final journal

ABPL30048_2012_SM1: Architecture Design Studio: Air

Journal

HongSheng Low 395842

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TABLE OF CONTENTS:Part I : Expression of Interest Case for Innovation

ARCHITECTURE AS A DISCOURSE -------------------------------- 4 COMPUTING IN ARCHITECTURE -------------------------------- 6 PARAMETRIC MODELLING -------------------------------- 8

RESEARCH PROJECT: CUT - DEVELOP GROUP EOI DESIGN BRIEF ------------------------------- 11 CONCEPT ------------------------------- 12 DESIGN PHILOSOPHY ------------------------------- 13 CASE FOR INNOVATION ------------------------------- 20 SITE ANALYSIS ------------------------------- 22 MATRIX EXPLORATIONS ------------------------------- 24 REVERSE-ENGINEERING CASE STUDY ------------------------------- 28 DIGITAL MODEL ------------------------------- 30 PHYSICAL MODEL ------------------------------- 32 SUMMARY + LEARNING OUTCOME (MID-TERM) ------------------------------- 34

Part II : PROJECT PROPOSAL PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT ------------------------------- 36 FABRICATION + ASSEMBLY METHODS ------------------------------- 42 PHOTOGRAPH ------------------------------- 46

RESPONDING TO FEEDBACK ------------------------------- 48

Part III : LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES REFLECTION / CONCLUSION ------------------------------- 54

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Part 1 : Expression of Interest

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Architecture as Discourse

Swiss Re TowersNorman Foster

(2003)

Biomimicry‘...a new discipline that studies nature’s best ideas and then imitates these designs and processes to solve human problem’ (Panchuk 2006).

With the advancement in technology, nature became visual; an exploration into the microscopic and genetic makeup of organisms amplified the possibilities within architectural design. As architectural designing increasingly aims to resolve challenges that have often already been resolved by nature and also increasingly seeks to incorporate concepts and techniques, such as growth or adoption, that have parallels in nature, nature as 1)model, 2)measure, 3)mentor should possibly be the direction the Gateway design is heading.

The internal spiral wells of the Venus Flower basket (Fig below) provide a perfect model for structure and natural ventilation for Norman Foster’s Swiss Re Tower. The building adopts the structure of the organism that functions as reinforcement mechanism to withstand the structural pressures of the deep sea, to counteract sheer stresses posed in high-rise buildings.

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Week 1 Architecture as Discourse

Although copying natural forms has brought structural innovations to the field of architecture, it is limited to a formal objective. The journal presents here emphasizes the use of nature to enhance experience: the relationship between the human and the environment. Simply copying a natural environment or form cannot achieve this because it lacks the criteria that prove necessary in ecology the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environments): performance, interactions or systems of exchanges.

The complexity of the structure of Fuller’s geodesic dome was developed through the idea of microcosm within macrocosm. The building’s surface derives its essence from the metaphor of human skin where it can adapt itself according to external environmental conditions through the processes of photo, sound and heat sensitivity. His architecture evoked the very ideas of environmental, ecological and sustainable design strategies that changed the way society thinks, acts and lives today (Parsons, Thomas, and Romer, 1990).

Montréal BiosphèreR.Buckminster Fuller(1967)

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Computational-Aided Design Vs

The critical distinction between computer-aided design (CAD) and computational design is that the amount and specificity of information CAD produces never surpasses what has been initially supplied, it just simply ‘computerized’ well-established methods of geometric description (Terzidis 2006); whilst, computational design enables the processing of information in such a way that new information is created.

Emergence suggests that a simple set of components in a given environment, interact to create complex systems. Interchanges in nature are based on the concept of emergence. An example to consider is an ant colony. The queen does not give direct orders to the ants. Instead, each ant reacts depending only on its local environment and the genetically encoded rules for its variety of ant, which contribute to the complex behaviours in the colony, i.e. the number of foragers or nest-builders needed at a time.(Johnson 2001)

In architectural practice, ’Morphogenetic Beachscape’ project conducted by Christoph Waibel, uses the idea of emergence by first evaluating different criteria for the building’s overall fitness, then combining and mutating them, and finally the emergent and evolution of the final outcome.

Development in computational design has made modelling objects to modelling processes, from designing shape to designing behaviour, and from defining static digital constructs to defining computing systems capable of reciprocal data exchange and feedback information possible (Menges 2012). This changes are enabled emergence in biomimetic design processes in architecture, which will be discussed further in the journal.

Emergence Morphogenetic BeachscapeChristoph Waibel

Computational Design

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Nature and our society are both dynamic systems, and so why shouldn’t our buildings be?

The behaviour of ants suggests that interchanges in nature are based on emergent properties. The use of computation tools conceivably helps in understanding and simulation of complex systems or behaviours. The question now is how to instrumentalize the relationship between body and environment. To answer this, we shall hone in on one aspect of emergent behaviours, which can be translated to an architectural idea: interaction.

“Synergy is the only word in our language that means behavior of whole systems unpredicted by the separately observed behaviors of any of the system’s separate parts or any subassembly of the system’s parts. Universe is synergetic. Life is synergetic” - Buckminster Fuller

Week 2 Computational Design

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Through the use of parametric design tools, by imputing external data like intensity of sunlight and wind velocity (for the Gateway project) as parameters into the design, the resultant geometry would be efficient, in terms of its energy generation, and use of energy. This leads to another important aspect of parametric design: its ability to maintain relationships by rules. In other words, since all the resultant forms are associated to the initial parameters, they all relate to each other. Thus, if one parameter is changed, the entire geometry will be updated.

As explained earlier, interactivity is the ultimate goal of this Gateway project. A two-way interaction between the built and natural environment is favourable. For instance, a high-tech solution should be avoided, ie floors that light up when you walk on them, color changing walls or hypersurfaces. These are all necessary innovations yet remain a one-way transfer of information (merely ‘reacting’ to the environment, instead of ‘interacting’ with it).

Parametric Design

Multiple Natures - Fibrous Tower

SOMATaichung, Taiwan

Fig 3.1

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Plants proved to be a perfect model for a two-ways interaction in nature. Photosynthesis, known as the process by which they produce energy, happens on the cellular level yet affects the pigmentation of the leaf (Fig 3.2).

In architecture precedent, Multiple Natures - Fibrous Tower by SOMA was modelled based on the lamellas of flowers, where the ‘biomimetic lamellas’ respond to weather conditions by opening and closing themselves to protect inhabitants from the elements. (Fig 3.1)

Week 3 Parametric Design

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Group EOITing Hooi SIW 550415Eva (Yi FANG) 335615Jeffrey TING 380929Hong Sheng LOW 395842

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?

1. Iconic & Eye-catching installation

2. Integrating with the surrounding landscape

3. Illustrative materiality

A new architectural DISCOURSE introduced by computing design through the combination of space, nature and materiality

OBJECTIVES

Design Brief

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Melbourne as a city of integrates the traditional culture and the modernity, so our design tends to indicate the merging of the old and the new in Melbourne

Concept

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From regular to irregular

From urban to landscape

From grey colour to bright colour

From bricks to glass and steel

Design Philosophy

Space

Biomimicry

Materiality

Colour

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In terms of spatial experience, the computing design enables a precise geometric form controlled by the parameters and has a folding form.

According to Greg Lynn, wrote in his Folding in architecture, the “calculated based form” introduced by the computer, enables an innovative flow and continuous geometry for buildings. That is, “a

unifying figure whereby different segments and plans are joined and merging in lines and volumns.” (Lynn 1997). Also, he mentioned that the computer based form also provide a smoother transaction between two spaces than the traditional methods. Apart from the traditional divided form, the continuous space enabled by the digital technology foresees a new architectural discourse in such spatial experience. Therefore, we will use the continuous folding form for the gateway installation to highlight such state-of-art structure. Also, rather than the random form in the previous architecture design, the geometries used in the gateway project will also be précised calculated by computer and controlled by relevant parameters.

regular formlead bearing walls

columns supportfree plan, regular geometry

irregular formdynamic facade

continuours formfolding

Classical architecture Modern architecture Postmodern architecture Computational design

BAMBOO FOR UCHINO AND NAIJU OF CHIKUHO TOWN, FUKUOKA,SHOEI YOH HAMURA,1995

Case of Innovation _ Space

Spatial Experience

Changes of Architectural Discourse

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Computational design

The Shoei Yoh’s roof for the Odawara Sports Center in Japan demonstrates Lynn’s idea of the folding

geometry in practice. As can be seen from the image, rather than the traditional way of separating the roofs to the walls, Shoei Yoh used one continuous roof structure for the whole building. And such structure can be supported by assembling the standard elements from the computation design for the skin and the contouring medal rings underneath. In addition, the geometry of the entire roof is not random, rather than simply increase the depth of the roof trusses to bearing the wind and snow loads, Shoei experimentes with the deforming of the structure via computer simulation to find the optimum shape. And this automatic deformation made by the lateral forces resulted in an organic and irregular form.

The innovations of the folding form as well as the precise simulation of the geometry according to

the natural forces not only indicate a new architectural discourse enabled by the logic computing design but also satisfied the scale and site condition in the gateway project. As the councils are asking for an eye-catching installation in an open landscape, the fluid form can be considered as it can easily expand through the large site. Also, the fabrication method of the Shoei Yoh’s roof could also be used as a reference for constructing the folding form. In order to stabilize the pitched form, the architects suggest the use of a central post to support the structure during the construction process and remove it when it finishes. Similarly, for the fabrication technique of the Gateway project, it could be useful to insert some predefined frame during the construction and remove them afterwards.

1. Establish the basic grid 2. Added the folding geometry on the grid

3. Added details to the geom-etry

Construction process of the structure-cenral post located

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Case of Innovation _ Materiality

Image from http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/image.axd?picture=2010%2F8%2F100804+aus+pavilion.jpg

Image from http://images.smh.com.au/2010/04/30/1398223/Shanghai_Expo__14_-600x400.jpg

Image from http://www.australiandesignreview.com/wp-content/uploads/old_img/pavilion_7.jpg

In order to reflect the concept of “old and new”, we use corten and glass as construction materials. Both of them also have high weather resistance to prevent corrosion that might result from the exposure to sun and rain. Based on the precedent of the Australian Pavilion, we intend to challenge the typical use of the materials by using corten as structural elements to support itself and the glass tubes. Computational techniques are then used to create hollow corten boxes and several glass tubes are blended to specific angles in order to connect with these corten boxes. For instance, in the Australian Pavilion, the building is threaded by a system of curved glass tubes that house the circulation ramp. The combination of corten panels and glass tubes makes this pavilion richer in texture and stands out from the other buildings. Furthermore, the idea of using hollow corten boxes is also partly because of the ease of construction and transportation.

The Australian Pavilion, Shanghai Expo 2010 By Wood Marsh

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The ITKE research pavilion 2011 has used the concept of “forms follow materiality”. It demonstrates an alternative approach to computational design which is the computational generation of form is directly driven and informed by physical behavior and material characteristics. We might as well integrate this concept into our gateway design. For instance, corten is very flexible in creating different shapes. Hence, it is used to make hollow boxes to represent the use of bricks of old melbourne. On the other hand, glass tubes, which represent the new melbourne, are curved and intersected with each other using their bending property. This is the result after considering the concepts of “old and new” and “forms follow materiality”.

In regards to Wyndham Gateway project, the gateway is designed with the parameter of the sun intensity and its path. So, the form will change according to the parameter which directly influences the application of corten and glass tubes on the gateway.

ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION 2011 By Achim Menges& Jan Knippers

http://nzwood.co.nz/industry-news/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/1326784561-14-view-seated-528x3591.jpg

http://www.ilikearchitecture.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/re-search_pavilion_institute_computational_design_4-550x412.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6745032215_5fb499afbf_z.jpg

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Case of Innovation _ Colours

Case Study: Oil Pavilion, Shanghai Expo, 2010

The Oil Pavilion has a concise, grand exte-rior look where it used the crossing pipes which are interwoven into an exquisite “gift box”. The pavilion manifests strong features of the modernity and the petroleum industry.

The fantastic space-time journey provided to the visitor by using the effects of sound, light, and elec-tronic technologies. The pavilion highlighted the vir-tual scenes in the pre-exhibition zone, multimedia approaches are employed to create the fantastic scenes characterized by the petroleum and chemi-cal industry, and pull visitors close to petroleum.

The exterior walls of pavilion are built with new type of polycarbonate diffusion plates and tens of thou-sands of LED lights, the pavilion will present crystal-like and splendid light and shadow effects at night.

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Throughout the researches and case study in materials discourse, it’s been discovered that light and colours can be the most versatile building materials, where it becomes one of the most fundamental elements in the new architecture discourse. By implementing the new technology with the lighting ef-fects, one can design a large effect on the internal environment and also help to create atmposphere, and link a space with its context.

For the Western Gateway Design Project, we found out that the site is located at a dull, plain and wide highway area where there is no significant or eye-catching landmark that can be used to resembles the city of Melbourne. Therefore, the idea of intergrate the play of colours and materials into the gate-way installation project has become one of the idea to show the iconic features in the site and develop a different kind of design for the daytime, and night time views to the visitors who uses the freeways.

To develop the idea of the play of colours and lighting into our own gateway project, we have explored and researched the techniques of using the “Photochromism technology” and “photochromism technology” where it is a colour chang-ing technology based on UV light exposure and temperature change. By using this technique onto the glass tube of our installation, we can control the colour changes of the instal-lation as we oriented the glass tube of the installation to face the sun orientation. The colours will change from black(cold) -red-orange-yellow-green-blue-violet-black(heating). The changes of colours will give the exciting, and eye-catching feelings to the visitors and act as an iconic features at the site.

The colour of copper, yellow, blue have been chose to resemble the concept of “Old and New” in Melbourne City. The copper co-lour is used to resemble the old, vintage feeling of old style ar-chitecture discourse which is using the bricks, stones; while the yellow and blue used to resemble the free form, dynamicism and fluidity of the new architecture discourse in Melbourne.

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Case of Innovation _ Biomimicry‘...a new discipline that studies nature’s best ideas and then imitates these designs and processes to solve human problem’ (Panchuk 2006).

Structural Innovation

Emergence, Evolution

Two-ways interaction

As architectural designing increasingly aims to resolve challenges that have often already been resolved by nature and also increasingly seeks to incorporate concepts and techniques, such as gowth or adaption, that have parallels in nature, nature as 1)model, 2)measure, 3)mentor should possibly be one of the directions the Gateway design is heading.

Norman Foster’s Swiss Re Tower mimics the internal spiral wells of the Venus Flower basket to provide structural support and natural ventilation. Although copying natural forms has brought structural innovations to the field of architecture, it is limited to a formal objective. The EOI presents here emphasizes the use of nature to enhance experience: the relationship between the human and the environment.

Simply copying a natural environment or form cannot achieve this because it lacks the criteria that prove necessary in ecology (the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environments): performance, interactions or systems of exchanges. As stated in the brief, the interaction between the installation (built-environment) and the surrounding landscape (natural environment) is important.

Interactivity is the ultimate goal of this Gateway project. A two-way interaction between the built and natural environment is favourable. For instance, a high-tech solution should be avoided, ie floors that light up when you walk on them, color changing walls or hypersurfaces. These are all necessary innovations yet remain a one-way transfer of information.

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Local Scale

Regional Scale

Melbourne situated within the East Asian-Australasian Flyway. Besides, Werribee has a huge important bird area, and there are natural reserves and wetlands around the site. Birds activities/ flying on the site would be expected. Since surrounding the site is a huge plain grassland with only little trees, the idea is to have our design as stopover site for the birds.

A good precedent to look at is the Westgate Bridge in Melbourne, which shows how wildlife adapted to living in the wetland bird sanctuary underneath the gigantic Westgate Bridge. Westgate Bridge brought inspiration to us as in how urban space can also be habitat for nature.

For our design, due to the concern of noise produced by vehicles zooming past, the Boxes at the top will be used as planters to provide food and water for the birds. To avoid adding excessive loads to the structural support of the design, huge, bulky plants should be avoided.

Source: http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm

Design Concept

Large Geographic Scale

Source: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/migratory

East Asian Australasian Flyway

Plain Grassland

Plain Grassland

Natural Reserves to north-west

Fig 1 Westgate Bridge Fig 2 Flocks of birds assembling before migration

Wetland to south-east

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Site Analysis

Plain Grassland

Natural Reserves

Wetland to south-east

Potential direction of the birds flying

Common NameRed-necked StintSharp-tailed Sandpiper Orange-bellied Parrot

Migratory Birds

Avereage Size14cm21cm21cm

Consistency of UseLate August - Early MarchAugust - MarchMarch - October

Source: http://www.birdata.com.au/iba.vm

In order to achieve the brief’s requirement of designing an installation reflects Melbourne’s image, we choose to use Melbourne’s CBD grid as our basic layout and choose the landmark buildings as our attractor points. As can be seen from the image, we identified the Melbourne CBD’s grid lines and the critical buildings in between.

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Site Analysis

A

B

C

LEGEND

DRIVEWAYS TOWARDS THE CITY

DRIVEWAYS TOWARDS THE COUNTRY

PETROL STATION

SITE A AND SITE B ARE CHOSEN AS THE LOCATION OF

THE INSTALLATION AS THEY CATCH THE MOST ATTENTION

THROUGH THE HIGHWAY

C

B

A

LEGEND



PETROL STATION

AREA THAT IS NOT VISIBLE TO THE

INSTALLATION AS IT IS GOING THE

REVERSE DIRECTION

THE CIRCLE AREA IS ANALYSED TO BE THE LOCATION THAT

CAN CATCH THE MOST ATTENTION ALONG THE HIGHWAY.

IT IS ANALYSED BY SETTING THE VIEW POINT OF 35-40

DEGREES EVERY 500M ALONG THE WAY.

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Matrix ExplorationMaths Function

Association: Maths Function + Extrusion

Input: Image Sampler + Rotation

Outpu: Surface Normal

According to the Previous EOI in regarding to the spatial experience, the spatial experience of continuous form as well as the precise geometries generated by computing design is crucial. Therefore, the exploration of the grasshopper matrix is mainly focused on produce flowing and dynamic form as well as exploring the possible geometric forms.

ASSOCIATIONS: the Math function is efficient in producing the precise geometric forms which determined by the parameters in the related math equalitions.And such effects can be seen effectively through the extrusion output.

INPUT: compared to other inputs, the surface normal is the most sufficient one in generating a 3D form as it controls the perpendicular vectors to the grid points

OUTPUT: apart form the extrusion, which has been tested in the math function association, the rotation is another critical output that could generate exciting 3D forns.

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Matrix ExplorationMultiple Maths Functions & Attracting Points

Using point attractors, distance between the attractor points and grid points varies, depending on the position of point attractors and the function used to define the distance between them. It is a potential useful associative technique for us to input site parameters, to influence the outcome of our design. This is particular relevance to our design as the design brief encourage the integration of our design with the landscape and surrounding environment.

Overlaying another grids of maths function produces interesting results as the functions begin to exhibit ‘resonance’ - repeating patterns of overlap.

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Matrix ExplorationRotation & Shaders

Shader function is used to explore the colour layering

of how one colour can match with another to create

a pattern that can allow light to penetrates through to

create the the different colour mapping and shadows.

By putting it together with the extrusion, the surface and

extrusion can enhance more on the shading areas and

the final outcome will be more clear and interesting.

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Matrix ExplorationStreaming Text Files & Using Setss

We have explored the possibilities of forms that can be created using streaming text files and using sets as associative techniques. Through experiments, we discover that the combination of “streaming text files” and “component” or “rotation” have the highest potential in creating really unique and organic forms. The data of streaming text files can be changed accroding to the design needs. From these explorations, we have a basic idea on how parametric modelling can help in challenging the typical use of materials.

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Reverse-EngineerGANTENBEIN VINEYARD FACADE By Gramazio & Kohler

Gantenbein Vineyard Facade is chosen as reverse-engineering case study as the dynamic form of the brickwork that changes according to the sun path is related to our gateway design. As the bricks rotate, it creates strong light and shadow effect inside the building which also affects the spatial experience. Furthermore, it forms certain kind of patterns if seen from a distance and varies as the viewers or the sun move.

In Wyndham Gateway project, the same computational techniques will be applied in order to achieve something interesting and iconic. As the site is near the Princess highway, the rotation of brickwork can be larger to create stronger and clearer light and shadow effects. It will be much easier for the highspeed traffic-users on the highway to see the changes of the gateway.

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Reverse-EngineerReproduction of Gantenbein Vineyard Facade

Transformation• From 2D to 3D• From Regular to dynamic

The Gantenbein Vineyard Facade is reproduced in Rhino using Grasshopper. Image sampler is used to create the patterns on the facade while the output - rotation, rotates the bricks according to the sun path and produces dynamic effect of the brick wall. The definitions are later developed and integrated into our concept by transforming them from 2D to 3D, from a regular form to a dynamic form.

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Digital ModelA rectangular grid is used to produce a planar grid points from a planar surface. The grid points are then moved in z-direction to produce a 3D grid. Boxes are then created using those grid points with a cull pattern of: ‘true’, ‘false’.

Using ‘Item’, the 2nd and 4th plane were retrieved so that they were rotated to exactly 90 degrees to the plane of boxes below. Then, attractive points as an associative technique was used to determine the pattern of the arrangement of the boxes. As discussed earlier, the grid of boxes is based on the Hoddle Grid of Melbourne City. The attractor points were chosen from some landmark buildings of Melbourne City (Melbourne Central, Federation Square, etc. By applying the definition to a curvilinear surface, we got our desired outcome.

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Digital Model

The curves of the glass tubes are first created using “bezier curve” component in Grasshopper. Then, the “pipe” component is added to give them a volume. Their amplitude is controlled according to the sun path in order to get most of the sunlight during daytime. Hence, the colour of these glass tubes will change dramatically and is more noticeable for users on the Princess Highway.

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Physical Model

1. Structural frame 2. Putting elements onto structure 3. Partly finished installation

4. Elevation of the partly finished installation

5. Finished installation without “glass tubes”

6. Puting the “glass tubes onto the structure

Night effect of the installation

Similar to the construction of Shoei Yoh’s roof, the structure of the installation is based on a predifined frame to determine the overall shape. Moreover, according to the grasshopper definition, which rotates the “ box” 90 degrees every second layers, the basic component for the installation is a right angular element made of hollow corten surface. So the process of making the “ box” form is to combine the “ box” component according to the rhino model and the structural frame.

Finally, the “glass tubes” of the model, which is made of the translucent plastic, is inserted to the “ boxes”. The location of the footing is decided based on the Hoddle Grid of Melbourne city and site constrain as discussed earlier in site analysis.

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View 1: View from the surrounding landscape

View 2: View from the vehicles travel underneath

Detailed views

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Mid-Term SummaryEOI Summary

Learning Outcomes

Our design consists of the combination of four different approaches: spatial experience, materiality, colours, and biomimicry. Knowing and understanding the concepts of other group members are essentially important, to keep our design idea coherent to each other’s. For our design, although the model seems interesting, the concepts supporting the design aren’t strong enough. For example, why and where the structure hit the ground, the reasons for the orientation and arrangement of the boxes, why hoddle grid of Melbourne city was used, etc. These have to be resolved in future to produce a strong argument for our design proposal. Moreover, the proposal as stopover sites for migration birds has to be reconsidered as in how the design can produce the needs of birds instead of just being there waiting for the birds to stop.

Furthermore, our model although is parametric, it’s still possible to be built without the use of parametric tools. Stronger relation to the parametric design tools has to be established in future. Also, although the current precedents chosen are good in generating our arguments, we didn’t use it to really guide us in our design. The design outcome of our proposal is a good way to start. To further evolve it, we may look into joinery systems as suggested by our tutors, and trying with simpler 2D surfaces first.

Design through research: We were introduced with Kalay’s reading (Architectural New Media) in week 2 to assist our understanding of an architectural design process. Adequate knowledge and skills (complex series of grasshopper definition, cut research, reverse-engineer research introduced to us) are needed to innovate us in our design. It is important to learn from our process, reflecting during the progress and learning from it.

Group Work: There are both limitations and strengths in working in groups. Brainstorming among group members brought new, creative solutions. However, poor communication and mis-understanding of each other’s concepts may lead to neglected issues in the design. Also, distribution of workloads and utilising the strengths of each group member are very important to be more productive and to achieve a better outcome

Grasshopper: Our group was quite restricted by our knowledge on grasshopper. We succeeded in producing digital model hugely with the help of tutor. It’s is really important to really understand what each component does, instead of just blindly following what was shown in the weekly ex-lab tutorial.

Forming Arguments: Making coherent design solutions and arguments were largely part of what we learnt in producing our EOI. It requires a synthsis of our knowledge on grasshopper, design methods, understanding of brief, fabrication techniques and material qualities.

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Part 2 : Project Proposal

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Design Development

Shortfall of previous design proposal:(i) Joinery system for boxes(ii) Lack of engagement with site parameters(iii) Transition from old to new (too sudden)

Old NewRegular, uniform shape (box), with corten (rust texture) as material to metaphorically represent the old

Developed the idea of intersecting surfaces (idea formed by considering joints), only to realize structural issue

Final idea is to have a smooth changing from ‘old’ to ‘new’. Hence, morphing from a square (representing old) to a irregular triangular (representing new) was developed instead of having a distinct separation from ‘old’ and ‘new’ as in previous design. Again, the idea of ‘old & new’ will be illustrated in the material as used before. Also, the ‘new’ panels will also be able to rotate due to wind force produced naturally or by vehicles. Then, waffle structure is used to provide structural support to the installation.

Irregular shape, with glass (transparent)

as material to metaphorically

represent the new

The effects of wind towards the design

is taken into account (interaction with wind

and the vehicles)Blocks flipping due to wind

Design Idea

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Step 1: Building the base surface according to the contour

Step 2: Developing the form to desired size

Step 3: Creating waffle structure based on the surface

Form Finding

Design Development

With the adoption of BIM, mere data collection and technical optimisation have open up new ways of thinking with the creative use of ‘soft data’. The new tool give us the freedom from being forced into the formal indulgence of signature of architecture or a hyper-rational mode of performative justifications. The new tool can be used to replace the lack of architect’s creativity in designing forms; as the massive data can act as the new agnostic tool to provide us the space to go beyond theories and nostalgic semantics and to have more options in designing the building’s facade. Studying OMA Photo Tropic Tower also taught us the importance to strategize which factors and methods to be used, how they will be applied or generated, and to judge what they contribute. (2009)

For the Western Gateway Design Project, the idea of collecting data from the surrounding (contour as for our design) was implemented in our attempt for form finding. The installation takes the contour as the base data to develop. Figure below shows how the final form of our deign is generated, and how the design idea combine with it.

Precedent - OMA Photo Tropic Tower

STEP 1: build the base surface according to the contour

STEP 2: develop the surface to the required size

STEP 3: create the waffle structure based on the pre-defined surface

STEP 4: add the panels on the structure with attractor points

Selected site as the base contour extrude the selected contour lines create the surface based on the selcted contour

cut the surface by section planes

obtain the sectional lines scale up basic contour lines mirror the scaled the contour skeleton create the surface based on the contour skeleton

create the lower layer of the waffle structure based on the surface

add the upper layer of the waffle structure ` add slot joints on the both layers the complete frame underneath

create the first half ot the panel with the rectangular shapes

add the second half ot the panel with the triangle shapes

add the attractor points on the surface to determine the layout

add the panel on the waffle structure

the surface tothe surface to

STEP 1: build the base surface according to the contour

STEP 2: develop the surface to the required size

STEP 3: create the waffle structure based on the pre-defined surface

STEP 4: add the panels on the structure with attractor points

Selected site as the base contour extrude the selected contour lines create the surface based on the selcted contour

cut the surface by section planes

obtain the sectional lines scale up basic contour lines mirror the scaled the contour skeleton create the surface based on the contour skeleton

create the lower layer of the waffle structure based on the surface

add the upper layer of the waffle structure ` add slot joints on the both layers the complete frame underneath

create the first half ot the panel with the rectangular shapes

add the second half ot the panel with the triangle shapes

add the attractor points on the surface to determine the layout

add the panel on the waffle structure

the surface tothe surface to

Step 4: Adding the panels on the waffle structure

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A

B

C

LEGEND



PETROL STATION

8

87

6

9

9

10

10

11

11

12

12

13

13

14

14

15

15

16

16

17

17

18

19

Summer Solstice

Winter Solstice

LEGEND

AREA THAT IS NOT VISIBLE TO THE INSTALLA-TION AS IT IS GOING THE REVERSE DIRECTION



PETROL STATION

CHOSEN SITE

The chosen site (the green colour circle area)is arranged to a bigger scale so that it maximize the experiences of the travellers and create an iconic view on the plain site.

B

A

C

The orientation of installation is arranged according to the sun path analysis. The diagonal position of installation can extend the time traveller spend and enhance the driving experience with the gradual change of shadows and lighting.

REARRANGED CHOSEN SITE

Design DevelopmentSite Analysis

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ORIENTATION ON SITE

A

AB

B

SECTION A-A

SECTION B-B

Design On Site

Design Development

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Design DevelopmentDigital Model

Step 1 : Setting direction and magnitude of change

Step 2 : Forming waffle structure on the surface generated as shown earlier

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Step 3: Forming joints for panels sticking onto waffle (at the intersection points of waffle structure)

Step 4 : Assigning the panels onto the waffle structure

Step 5 : Forming holes on panels for jointing using ‘solid difference’ between panels and the joints

Final Model

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Design DevelopmentPhysical Model

Organising and grouping the panels

Waffle structure showing the joints

Grouping waffle structure

‘Old’ panels assembling

Assembling waffle structure

Assembling ‘new’ panels

Fabricating physical model becomes easier if things are organised according to sequence. We encountered some problems in sticking the panels onto the joints of waffle structure as it does not fit in exactly like what we’ve thought of. The use of glue then helped to solve our problem. Slotting the waffle grid together provides a firm structural frame for the model, making it stable unlike our previous one. The only concern we have is that the orientation of panels are supposed to follow the form of the surface, but when we arranged it for fabrication, we have forgotten about it, leaving it up to our decision to how the panels sits on the joints.

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Shadowing Effect

Shadowing Effect of Rotational Panel

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Design DevelopmentJoinery System

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Rotational Joint Fixed Joint

Joinery for planes and waffle structure

Footing Structure where it extends into the ground

On-Site Installation

Design Development

The sequence of real installation will be very similar to how the physical model is assembled. However, because the panels will be huge (1.5m x 1.5m for square panels and 1.5m equilateral triangle panels), they will break at the centre point, especially the glass. Hence, a steel bracing will be needed, and bolted at four sides as shown in the diagrams below.

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Design DevelopmentPhotographs

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Responding to FeedbackForm and Length

1. Instead of having a fixed shape, the overall form of the surface can also be used as an indicator of “old to new”. To achieve that, we could add a regular semi-circular form at the entry to represent the static, dull “old”, and moving towards a double-curvilinear form that represents an exciting, interesting “new”. This is also to increase the length of the installment (to approximately 500m), and hence further increase the time the vehicles zooming below may experience the installment.

2. Also, as the shadow of the panels will be quite strong, giving a sudden impression when vehicles entry. The idea is to have a gradual effect of shadowing, slowly inviting the vehicles to the installation. Hence, there will be some individual waffles before reaching a closed surface.

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Having the panels on top of the waffle structure makes the effects of it viewed from below less evident. So, we decided to have the layers flipped by having the panels underneath of the waffles structure.

Effects of Structure

Responding to Feedback

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The old structure use the intersect points to determine the position of the panels. Here, the panels are placed along the waffle structure.

1. Introduce one single attractor point to the skin to produce a “hole”, so that the sunlight can come through, and the shading effects can be changed accordingly.

2. Similarly, multiple attractor points can be applied to create the light “ spots” in different locations and in different sizes by the control of the attracor points. So if we trace the sun path as the source of the attractor point, the lihgting effect of the installation can be manipulated through this parameter.

Associative Rule _ Attractor PointsThe complexity and rationality of the installation can be potentially increased by introducing the attractor points definitions in the grasshopper. To do this, first, the joints for panels sticking onto waffle structure cannot be limited to just the intersection of waffle structure. We planned to use attractor point as an associative rule to govern the layout of the panels.

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Changing Shape of PanelsPreviously, the shape of the panels are relatively simple. as it is changed from rectangle into triangle slightly. But the overall concept of the panels are not altered radically throughout the structure.

An alternative way of adding the complexity of the panels is to add more interesting shapes to the panels in a more dramatic way.

OPTION 1:

The triangular shapes can be altered by adding the “ connecting edges” at the end, so that the panels can potentially be joints to each other.

OPTION 2:

The triangular shapes can also be changed into more dynamic frames at the end. And these organic forms (like leaves) resembles the landscape of the surrounding environment.


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Part 3 : Learning Objectives and Outcomes: Final

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Reflection/ Conclusion The most challenging part in this subject has to be designing with grasshopper. I considered myself lucky to have a go in Rhino during my first year virtual environment. But then, grasshopper to me is still a total stranger. When first tried out the few tutorials on grasshopper, I was really confused and wondering ‘why use Grasshopper?’. Why not just use rhino to draw a line, instead of scripting it out, involving several components and extra effort. After struggling and striving through the whole learning progress, I now realize how grasshopper allows you to see the procedural steps and hence break the workflow at any point you desired, in order to add extra steps or change any or all of the original geometry for a substitute. In short, grasshopper unfolds and make visible the steps to final design. The most essential and yet confusing thing in Grasshopper is the structure of the data. We managed to overcome our problem based on trial and error method (flattening, grafting, path mapping), which took a lot of our time. In future, I would like to learn more and understand the data structure so that I can manipulate it to my desire. Besides, parametric design allows for a greater control on the outcome, showing how the design evolve when changing some parameters. Furthermore, parametric design also allows us to reuse some original aspects of design and alter them according to the context of the site without having to start again with scripting. Efficiency in fabrication methods is also what makes this design tools, possibly, the future of architecture.

Besides Rhino and Grasshopper, my skill in softwares like Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and V-Ray also has a significant improvement in this 12 weeks, partly due to the sharing of knowledge among the group members. Illustrator in particular amaze me the most (the high-quality vector images that can be used to explain and draw diagrams in a short time). Working in group, although there were times when we argue for our wants, learning from each other has proved to be beneficial to our learning process. For our group, we divided tasks according to each others’ field of specialty, i.e. ‘technical department’, ‘layout department’, etc. We find that relative efficient and works best for us. Of course, we do share among ourselves the knowledge and things we learnt during the process.

Forming arguments and responding to the briefs are what we also learnt in this studio. Meeting the clients expectations and yet conform to site restrictions and regulations are all important in my future working career. Besides, to successfully convey my idea to the clients or authorities in future, a clear design narrative and a clear, well-prepared presentation are what to be improved further from what I’ve learnt thus far. Overall, this studio is the most time-consuming studio I’ve encountered. But then, I enjoyed the time spent on developing and pushing our design. I intended to continue developing my skills on computer softwares as the process and outcome of it are more well-organised, cleaner, visually pleasing than hand-sketch drawings given my skill in manual drawing is rather poor.

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Sumit Singha, 2012, Multiple Natures – Fibrous Tower in Taichung, Taiwan by soma, from <http://www10.aeccafe.com/blogs/arch-showcase/2012/03/03/multiple-natures-fibrous-tower-in-taic-hung-taiwan-by-soma/>, accessed on 14 March 2012

Neal Panchuk, 2006, ‘An Exploration into Biomimicry and its Application in Digital & Parametric [Ar-chitectural] Design’, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Boden, Margaret A. and Edmonds, Ernest A., 2009, ‘What is generative art?’, Digital Creativity, pp.21- 46

Bell, B., and A. Vrana, 2004, ‘Digital Tectonics: Structural Patterning of Surface Morphology, Fabrication: examining the digital practice of architecture,’ Cambridge & Toronto.

Achi Menges, 2012, ‘Biomimetic design processes in architecture: morphogenetic and evolutionary computational design’, IOP Publishing Ltd, UK & USA.

Bibliography

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