AIR SEMESTER 2/2012

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STUDIO

AUTHORXIE lanzi

ACADEMIC RECORDSGraduated from Singapore Polytechnic with Diploma in Architure and currently studying Bachelor of Environment major Architecture in University of Melbourne

WORKING EXPERIENCES2 months student entership with AEDAS2 years employment with DP Architects

PAST SCHOOL PROJECTSApartment for athletes / ResidentialIslamic Culture Centre / Public PAST PRACTICEHedges Park Condominium in SingaporeThai Barn Villa in China

TO DIGITAL ARCHITECTURE My past experiences were projects based on traditional architecture and pragmatic functional approach which forcused more on “build a building” and its spatial quality, rather than play with its form or facade to create vision impacts. However I have seen and heard a lot about the wide and diverse use of parametric platform like Grasshopper for complex architectural designs. I am quite excited to see the influence of digital architecture to affect a quite “old-school” person like me who thinks how does a building work is more important than how does it look.

CONTENTSCase for Innovation Research / Study Expression of Interest

Week 01Architecture as Discourse-BeiJing National Stadium(Part 1)-Grace Hotel in Sydney

Week 02Computing in Architecture-Hedges Park in Singapore-Garden By The Bay

Week 03Parametric Modelling-Zaha Hadi Mobile Pavilion-BeiJing National Stadium(Part 2)

Week 04Cut Case Study 1.0-understanding of parametric-Dynamic Performance

Week 05Cut Case Study 2.0-group work and discussion-BKK New Architecture

Week 06Cut Case Study 2.0-Project Progress-Spanish Pavilion

Week 07Model Fabrication-Work Finalisation-Documentation

Week 08Interim Presentation-Panel Feedback-Group Review

Week 09Mid semester break-Respond to feedback-Future Development

Case for Innovation Research / Study Expression of Interest

week 01

Architecture as Discourse

Two of my favourite buildings

BeiJing National Stadium (Part 1)Grace Hotel in Sydney

BeiJing National StadiunPart 1

http://www.designbuild-network.com/

http://stadium-love-.tumblr.com

http://www.globeimages.net

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melosh/2820483251/

General Information

The Chinese National Stadium is located in BeiJing, and its commonly known as Bird’s Nest. It was designed as the main stadium for 2008 Beijing Olympic Games by both Swiss and Chinese architects.

Why I love it

Even since the Olympics in 2008, the Bird’s Nest has become one of the most representative buildings in china. It is the new icon of BeiJing and every Chinese is proud of its beauty in both architectural and structural perspectives without any doubts. It was also constructed with an advanced energy-saving design, for example: natural ventilation and lighting, full recycling of rainwater, and utilization of renewable geothermal energy.

However nothing is perfect

Based on my understanding of week 01 reading: architecture should be more than a piece of art which emphasis so much on façade only. It must provide emotional connections to users and it shouldn’t be an isolated creature without consideration of site context. I also concern for cost effective and if architectural language is consistent from inside out. unfortunately a close view of Bird’s Nest is not as amazing as far view due to those huge columns. The deliberately exposed structures are a bit rough cut which give a bit feeling of unfinished. Although the interior design strictly follow exterior concepts, it just doesn’t look right. Personally I am not sure if the 300millions RMB is really worth for a stadium despite the significant meaning in Chinese History, especial there were water leakage problems. Anyway it is still a masterpiece.

http://www.n-s.cn/cn

http://viewpictures.co.uk/

http://www.n-s.cn/cn

In my opinion

From architectural perspective: Overall shape of the Bird’s Nest is unique and beautiful. There is a strong vision impact. This special-oval building creates sense of curiosity and attraction to public and that is a very important quality of every successful design. Especially Silver colour gives highlight of architectural features which draws great public attention. And by making use of a sloping landscape which is slightly higher than the ground, the Bird’s Nest and surrounding environment are in harmony with nature effect. By using smooth wavy lines in height changing to ease the sense of volume of building which gives a dramatic and powerful body without giving a feeling of “heavy and bulky”. The spatial effect is both unprecedentedly originality and elegant. Therefore, the concept expression is simple and direct in the form of façade and structure. It presents a profound oriental culture: there are unlimited changes in order hidden in seemingly disordered framework.

From structural perspective: This building was designed service life up to 100 years, it has one of the largest spans in its steel structure among world’s sport facilities. This is enough for it to stand out as a legend in construction and even engineer history.

Extension of thinking

The Bird’s Nest also draw my attention to other iconic buildings in China which are created by foreign architects. Most of them are somehow unusual in forms or shapes. They are not site responsive to certain extend. I really wish foreign architects are not using china as a lab to test their new ideas.

http://www.gracehotel.com.au/

Grace Hotel In Sydney

http://www.sydneycloseup.com/

My favourite hotelThe Grace Hotel in Sydney really gave me one of the best experiences among all hotels I have ever stayed, no matter in Asian, Australian or Europe. The combination of physical comfortableness and visual art is very enjoyable. Of course I refer to normal working class affordable hotels in city areas, not those six stars super luxury hotels in Dubai or hotel resorts by the beach.

ExteriorI was attracted almost immediately by its art-deco architectural style with an outstanding neo-gothic exterior. The smooth-cut yellowish stones look ancient in a tasteful way. You can feel its irreplaceable position in history just by looking at its photos. The building sits elegantly at the junction of prominent King and York streets within CBD of Sydney. It does have some strong contrast to surrounding modern designs, especial there is an Apple glass-box retail across a street. However you will not find it is odd or misplaced. In fact it is integrated perfectly with the entire Sydney city style.

Interior

Art-deco style almost carries throughout the entire hotel, from the entrance, lift lobby until all meeting rooms. The consistency acts like a virtual path guides you within the hotel. However, guest rooms are not heavily decorated. They are simple, modern and spacious. I like this change so much because it gives your eyes a break once you enter your own room and creates sense of privacy.

week 02

Computing in Architecture

Architecture’s new mediaBenefits of using computers

Architecture in the digital ageGarden by the bay

Architecture’s new mediaBenefits of using computers in architectural design processDuring past academic projects and direct/indirect involvement in practice, I have experienced huge benefits by using computers in architectural design process. Despites of its precise, faultless and consistent performance standard, computer has been a significant visual and simulation tool for designers. From pushing boundaries of complex geometries and 3 dimensions modeling to realistic visualization for conveying architectural aspiration to potential clients for project commissions and competition bids. The advancement of computing in architecture enables implementation at different project stages, from design and coordination to construction and documentation.

The renderings shows a residential project in singapore by DPA Pte Ltdwhich I was involved. The photo realistic renderings from our project team provided client almost perfect visualisation to our design cencept, intention and end product mockup.It prevented misunderstanding by verbal communication. Moreover digital technologies speeded up our design process by testing them out quickly in 3 dimensional way and sloved problems that were hard to be found though hand sketches.

Using computers in design process is absolutely effective and computer is not only a tool but representes a new design generation.

http://www.gardenbythebay.com.sg

Gardens By the Bay

Architecture in digital ageHow does computation contributs to architecture in all spects

Fabrication / Geometry / Dynamic / System / Practice / Sustainbility

http://www.gardenbythebay.com.sg

General Information

Gardens by the bay is the latest and largest botanic garden in singapore which consists of three distinct waterfront gardens: Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden, set in the heart of Singapore’s new downtown Marina Bay, adjacent to the Marina Reservoir. Spanning 101 hectares (250 acres), Gardens by the Bay is an integral part of a strategy by the Singapore government to transform Singapore from a “Garden City” to a “City in a Garden”. The stated aim is to raise the quality of life by enhancing greenery and flora in the city.

Computation and Technologies

The Conservatories use a suite of technologies to achieve at least 30% saving in energy consumption, compared to conventional cooling technologies. As a result the energy consumption for the Conservatories is comparable to that of an average commercial building in Singapore of the same footprint and height. To optimise energy efficiency, the following key architectural and engineering strategies were implemented: •Spectrally selective glass and light sensor-operated shadings minimize the solar heat gain and allow maximum light to plants.•Thermal stratification to ensure cool air settles at the lower occupied zone and warm air is allowed to rise and vented out at high levels.•The efficient de-humidification cooling process is de-coupled first into de-humidifying of the air with a liquid desiccant and then cooling the dry air.•A Combined Heat Power (CHP) biomass steam turbine generates electricity to run the electric chillers that produce chilled water to cool the Conservatories. Waste heat is captured in the process to regenerate the liquid desiccant.

(Refer to Images on next page)The eco-super tree structure reaching up to 50m high are vertical gardens that provide cooling tower for the biome conservatories, water harvesting and storage and solar collectors from photovoltaic arrays. The illustrations provide environmental analysis to the design intent, and technical drawings of the complex towering structures to be fabricated.

Form and GeometryComputer generated design development models in which how they were evolved and influenced.

Site and Climate ResponsiveMechanical shading devices on the skin of the biome domes that are responsive to the environmental conditions, as well as glazing with low heat transmission with high light emission was specially design to suit the required biome conditions.

Architectural design is also responsive to environmental strategy in the solar, prevailing winds, water and earth that influence the geometry, form, finishes, and adopting appropriate green technologies.

An illustration of the design intent with the environmental strategy that integrates the whole garden development as one integrated system, which achieved the highest Green Mark Platinum rating in Singapore.

http://www.cpgcorp.com.sg / http://wilkinsoneyre.com

http://www.grant-associates.uk.com

http://www.grant-associates.uk.com

All the details

The concept of the project is based on a heavily organic approach to the design and detailing that had to be reflected in each aspect of the project from pathways to vertical structures. In addition to the design challenges of the Supertrees and Conservatories, the gardens are rich with innovative details including:

One of the features of the gardens will be the striking patterns of paving at key locations. This has been inspired by the cellular patterns of plant cells and is defined by contrasting colours and textures of stone.

The diagrammatic branching pattern is a feature of the gardens and implies networks and interrelationships. Inspired by Darwin’s sketches of the branching patterns of trees, the Tree of Life is used as an in-situ concrete relief pattern along the Colonnade rear wall. It is developed further in the Flower Dome as a central motif to each garden terrace set into the pavement. The nodes become planters, information points or simple decorative stone inserts.

An important structure in the gardens is the Dragonfly bridge which connects the heart of the gardens to the Marina Bay Sands resort complex. The structure spans the dragonfly lake on a series of distinctive red supports and offers unique views across the gardens.

The use of coloured steelwork in the gardens continues in the form of aerial roots. These are large curvaceous arches spanning the edge of the Supertree Grove, allowing the display of vigorous flowering climbers.

week 03

Parametric Modelling

BeiJing National Stadium (Part 2)Zaha Hadid Mobile Pavilion

BeiJing National Stadium Part 2

The Concept / Skin and Space

Continue with Part 1, the architectural geometry was inspired by randomness in nature, and patterns found in Chinese style ‘crazed’ pottery typically found in Beijing markets. It is formed by complex lattice shell, with a seemingly random structure of the interwoven steel framing, in which it resembled the enclosure and the twig-like lightweight enclosure of a bird’s nest. - hence it’s adopted nick name. Understanding the geometric and constructional complexity of this system was fundamental to the project’s success to be delivered on time for such a significant event on the nation.

The Structure / Technologies

For this unique complex structure parametric design was used for the modelling the stadium and the structural systems by renowned parametric designers, Gehry Technologies.They provided a series of project specific design development workshops for the project teams to build the parametric model., designers can quickly generate the initial form of a stadium within defined parameters such as geometric constraints, environmental factors, and the limitations of construction materials.

Having produced the initial concept, the architect can rapidly explore and test options by adjusting variables such as the height of a row of seats. The bowl geometry could be optimised easily, quickly and produce many test models. To resolve a complex design, details, and interfaces with conventional CAD techniques would haven taken a lot more time with one or two iterations. Generative design in the parametric model enabled 34 design possibilities and better results in a fraction of the time.

The advantage of using parametric software is significant when dealing with design that is required to be adjustable and continually changing like this complex stadium.

Instead of assigning rigid values to geometry such as length, angle, depth, etc, these can be assigned parameters that can be adjusted later. Since the software is also associative, relationships can be set between geometries that allow changes in parameters to be generated through the model and downstream implications of changes assessed.

The overall shape and form initially was designed with a retractable roof an should withstand seismic to events. Later events removed the roof structure, and the use of parametric was an example of this in which it allowed rapid development to resolve complex interfacing details., steel design and fabrication to be updated automatically during some significant design changes. It enabled basic redesign in a matter of weeks, and the stadium could be completed on time.

Not only Parametric is useful in the design processes, its intelligent is brought into the coordination stages with other disciplines like building services, and is able to detect conflicts and clashes early in the construction phases to minimise remedial and abortive works on site, that could have caused more delays and cost to the projects.

www.gehrytechnologies.com/

Zaha Hadid Mobile Pavilion

http://www.zaha-hadid.com

This is one of the most significant parametric design work of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid’s. Her practice has been specifically focused on developing a conceptual framework for the design to be used as the basis for a set of parametric tools that may be applied to different conditions and exhibition highlights. In her quest for complex, dynamic and fluid spaces, the work of Zaha Hadid has developed over the past years through integration of natural and human-made systems with cutting-edge technologies.

The organic shell of the Mobile Art Pavilion is created with a succession of reducing arched segments. As the Pavilion travels over three continents, this segmentation also gives an appropriate system of partitioning, allowing the Pavilion to be easily transported in separate and manageable elements. The partitioning seams become a strong formal feature of the exterior façade cladding, while these seams also create a spatial rhythm of perspective views within the interior exhibition spaces.

week 04-07

Parametric Learning Journey

Cut Case Study 1.0-2.0 Group work progress

Model Fabrication

My understanding and interest towards Parametric designParametric is definitely the trendiest way of design in architecture that everyone has been talking about, because in a digitalized world today with rapidly developing of new technology, designers must work more effectively, quickly and accurately. We need more powerful tools to help on all aspects including drafting, rendering, analysis and animation. We want tools to create and edit smartly without limitation of complexity or restriction. If a tool can fulfill all the needs then by using that tool to design is called parametric design. Basically it is about creating a system by setting up parameters, then modifies the end product that generated by this system to explore more possibilities.

Benefits

Personally I am definitely very interested in it as it seems really useful and there is high demanding in the market of designers with rhino and grasshopper skills. Despites that realistic consideration, parametric design is really interesting in an artistic perspective that creates multiple visual and spatial effects that we may not able to achieve through ordinarily top-down way of design thinking.

Doubts

Although we are learning the combination of parametric with sustainability, there is something that I really can’t get over, which is how buildable and site responsive the end products of parametric. All the successful parametric design projects are mainly for exhibition, museum or public buildings engaged with famous architects, which clients are willing to pay huge numbers as icons. However when it comes to small residential project with little budget, is parametric design still practical?

Parametric ArchitecturePersonally experiences about parametric

Wyndham City Gateway ProjectAttractors / PerceptionMy team is especially interested in this area of parametric design as we find it is very much related to a project like Wyndham city gateway which requires an eye-catching art work. Especially Parametric flatform like Rhino and Grasshopper will be used to help creating amazing geometry which may not able to be done by other ordinary 2D software.

Personally I believe the success of Wyndham city gateway project is heavily depending on what kind of visual effect you provide for drivers in that 30 seconds when they drive pass. In this particular project, we are going to deal with speed, sight, visual impact and responsive timing. We are looking for the best expression in shortest time to the drivers, but leave them with great impression of our gateway. There is no other way of communication to drivers except attract their attention. And that makes Attractor / Perception as a very good starting point for parametric design.

We are studying on a parametric design project called Dynamic Performance of Nature in Leonardo Museum of Art, Science and Technology, located in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is a permanent architectural media installation there.

Environmental sensors capture data from sources throughout the planet and feed that data to solar-powered LEDs embedded in the sine-wave form made of recycled plastic. As the sensors register changes in temperature, wind, seismicity, and other factors, the LEDs reflect these fluctuations with continuous spectral waves that represent minute shifts in the data feed from moment to moment.Although the design intention seems very site responsive, the end product is actually also an attractor.

It is very interesting that at the different time of a day and changes of weather, it generates different data to create various patterns. Regardless of its unique function, it gives interesting visual effects as it looks different from every angle. It attracts visitors’ full attention by walking around it to explore more.

Case Study 1.0Dynamic Performance of NatureBy EB Office

http://www.bustler.net/dynamic_performance_of_nature_by_eb_office

The architectural form of the pavilion is dynamic by itself. It is characterised by speculation, fantasy and mobility. The form is generated through a geodesic sphere that projected to a centre point which is the attractor point then trimmed against an inner and outer cube. Using parametric software, variables such as the position of the centre point or the size of the intersecting cubes can be easily modified to quickly test a number of iterations.

Personally I think the most interesting and remarkable part of this art piece is the quality of views that provides at different angles of standing point. Especially the hug contrast on the sense of boundary between inside/outside the pavilion. It creates a visual illusion whereby we have a form that has its exterior which looks rather solid but when you are on the inside and specifically at the attractor point, the boundary/cage of thick lines seems to disappear into thin lines which blurring the boundary between the internal and external space.

Case Study 2.0Pavilion for New ArchitectureBy BKK Architects

http://www.sial.rmit.edu.au/project/pavilions_for_new_architecture.php

After some research on Grasshopper definition and group discussion of possible solutions, we started to re-create this pavilion model through a cube in Rhino then slowly developed it step by step in Grasshopper. We experienced few failures and errors, tried out functions of different commands and finally summerised the following steps:

Step 1 and 2-Exploded cube to different surfaces and populated 2D points on surfaces-Added number slider to control amount of points and connected to voronoi

Re-create BKK Pavilion

Step 3 and 4-created a centre point, duplicated a cube and scaled down based on centre point-flattened, graft and make curve and points correspondent to each other for lofting

Step 5 -Then we supposed to explode and loft again to offset for adding thickness to each piece. And we stucked! After we tried few unsuccessful solutions, we started thinking if we are wrong from the begining. There should be a simpler and more direct way of doing it. We must miss out something important.Then we are back to research again.

After more research and carefully read through given examples and instructions on LMS, we discovered a powerful plug-in for grasshopper is called SDR (StructDrawRhino) which actually come with a geodesic sphere under its primary geometry. It actually saves lots of time and effort.

It was a great discovery until we encountered many frustrating technical problems. While we were stucked again with this BKK pavilion, we also explore other grasshopper techniques through online resources. We are searching for other related techniques that may help to develop our own ones as we know our targets are Attractors / Perception.

My apology for missed out an important point earlier: my team attended grasshopper extra help session together. It was really very useful. We could not solve many problems or figure out solutions without Mr Finn’s help.We gained more understanding of how attractor points work, how to controlthem and some tips for physical model fabrication later on.

Design Intention and StrategiesGroup Argument and Criteria for Matrix selection As I mentioned earlier, my team is interested in using attractors and perception as the starting point of this parametric art work project. However we also understand all other aspects like panelisation, geometry, and structure are all inter-related to each other. We intent to create a combination of attractors with panelisation.

We want our art work to be able to provide a variety of visual impacts with interesting interaction to drivers. We are looking for incomplex geometry which draws attention but also easy to be appreciated in very short period of time. Because there are at most 10 to 30 seconds for drivers drive pass our site. We hope they can be attracted, understand it and enjoy it.

The composition of this art work should be placed horizontally along the road, within the drivers’ field of views to make sure it is visible without disturbing the driving process. And angles of visualisation can be used to determin the scale of this art work too.

We started with different geometry, thickness, density and pattern / image sampler, to try out different outcome of matrix, and use for group discussion, analysis and further development.

However we are not really satisfied by this round of selection, as we don’t really incorporate with attractors, and the end products seem too simple and boring. After tutorial discussion and advice given by Mr Finn and Mr Hannes, we realized the under-usage of techniques and lack of site consideration. We were directed for more research about adding interesting elements and making full use of attractor technique.

We reflected on our argument and criteria, refine and reshape it to be more critique. We believe we have right approach to this project, but we need to work harder to improve grasshopper skills for better expression of our design intention.

Design Intention and StrategiesMatrix Exploration

Further ResearchSpanish PavilionBy Foreign Office Architects

http://matsysdesign.com/studios/compositebodies/tag/foreign-office-architects/

This Spainish Pavilion was created in the Universal Expo 2005 in Japan, and tackles the crucial subject of sustainable development through construction tradition, typical of the Spanish culture. Spanish historical legacy was used to identify the most representative architectural elements of this culture of synthesis and playing with them in the pavilion’s design. The elements chose constitute a range of spatial organizations: patios, churches and chapels, structural elements (arches and vaults), and surrounding and decorative elements (lattices and traceries).

The polychromatic walls are an outer skin, separated from the inner pavilion to give a semi-inside, semi-outside queuing space. This separation suggests at first that the hexagons may be superficial external decoration around a plain box inside. But the inside is anything but plain.

We draw inspiration on using of polychromatic modular system as external façade to produces a variety of patterns of geometry and colours. The selection of solid and voids of the façade are for ventilation, lighting of space and architectural - which concern the lighting effect and qualities which impact emotion and impression.

Morphogenesis (Part 1)The EvolutionDiagram below shows the evolution of design processWith combination of panelisation, it turns more directional and less complicated whereas having it breakdown to smaller modules allows more flexibility to play with more options. In addition, we draw inspiration of incorporating rhythms into the experience.

•Starting from panels, we broke them down in different ways, to study on gaps in-between and angles of visualisation from drivers.

•Then we integrated with modular system, by trying out various layers, to look for optimal number of panels and its height/size.

•We added different amount of attractor points to control panel orientations, to test out the best visual effect we wanted to achieve.

•Last but not least, we brought colours in as we draw inspiration from polychrome, to make sure our art work can standout and be attractive.

Breakdown Modules Attractors Colours

Breakdown Modules Attractors Colours

Morphogenesis (Part 2)Pattern / Colours selection and Model MakingTo create pleasing visual impacts by using polychromatic modular system with colour contrast and different texture of material

Solid / VoidStudy on light and shadow and glimpes of opposite traffice to provide drivers with partly see through visual interaction.

ColoursStudy on rhythm / system behind the random / irregular looking of colour arrangment.

Materiality / Gravity / Complexity / Detailing

It’s always harder to make a physical model than digital model, because we don’t have to consider materiality and gravity in digital model. It can be something totally amazing on the computer screen but impossible to build in reality or something that is too complicated to worth building. And physical model help us to find out how buildable is our design.

We chose Perspex to build our model as it is available in different thickness and colours.However we realized the biggest problem was the panels were actually not joined together as they were orientated to different directions by their own respective attractor points. There is no way to build something in the middle of air without any support.

Lucky for us had an opportunity to seek for advice from Ms Alison, she actually provided us great suggestion of having small transparent triangles to fix the panels positions, as well as join them together. And yes this solution works perfectly.

week 08-09

EOI - Interim Presentation

Panel FeedbacksGroup Review and Respond

Further Development

Attractors / Perception

Interim PresentationGroup ReviewIn the presentation, we focused more on our design concept / strategies than grasshopper techniques as we know that’s not our strength. And our intention is to sell this art work for the unique effect it creats and the interesting using experience, rather than how was it created through complex grasshopper techniques.

Our argument is we wanted to provide drivers a variety of perspectives as they drive pass. Our art work supposed to have a dynamic effect with different driving speeds. The gaps in between panels allows light and shadow through different angels create interesting reflection, and also interaction with other drivers on the opposite side of road. This art work should be more than just sculpture on the roadside. It should bring new experience every time people drive pass and look at it. We hope people can understand and appreciate it easily but without be bored of it too quickly.

We also draw many useful ideas from our case studies: For BKK Pavilion, we learnt the qualities of view contrast from playing with attractors and the directional qualities it gives which inferred from the “infinite projection”. For EB office, we learnt the dynamic flow of views and its rhythm effect that we can provide to our audients. For Spanish Pavilion, we learnt from the selection of solid / voids of the façade for lighting and spatial quality. We really tried hard to incorporate all these amazing ideas to our design.

Panel FeedbacksWe received really valuable and useful advice and suggestion from panel that can be summarised as follow key points:

•First of all, parametric tool was under used that did not push to its full potential at all. It results our final model to be simple and lack of interest. We should be daring to explore more possibilities.

•Secondly, design ideas were good but lack of a strong technique that could express it or would allow it to be better investigated. We must practise more and more on grasshopper techniques.

•Thirdly, attractor points were important part of our selling point of this art work, but they did not strongly stand out. There were other teams worked on attractor points too, whom actually did better work than us. We should look at more case studies, and probably think out the box, think of something else that is more creative than just purely use of attractor points.

•Last but not least, the buildability and scale of this model on site. We all know that our current model is structurally impossible in reality because it lacks of vertical support. We must start thinking through structure perspective and site context.

Further DevelopmentGroup Responds

Self Reflection on Parametric

After some group discussion, we summarized our responds to address feedbacks accordingly:

There is no other way to improve grasshopper skills except practice, practice and practice. We will study on its Menu and Prime or any other user guide that help us to learn more essential skills. We will research on more conceptually related grasshopper techniques, hopefully to make use of them and contribute to our design intention. We must put site text in consideration, understand the scale of the project and study on Wynham city. Moreover, explore vertical support, understand the structure, construction and scale in reality, and turn our model buildable on site without reducing the visual effect we want to create.

To be very honest, although I am very interested in learning grasshopper, it was still a painful journey with all my blood and sweat. I am not a person with computer talents and it sometimes takes me longer than others to pick up software skills. I did see the beauty of how parametric tool can change and control the entire design in a quicker and more effective way. However I found time is too limited to allow me really make those techniques mine. (14 weeks’ semester is too short, and 10 weeks’ summer holiday is ridiculous! How can University have holiday as long as Primary School?) I wish academic weeks can be longer, so that we can have more time to learn and practice before produce a really satisfied end product.

Back to parametric, I still find it interesting, attractive and amazingly useful. Moreover I find it actually turns more and more popular in recent years during my case studies’ research. Especially I was surprised that one of my favourite project: Marina Bay Sand Integrated Resort was partly involved of parametric design. It motivates me to learn grasshopper harder! My knowledge of parametric is still very superficial and I wish I can gain deeper thoughts of it in the end of semester.

ReferencesBeiJing National Stadium / view on 2nd August 2012http://www.globeimages.net/http://viewpictures.co.uk/ http://www.n-s.cn/cn/

Grace Hotel / view on 3rd August 2012http://www.sydneycloseup.com/ http://www.gracehotel.com.au/

Garden By the Bay / view on 8th August 2012http://www.grant-associates.uk.com/http://www.gardenbythebay.com.sg/http://www.cpgcorp.com.sg/http://wilkinsoneyre.com/

BeiJing National Stadium / view on 16th September 2012www.gehrytechnologies.com/

Mobile Pavilion / view on 14th August 2012http://www.zaha-hadid.com/

Dynamic Performance of Nature / view on 21st August 2012http://www.bustler.net/dynamic_performance_of_nature_by_eb_office/http://www.eboarch.com/

BKK Pavilion / view on 21st August 2012http://www.b-k-k.com.au/http://www.sial.rmit.edu.au/project/pavilions_for_new_architecture.php/

Spanish Pavilion / view on 30th August 2012http://archdaily.com/tag/foreign-office-architects/http://matsysdesign.com/studios/compositebodies/tag/foreign-office-architects/