STUDIO AIRJOURNAL2016 SEMESTER 1

BY YITAO LIUTUTOR: JULIAN SJAAK RUTTEN

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There are three responses to a piece of design — yes, no, and WOW!WOW is the one to aim for.– Milton Glaser, named the Most Influential Graphic Designer of the Past 50 Years

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 4

PART A. CONCEPTUALISATIONA.1. Design Futuring 6A.2. Design Computation 8A.3. Composition/Generation 10A.4. Conclusion 12A.5. Learning outcomes 12A.6. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches 13

PART B. CRITERIA DESIGN B.1. Research Field 14 B.2. Case Study 1.0 16B.3. Case Study 2.0 18 B.4. Technique: Development 21 B.5. Technique: Prototypes 24 B.6. Technique: Proposal 26B.7. Learning Objectives and Outcomes 27B.8. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches 28

PART C. DETAILED DESIGNC.1. Design Concept 29C.2. Tectonic Elements & Prototypes 35C.3. Learning Objectives and Outcomes 39C.4. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches 42REFERENCE 44

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INTRODUCTION

My name is Yitao Liu. I currently study the major of architecture in the university of melbourne. This is my third year of a Bach-elor of Environment. I was born in China and came to Australia when I was 16 years old. I have learnt a Chinese traditional instrument called ‘Guzheng’ since I was a little girl, it is a kind of Chinese zither. I also do well in drawing and painting. I like cos-play, litterally, ‘costume play‘. I enjoy dressing up and pretending to be the character I like. It is very interesting to change myself into a totally different image.As I like fine art very much, It is not hard for me to decide the major I want to study and my future career. Personally, comparing to design in other disciplines, architecture is more magnificent. It is not only important for our daily life, but also shows the character of one city or maybe be-come a landmark for one city. It is my dream to become famous and to leave some great works in the world.

about myself...

2. My Cosplay Selfie

3. “Kaneki-Ken Mask Computer Wallpapers, Desktop Backgrounds | 1920X1080 | ID:522622”, Wallpaper Abyss, 2016 <https://wall.alphacoders.com/big.php?i=522622> [accessed 18 March 2016].

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1. My Selfie

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about work and experience with digital design theory and tools...

Acturally, as I said before, I’m good at free hand drawing but weak at using techniques. I am a beginner of Rhino and AutoCAD. I did some work with AutoCAD and I found my skill has been improved by doing more practice. As dig-ital design becomes more and more important, using the softwares like Rhino, Grasshopper and Auto CAD must be considered as a neces-sary skill for an archcitect. I hope to improve my skills through this subject and also throught doing more practice.

Personally, the theory of digital architecture is using computer techniques modelling, program-ming and imaging some structures that can not be done by free hand. By considering the de-velopment of techniques, digital design inspires designers and will bring a better future.

1. My work, done by using Auto CAD in Constructing Analysis

2. My design work, done by free hand drawing

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Part A. CONCEPTUALISATIONA.1. Design Futuring

COMPOSITE SWARM

The Composite Swarm installation is an architec-tural prototype exploring the relationship of robotic fabrication, composite materials and algorithmic design. Designers of this project used the techniques of swarm intelligence. A swarm algorithm based on the self-organizing behavior of ants was developed for the project to negotiate between and compress-es surface, structure and ornament into a single irreducible form. The surface of the installation is created through a digital swarm of components that are programmed to make a continuous surface. The ornamental components are distributed with an algorithm based on the logic of ants that form bridges by connecting their bodies. The connection between components creates a complex ornamental and structural network.

1. “Kokkugia”, Kokkugia.com, 2016 <http://www.kokkugia.com/filter/swarm-intelligence/Composite-Swarm> [accessed 18 March 2016].

As the installation combines a fiber-composite sur-face and flexible foam components, which makes it too flexible to be self-supporting, a fabrication team is needed for this project. This project costed the least amount of material by its complex and specific form, and the excess of ornament.

This algorithmic approach is part of Kokkugia’s Behavioral Formation design process that draws on the logic of swarm intelligence and operates through multi-agent algorithms. For the future contribution, the prototype is intended to test composite tecton-ics for the future application to larger architectural projects.

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PHARE TOWER

Drawing on the power of parametric scripting, the design of the Phare Tower gathers disparate programmatic, physical, and infrastructural elements from the requirements of the building and synthesizes these into a form that seamlessly integrates the building into the idiosyncrasies of its site while expressing multiple flows of movement. In the spirit of the Paris Exposition competition proposals, the tower embodies state-of-the-art technological advances to become a cultural landmark.The complex structure and skin adapt to the tower’s non-standard form while simultaneously responding to a range of complex, and often competing, physical and environmental considerations. Technologies integrated into the Phare Tower capture the wind for the production of energy and selectively minimize solar gain while maximizing glare-free daylight. Its high-performance skin transforms with changes in light, becoming opaque, translucent, or transparent from different angles and vantage points.[1]

1. “Phare Tower | Morphopedia | Morphosis Architects”, Morphopedia.com, 2016 <http://morphopedia.com/projects/phare-tower> [accessed 18 March 2016].2. “ATLV Project: Phare Tower Skin And Structure”, ATLV, 2016 <http://www.atlv.org/project/pha.html> [accessed 18 March 2016].3. “Phare Tower - Morphosis”, Arcspace.com, 2007 <http://www.arcspace.com/features/morphosis/phare-tower/> [accessed 18 March 2016].

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A.2. Design Computation

HANGZHOU OLYMPIC STADIUM

The development of design compitation has nearly 50 years. It can be seen as a digital continuum from design to production, from form generation to fabrication design, which is called Vitruvian effect according to Oxman[2]. This new continuity begun to evolve as a medium that supports a continuous logic o f design thinking and making. It also enabled a set of symbiotic relationships between the formu-lation of design processes and developing technolo-gies. In order to accommodate these developments, a new and comprehensive domain of architectural theories is beginning to emerge in the intersection between science, technology, design and architec-tural culture.

The pictures above shown the Olympic Stadium in Hangzhou, China, was designed by NBBJ in collab-oration with CCDI. It is scheduled for completion in 2013 as part of a sports and entertainment city featuring other recreation facilities. It was designed with an architectural vocabulary of repetitive sculp-tural truss geometries. During the design process, using of the customization of tools and implementa-tion of new compitational methodologies helped the team to overcome the challenges they met.

A grasshopper algorithm was developed to facilitate the conversion of the geometry into a wireframe structure, compatible with the engineer’s analysis tool. This enabled both teams minimize the time that would have been required in creating an engineer-ing-specific model. The parametric algorithm also had surface analysis integrated in it to test for the planarity of each petal. Kangaroo physics has also been used in combination with a visualisation script to envision, tensile, compressive forces and areas of maximum stress. Having this integrated at the early stage of design also improved the collaboration between the structural and design teams.

1. “Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center | NBBJ”, Nbbj.com, 2016 <http://www.nbbj.com/work/hangzhou-stadium/#next> [accessed 18 March 2016].2. Oxman, Rivka and Robert Oxman, eds (2014). Theories of the Digital in Architecture (London; New York: Routledge), pp. 1–10

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TAIPEI NANGANG OFFICE TOWER

On the left is a 18 storey tower designed by the AEDAS. It has the inspiration from river pebbles. The concept was developed using a flow of parametric tools, such as Rhino, Rhino plug ins, grasshopper and Revit, to ensure precise information delivery. The representation of the design process was evolved from the use of manual sketches to virtual 2D and 3D images. The vertical green wall facade can be considered as the characteristic of the building, which was designed at the period of creating the initial sketches of river pebbles. The surface was rationalized using Rhino panelling tools to create the facade panels.

The benefits of using computation design can be seen from this project clearly. By using the grasshopper, the information obtained from the building geometry can be associated very well. Hence, it is much more effective and convenient to re-evaluate the design outcome when the design of the mass was going through a change. In addition, the ability of evaluating in grasshopper is very important for the future design outcome.

1. “Gallery Of Taipei Nangang Office Tower / Aedas - 7”, ArchDaily, 2016 <http://www.archdaily.com/163627/taipei-nangang-of-fice-tower-aedas/exterior-se> [accessed 18 March 2016].2. “World Of Architecture: Impressive Modern Office Tower By Aedas”, Pinterest, 2016 <https://www.pinterest.com/pin/394557617330442489/> [accessed 18 March 2016].

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A.3. Composition/Generation

According to Robert and Frank, the core idea of an algorithm is a finite set of rules or operations with all foundational mathematical ideas that are unambiguous and simple to follow. Although the connection between algorithms and computation is quite tight, algotithm still can be consti-tuted by pencil and paper without computer. But it will become more precise when using computer. They also indicate that thinking itself is an algorithm—or perhaps better, the result of many algorithms working simultaneously. One of the important techniques used to study the mind into levels is Virtual machine. In order to completely and truly understand the mind, theories at all levels are going to be needed.[1]

Advantages:UnambiguousPreciseSubtleEffectiveSimple operationsEasy to followCreativeSpecificImportant for the movement from statics to dynamics

Shortcomings:DefiniteFiniteAlways halts or terminates on purpose or accidentally

In the design and architecture aspects, parametric model needs to be mentioned.

The first case study is a digitized practice of architecture, Japanese Tea Ceremony. The entire structure was designed by digital manipulation of the traditional tatamimat scale. Each part of the ceremony – the partici-pants, fixtures, and the tea itself – influences a regulare panelized system, while the wall panels form an introverted space for the ceremony itself and dually displaying it to the public.

The second case study is Esker House by Plasma Studio in Italy. With the relatively simply parametric logic, its structure is quite unique according to its stratified morphology. These frames enable the subsequent defor-mation and softening of the overall geometry.

JAPANESE TEA CEREMONY

1. Definition of ‘Algorithm’ in Wilson, Robert A. and Frank C. Keil, eds (1999). The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences (London: MIT Press), pp. 11, 122. “Columbia GSAPP”, Arch.columbia.edu, 2016 <http://www.arch.columbia.edu/labs/laboratory-applied-building-science/projects/fabrication-workshops/tokyo-digital-tea-house> [accessed 18 March 2016].

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ESKER HOUSE

Esker Haus is a self-contained residential unit placed on top of an existing house from the 1960s. It can be seen as a parasite which started from adopting the structure of the host and gradually differ-entiated into its own unique organization and morphology.[1]

1. “Esker House / PLASMA Studio”, ArchDaily, 2009 <http://www.archdaily.com/11957/esker-house-plasma-studio> [accessed 18 March 2016].2. Plasma Studio, “P L A S M A Studio”, Plasmastudio.com, 2016 <http://www.plasmastudio.com/work/Esker_Haus.html> [accessed 18 March 2016].3. Ana Lisa and Ana Lisa, “Plasma Studio Builds Parasite Home On Top Of A 60S House In Italy”, Inhabitat.com, 2016 <http://in-habitat.com/plasma-studio-builds-parasite-home-on-top-of-a-60s-house-in-italy/> [accessed 18 March 2016].

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A.4. Conclusion

A.5. Learning outcomes

Without doubt, design computation becomes a major part of architectural theory, culture and practice nowa-days. According to Peters, computation is redefining the practice of architecture. With the digital tools, many opportunities in design process, fabrication and construction can be created.

With the benefits of design computation, my intended design approach is to combine the ideas of hand drawing and digital design. I think there should be a way to connect them together. Personally, hand drawing can bring me more feelings when I get the design agenda. After I make sure the main design direction, I will use digital tools to generate my design in different ways and choose the best one. I think computation design is mainly used to design the appearance of the building. But for the interior design and structure, hand drawing may suit me more.

Learning about the theory and practice of architectural computing provides a significant skill for my future development. Through the researching of case studies, many impressive projects have been seen and my sight has been broader. Obviously, algorithmic thinking and design computation can be considered as the major part of design theory and practice nowadays.

At the begining of the semester, I simply understand the digital design as using computer and some softwares to design. At that time, I did not consider about the algorithmic thinking and other benefits of developing design ideas. With the learning of Grasshopper these weeks, I become understand the advantages of using techniques in a real way. Comparing to hand drawing, digital design is more effective and convinient. For example, with my experience of using Grasshopper, adding a slide to a component and changing the number of slide could make the whole project become very different. Not like hand drawing, it is no need to redo the whole project by using grasshopper. Moreover, the outcome of the design is unthinkable. Grasshopper always surprise me!

As computation design can make the project more specific, unique and creative, I will try to improve my past design by setting the main components only and using the algorithmic way to creating a variety of design out-comes and choose the best one.

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A.6. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches

Through the learing of theories of design computation, it is obvious that having the skills of an algorithmic thinking, paramet-ric modelling and scripting cultures are necessary for an architect in the future. Without doubt, Grasshopper is a very useful tool to achieve this point.

As I am very new of using techniques, it was a difficult start for me. The Grasshopper online tutorials help a lot. Following the tutorials, I created many interesting geometries. Personly, these works should be hardly done by free hand. However, with the use of Rhino and Grasshopper, it becomes convinient and effective.

From creating a surface to a geometry, then a gridshell, the para-metric logic and algorithmic method using in the stuctural systems of the projects become more and more complex. I chose these examples to show the development of my work. In addition, these algorithmic sketches also show the charactertics of specific and creative of digital design. Changing a single factor can make the whole project transform to an unthinkable shape.

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1. My works

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For the start of my research, I chose struc-ture as my research field. The potential of structure can be considered as beams, columns, frames, struts and other structur-al members. By applying this technique, the patterns like lattice, waffle and column grids could be created, which enrich architecture and give people an expressive feeling of the project. Personally, I agree with that struc-ture is not just a simple applied technology, but an integral element of architecture.

Sevilla Metropol by Jurgen Mayer H-- Waffle structure

Canton Tower by IBA Architects-- Lattice Structure

B.1. Research Field

In the modern architecture, people use less ornments on the building and pursuit a sim-ply but unique style. The patterns created by a well-designed structural system could be considered as a new kind of ornament. Namely, applying structure architecturally to bring the project to another layer of aes-thetic and functional richness to designs is what I am interested. By doing this, a better effect of building usability may be achieved.

1. “Metropol Parasol”, Wikipedia, 2016 <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropol_Parasol#/media/File:Espacio_Para-sol_Sevilla.jpg> [accessed 20 April 2016].2. “CANTON TOWER - MARK HEMEL BARBARA KUIT INFORMATION BASED ARCHITECTURE”, Iba-bv.com, 2016 <http://www.iba-bv.com/tvt06.html> [accessed 20 April 2016].

Part B. CRITERIA DESIGN

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Birds Nest by Herzog DeMuron-- Expressive Structure

Water Cube by PTW Architects-- Expressive Structure

Structure as an indispensable architectural element is thoroughly integrated and involved in the making of architecture, and playing significant roles that engage the senses, hearts and minds of building users. It provides a large resource of very diverse precedents where struc-ture enhances specific architectural ideas, concepts and qualities.[1]

1. Andrew Charleson, STRUCTURE AS ARCHITECTURE, 1st edn (Italy: Charon Tec Pvt. Ltd, Chennai, India, 2005), p. 1 <http://www.arch.mcgill.ca/prof/sijpkes/arch-struct-2008/book-2.pdf> [accessed 24 April 2016].

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B.2. Case Study 1.0

With the help of Lunchbox plugin, a matrix of iterations can be created by applying different types of structural patterns into different geometric shapes and changing variables.

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These four outcomes could be considered more successful than others as they are quite 3-dimensional with a hollow centre or open space under a roof. By observation, it is clear that many other outcomes seem impossible to contain a human inside as the structures are messed and displaced without any rules.

During the creation of sequences of ge-ometric variation, I was always seeking an outcome with a unique style. It is excited to get a totally different outcome when changing the variables. Also, I was trying to achieve the simplest one and the most complex one by push the capabilities of the definition to its possible limits.

Client: Passing pedestrians/ Local resi-dents/ Local animals

Site: A relatively flat area between the St Georges Rd and the walking/riding path along the creek

Lens: Sustainability; a relationship between natural and human movements.

Description: A pavilion made by natural ma-terials, such as timber or bamboo, with the decoration of plants. It provides a space for animals and people to rest and communi-cate. The form of the pavilion will be started by the investigation of structure.

The final version seems very unique but with a regular structural pattern. It makes the project look neater and more pleased to be produced, constructed and visited. This geometry is possible to contain people and the capacity is decided according to it actual size. The new project could be used as a pavilion or a small gallery, or just a decoration to the empty lawn.

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Introduction -- The Water Cube

1. Cara Cannella, "Celebrating The Ancient Wisdom Of The I-Ching At Beijing's Water Cube - Signature Reads", Signature Reads, 2013 <http://www.signature-reads.com/2013/06/celebrating-the-ancient-wisdom-of-the-i-ching-at-beijings-water-cube/> [accessed 20 April 2016].2. “Watercube Related Keywords & Suggestions - Watercube Long Tail Keywords”, Keyword-suggestions.com, 2016 <http://www.keyword-suggestions.com/d2F0ZXJjdWJl/> [accessed 28 April 2016].3. “Beijing Water Cube, National Aquatics Center, Bird’s Nest”, Chinatraveldesigner.com, 2016 <http://www.chinatrav-eldesigner.com/travel-wiki.aspx?id=2029> [accessed 24 April 2016].

B.3. Case Study 2.0

With the capacity of 17000 during the games and total land surface of 65,000 square meters, the Beijing National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube, is an aquatics center that was built alongside Beijing National Stadium in the Olympic Green for the swimming compe-titions of the 2008 Summer Olympics. Although called the Water Cube, the aquatic center is actually a rectangular box with 178 metres square and 31 metres high.

The Water Cube was specially designed and built by a consortium made up of PTW Archi-tects (an Australian architecture firm), Arup international engineering group, CSCEC (China State Construction Engineering Corporation), and CCDI (China Construction Design Interna-tional) of Shanghai. The Water Cube’s design was initiated by bubbles, as a symbolism of water. In addition, a square was more symbolic to Chinese culture and its relationship to the Bird’s Nest stadium.

The outer wall is based on the Weaire–Phelan structure, a structure devised from the natu-ral pattern of bubbles in soap lather. The complex Weaire–Phelan pattern was developed by slicing through bubbles in soap foam, resulting in more irregular, organic patterns than foam bubble structures proposed earlier by the scientist Kelvin. Using the Weaire–Phelan geom-etry, the Water Cube’s exterior cladding is made of 4,000 ETFE bubbles, some as large as 9.14 metres across, with seven different sizes for the roof and 15 for the walls.[3]

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As my research field is structure, I decide to focus on the frame structure of the water cube, but not membrane.

Firstly, I tried to recreate the project by creating a box first and then applying populate 3D within it. Using these points, with the algorithms of Voronoi 3D, I got a similar pattern with the water cube but in a 3D way. Then I extracted the frame by applying explode tree, deconstruct brep and pipe to get the result of G1.

Obviously, the original one should not have the structure inside the building. The structural pattern should be only focused on the surface of the building. Therefore I tried another way. G2 is achieved by adding a box inside G1 as I tried to trim the inner structure off but failed.

The second way I tried is to create each pannel of buiding first and then combine them togeth-er. During the process, I found that it is a very difficult and imprecise way to achieve my final product. Therefore, I was wondering a way to focus only the surfaces of a box. G3 is the half- finished product of my second way.

The third and the most successful way is to applying deconstrcuct brep to a box first, then using face boundaries to convert the six surfac-es to polylines and set the regions for populate 2D. Finally, with the algorithm of populate 2D, voronoi and pipe, I achieved G4, which is pretty much similar to the original project.

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The current outcome I gained by using grasshopper could be seen as a half-finish work of the original one as I focused on the frame structure of the building but neglected the surface panel of the building. For the future development, I am considering to add the membrane element as the surface of the building.

Design process and result...

Method 1: Applying Voronoi 3D to the whole box but not only the surfaces of the box. The 3D interior structure has been created.

Method 2:Divided the box into 5 sur-faces and made the struc-ture patterns on each panel separately. Then, combining them together to form a box (without the undersurface).

Method 3:Using the grasshopper tech-nique to make the algorithms of voronoi focus on the surface of the box only.

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B.4. Technique: Development

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At first, I tried to use the same grasshopper definition of my water cube prototype but change the initial geometry input. However, I found that voronoi did not work for a curved surface, such as the surface of a sphere. In addtion, if I changed the geometry to a triangu-lar pyramid, the populate 2D would distribute in a very strange way, which made the final result mussy and far more different from the ideal result.

Therefore, I decided to keep the same shape as the water cube but change the styles of structure. With the help of lunchbox plugin, I tried different structure types, such as braced grid, fiagrid, grid and hexag-onal structures to see the different outcomes.

I also investigated and generated several 3D interior structures with the definition of my first approach. It is surprised for me to find that the complex interior structure inside the box looks like a spiderweb. There-fore, for the interim presentation, I participated the group of designing a spiderweb bridge.

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The graphics shown above are the most successful iterations in my mind. According to our investigation theme, the technique of drones should be applied on our projects. The main structural frame could be done by timber or bamboo, and using drones to carry steel lines to create the inner struc-tures with some algorithms. The algorithms could be gained from the pattern of natural spiderwebs.

Although the purpose of these iterations I did were not used for a bridge as it is a box shape, the design idea of complex detailed inner structure to support the main struc-ture, and using the main structure to support people could be taken for the further devel-opment of our spiderweb bridge.

Our design of the Spiderweb bridge has a very similar design concept as the water cube I have investigated. Both of them took the inspiration of their structure patterns from the nature. Namely, their architectural innovations were inspired by nature, which is also called biomimicry. For the water cube, a inspiration of bubble has been taken to symbolise water. For my project and the group project, as the design site is near the Merri Creek, spiders and spiderwebs should be common to be seen around this area.

As I said before, the lens of my project are looking into sustainability and a relationship between the nature and human movements. By applying biomimicry into the design, the final project will bring the feeling of combin-ing the human movement into the nature.

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B.5. Technique: Prototypes

As I was investigating the Water cube, which took the inspi-ration from the natural bubble, our spiderweb bridge will take the inspiration from the natural spiderwebs.

Obviously, it is a tensile structure. Tensile aggregations are described as a concatenation of nodes and links. Flying ro-bots, namely drones, seem to be the best choice for the tech-nique we used. We simulated the walking paths of spiders by drones. We used drones to carry lines with the algorithms carried out by investigating natural spiderwebs.

I found these pictures above and tried to map out the web pattern in algorithmic terms. By observing the points of intersection within the web, I followed the rule to create some codes for the nodes and links of our tensile structure and we used grasshopper to generate the prototypes below.

As for the actual design, we decided to create this spirderweb bridge between the bridge and the bank, therefore, two panels on each side will be needed. During the computational process, we created this structural inside a box to investigate different structure types and the strength of the structure whether it is able to carry a human or not.

1. “Spider Web #6849391”, 7-themes.com, 2016 <http://7-themes.com/6849391-spider-web.html> [accessed 28 April 2016].

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25For the actual physical modelling, we used a perspex box with many holes on each of pan-els. Then, we selected a pair of opposite panels as the existing bridge and the bank, which support our tensile structure, and tried to simulate the paths of the spider/drone to map out the spiderweb bridge by hand.

During the test of our structure, we found some drawbacks. The most important one is that the tensile structure is not as strenght as we thought. Actually, it is hard to keep balance on the tensile structure. Therefore, as we planned at the beginning, the main structure of the bridge will be needed, such as a flat surface for people to walk, and this spiderweb tensile structure will be used to support it.

For the further development, the density of the structure could be increased to increase the strength of the structure. In addition, creating more nodes would make the structure strong-er. The way to add the walking path will be developed.

1. “Best Spider Web Png #21480 - Clipartion.Com”, Clipartion.com, 2016 <http://clipartion.com/free-clipart-21480/> [accessed 1 May 2016].

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As I said before, our project combined the design concepts of biomimicry and high tech-nique. In the context of Merri Creek, the spiderweb bridge will fit in with the background very well. This design tried to indicate the way that human interfere with nature, also, the relation-ship between the human movement and the nature.

As an algorithmic design, we used drones to simulate spiders. We also investigated the different personalities of spiders and tried to give the drones personalities. As spiders are roughly classified with the personalities of bold and shy, I am thinking about to have two different algorithms for drones to simulate these two personalities.

As a structural design, the ornament is created by itself and in a very natural form.

With the reasons above, our design could be thought as the best choice to fit the criterea. For the further development, we will focus on the spiderweb engineer and the techiniques of using grasshopper and applying drones in our design. What is more, the safety problem will be considered later.

B.6. Technique: Proposal

Photos shown on the left is pretty much what I though the way that drones cooper-ate in our design.

1. “ETH Zurich’S Drones Able To Build A Bridge In Flight - H+ MAGAZINE”, H+ MAGAZINE, 2015 <https://hu-manoids.io/2015/09/eth-zurichs-drones-able-build-bridge-in-flight/> [accessed 28 April 2016].

27B.7. Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Before the start of this project, I could only play around with grasshopper, which means I could not use it to build the actual things I want, all the results are randomly gained. However, during this project, I was thinking to use grasshopper to achieve a specific goal. It makes me to gain a sense of achievement when I actually create a similar prototype of the water cube.

During the process, I also have met some problems when I tried to use the same grasshop-per definition but changed the original geometry, such as changing the cube into a sphere or triangular pyramid. When I did that way, either the definition did not work, or the result I gained was not what I want. For example, voronoi can be used for the surfaces of a cube, but it did not work for a sphere. I understood this as voronoi only works on the points of a flat surface but not a curved surface.

For the group work I participited for the midterm presentation, we tried to use some algorithm to simulate the creation of spider webs. In our plan, we used drones to simulate the move-ment of spider and design the paths of drones with algorithm to create our project -- a bridge with the shape of spider web. However, we are still researching the way to write the code for drones.

We also considered the possibilities of using membrane structure, which means we use lines to create a 2-dimensional spiderweb pattern like the actural orb webs. If doing this way, it will be very similar to one of the surfaces of the water cube that I investigated.There is another idea, which is using the spider web structure surround the space of walking path (main structure of the bridge). The tensile structure is attached to the main part to support it. The final choice we made is to make the web dynamic and able to change around in different conditions by considering the situation of water flood in merry creek.

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B.8. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches

With the help of grasshop-per plugins, such as kanga-roo and lunch box, it could be easy for me to achieve the things I want. Instead of some irregular structures, I can create some struc-tures with clear and regular patterns, and some algo-rithms can be seen within the project, which makes it look like a really project(pa-vilion).

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Part C. DETAILED DESIGN

C.1. Design Concept

The final design of our project is to make a tensile structure accross the creek with the form of spider web. The brief of this design is providing a public space for visitors to have a rest and communication with each other. This space is designed to be mul-ti-functional with the change of forms by pulling the guide rope by visitors them-selves.

This design is supposed to add more activ-ities for visitors and more fun for children as there is no facilities for people to en-gage. Currently, people can only walking along the creek, even the place for rest is lacked. With this design, more people will come to visit this place.

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Possible Public Activities Feasi-bility

Potential Problem

Sitting & Lying H --

Reading and Listening to music

H --

Sitting around & Chatting H --

Playing Card Games M Cards may drop into the creek through holes of the web

Picnic M Pollution may caused by dropping food or rubbish into creek

Playing in the water L Not suggested as the water is not clear

Chasing M May cause problem to others

Jumping M Could be safe as the mesh is soft

Walking a dog L Not suggested as animals may mess up the mesh

H = High M = Medium L = Low

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Surface development

A tensile structure is a construc-tion of elements carrying only tension and no compression or bending.

By forcing the fabric to take on double-curvature, the fabric gains sufficient stiffness to with-stand the loads it is subjected to.

Surface LevelsThe Lower areas are under the bridge and the higher areas are on the both sides of the bridge.

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Envisaged construction process

1. Install the connectors at the anchor points on the site

2. Create the substructures by four drones holding the steel wires and flying between the different anchor points randomly

3. Fly multiple times until have a stong enough substructure.

4. Install the closed throat snap hook on one side of the steel wire

5. Connect the steel wires to the pre-fabri-cated nylon mesh with the hook

6. Use four drones to hold the steel wires at the four corners of the mesh

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7. Connect to the corresponding connectors on the bridge by circling around it

8. After flying around the connectors, drones fly back to the mesh, cut the wires and fly back to the charging points for charge

9. Install the closed throat snap hook on the steel wire and connect to the mesh

10. Each of the four drones repeats 17 times to complete all of the connections on the bridge and on the both sides of the creek

11. Drones hold the steel wires connected to the areas of the mesh under the bridges, pull downwards and fly around the nodes of the substructure

12. After connecting to the anchor points/nodes of the substructure, drones fly back to the mesh, cut the wires and fly back to the charging points for charge

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13. Install the closed throat snap hook on the steel wire and connect to the mesh

14. Four drones repeat totally 18 times to complete all of the connections on the substructure

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C.2. Tectonic Elements & Prototypes

The main materials used for this project are steel wire and web made by nylon rope. As a tensile structure, the web must be elastic and strong. The wire used to pull the mesh and connect to the walking paths and bridges needs to be strong, sturdy and durable. Therefore, steel wire and nylon rope could be the best choice.

The actual feeling of the mesh is similar with the Spider Web Playground Swing shown be-low, which is made by nylon rope with padded steel frame.

As our planned, the project will be built with the technique of drones. The nylon mesh and steel wires are pre-fabricated. The reason of using drones is that it is difficult for human to reach the height of the bridges to construct this project. Therefore, the core construction ele-ment should be the connection of the steel wire with the mesh and the site by using drones. With the inspiration of guitar peg, the connectors that installed on the site could be designed as below.

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With the research of the drones, I prefer this one above. According to the information on the website ‘specout’, the SteadiDrone QU4D X has multiple functions such as agriculture, film & photography, mapping, recreation/hobby and surveying. It is classified as a quadcopter, utiliz-es a combination of a mobile device and a separate remote controller to control its flight. The most important thing is that it has the payload Capacity of more than 7700g, which means it has enough power to pull the mesh.

The SteadiDrone QU4D X has the smart rating of 76 and max flight time of 20 minutes. How-ever, the price is $13,999, which is too high to buy it personally.

SteadiDrone QU4D X

Drones flying Path -- Creating substructures under the mesh

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Basic Flying paths

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C.3. Learning Objectives and Outcomes

By considering the given feedback of the presentation, the actual way of changing the form of the space by visitors themselves needs to be designed detailedly. The rock-climbing attachments has inspired me, therefore, using the Closed Throat Snap Hook to connect the steel wire and the mesh should be a good idea. Visitors can open the hook and connect it to another area of the mesh to create a small space. I also considering the potential problems such as drop the wire uncarefully. To prevent from the wire sliding from the connector, a safty block should be added to the wire.

I am also considering to redesign the project by creating an upperstructure above the mesh. Doing this way will reduce the limitations of only can connect to the sides of the bridge. Just like the substructure, the nodes of the upperstructure can be considered as anchor points and more connections under the bridge can be created.

Thirdly, I am considering to change the mesh into membrane. During the research, I found that most of the tensile structure is made by PTFE-coated fiberglass. Comparing to the nylon mesh, I prefer this one as it is an elastic fabric which should be more comfortable than a mesh. In addition, the problems of dropping things into the riven will no longer be worried about.

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Objective 1. “interrogat[ing] a brief” The brief of our project has been changed for several times, from a bridge to a homeless shulter, and finally become a multi-functional space. It depends on the random shape of our project created by grasshopper. I called it random because there is always some unexpected results gained by using grasshopper, and some new ideas will appear by looking into that forms.

Objective 2. developing “an ability to generate a variety of design possibilities for a given situation” For this purpose, one of the simply ways is changing the slides to gain different results in the grasshopper. Another way is changing the original inputs and investigating the changes of the results. Sometimes it is workable, but sometimes not. In order to solve this problem, more knowledge must be gained.

Objective 3. developing “skills in various threedimensional media” With the use of Rhino of Grasshopper, the 3D modelling skills must have been improved. In order to create a fine product of visual model, the skill of using photoshops is required as well. Although photoshops is not a 3D media, but it is important to have a correct 3D feeling to put the model into the right place of the background.

Objective 4. developing “an understanding of relationships between architecture and air” By considering the actual construction of our project, the technique of using drones has been introduced. This is decided by the situation of our site as human can hardly finish this pro-ject by reaching the height of bridge. Using drones will be more safty and efficient. It can be considered as the key to decide the constructing way of our project.

Objective 5. developing “the ability to make a case for proposals” Through the twice presentations and the feedback gained at different stages of our project, it is impossible to have no problem. In order to solve the problem, everyone has different ideas. It is necessary to persuade others with a strong case for proposals and continue the project.

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Objective 6. develop capabilities for conceptual, technical and design analyses of contempo-rary architectural projects;This skill has been developed through Part A and Part B. Through the research, my horizon has been expanded and more knowledge of the contemporary architectural projects has been gained. It is excited for me to create a project which is similar to a famous contemporary project, although there is still a big gape between my work and the actural project.

Objective 7. develop foundational understandings of computational geometry, data structures and types of programming;Before the studio, I was unfamiliar with the computational design and this is my first time to use Grasshopper. Honestly, the start of using this program is exciting as everything is new to me. But when using it to design something with a specific purpose, everything became hard. However, there are still many aspects of using computational design that I enjoyed. It is very helpful to generate different outcomes and see more possibilities.

Objective 8. begin developing a personalised repertoire of computational techniques substan-tiated by the understanding of their advantages, disadvantages and areas of application.As I said before, computational techniques bring a lot of benefits during the design process. Combining with my experimence, computational techniques halps to generate a variety of repetitive irregular patterns with the certain relationship among each ofthem. What is more, although I like the feeling of hand drawing, as a formal presentation, it is undeniable that the project produced by computational techniques gives more aesthetic feeling, and expresses the idea more clearly. The drawbacks for me to use the computational techniques is to create some specific things. I think it is because of the lack of skills. I believe with the improvement of my techique skills, more advantages will be found and more amaz-ing products will be produced.

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C.4. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches

Experimentation during the process of the project:

Tensile Models

Surface Development

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Surface development

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