “Cloud” is a successful example of achive eye catching using sound to contrast with surrounding and creating a movement on the skin.

Kinetic & responsive

Those flip dots can be individually adressed by a computer to animate.

Articulated Cloud

Ned Kahn

Kinetic & responsive