ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO: AIR

SEMESTER 2 -2012UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNEby NGUYEN HOANG DAI DUONG

PART 01EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

WEEK 1ARCHITECTURE AS DISCOURSE

ABOUT MEMy name is Nguyen Hoang Dai Duong. I’m in my third year, major in Architecture. I had learned a bit of Rhino in Visual Communication subject last year but I haven’t got to use it since (mainly because I’m used to Google Sketchup) So hopefully I will have a chance to get more in depth knowledge of Rhino this time and able to use it for my future project. Though very much interested in digitally design projects (through eVolo skyscraper competition), I’m totally new to this whole concept of graphic algorithm of Grasshopper. Having to see first year student exhibited their physical models using Rhino and grasshopper really amazed me as I remember how bad my models were when I took Virtual Environment subject in my 1st year (we only got to learn Google Sketchup back then). So I am kind of happy now that I also have a chance to learn these software to be more “up to date”

MY PREVIOUS PROJECTThis my project in ADS1, created using Google sketchup and rendered by Vray. The project’s brief was to design a Discovery Centre and place for Cultural exchange on Herring Island. The building comprise four discovery spaces, together with supporting administrative and services space.

The roofscape was designed as a green continuum of the surrounding landscape and served as outdoor recreational space and stadium for the amphitheatre (at the central space). I also tried to incorporate clerestory windows into the roof area to maximise the amount skylight into the building.

WATER TEMPLE

One of Taoda Ando masterpiece – the design of Water Temple had been greatly influenced by the spiritual depth of Japanese building culture and the study tours that Ando made during the second half of the century.

What I love about this temple is how reinforced concrete was used in replace of traditional building materials for the design of Water Temple. It breaks the rule of using wood to build temple. The exterior freestanding walls and the exterior walls of the main halls are in plain concrete, no decorations. The plain and simple concrete leaves the visitors a sense of purity and serenity. In addtion, the tranquillity of the eclipse water pond with lotuses really brings the visitor calm I think this unique temple represents a remarkable departure from Japanese classical architecture.

Source: http://sop3dvn.cgsociety.org/gallery/

WALKING FLOWINGA SELF-SUSTAINABLE HOUSE IN ALGRAVE, PORTUGAL

The house is organized in two main blocks articulated by the entrance hall, one is related to the lake at ground level (social areas) and another which is elevated in order to maximise the amazing sea view for private areas.

What I love about this project is how the house was sculpted by the wind, water, sun and earth resulting in a total merging with the surrounding landscape. The house is self-sustained by using natural resources such as solar energy, wind and water (lake). Solar thermal energy is used as a means of hot water generation and photovoltaics to generate electricity. Summery east winds is chanelled for natural ventilation in summer.

The roof merges with the landscape giving access to the green roof area allowing organic agriculture, also providing added insulation, reducing heat loses and air purification.

Source: http://www.worldarchitecture.org/world-buildings/world-buildings-detail.asp?no=5855

WEEK 2COMPUTING IN ARCHITECTURE

REFERENCE: Kalay - Architectures New Media (2004), pg 2

2.1 WHAT ARE THE BENIFITS OF USING COMPUTERS IN THE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS ?

Computers are superb analytical engines. But while they can follow instructions precisely and faultlessly, computers are lack of creative abilities and intuition. While human memories are vast enough to store the experiences o f a lifetime, our ability to recall these memories at will is limited. This is precisely where computers excel. If we could find a way to take advantage of the abilities of computers where ours fall short, and use our own abilities where computers’ fall short, we would create a very powerful symbiotic design system: computers will contribute their superb rational and search abilities, and we humans will contribute all the creativity and intuition needed to solve design problem.

Computers could list and keep track of all the goals and constraints the design solution must accomplish. They could group them into related issues, search for precedents and even propose possible alternative standard solutions. The designer could then use these as the basis for developing new solutions that better fit the problem, which the computer could analyse and compare to the stored list of goals and constraints.

Once a solution has been found, the computer could help represent it graphically and numerically and communicate it to other partners in the design process. It could then keep track of changes and updates, even alert the designer to potential inconsistencies and errors. Furthermore, computers could help fabricate and construct the resulting BuildingsImage Source: digitaldlab.blogspot.

com

2.2 COMPUTATION ROLE IN FABRICATION & SUSTAINABILITY

MASONIC AMPHITHEATERCLIFTON FORGE, VIRGINIA

Digital fabrication played a substantial role in the sustainability of this project by maximizing structural efficiency and minimizing waste. The structure of band shell walls are comprised of prefabricated wood trusses.

The geometry of the trusses was determined by cutting the 3D model every two feet on center. The trusses were then machine fabricated offsite by a conventional wood truss manufacturer. This mass customization helped to limit both human error and time spent building.

Additionally, the Alpolic Metal Composite panels used to clad the inside of the band shell were digitally fabricated. Due to the irregular curvature of the building, the size and shape of each panel was a unique, complex geometry.

In order to facilitate the process, each panel’s size and shape was determined using a 3D model which when flattened could drive a 3-axis CNC router.

Image Source: american-architects.com/en/projects/project-review-detail/37265_masonic_amphitheatre_projectmasonic_amphitheatre_project

2.3 PERFOMATIVE ARCHITECTURE

Performative architecture uses building performance as a guiding design principle. It utilizes the digital technologies of quantitative and qualitative performance –based simulation to provide a comprehensive approach to the design of the built environment. Performance architecture spans multiples realms from financial, spatial, social and cultural to purely technical (structural, thermal, acoustic)

EXAMPLE 1: THE GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY BUILDING

A successful ‘green’ or sustainably designed building is thought of and conceived as a total system incorporating all feasible methods of efficiency, responsibility, and coherence to a set of well designed principles pertaining to an environmental conscience. The Greater London Authority building, located on the south bank of the River Thames in London, England, designed by Foster and Partners embodies these principles and is successful as a result of a fully incorporated system of sustainable initiatives and activities.

The unique shape of the Greater London Authority building is not merely a statement of modern design but is the result of a unique process of computer aided modelling implemented to produce the most efficient space. The shape is a derivative of a sphere, geometrically modified to allow for the greatest amount of usable volume with the least surface area, and when compared to a cube of the same volume, has 25% less surface area.

The combination of shaded and unshaded glazing throughout the envelope of this building is the result of a highly engineered model, which minimizes heat transfer across the building membrane and defines an intricate strategy of maintaining daylight while reducing solar gain

Image source: www.fosterandpartners.com

ASTANA NATIONAL LIBRARYKAZAKHSTANBJARKE INGELS GROUP

The thermal exposure on the building envelope is calculated using state of the art technology and simulation capacity. Due to the warping and twisting geometry the thermal imprint on the façade is continually varying in intensity. The thermal map ranging from blue to red reveals which zones do and do not need shading.

By translating the climatic information into a façade pattern of varying openness B.I.G create a form of ecological ornament that regulates the solar impact according to thermal requirements. The result is a contemporary interpretation of the traditional patterns and fabrics from the yurt. Both sustainable and beautiful.

The building façade is designed with the ability to breathe when the climate outside is amenable Any areas requiring close control can be maintained within an inner ‘box’

Using knowledge of the annual sunpath the façade is optimised to provide the maximum ambient light while still protecting from direct solar radiation

Pattern as climate screen

Image source: http://www.big.dk/#projects