PARAMETRIC DESIGN STUDIO NINA NOVIKOVA 2015

STUDIO AIR

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CONTENTS

A1

A2

A3

A6

INTRODUCTION

SERPENTINE PAVILION

BIQ

REFERENCES

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4

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8

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12

15

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COMPUTATION

COMPLEXITY

REFERENCES

THEMES/PROGRESSION

BIOTHING

CODE OF FUNCTION

ON AUTOPILOT

A4/5 REFLECTION

PROPOSAL

ALGORITHMIC SKETCBOOK

REFERENCE

NiNa Novikova | 3rd year Bachelor of architecture

i was BorN iN the russiaN federatioN But speNt 9 years iN MelBourNe, where i coMpleted My secoNdary schooliNg as well as a cert. iv iN resideNtial draft-iNg.

i’M iNtrigued By the correlatioN BetweeN the Built aNd Natural eNviroNMeNts, aNd the opportuNity architec-ture has of playiNg a role iN that dyNaMic. Most of My childhood was speNd aMoNgst Negative effects of aN urBaN developMeNt geNerated aNd driveN Mostly By the iNdustrial revolutioN, where eNviroNMeNtal issues have Never BeeN Much of a priority. caN architec-ture Not oNly reflect the hierarchy of values aNd coNstraiNts withiN a society, But also iNflueNce theM? is it theN our respoNsoBility as aspiritNg desigNers to faMiliarise ourselves with the iNflueNce factor of desigN?

though i have previously worked with Basic rhiNoc-eros 3d ModelliNg, paNeliNg tools aNd processes, i’M uNfaMiliar with paraMetric ModelliNg. i have always BeeN a very visual, coNcept-driveN persoN, so the idea of creatiNg geoMetry as a product of algorithM, as aN outcoMe secoNdary to coMputerised staNdardised MaNipulatioN is Both challeNgiNg aNd excitiNg. i look forward to seeiNg how this techNical MatheMatical approach to forM caN Be coMBiNed with the eMotioNal fraMework aNd expressioN of creativity.

A.1. INTRO

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3

Built iN 2005 for the serpaNtiNe gallery, the pavilioN was developed By alvaro siza, arup’s cecil BalMoNd aNd eduardo de Moura, aNd is a strikiNg exaMple of Novel techNology aNd eNgiNeeriNg BeiNg used to craft orgaNic forM froM iNdividual eleMeNts.

BeiNg a poiNt of proMiNeNce aNd cultural value suited to aN art gallery, the project aiMs for a sort of flex-iBle MoNuMeNtality, for recogNitioN as a laNdMark aNd a place of distiNguishMeNt. iNstead of siNgliNg out the pavilioN agaiNst the eNviroNMeNt aNd the site, MakiNg its coNtours defiNed aNd eMphasised agaiNst the laNdscape as favoured traditioNal ModerN MoNuMeNtality, the ser-peNtiNe pavilioN does the opposite. aN eloNgated MouNd, it is a visual coNtiNuatioN of the laNdscape, soMethiNg that BleNds iNto the grouNd. alvaro siza hiMself coM-MeNts that their goal was to coNduct a dialogue with the site, with its topography aNd vegetatioN. this coNversatioN is expressed through factors such as the slaNt of the shell curve to Match that of the grouNd level, the eloNgatioN iN the directioN of trees left free-staNdiNg, the coNtaiNMeNt of the forM withiN aN ellipse of loose vegetatioN, the juxtapositioN of the eNtraNce to the Biggest tree. the seNse of attachMeNt to eleMeNts of Nature is heighteNed By the use of seMi-opaque screeNs for claddiNg, which reveal the surrouNdiNg parklaNd froM the iNterior, aNd leave the space flooded with uNiversal Natural light. the aiM to Make the BuildiNg aN uNforget-taBle experieNce rather thaN aN extravagaNt structure or MoNuMeNt – aNother trajectory outliNed By siza - is

the use of techNology to eNgiNeer a fluid forM could By itself Be coNsidered iNNovative – though iN the year 2005 this coMBiNatioN of expressioN through orgaNic Material-ity aNd forM, eNgiNeeriNg to achieve the right aMouNt of teNsioN, aNd coMputer techNology is More of a coNfirMa-tioN of a MoveMeNt thaN a staNdaloNe leadiNg cuttiNg-edge exaMple. Nevertheless the precisioN at which each Bit of tiMBer is desigNed is pheNoMeNal – Because the shape does Not rely oN syMMetry, each iNdividual cell of the grid feeds the diMeNsioNal paraMeter of the oNes surrouNdiNg it while MaiNtaiNiNg the correct aMouNt of BraciNg, weight aNd load to Make the structure secure.

what does Make this project uNique is the coMBiNatioN of coNteMporary techNology aNd verNacular Methodology. it challeNges the NotioN of the verNacular fadiNg to soMe-thiNg pastiche aNd iMpractical, to soMethiNg that caN oNly flow through coNteMporary desigN as iNflueNce of forM, experieNce aNd coNcept. each piece is fitted together with Methods priMitive to traditioNal aNglo-saxoN carpeNtry – Mortice aNd teNoN. this Modular asseMBly coMBiNed Both the Merit placed oN rhythM aNd MoveMeNt iN coNteMporary architecture, aNd payiNg hoMage to historic park architec-ture, fiNdiNg cultural Merit iN the coNteMporary collaBo-ratioN.

4

‘Engineering helped to give scale to the design, as well as expertise in timber performance.’ -Alvaro Siza (Melvin 2006)

SERPENTINE GALLERY PAVILION 2005

A.1. DESIG

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left: the pavilion interacting with the surrounding vegetation bottom left: the mound within the parameters of hedges and treesbottom centre: use of digital technology to design the shape to precision (Architectural Design) bottom right: the span of the intricate organic form of the pavilion (Alvaro Siza Vieira)

iN april 2013, the Biq exciBitioN apartMeNt weNt live as the collaBoratioN BetweeN splitterwerk, arup aNd a NuMBer of scieNtific facilities. aMoNg the usage of re-cycled Material aNd exeMplerary passive therMal desigN, its uNique feature is the facade – a douBle skiN with operataBle louvres that coNsists of Bioreactors the Biq project decoNstructs the facade aNd the shad-iNg device as a passive eleMeNt that serves a dual fuNc-tioN at Best. traditioNally, the facade offers coverage froM exterior factors, cliMate coNtrol aNd defiNitioN of the BuildiNg eNvelope, while the shadiNg device coNtrols uv aNd heat peNeteratioN. here, the facade aNd shadiNg louvres coNsists of sol-arleaf™ paNels - coNtaiNers spaNNiNg at arouNd 2x1 Me-tres housiNg cultivatioNs of Microalgae. the orgaNisMs aBsorB suNlight aNd proceed to photosyNthesise - the BioMass is theN harvested aNd coNverted iNto eNergy iN a ceNtral geNerator systeM, which is theN used to ruN a NuMBer of appliaNces iN the dwelliNg. Moreover, ther-Mal eNergy is geNerated as the water iN the coNtaiNer is heated iN the direct suNlight.

coNceptually aNd as far as the ecological aspect is coNcerNed, it is akiN to soMethiNg that a greeN roof aiMs to achieve – coMproMisiNg eleMeNts of Nature aNd artificially coNstructed Material the cuttiNg-edge ap-proach lies iN goiNg further thaN eNsuriNg that vegeta-tioN - it is creatiNg aNd iNtroduciNg a coMpletely New MicroBiological ecosysteM. this syMBiosis of structure, architecture aNd MicroBiology iNtroduces a radical coNtcept that aN architectural eleMeNt does Not oNly exist to serve aN aNthropoceNtric purpose – the BeNefits that the dwellers of the project receive are a Byproduct of iNdepeNdeNt existeNce.

A.1. DESIG

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the desigN doesN’t try to coMproMise the two systeMs – it eNhaNces their qualities – huMaN productioN of carBoN, large vertical faces exposed to suNlight; photosyNthesis aNd therMal eNergy productioN – iN a way that Both sides BeNefit froM this iNteractioN.

Not oNly is this a techNological advaNceMeNt – the suc-cess of this project has the capaBility to urge desigNers aNd eNgiNeers of the future to BroadeN their horizoNs iN regards to the reNewaBle eNergy that caN Be used. the coNveNtioNal perceptioN of reNewaBle eNergy as it is fo-cuses oN forces of Nature, Not liviNg orgaNisMs aNd their processes, iN critically re-evaluated.

lookiNg at Biq aNd the solarleaf, oNe caN alMost iMagiNe aN idealistic dwelliNg iN which the usage of Natural ele-MeNts as Bioreactors reNders the BuildiNg coMpletely car-BoN-Neutral, where various architectural features reNder the secoNdary produce of liviNg Matter. should this pro-ject prove to Be successful aNd operate as iNteNded over a loNger spaN of tiMe, the future architect is sure to Be iNspired to give the terMs of ‘self-sustaiNiNg’ aNd ‘eco-sys-teM’ a New defiNitioN withiN the preMise of architecture.

lastly, this exaMple pushes the BouNdary of what caN poteNtially recycled iNto sustaiNaBle resources - kiNetic eNergy of our everyday lives, carBoN coNteNt huMaN activ-ity releases, aNd so oN. it would Be thrilliNg to see what oNe caN achieve followiNg the key ideas expressed iN this project through MultidiscipliNary approach aNd iNtegratiNg artificial aNd Natural ecosysteMs.

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top: bioreactors installed in the facade (Syn. De. Bio.)right main: main facade (ARUP)bottom left: approximate calculations of energy production through bioreactor (Syn. De. Bio.)bottom right: closeup up carbon coursing through biomass (IBA Hamburg)

BIQ PROJECT 2013

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A.1. INTRO

DU

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Serpentine Pavilion

Alvaro Siza archive, ‘Serpentine Gallery Pavilion2005’, Alvaro Siza Vieira official web-site, 13 October 2011

Cecil Balmond et al, ‘Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2005’, published by Serpentine Gal-lery, 2005

Jeremy Melvin, ‘Serpantine Gallery Pavilion’, Architectural Design Volume 75, Issue 6, 23 March 2006

BIQ

ARUP, ‘SolarLeaf – Bioreactor Facade’, ARUP, 2013-14

‘BIQ - The Algae House’, Syn. Des. Bio. Publications, 13 March 2014.

‘BIQ Project’ as described on the International Building Exhibition official website, 2013 http://www.iba-hamburg.de/en/themes-projects/the-building-exhibition-within-the-building-exhibition/smart-material-houses/biq/projekt/biq.html

REFERENCE

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A.2 - COM

PUTATIO

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COMPUTATIONGEOMETRY: GENERATION, MUTATION, SIMULATION

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it is, of course, arguaBle that huMaN iMagiNatioN is liMitless aNd that to coNstraiN it By a certaiN set of coMputed fuNctioNs is to threateN creativity itself. iN his dialogue with isozaki, Mutsuro sasaki disperses this By his suggestioN of that the huMaN iMagiNatioN is liMited By the iNflueNce of its coNtext, that pictorial iMagiNatioN, which lies as the Basis for coMputatioN over coMputatioN, is iMMiNeNtly affected By. wheN traditioNal pictorial display is coNcerNed, there exists a certaiN pre-existiNg guideliNe that sets aN aesthetic staNdard, aNd while a degree of ratioNal justificatioN is required to justify the eNgageMeNt with this defiNitioN of appeal, it is still fairly liMited. But iN the age driveN By Need of progress, traditioNal Methods of desigN fall short of creatiNg ‘free, MutaBle, fluid aNd orgaNic’ architecture, as they rely too Much oN artificial represeNtatioN (aN-tiquity through to reNaissaNce), followed By its distil-latioN (ModerNisM) aNd atteMpts of re-charatirisatioN (postModerNisM).

coMputatioN iN itself is differeNt - it is a MeaNs to pro-duce geoMetry BeyoNd huMaN Methodology, it is capaBle of iMitatiNg Natural process of creatioN, spoNtaNeous geNeratioN aNd MutatioN. it allows for Much More coM-plex aNd uNexpected forMs to Be created, aNalyzed aNd iMpleMeNted iN ways that are Novel iN terMs of practi-caBility, structural appeal, aesthetic value aNd overall effect.

traditioNal desigN is oft eMpirically Based – the optiMal solutioN is oNe that has BeeN trialed aNd put to practice over aNd over agaiN, uNtil experieNce over tiMe reveals the BeNeficial features aNd poiNts that seek iMproveMeNt.

uNprecedeNted forM also has a sigNificaNce iN the cultur-al aNd social coNtext. we are of a tiMe where ecoNoMy, political relatioNs, gloBal liNks aNd the urBaN faBric itself caNNot reMaiN static, aNd thus its eleMeNts – its architec-ture - caNNot Be swept uNder oNe stylistic defiNitioN, iNto oNe typology. iN his projects, arata isozaki advocates two poiNts: that forM derived By siMulatioN of evolutioN-ary processes is More Natural aNd orgaNic; aNd that said freeforM aNd orgaNic shapes are easier to iNtroduce iNto a fluid coNtext where all surrouNded architecture shares a ratioNal MatheMatic coNNectioN, But is More forgiviNg iN terMs of coMpleMeNtiNg each eleMeNt.

coMputatioN works with precise MatheMatical iNforMatioN aNd algorithM to geNerate forM aNd spatial distriButioN. iN a way, this Method suspeNds the coNstraiNts of huMaN judgeMeNt aNd leaves the desigN process to self-orgaNi-zatioN aNd optiMizatioN. said two qualities are character-istics drawN froM Nature, aNd achieve the Natural BalaNce BetweeN efficieNcy aNd resilieNce applied to the desigNed/Build eNviroNMeNt. iN the floreNce New statioN proposal, the tuBe-like freeforM shapes achieve MaxiMuM efficieNcy iN terMs of Material aNd space takeN up (as opposed to total surface area) while MaiNtaiNiNg what the seNsory aNalysis algorithM speculates is the optiMal structure iN terMs of teNsioN, heat aNd structural perforMaNce.

A.2 COM

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digital itirations to create the optimal structure for Florence Station competition, Arata Sasaki & Associates previous: Sendai Mediatheque, photographer unknown (i’ll find out) left: Sendai Mediatheque (Beestface, Flickr)

THE SHAPES ARE BASELESS. THEY JUST KEEP MOVING. -SASAKI MUTSURO

iN 2001, architect prestoN scott coheN took part iN the eyeBeaM atelier coMpetitioN, seekiNg aN alterNative solu-tioN to the MuseuM of art aNd techNology, Nyc. this desigN as well as soMe of coheN’s other exploratioNs relies oN coMputatioN to geNerate coMplex geoMetry the iNteractioN of which is dictated By algorithM. iN this case, what is referred to as ‘perverse fuNctioNality’, or iNteNded distortioN of Both the MatheMatic algorithM that serves to geNerate the torus, aNd the approach of defiNiNg the space, is realized through pushiNg the traditioNal eleMeNts of architecture to the liMit as well as eNgiNeeriNg a structur-ally plausiBle flawless forM – Both Made possiBle through coMputatioN processes.

it is argued that the eMphasis oN how the user experieNces the space is By surface as opposed to liNear arraNgeMeNt aNd spatial progressioN. the iNterlockiNg of surfaces rather thaN spaces creates voids BreakiNg apart aN exist-iNg space – aN approach of distortioN iN itself. there is a certaiN thrill iN Novelty, iN perversioN, iN soMethiNg outside the coNveNtioNal NorM.

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COMPLEXITY | PERVERSE FUNCTIONALITY

while there is sigNificaNt Merit iN the eMotioNal fraMe-work of this project, oNe Must pay heed to the origiNal project Brief, oNe of the key aiMs of which was to geNerate ‘Mysterious’ light effects. the void space MechaNic was iN fact geNerated froM a series of iteratioNs created with software that allowed to aNalyse shadiNg effects achieved without haviNg to geNerate a Built eNviroNMeNt. this is oNe of the stroNgest advaNtages of coMputatioN – the desigNer is No loNger coNfiNed withiN the realM of physically taNgi-Ble Material. aN iMportaNt fuNctioN of desigN is the aBility to ideNtify situatioNs, predict the chaNge to the existiNg delivered By their product, aNd predict the overall effect of their desigN. coMputatioN provides aN opportuNity to create couNtless sceNarios aNd lifelike siMulatioNs of how they would Behave with MiNiMal resources – the possiBilities for trial are eNdless. iN the eyeBeaM atelier, this has BeeN utilized first iN forMatioN of Most appealiNg light effects, theN iN optiMizatioN of the torus shape aNd separatioN of the pre-existiNg BuildiNg. fiNally, iN the arraNgeMeNt of the floor plaN aNd void aligNMeNt iN a three-diMeNsioNal paraMe-ter of the existiNg structure is solidified.

A2. COM

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siMilar to isozaki’s statioN coNcepts aNd Mutsuro’s Mediatheque, the geoMetry is aiMed to Be structurally self-sufficieNt, MeaNiNg the require-MeNt is that it support itself. the slightest flaw iN the teNsioN of the tori, the sMallest MiscalculatioN iN the paraMeter aNd sectioNiNg of the NoN-platoNic surface would result iN systeMatic failure, threateNiNg to uNderMiNe the eNtire BuildiNg.

through paraMetric desigN aNd coM-putatioN, the precise diMeNsioN aNd preMise of each eleMeNt is coNverted aNd solidified iN sequeNtial algo-rithMs, eliMiNatiNg the possiBility of huMaN error aNd eNsuriNg MaxiMuM accuracy. applicaBle to Both cases is also the relatioNship BetweeN each factor of the algorithM, which is geNerally retaiNed through coMputatioN.

left: 8th floor of the Eyebeam concepta-cle model (Thomas Erben)

upper: circulation diagram via the tubes (Preston Scott Cohen)

middle: floor plan (Cohen)

bottom: as far as unprecedented form is concerned, the idea of ‘tubes’ and the look they will provide is intended and known from start; the optimisation is algorithm-dependent.

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Though Isozaki lost the Florence Station com-petition, the concept is realised in the QATAR national convention centre, completed in 2011 in partnership with RHWL architects, where the column geometry is re-generated emplying the previously listen advantages of computation as follows:

alleviating design prediction by empirical testing - possible though digital technology

permitting unprecedented form, pushing design possibilities further

eliminating human error

maximising material efficiency

rationalising and justification through mathemati-cal approach

Below: Steel Column on QNCC - detail RHWL Architects

Below: Steel Column on QNCC - detail RHWL Architects

A2. COM

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COMPUTATION : THEMES, PROGRESSION, DISCOURSE

above: detail of Son-O-House, (NOX)left: analysis of movement translated into paper strip models (NOX) lower left: Son-O-House completed (NOX)

a huge aspect of desigN is coMMuNicatioN. a suc-cessful desigN should Be iNtelligeNt is the seNse that it is iNforMed By a NuMBer of factors or precedeNts, aNd that it iNforMs those that are to Be usiNg it, whether iN terMs of fuNctioNality or evokiNg a certaiN eMotioN or atMosphere.

iN soN-o-house, Built iN 2004 iN soN-eN-Breguel By Nox art aNd lead By lars spuyBroek, this flow of iNforMatioN is greatly eMphasised, aNd shows exactly how algorithMic thiNkiNg aNd paraMetric desigN caN reflect this.

the process iNforMiNg the flux geoMetry of the pavilioN is user circulatioN - Body MoveMeNt, liMB MoveMeNt aNd sMaller actioNs the Body perforMs, to Be precise. Note that the iNitial forM geNera-tioN is Not digitalised, But eNgiNeered By testiNg a paper strip Model. the coMpositioN however is still iNforMed By aN algorithM – a siMple rule that the strips of paper are scored aNd cut every tiMe a MoveMeNt occurs, aNd are fixed to each other at the cuttiNg poiNt. this creates aN uNprecedeNted patterN aNd curvature that is of direct relatioN to how the visitors would iNteract with the space.

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GENERATION

soN-o-house displays the relatioNship BetweeN each ele-MeNts secured aNd traNslated iNto MatheMatical value as the Model is Made digital aNd prepared for faBricatioN of each iNdividual steel Module.

each stage of the process Must retaiN accuracy aNd pre-cisioN, otherwise there is a risk of everythiNg Not coMiNg together, of the pavilioN failiNg to support itself, or uN-derperforMiNg iN teNsioN. saMe as with the previous prece-deNts, the optiMisatioN process would have BeeN to eliMiate the possiBility of huMaN error or irratioNal decisioNMakiNg.

if oNe looks at the developMeNt of architecture as aN art forM throughout history, we as artists has BeeN More or less coNfiNed withiN the preMises of the pic-turesque aNd syMBolic iMagery, aNd/or BetweeN liNear paNes aNd platoNic solids.

the Beauty of coMputatioN is that wheN a paraMeter/orgaNisatioNal law is traNsforMed iNto geoMetry, it is capaBle of produciNg shapes BeyoNd huMaN iMagiNa-tioN - MetaBolic Morpho-ecological forM. spuyBroek of Nox claiMs that this is Necessary to Break out of the state of ‘cold MiNiMalisM, BliNd traditioNalisM aNd MiNdless MaterialisM.’ forM geNerated By coMpu-tatioN Mutates aNd evolves BeyoNd ordiNary aesthetic coMpreheNsioN aNd eNcourages the desigNer to seek fuNctioNality aNd aesthetic iN forM that they Might Not have iMagiNed iNitially.

above: relationship between each individual strip of material - paper modelabove right: finalised digital form derived from paper model (NOX both)

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A3. GEN

ERATION

the Natural eNviroNMeNt, the Biological orgaNisM, is seeMiNgly spoNtaNeously geNerated to achieve a forM that is efficieNt to the MaxiMuM while BeiNg aBle to adapt to its surrouNdiNgs aNd Be syMBiotic with its eNviroNMeNt. a uNique aNd iNNovative aspect that paraMetric desigN allows is recoveriNg the ‘code’ that goverNs these priNcipals of asseMBly aNd growth, aNd settiNg is as the paraMeters for geNeratiNg MaNMade structures.

it’s aN opportuNity to reiMagiNe desigN aNd BuildiNg practice as soMethiNg coMiNg as close to Natural, orgaNic growth of space aNd shelter as oNe caN. the More suitaBle to coN-teMporary waNts aNd Needs - sustaiNaBle resource, quick coNstructioN, little carBoN footpriNt, cliMate coNtrol, iNtegratioN iNto the urBaN faBric - is achievaBle through Natural MeaNs, the More ecologic the desigN BecoMes.

experiMeNtal architect aNd creator of the BiothiNg pro-ject alisa aNdrasek talks aBout her work as quaNityfiNg Nature, BreathiNg life iNto physical forM. she seeks to further decoNtruct coNveNtioNal uNderstaNdiNg of liNe aNd forM By workiNg iN ‘coNtiNuos directioN without top, Bot-toM or ceNtre, poteNtially iNfiNite iN their geNetic origiN.’

BIOTHING | BIOMIMICRY

left - Andrasek’s conceptual research for Seroussi Pavilion (biothing)

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A3. GEN

ERATION

soN-o-house, the works of ‘BiothiNg’ aNd couNtless other exper-iMeNtal project are cuttiNg-edge exaMples of uNprecedeNted forM Based oN uNique derivatioN froM Natural processes (MoveMeNt, attractioN/repulsioN, geNetic hierarchy aNd so oN).

however the geNeral scope of these works raNge froM research Material. etudes aNd paper architecture – or sMallscale pavil-ioN-type structures that are Not coNcerNed with the fuNctioN of shelter, cliMate protectioN aNd other requireMeNts of dwelliNg aNd coMMercial spaces – soMethiNg that reMaiNs the prevaleNt BeNchMark for coNteMporary architecture aNd BuildiNg.

that BeiNg said, the writiNgs of Both alisa aNdrasek aNd lars spuyBroek reflect the awareNess of this fact, aNd express a lacoNic hope to apply the research coMpoNeNt of their works to larger-scale projects aNd see a siMilar appreciatioN eMergiNg iN the discourse.

Seroussi pavilion model (Frac database)

A3. COM

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there are, of course, works that eNcorporate the Basic NotioN of code aNd coMputer fuNctioN to iMi-tate Nature iN a BeNeficial way oN a larger scale. iN 2012, the al Bahr towers were coMpleted iN aBu dhaBi, MakiNg arup aNd aedas architects the creators of the world’s largest reactive facade. the outer ‘skiN’ of the BuildiNg coNsists of over 1000 screeNs that iMitate the process of suN-reactive plaNts aNd fold aNd uNfold depeNdiNg oN the aMouNt of uv rays they receive. iNspired By the traditioNal MashraBiya patterN, the coMput-er-MoNitored screeNs provade aN adaptive shadiNg solutioN, provide diffused Natural light aNd save oN cliMate coNtrol costs.

THE CODE OF FUNCTION | REACTIVE ARCHITECTURE

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The towers from numerous angles (Architecture and Composites)

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the oMNipreseNt dyNaMic of forM aNd fuNctioN is ad-dressed iN coNtrast with the precedeNts coNcerNiNg geNeratioN of forM, such as the soN-o-house or the geoMetric exploratioNs of isozaki. the approach of ex-ploriNg the laws aNd MatheMatic forMulae BehiNd Natu-ral fuNctioNs aNd processes as well as iMitatiNg Natural forces here is soMewhat reversed iN fiNdiNg the optiMal iteratioN of a pre-existiNg paraMeter – the latter BeiNg a set requireMeNt for the geoMetry, the kiNetics of its flexiBility, aNd its spaciNg that will allow the fuNctioN to follow forM – that is, for the MashraBiya to fold aNd uNfold.

are we theN to criticise this precedeNt oN that digi-talisiNg predeterMiNed dyNaMics doesN’t really eMploy geNerative approaches? oNe could argue that geNer-atioN caN refer to fuNctioNality as well as the shape aNd periMeter of the BuildiNg. the flexiBle facade of al Bahr eMBodies scriptiNg culture aNd the usage of code to aNiMate it aNd achieve a structure that caN evolve withiN a Basic set of rules - also a great exaMple of Bio-iMitatioN used for iN aN especially practical MaNNer.

the desigN is duBious iN terMs of geNerative approach. the forM aNd facade is Not iNforMed By algorithMic thiNkiNg But is carefully plaNNed out aNd trialled; it is Not BeiNg put forth as the product of geNerative desigN, But a fuNctioNal respoNse to a proBleM. each iNdividual eleMeNt of the facade still has aN algorithM dictate its optiMal size, proportioN aNd orieNtatioN iN relatioN to its couNterparts. each MashraBiya BecoMes a cell, aNd coMputerisatioN Both powers their MoveMeNt patter aNd siMulates Microscopic processes of cellular self-orgaNisatioN. the coNfiguratioN of the cells, their positioNiNg withiN the overall skiN of the BuildiNg aNd their fuNctioNality are co-depeNdaNt, aNd coMproMised By 3d ModelliNg iN the earlier stages.

A3. COM

POSITIO

N&G

ENERATIO

N

Mashrabiya concepts Architecture and Compositesleft - the pavilion (Anida&Spiegel)

23

a sort of Breakthrough iN Both the coNcept of geN-eratioN aNd the approach to it for Both desigNers iN the iNdustry is experieNced iN the face of autoMatioN, roBotic techNology aNd priNciples of autoNoMous coNstructioN – iN other words, structures Built By roBots. paraMetric desigN Makes it possiBle for MachiNes to follow a certaiN code aNd geNerate shapes coMplete-ly dictated it. here, the coMputatioN/geNeratioN dyNaMic is iN the asseMBly as well as desigN creatioN.

the icd/itke research pavilioN developed iN 2012 By the iNstitutioNs iN stuttgart is aN exaMple of this. desigNed coMpletely By optiMiziNg aN algorithMic relatioNship of Matter aNd space, this pavilioN strives to MiMic the exoskeletoN of a loBster– oNce agaiN, Natural iNflueNces are at haNd.

this precedeNt couNters the eMergiNg criticisM of the geNeratioN sectioN of how useful geNeratioN Methods like this really are. By MiMickiNg aspects of orgaNic growth like heterogeNeity, hierarchy aNd MultifuNc-tioNal purpose, this is a New height of sustaiNaBility – the pavilioN is extreMely efficieNt iN terMs of laBor (giveN that the roBot is autoNoMous aNd easily reus-aBle over aNd over agaiN), Material, aNd its weight to spaN aNd staBility ratio.

ON AUTOPILOT

the pavilioN reflects, iN a way, the directioN of chaNge oBserved iN the architecture aNd BuildiNg iNdustry. each stage of the process of creatioN is BecoMiNg More aNd More iNtegrated withiN the uMBrel-la terM of ‘desigN’. iNspiratioN, iNitial visualisatioN aNd coNceptualisatioN, choice of Materiality, aNalysis aNd eNgiNeeriNg, faBricatioN aNd asseMBly are No loNger chroNological aNd liNearly depeNdaNt iN that order. the MiMicry of the loBster’s carapace is selected Based oN availaBle Materiality, while the choice of glass aNd carBoN fiBres - By the availaBle coNstruc-tioNs Method - or perhaps vice versa. the forM is de-fiNed By the coNstructioN process itself - aNd iN this lies the key differeNce BetweeN uNique geNeratioN, aNd realisatioN of a coMputerised desigN.

this directioN of chaNge is heighteNed iN developiNg MachiNery that autoMates coNstructioN itself, re-lyiNg oN algorithMic eNgiNeeriNg aNd coMputatioN. a 3d priNter, a faBricatioN roBot aNd iN this case specifically the roBotic arM are all exaMples of this. it is plausiBle that iN the future this could Be the MaiNstreaM trajectory of desigN aNd coNstructioN, allowiNg aN iNdepth uNderstaNdiNg of each discipliNe aNd aiMiNg for efficieNcy iN terMs of laBour Materials iN use aNd eNviroNMeNtal iMpact.

24

iN coNclusioN, part a has BeeN aN extreMely valuaBle iNsight iNto what soMe defiNitioNs aNd Methodologies of desigN are, how do they iNteract with coMputatioN, how are they affect-ed By the latter, why is this BeNeficial, aNd how does this affect us as aspiriNg desigNers.

the theoretical uNderstaNdiNg is iMportaNt for developiNg our owN viewpoiNt aNd BeiNg aBle to Bridge poteNtial opportuNities to eMploy par-aMetric desigN – iNcludiNg the air project for this seMester – aNd the BeNefits it provides, while BeiNg aware of possiBle duBious aspects.

25right upper - pavilion detail right lower - construction in process (ICD)

26

A.5 LEARNIN

G O

UTCO

MES

a huge iNterest out of studio air so far has BeeN the huMaN/Nature dyNaMic. My attitude towards the age of the digital previously has Never BeeN without a soMewhat jaded scepticisM of that artificial iNtelli-geNce aNd coMputer techNology reMaiNs, well, arti-ficial, aNd therefore represeNts a polar opposite to Nature. i place a lot of value iNto the relatioNship with Nature, ecocriticisM aNd sustaiNaBility, so My first reactioN was that despite BeiNg super useful aNd all, isNt relyiNg oN soMethiNg of artificial origiN is a Bit couNterproductive?

i certaiNly appreciate the coNcept a lot More haviNg faMiliarised Myself with coNcepts of BioMiMicry, codes iN Nature aNd how the forMer caN lead to a sustaiNaBle practice.

i’ve eveN fouNd Myself woNderiNg aBout geNerative iNforMatioN iN My everyday surrouNdiNgs. My uN-derstaNdiNg of this approach has BeeN reshaped By actually uNderstaNdiNg the differeNce BetweeN usiNg coMputers as a reNder tool for ideas; aNd actually geNeratiNg New ideas iN their wake. look too Bad’. iN hiNdsight, what really Might have Made this More MeaNiNgful would Be algorithMs of triaNgulatioN for the forM outliNe, aNd self-orgaNisatioN aNd staBility for the paNels. the use of paraMetric tools such as grasshopper would have saved a lot of tiMe aNd effort coMpared to drawiNg each little Bit of the paNel By haNd.

a past project i could iMprove with this kNowledge is last year’s studio earth desigN, a place for keepiNg secrets. My proposal coNsisted of a solid curved shape with Modular paNelliNg. though i have claiMed that this desigN was iNspired By the topography of the site, they were really aiMless aNd there for the sake of NeediNg a forM. this aNd My iteratioNs of the paNel lacked ratioNal approach aNd judgeMeNt - i siMply did Not possess a criteria By which i could judge if the coMpositioN was optiMised yet, aside froM ‘yeah that doesN’t look too Bad’. iN hiNdsight, what really Might have Made this More MeaNiNgful would Be algorithMs of triaNgulatioN for the forM outliNe, aNd self-or-gaNisatioN aNd staBility for the paNels. the use of paraMetric tools such as grasshopper would have saved a lot of tiMe aNd effort coMpared to drawiNg each little Bit of the paNel By haNd.

REFLECTION

27

i would like to take precedeNt froM Nature. Not oNly is the coNcerN for Nature aNd sustaiNaBility a Massive factor aMoNg the stakeholders – the site itself relies oN a Net-work of MeaNders aNd rapids, vegetatioN aNd Marshes to deal with the proBleM at haNd, filteriNg out the pollutioN.

it is therefore iMportaNt that the desigN solutioN is aN exteNsioN to the ecosysteM iN place, a MiMicry of it as opposed to a foreigN iNtrusioN. rather thaN iNtroduce ar-tifice to the eNviroNMeNt, i should seek to have it set the preMise to the solutioN, to recogNise aNd apply aN existiNg process to the coMputatioN of the latter.

certaiN paraMeters to aNalyse could Be the kiNetic of the river flowiNg through the oBstacles, aN algorithMic dyNaMic of positive space aNd opeNiNg to create a filter, or possiBle ‘eNcoded’ Natural precedeNts to iNforM the geNeratioN of forM for the project, eg. trees, Bushes, tessellatiNg rocks, aNd so oN.

the foreMost aiM is to iMprove the health of the waterway By reMoviNg excess pollutioN, But oth-er stakeholders iNclude assistiNg the coMMuNity iN drawiNg atteNtioN to issues of sustaiNaBility aNd the effect of huMaN activity oN the eNviroNMeNt, oN MakiNg Merri creek itself have attractive features, aNd, if possiBle, provide extra circulatioN poiNts Be-tweeN the two BaNks, if the iNstallatioN caN Be re-solved to Bear weight aNd forM a poiNt of crossiNg.

PROPOSAL

Merri creek - along the bank nnovikova 2015

right - Earth sketch and paper model nnovikova 2014

28

A. 6 ALGO

RITHM

IC SKETCHBO

OK

the first exercises focus More oN coNtrolliNg the rhiNo-grass-hopper space aNd ModifyiNg geoMetry withiN it. i coNsider this iteratioN successful Because it creates aN iNterestiNg dyNaMic of positive space aNd opeNiNg.

i thought this was iNterestiNg Because it triaNgulated My curves iN aN efficieNt Matter while still retaiNiNg the geoMetry. triaNgulatioN divides orgaNic surfaces iN a forM iN which it caN Be paNeled, divided iNto Modules aNd faBricated – otherwise oNe faces serious liMitatioNs iN terMs of Material selectioN if the curve is to Be achieved By plasticity.

29

exercises featuriNg the attractor poiNt show a slightly More aNiMated versioN of the vase, iN terMs of Method aN geoMetry utilized. they were BeNeficial for explaiNiNg spatial relatioNship BetweeN eleMeNts aNd its aBility to fluctuate.

the top exaMple shows two sets of geoMetry – tuBes aNd spheres – gradually MorphiNg iNto oNe aNother depeNdiNg oN their proxiMity to the attractor poiNt. the secoNd was aN aesthetically pleasaNt coMpositioN that actively distorted aNd BeNt the forM aNd the ‘tuBes’, which i thought was iNterestiNg.

the aiM of this exercise was to recreate a shadiNg device with eleMeNts – extruded curves – that would follow the attractor poiNt as if it was the suN. it shows how reactioNs to a driver caN occur withiN a digital eNviroNMeNt, Much like the previously aNalyzed reactive architecture. if this was to Be properly developed, it would also fulfil the Need to predict what a desigN solutioN would do, actiNg as a syNthetic siMulator of the eNviroNMeNt.

DIGITAL PAPERSPACE

30

A. 6 ALGO

RITHM

IC SKETCHBO

OK

this was Both excitiNg aNd fasciNatiNg. as the other NotaBle sketches deMoNstrate, Most of the preliMiNary grasshopper exercises have BeeN coNcerNiNg MaNipulatiNg pre-existiNg forM aNd seeiNg how each eleMeNt reacts as the relatioNship withiN the coMpositioN is retaiNed. with practice aNd actual uNderstaNdiNg of the algorithM used to geNerate this (which was coMpletely lackiNg iN this experiMeNt), i’d iMagiNe this is what geNeratioN as a desigN doctriNe looks like, chaNgiNg the values aNd watchiNg soMethiNg New aNd uNexpected coMe to life.

31

this series of algorithMic sketches was iNteNded to Be for the Box Morph toolBar, geNeratiNg repetitive Mor-phology oN a surface of geoMetry. while playiNg arouNd with the doMaiN values while settiNg out the paraM-eters of the surface, i Noticed that rather thaN just MakiNg a certaiN aMouNt of Box cells, the Max aNd MiN u aNd x values gave off a whole patterN of Boxes.

depeNdiNg oN whether the values of u aNd v coordiNates were positive or Negative, aNd how loNg for (larger values Brought More developMeNt), My shape would uNroll aNd Mutate iNto a distorted coNtiNuatioN of the little set or arches i started off origiNally. soMetiMes it would Be alMost flat, soMetiMes it would expaNd aNd BecoMe very thick, depeNdiNg whether the y or x axis were the predoMiNaNt sector i would Be chaNgiNg.

32

ALGO

RITHM

IC SKETCHBO

OK

REFERENCE

alvaro siza archive, ‘serpeNtiNe gallery pavilioN2005’, alvaro siza vieira official weBsite, 13 octoBer 2011

aNdrasek, alisa, ‘BiothiNg’, 2009, frac ceNtre.

aNida, alfredo & spiegelhalter, thoMas, ‘post-paraMetric autoMatioN iN desigN aNd coNstructioN’, 2015, artech house; ch. 5, ch. 16-17.

architecture aNd coMposites, weBsite (used Mostly for iMages) http://coMpositesaNdarchitecture.coM

arup, ‘solarleaf – Bioreactor facade’, arup, 2013-14

‘Biq project’ as descriBed oN the iNterNatioNal BuildiNg exhiBitioN official weBsite, 2013 http://www.iBa-haMBurg.de/eN/theMes-projects/the-BuildiNg-exhiBitioN-withiN-the-BuildiNg-exhiBitioN/sMart-Material-houses/Biq/projekt/Biq.htMl

‘Biq - the algae house’, syN. des. Bio. puBlicatioNs, 13 March 2014.

cecil BalMoNd et al, ‘serpeNtiNe gallery pavilioN 2005’, puBlished By serpeNtiNe gallery, 2005

isozaki arata & affiliates official weBsite

de laNda, MaNuel, ‘deleuze aNd the use of geNetic algorhythM iN architecture’ iN architectural desigN, vol. 72, jaNuary 2002

33

fraNc ceNtre expoNates http://www.frac-ceNtre.fr/iNveNtaire-detaille-90.htMl?authid=255&eNseMBleid=837

isozaki arata, ‘the virtues of ModerNity’, 2004, uMBrello alleMaNdi & co

ito toyo & associates official weBsite

klooster, thorsteN, ‘sMart surfaces’, 2007, Birkhusher puBlishers.

MelviN, jereMy, ‘serpaNtiNe gallery pavilioN’, architectural desigN voluMe 75, issue 6, 23 March 2006.

prestoN scott coheN official weBsite.http://www.pscoheN.coM/

rahiM, ali, toroidal architecture iN ‘coNteMporary techNiques iN architecture’, architectural desigN, vol. 72, jaNuary 2002

sasaki Mutsuro, MorphogeNesis of flux structure, 2007, dexter graphics, uk.

34

ALGO

RITHM

IC SKETCHBO

OK

insert some inspirational quote here

35

FANCY TITLE | NEW SECTION

the coNveNtioNal uNderstaNdiNg of foldiNg is as that of a techNique that defiNes edges, tessellates the coNNectioN poiNts BetweeN surfaces. foldiNg is, iN esseNce, a poiNt of distortioN oN a plaNe, a poiNt of stress oN a surface. this goes arouNd to iMply that it’s a techNique Necessary to achieve aNy geoMetry. if we fold a square piece of paper, it will BecoMe a triaNgle, if we fold it oN pre-calculated seaMs, we’ll have paper Models of platoNic solids, aNd so oN.

douBle ageNt white, aN experiMeNtal structure coNsistiNg of developaBle coMBiNatioN of spheroids, explores how foldiNg iNteracts with Morphology of geoMetry aNd sur-face outliNes where they Meet.

oNe of the coNstraiNiNg paraMeters of douBle ageNt white would have BeeN to develop a surface that allows for curvature with aNgles that would allow protrusioN, yet flows iNto itself sMoothly. scored aNd folded liNes serve as coNtrol poiNts through which the foldiNg occurs.

though Mark forNes aNd atelier calter do Not dis-close the geNerative process, it is plausiBle to as-suMe that there Might have BeeN trials to optiMise the aMouNt aNd directioN of said coNtrol poiNts/liNes so that their usage is effitfroM sphere to sphere seaM-lessly.

of course, with eNough scored liNes aNd BeNdiNg MoMeNts, the project would have achieved the perfect speciMeN of sMooth edge aNd coNtiNuity – a syMMetri-cal platoNic sphere that holds a siMplified structural uNity. however that would diMiNish greatly froM the seNse of visual coNtiNuity aNd the laNguage of Mor-phology. aN idea explored By roBert woodBury iN his ‘how do desigNers use paraMetric desigN’ is that there’s a typology of paraMeter – iN this case visiBle as the juNcture BetweeN eleMeNts aNd the overlappiNg of two directioNs of patterNs aNd iNteractioN of douBle curvature (aiMed to further the coMplexity of shape) – aNd the guideliNes for actual forM – the size of the spheres, the degree of vault.

oNce coNditioNs at which the shapes are coNjoiNed aNd the relatioNships BetweeN differeNt sizes of spheroids are estaBlished, the rhythM, the logical law By which foldiNg as a techNique coNtrols the BeNdiNg poiNt aNd juNctioN, is derived. the shapes caN theN Be stacked aNd reapplied over aNd over to create a coNtiNuous surface aNd structural vaultiNg over a spaN dictated By iNdepeNdeNt factors – such as the site or iNstalla-tioN space area aNd height, desigNated usage of space, aNd aMouNt of opeN large vaults required.

above: numerous spheroids (the Very Many)right: joints at the folds (Strabic)

36

FOLDING

A3. GEN

ERATION

left - Andrasek’s conceptual research for Seroussi Pavilion (biothing)

37

oNce coNditioNs at which the shapes are coNjoiNed aNd the relatioNships BetweeN differeNt sizes of spheroids are estaBlished, the rhythM, the logical law By which foldiNg as a techNique coNtrols the BeNdiNg poiNt aNd juNctioN, is derived.

the shapes caN theN Be stacked aNd reapplied over aNd over to create a coNtiNuous surface aNd structural vaultiNg over a spaN dictated By iNdepeNdeNt factors – such as the site or iNstallatioN space area aNd height, desigNated usage of space, aNd aMouNt of opeN large vaults required.

above: interior of the structure, showing the vault space (the Very Many)

left - Andrasek’s conceptual research for Seroussi Pavilion (biothing)

38

B1 - TECHN

IQU

E STUD

Y

39

FABRICATING COINCIDENCES

the da office (MoMa, 1998) was desigNed By Nader tehraNi aNd MoNica poNce de leoN of Nadaa, aNd aiMs to decoNstruct the MaiN-streaM defiNitioN of facade aNd structure. this is, iN esseNce, a developaBle surface held By itself aNd coluMN-like supports, draped over aN existiNg BuildiNg.

here the foldiNg also is respoNsiBle for graNtiNg the structure its structural quality. the BeNd/fold liNes aNd the triaNgulatioN edg-es BetweeN the strips of steel create stress poiNts aNd give the vertical spaN soMe rigidity aNd staBility. structural coluMNs through which the foldiNg is coNtiNued assist this NotioN. this Makes the Metal sheet Both the structural coMpoNeNt BeariNg its weight, aNd the aesthetic/decorative fuNctioN prescriBed to the ‘skiN’, thus BlurriNg the liNe BetweeN the two (MoMa).

the defiNitioNs of foldiNg here are all achieved through priNciples of coMputatioN – defiNiNg each iNdividual ‘face’ of the strip as well as the strip itself, perforatiNg the surface to let light through, deterMiNiNg the overlap aNd scoriNg the edges.

the techNique of score aNd fold rather thaN BeNd uNder direct stress, or welded/Bolt-ed joiNts challeNges Both the qualities of Materials aNd perceptioN of asseMBly. why go through the leNgth of actually foldiNg the Material as opposed to iMitatiNg the foldiNg patterN? the eliMiNatioN of joiNts preveNts NeediNg to apply additioNal Material aNd caus-iNg thickNesses at each joiNt, which iN turN lets the folds to look More cleaN-cut aNd ex-ecuted with Much More precisioN. there’s also less risk of the Metal failiNg uNder stress, seeiNg as soMe of it is relieved By the scoriNg.

40

oNce agaiN, there is a focus oN coNtiNuity through the shape, the fact that the ‘foldiNg’ seaM is iNdeed the proces-sioN of oNe surface iNto the other as opposed to disjoiNt-MeNt aNd fracture of the face.

B1 - TECHN

IQU

E STUD

Y

iN the BotswaNa iNNovatioNs huB (shop architects), curreNtly iN coNstructioN, this quality spaNs through the eNtire BuildiNg. the facade of each floor is oNe loNg strip that distorts aNd Morphs as it’s stretched over the BuildiNg aNd loops up aNd dowN. this kiNd of laNguage uNites the horizoNtal paNes of the BuildiNg together, aNd the fact that the folded surface creates a geoMetry BriNgs the whole forM closer to a developaBle para-Metric forM as opposed to just the facade.

41

left - the folding visual effect achieved by the metal sheeting on the outside of the dA structure (NADAA) above - FInal render for Botswana Hub (SHOP architects)

42

B2

Evolo - Double Agent White (http://www.evolo.us/architecture/double-agent-white-in-se-ries-of-prototypical-architectures-theverymany/)

Galilee, Beatrice, ‘Office dA‘ for Icon Eye, (http://www.iconeye.com/404/item/3484-office-da)

Fetro, Sophie, ‘Mark Fornes, Double Agent White, Prototype d’ar-chitecture’ (http://strabic.fr/Double-Agent-White-prototype-d)

Fornes, Mark & the Very Many, ‘Atelier Calder: Double Agent White,’ (http://theverymany.com/12-atelier-calder/)

NADAA studio, Projects - MoMA 1998, NADAA official site(http://www.nadaaa.com/#/projects/fabrications/)

SHOP architects, Porjects - Botswana International Hub (hhtp://www.shoparc.com/projects/botswana-innovations-hub/)

REFERENCE

43

BIOTHING REVISITED

44