Studio Air

Journal

Architecture Design Studio Air 2012 Semester 1 Ruxi Gao 387207

Week 1: EOI Architecture Discourse

MORIYAMA HOUSE is located in a traditional part of Tokyo. There are more than ten blocks on the site, each with a different function. These blocks are connected and dismantled across the site, which creates a series of independent courtyards.

In this house, the client is given the freedom to decide which parts of the cluster of rooms will be used for residential rooms and which for rental rooms. This house represents the 'Dismantling, multiple tenancy' principles of the Sejima design spirit.

Human activity was considered as a part of the building is design with the use of huge glass walls, which is very interesting to me as Seijima design challenges the tradi-tion of people seeing the apartment as a 'private' space, by designing the apartment more 'public' space. Also, the smallness of rooms, roof gardens and courtyards is a silent rebuttal to Koolhaas' assertion that 'minimum is maximum in drag'.

Therefore, the INNOVATIVE design ideas such as dismantling, smallness, humans as a part of nature, and merging public and private spaces are the main architec-tural discourses of this building. I personally believe that the 'silent rebuttal' is a really good way to influence, to guide and to help people accept the new objects, such as computation, parametric design etc, although it may take a long time.

EOI -- Part I: Case for InnovationArchitecture DiscourseWeek 1

Personal: Boathouse 2011

State of the Art: Moriyama House Sejima 2005Galaxy Soho Zaha Hadid 2009

Key Words: Architecture as

ARTSIGN

URBAN EXPERIENCE

DismantlingCourtyardTransparencyMultiple Tenancy

+TopographyMovementComputerlizing

THE GALAXY SOHO project in central Beijing for SoHo China was inspired by the grand scale of Beijing. Its architecture is a composition of five continuous, flowing volumes that are dismantled, but linked by stretched bridges. These volumes adapt to each other in all directions, generating a panoramic architecture without corners or abrupt transitions that break the fluidity of its formal composition.

The shifted plateaus within the design impact upon each other to generate a deep sense of movement and envelopment, which forms a continued curved linearity.

Compared to Sejima's traditional 'silent' and 'light' design, the architectural discourse of Zaha Hadid's design is created by the innovation of 'moving feeling' and computerization. The use of computer modelling makes the building more complicat-ed, but it is also more modernized, which suits the fast devel-oping currency of Beijing.

Whereas Sejima's approach is a 'silent rebuttal' to mainstream traditionally-influnced design, Zaha's approach is a more di-rect, aggressive, revolutionary reaction. Since Zaha's com-puter-skill-based style draws nearer to the more modernist parametric design, it is a reaction against both Sejima's design and mainstream traditionally-influenced design.

In my design, I tried to follow Sejima's design principles. In the first conceptual planning stage, I tried to design a series of blocks with different usage to demostrate the 'dismantling' principle.

As the site has a very deep slope (12 meters), I have added some pilotis to some of the pavillions to support, and to provide a 'light' feeling. To link these pavillions together and create a better circulation, I have put several stairs, installed two elevators and created a white-pebble padding for visitors.

Compare to Zaha Hadid's work, my design has a simpler and more organic shape, and forming a quiet, light and steady atmosphere simillar to what Sejima did.

By using computation tools, it allows me to explore more design possibilities in a very efficient way; the best way to combine building blocks were discover, and the accurate building outcome were also calculated by computer, which helped me choosing building materials and to fit the blocks into the site.

'It is possible to claim that a designer's creativity is limited by the very programs that are supposed to free their imagination.'Terzidis, Kostas (2009).

EOI Computing in ArchitectureWeek 2

State of the Art: ORN8 G. Cruz, S. Kaprinis, N. Popik, M. Tsironi, 2011Kaohsiung Marine Gateway Asymptote Architecture & Artech Architecture,

Parametric Design

Parametric design does not have a clear definition, but is related to terms such as: generative, computational, digital, unclear, futurism, associative etc. It is based on computer-modeling but is much more complicated. When modeling concepts using parametric design methods, certain op-erations will be simplified, repetitive and less time consuming since data is calculated by com-puter; however, the parametric design is not omnipotent since the main design ideas still need to be worked out by human. Therefore, parametric design should be used as a tool for designers.

Unique Innovation

Along with the social, economic development and media spread, people's desire forbeauty is exploding and speeding-up as well. These needs encourages newer technologies and ideals to be developed and innovated, to replace traditional technologies thus satisfies people's need. In this way, unique innovations have appeared, and these technologies have naturally been incorporated into modern architectural design (Ottchen, 2009).

The BMW Pavilion

THE BMW PAVILION was designed by Bemhaed Fran-ken (ABB Architecture); Frankfurt Motor Show, Germa-ny, 1999. It was inspired by two interacting water droplets.

This transparent building, which used a freeform net and mem-brane in this construction, has the shape of a water drop and of a solar cloud. Digital tools were used at every stage in the pro-cess, from design to manufacturing. Isomorphic design was used to simulate the physical forces of two water drops merg-ing under the influence of gravity and thus generating form.

Isomorphic design is based on the isomorphic poly-surface in Maya (from Alias Wave Front). In the gateway project, similar outcomes can be created using Grasshopper. Compared to the previous proj-ect ORN8, this building is more practical and less controversial in its results. However, from its plans, we can clearly see the advantages of using computer programs in the drawing, designing and model-ing tage to speed up designing, to improve accuracy in building de-tails, to simulate possible failures, and to simplify complex problems.

ORN8, Novel Ineriorities

0RN8 pursues the creation of new interiorities through the expansion of and development of both existing structural systems and the lattest cutting-edge structural systems. The development of such systems must occur within the de-fining parameters of the systems' own rules and guide lines.

In this project, Gothic vault bay tectonic systems were used to analyse the arch, rib and profile curvatures, as well as the variable thicknesses and depths, in an attempt to parameterize the entire vault bay structural system. This parameterization will eventually lead to the creation of a novel, autopoietic and parametric, proto-design system, which will give birth to a va-riety of inherently multi-systematic and adaptive interiorities.

Further modeling and scripting experimentation with the concepts of the parameterization of the Gothic vault bay, of field compo-nent organizations, of globally affected field and mesh geome-tries, of coloration differentiation induced, and of form-gener-ating patterns, inform the current system deployment tactics. The outcome of the aforementioned design research process will be the creation of interiorities of multi-layered complex-ity and differentiation. Eventually, these will be generated in-trinsically and autogenously in-situ, and constructed according to contemporary prototypical design and fabrication protocols, based on the current AA Design Research Laboratory's agenda.

I personally think this project is more like a visual-art ob-ject rather than an architectural project. The architects of this project seem focused on aesthetic aspects rather than practical aspects which architecture should have. How-eve, if we look architecture as a 'sign', this project would be a very successful monumental building which is aes-thectically attractive, modernist and stylelish. Therefore it can be seen as a good computerized example from which I could learn and get inspiration for my own Gateway Project.

EOI Parametric Modeling-Contemporary Scripting CulturesWeek 3

Advantage of Scripting Culture:

Can afford a significantly deeper engagement between the computer and user; Can be the antidote to standardisation forced by an ambition to lower production costs; Can afford the designer opportunities to escape the strictures inherent in any software.

'Scripting Cultures considers the implications of lower-level com-puter programming (scripting) as it becomes more widely taken up and more confidently embedded into the "design process'". '

-- Burry, Mark, 2011

The 'CONNECTING WEB', designed by Danil Caven, is located in the sections and renderings in Chicago, Illinois. It is constructed of circular HSS tubing which acts as structural members that support a fiberglass platform; this platform holds rest and lounge areas for visitors.

The 'Connecting Web' allows for a certain amount of natural light to enter the passage for users, which is intended to create an atmosphere of relaxation and com-fort for visitors amidst the entanglement of the building. The use of ivy creates an elevated green public space that psychologically gives the public a connection with NATURE. The 'Connecting Web' pedestrian bridge also has an organic shape, which was inspired by a spider's web.

This project was created using Grasshop-per, expresses contemporary scripting cultures which allows it to adapt itself to most situa-tions by taking advances of parametric modeling.

The 'Connecting Web' also takes initiative in standing up for environmental factors, allowingwind and light to pass through its web-like outer shell. To create a sustainable solution degrading natural shading in the summer months, the 'Connecting Web' incorporatesivy growth in the outer web to block the sun's rays; this adds to the practical merit of the project.

Compared to the previous two designs, 'Connect-ing Web' is less limited by area; it can be placed and used in connection between any building gaps. It is easy to construct, cheaper, in cost and takes less time, and these are many of the advantage of script-ing culture compared to other computational processes.

Design Philosophy: Naturalism

Contemporary Scripting

Other Projects using similar design

On Air Music Hall -- Yeliz Ossoy:

This project is inspired by a cellular system. Its massive hardouter shell and contrary soft interior body links to the genetic mutation.The overall compositional mass of the performance hall isa structural challenge. Thus the material for the concert hall andits interior is lightweight, which makes the project look fragile.

Maritime Cultural & Pop Music Center -- Made In Architects:

This project proposes a responsible urbanism based onthe heterogeneity of the program. It merges cultural spheres(both musical and maritime), natural spheres (eg. hexagonshapes, roof gardens, tree-like columns etc.), and urbanspheres into the one site, including a city extension, night market etc.

NYU Department of Philosophy steven holl

CASE OF INNOVATION CONCLU-SION

Parametric design as a rising design technique which is not widely used by architects or except by people yet. However, the Gateway Project offers a great opportunity which allows us to engage with parametric design without much restricts, and to encourages us to create inno-vative, cutting-edge designs.

However, this great freedom also can cause serious problems in reality; for example, it could bring extreme difficulties for construction. If we look in another way, the inter-reaction between creativity and innovation in design can also help to promote the construction technology.

Therefore, if we balance ideas and technology carefully, it is not impossible to realize innova-tive projects.

naturetheme

The Wyndham City council aims for a gateway design to achieve abstract forms that inspires posi-tive arrival experience and emphasis the natural environment, histories and heritage of municipality. In relation to the topic of nature, the concept was inspired by the very basic form of nature: plants. From the invisible cells, formulating a physical stem which grows leafs and petals in repetition, generating a flower; it is the concept of parts to whole in architecture: the interrelation between components which formulates the structure from the very foundation. From this origin, the design process experiments the extent in which seamless dots formulates a line, and lines formulates an image, shadow, light and motion from very simple adjustments in various combination of Input, Association and Outputs; embracing design aim.

In accordance to Kalay’s Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer Aided Design, the design process develops through rationalization for easy fabrication in later stage.

EOI -- Part II: Research ProjectScope of PossibilitiesWeek 4

wyndham city gateway

aspiration intent

arrival experience

feeling

abstarct

visual art

new identity

prince highwaymotorist

<120km/h

exciting

eye catching

werribee river

inspires

k road cliff

wildlife sancturies

heritage

metropolitan melbourne

sculptures

nature environment

entry

Matric Combinations

Matrics in this page are mainly created by different incomes and out-comes connecting to Image Sampler.

The association of Image Sampler was choosen since it has a charc-teristic of flexiblility, changful, and very easy to use. As we can see, lots of interesting patterns which gives out different feelings can be created.

In this page, we tried to apply Grass-hopper definitions to 3D surfaces. The process is easy and quick, with very conplex and interesting outcomes.

surface normal + image sampler + rotation explicit grid + image sampler + circle

Rotation inspires motion in design, in addition to image sampler and sur-face normal forms soft delicate flows of lines and points which dem-onstrates abstract moving effect of driving on the Princes Freeway.

A combination of explicit grid, image sampler and circles produces digital design of visual organic formation. Simple multiplication of circles and arbitrary voids produces blurred abstract image, allowing different interpretation of whether the image is a part of a larger image or itself a complete picture of an abstract form.

Best Two Matrics:


intention

soft surface boundary

- to recreate the characteristic natural environ-

ment of Sendai into the restaurant

- The curvature form of perforated steel imi-

tates the road side Zelkovas tree, and through

innovative digital designs of perforation in the

material, the backlit lighting projects the image

of trees and produces a seamless ‘soft bound-

ary surface’ which show the continuity from

roadside landscape into interior space of Aoba

Tei.

Case Study: AobaTei Restaurant

how he achieve?

- by using wrapping method of the choosen repre-sentative image through the entire curvature form

- using CNC router- a standardized peforated hole size of 4mm, 6mm,

9mm with 15mm spacing

TECHNIQUESSQUARE GRID LINE+IMAGE SAMPLER+CIRCLE

INPUT :

ASSOCIATION :

OUTPUT :

test 1

test 2

Manipulation of

Scale

Constrast

Density

Light and Shadow

“compressed shadow space transition”

Hitoshi innovatively incorporated the traditional japanese architecture into the modern setting of Aoba Tei restaurant, using the features of progressive shad-ows and light from the transparency of rice paper in the traditional Japanese

home.

“They limit light, reduce contrast, and have an earthy aroma”

The transitional experience from dark to light in correspondance with funtional-ity of rooms. He cleverly uses modern materials and methods to manipulate light

and shadow in an enclosed environment.His project suceeds in which he uses perforated steel and artificial lighting,

materials and methods very much opposite to nature and used to frabricate the atmosphere of the Sendai landscape.

“our anchestors, forced to live in dark rooms, presently came to discover beauty in shadows, ultimately to guide shadows,

heavy shadows against light shadows“ - Junichiro Tanizaki(Novelist) , in “In Praise of Shadow“

how innovative?

TECHNIQUESSQUARE GRIDLINE+IMAGE SAMPLER + RATIONALISATION+CIRCLE

INPUT :

ASSOCIATION :

OUTPUT :

test 3

4mm,6mm,9mm spacing 15mm


12mm,16mm,18mm spacing


4.5mm,6mm,10mm spacing

2.5mm,1.5mm,3mm spacing

3.5mm,7mm,8mm spacing


material effectsRestaurant Aoba Tei by Hitoshi Abe ‘establishes a visual dia-logue’ between the characteristic landscapes of Sendai into the internal environment of the restaurant. This case study pro-vides further architectural philosophy, exploring the boundary of relationship between nature and the materiality. What is materiality? What is nature? All material is a formed of nature in one way or another, then where does the line lie to separate the two? Thus leads to the experimenta-tion of physical abilities of cardboard. It is stiff and rigid similar to perforated steel (ma-teriality) used in Aoba Tei, and under submergence it softens, bends like wood (nature) over long period of environmental exposure. Our aim to produce an imitation of Aoba Tei restaurant but also to further explore the transi-tion of space, which cardboard is used as a physical transition medium (distortion of materiality and nature) between the ex-ternal and internal space. The perforation of material imitates and projects nature and the sensation of natural environment.

http://vimeo.com/41079058

start

end


assembly methodsThe Aoba Tei restaurant was welded onsite with specialised professional craftmanship. Craftman were able to deform the steel panels at key points by heating and chilling.

The assembly methods of the model is similar to Aoba Tei restaurant. A thin framing element is used to permenantly prop the steel/card-

board into the desired curvature form; setting the wall in place.

The steel walls were assembled from smaller seg-ments; the model presented is at the scale of 1:5 to the

steel panels.

Perforated steel was precasted and assembled on site. Our model was laser cutted and assembled accordingly to the

framming.

conclusionThe two major attributes that were adopted into the fabrication are:

- the concept: using nature and traditional context

The idea is unique, as it incorporates the very nature of the environment into the material itself. Not only projecting impression of nature but physically altering material form corresponding to Zelkovas trees.

- the method: digital fabrication, industrial production

Aoba Tei restaurant is innovative in many aspects. Material choice is cheap and easily assembled; prefabrication allows time efficien-

cy in construction of the building. The design will be cheap, time efficient, easily assembled, an inspirational visual public art, and abstract form of nature.

Effectively borrow the major advantageous methods that restaurant Aoba Tei consists and cultivated according to the aim of Wyndham City Gateway design.

The design approach of our case study is focused on Kolarevic’s idea ‘how conventional materials can be used within innovative applications’.

During exploration, we have found that by using simple computation techniques, varied, complicated and delicate patterns can be created; and by adjusting and using these patterns, even ordinary materials can be changed into stylish designs.

The result of our reverse engineering section is quite successful, since our model is interesting, accurate, and aesthetical-

ly pleasing. During this section, we have developed and explored our computation methods and techniques, which could be used in Gateway Project later.

Studio Air

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