Hi, I’m Stefanie Guo. I’m doing my

bachelor degree of architecture

in my final year, first semester.

I was born in Chengdu,

China and have stayed there

most of my life. This is my third

year studying abroad and I really love Melbourne.

I first learned the software known as SketchUp when I was in my high school. I thought that learning the software would suffice to my university architectures needs; however, it was not as professional as compared to other software’s like Rhinoceros. Through the subject, virtual environments, I gained exposure to Rhinoceros and paneling tool. Even after gaining exposure and some experience with this software’s, it did not really aid me in modeling. This is one of the main reasons why I am so excited about this subject, because this subject allows me to explore this software systematically and gain an in-depth knowledge of the software. Personally, I believe that digital architecture is a creation of the modern era. It has helped the way in which architecture is formed in modern society. Digital architecture gives architects many privileges and allows them to further explore and create their ideas in models. Digital architecture allows ideas to become realistic as compared to traditional forms of architecture that would require a longer and harder process to manifest the ideas. Furthermore, one of the upsides of digital architecture is that it allows architects to modify their ideas and designs easily as compared to traditional architecture.

This project was part of my first year subject, Virtual Environments. My piece was derived from the concept of an iceberg and the reflection of broken ice. This project shows the natural connection between a models made by a natural process with human body. No matter the left, right or forward, backward, the model perfectly matches my body. This project has allowed me to learn many different required methods for designing where precedents, analyzing, inspiration and so on are required. This project allowed me to develop my idea from merely ice caps and the melting process of ice caps into a wondrous model. Furthermore, the processes learned throughout this subject give me the availability to use such skills and techniques in further projects or jobs.

This project has been derived from a type of dessert grass that demonstrates freedom, harmony and peace in the aboriginal lands of Australia. This discovery Center and Place for Cultural Exchange is from a painting of an aboriginal artist, Jean-nie Petyarre. This discovery center uses different materials and spatial orders to create a sense of discovery. I designed a bridge through the discovery center representing the long journey that the aboriginals have overcome over the past years.

Personally, I have an attachment with modernism in architecture. There are two buildings that show interest to me. One being the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Guangzhou Opera House.

The Walt Disney Concert Hall shows both the modernism in architecture and the influence an architect has on the building. The concert hall was designed and created mainly by the purpose of being a music hall rather than incorporating the ego of the architect. Therefore, this building always acts as an inspiration to me where I can use my ideas in different forms, and focus on different areas, like focusing on the purpose of a building then moving into design and my trademark. The connection between material and form of the concert hall shows me that architecture does not mainly focus on the design ideas, functions, relationship with the surroundings, and landscape but also the consideration of the reality of the structure.

The Guangzhou Opera House has been designed by the infamous Zaha Hadid and is her first architecture in China. I like the building because of the modern architecture and design it compensates. This building acts as a stepping-stone for China in general, as Zaha Hadid has brought in a form of architecture and design that can be seen as new and uncharted for Chinese architecture. This building acts a beginning for different forms of drastic and extraordinary acceptance of architecture in China. Personally, I would suggest that this building allows me to see the usefulness of digital architecture and how it has shaped the way in which architecture and design can be carried out in modern society. Zaha Hadid’s Guangzhoue Opera House shows how she transcends the laws of architecture and uses her inspirations and ideas to create buildings of free form, without limitations and consistency.

After architect separated from artist and engineer as a profession, building has no longer been undesigned, and then, real architectures born. As all the architectural revolution past by, a digital architecture become the new profession. However, everything needs time to change. Architects started with using computer as a tool to present, and now, they use computer as a media to design. I think the process of architectural design is a journey of finding new ideas. However, design never ends as the ideas can always change. When computer was used as a representational tool, it helped the design process end up with more accurate results. Different from free hand drawings, computer did provide more simple and easier way to demonstrate design ideas. Especially after 3D modeling software releasing, digital model became another objective way of representing to unprofessional people other than physical model. The design process has become the combination of creative architects’ ideas and representative computer’s outcomes. However, the exploration of computer’s ability is endless. Instead of making communication between architects and computer,

After architect separated from artist and engineer as a profession, building has no longer been undesigned, and then, real architectures born. As all the architectural revolution past by, a digital architecture become the new profession. However, everything needs time to change. Architects started with using computer as a tool to present, and now, they use computer as a media to design. I think the process of architectural design is a journey of finding new ideas. However, design never ends as the ideas can always change. When computer was used as a representational tool, it helped the design process end up with more accurate results. Different from free hand drawings, computer did provide more simple and easier way to demonstrate design ideas. Especially after 3D modeling software releasing, digital model became another objective way of representing to unprofessional people other than physical model. The design process has become the combination of creative architects’ ideas and representative computer’s outcomes. However, the exploration of computer’s ability is endless. Instead of making communication between architects and computer,

it became share the design ideas between architects and computer. This highly expanded the possibility of unexpected outcomes. Architects got the talent of creativity and sensitive to good visual sensation. Computer has awesome analytical and representative property. Therefore, forming an idea through computer, modifying it with creativity become the new way of architectural design. Architectures have the ability to be more unexpected and ‘crazier’. Moreover, apart from the form and shape that digital architecture can produce, the complex design process can never achieve without analyzing the concept and ideas through computers. Nevertheless, with development of computers’ design ability, the reality and acceptability of the world should always keep in mind. Sometimes, people or client could understand architects. Therefore, they could not always accept some creations of architecture. In another words, the speed that digital architecture is developing may faster than the speed that people get the sense of interest. Only if there is an architectural world, architects can design without any concern.

ComputersINArchitectural Design Process

computational architecture Metamorphosis

discourse

computational architecture discourse

The way of analyzing activities in the theatre provides a more advanced opportunity to get the satisfied outcomes. Sometimes, in stead of thinking about further ideas out of the projects, a idea rises from the project will be better to work on. The space it created by using digital computational process interrupt with functional characteristic, which produced a dynamic surface. However, the conceptual idea and practical outcome is not the same. As an architectural project, it seems like lack of reality. The physical laser cut model is effectively presenting the structure. However, the reality is that a building with this kind of form needs more consideration about the material. The same as other digital architectural project, computer formed a perfect form, but not a real building. This project is successful and well organized. It performed a discourse of computational architecture. However, it is not able to end up with a real building due to the shortage of material properties. Therefore, like a lot of other project, this project can only alive in computer but not real world.

The way of analyzing activities in the theatre provides a more advanced opportunity to get the satisfied outcomes. Sometimes, in stead of thinking about further ideas out of the projects, a idea rises from the project will be better to work on. The space it created by using digital computational process interrupt with functional characteristic, which produced a dynamic surface. However, the conceptual idea and practical outcome is not the same. As an architectural project, it seems like lack of reality. The physical laser cut model is effectively presenting the structure. However, the reality is that a building with this kind of form needs more consideration about the material. The same as other digital architectural project, computer formed a perfect form, but not a real building. This project is successful and well organized. It performed a discourse of computational architecture. However, it is not able to end up with a real building due to the shortage of material properties. Therefore, like a lot of other project, this project can only alive in computer but not real world.

Newplayhousefor

the royal theatrein Copenhagen

This project is about a landscape playhouse, which use as the competition entry for ‘a new playhouse for the royal theatre in Copenhagen’. This project was awarded in the FEIDAD Award in 2003.

By using the geometric characteristics and structural logics of self-intersecting curved surface as the foundation of metamorphosis process, a differentiated surface articulation and spatial organization is resulted.

A fashion

ParametricModelling

Parametric design is a fashionable way of architecture design. I personally think the parametric design process is to input vectors instead of other specific ideas into a function, and get different design plans through changing the vectors in this function. It can be seen as a way of design that based on computer and number. The solution is also derived through auto-generation. However, the parametric modeling, which is very popular today, often worked out by using a plugin in Rhino, Grasshopper. This means parametric should not be a style but at most a fashion.

Parametric people say, “parametricism” is a new style of architecture, which means “all architectural elements and complexes are parametrically malleable.” However, I don’t think “parametricism” is even existing right now. Computer helps the parametric design come true, but no one knows where will it drive to be.

A fashion Modelling

Parametric design is a fashionable way of architecture design. I personally think the parametric design process is to input vectors instead of other specific ideas into a function, and get different design plans through changing the vectors in this function. It can be seen as a way of design that based on computer and number. The solution is also derived through auto-generation. However, the parametric modeling, which is very popular today, often worked out by using a plugin in Rhino, Grasshopper. This means parametric should not be a style but at most a fashion.

Parametric people say, “parametricism” is a new style of architecture, which means “all architectural elements and complexes are parametrically malleable.” However, I don’t think “parametricism” is even existing right now. Computer helps the parametric design come true, but no one knows where will it drive to be.

Moreover, here is no specific form of ”parametricism” architecture, other than the way it design through. However, the other architecture styles are all representing a kind of form in architecture design. Therefore, “parametricism” should not be called or predicted, at least now. We should totally understand parametric design first, before we get to move it to a style of architecture.

Moreover, parametric modeling is systematically opposite to traditional architectural design process. Architecture should be against rationality, which means architecture should not be an outcome of logical theory but aesthetics. However, the basic theory and background parametric design is totally different from the traditional architectural design. In some instant, the parametric design outcomes are the results of computer calculating rather than architectural thinking. Furthermore, designs mainly derived from historical architectural thinking and typical architectural style will be more meaningful.

As a kind of decoration in the earth, architecture with aesthetics thinking and represents a meaning is easier to understand and accept. However, the public, because of the new and stylish form, accepts parametric architectures itself. Such as the parametric architecture, Guang Zhou Opera House, built by ZHA in China, Chinese are really enjoying in having a “wired” but curved architecture on land. However, if look it with the surroundings, it seems out of tune. Besides, as a new way of design, it is valuable to discover.

A part from some designs are hard to build and exploration of function taking more time than the design outcome, parametric modeling should be a new generated and workable way in the digital generation. The soft curved architectures are definitely nice to view and needed for young architects to understand the process.