Nan Ma (Nancy)611953T06 Finnian Warnock

Architectural Design Studio: Air2015 Semester 1

PARTAConceptualization

Part A1 Design Futuring 5

Part A2 Design Computation 11

Part A3Composition Generation 15

Part A4Conclusion 21

Part A5Learning Outcomes 22

Part A6Appendix-Algorithmic Sketches 23

Part A7Reference List 25

Contents

Nan Ma (Nancy)

The University of MelbourneBachelor of EnvironmentsMajor in Architecture

My name is Nan Ma, also called as Nancy, a third year architecture student born and raised in China. I believe that cities have memories, from any symbolic landscape and architecture can find out their past and present. No matter how cities look like, any tourists or strangers come to this city will feel the soul of this city while cities are mostly constituted by buildings, therefore the soul of cities can be read by looking at these buildings.

Generally, Architecture is a major which studies buildings and their surroundings. Architecture not only serves natural people, but also social people. It is not only to meet human beings’ material demands, but also to meet their spiritual demands.

My experience with digital designing is limited as I previously prefer to use computational design as a production tool. The design studio Earth and Water allowed me to learn more skills about how use designing program to deepen and improve design. Currently, I am familiar with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign, and skilled in Rhino, Sketch Up and Ecotect.

Parametric modeling is an interested but new field to me. I am eager to explore more on Rhino and its plug-in Grasshopper to broaden my designing possibilities. I enjoy the possibilities proposed by accurate computational design and I am also so keen to knowing the beauty and essence of parametric design.

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PARTACONCEPUALIZATION

Part A1DESIGN FUTURING

Nowadays, it’s undeniable that under the premise of not destroying the natural

environment, satisfying the requirements of human race has become a challenge. As a matter of fact, the human beings are already being given the nemesis by the nature, such as global warming and air pollution etc. The human beings should not live myopically any more, otherwise we are going to face the unpredictable catastrophic destruction. However, future changes

have to be done by designs instead of waiting chances. We also need be to critical to look at designs. ‘Design futuring’ requires to clarify what designs are supposed to be promoted or against.1 Just like the concept of sustainability is proposed, the efforts are supposed to be paid on it.

1 Tony Fry, Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg), pp. 1-16 (p. 4).

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This is a conceptual building

designed for Dubai by Faulders Studio. Its entire system can naturally grow to form building surface as time goes on and sea salt deposition.

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The salt water, is sprayed onto the mesh of building, evaporates and leaves a layer of salt thus to form a grid-like surface. In the view of fact that the salinity of seawater in Persian Gulf is the highest one over the world, salts would be deposited rapidly making the building surface like crystal-transparent shell.

This incredible and visual-impact building concept meets demands of specific regions. Buildings are getting old as time goes on; however, this concept keeps buildings be alive and renew their materials. It is totally a brand-new field but feasible idea for designing new buildings. Even though this concept has not been constructed, it has profoundly effects on finding more possibilities in the future and it has already broken through conventional thinking. I believe the concept of ‘building self-growth’will be applied and realized in the reality and it’s worthy to implementing.

SELF-GROWTH BUILDINGGeotube TowerFaulders StudioDubai

Building surface covers vascular like piping system. This system based on the structural grid frame is located in a salt pond, the

sea water would be collected and pumped from the Persian Gulf to the building through the underground pipes. Then, relying on floating solar battery board as a power plant, salt water is transported to the roof from underground, and then through the pipeline systems to realize the gravity feed.

Salt water is sprayed onto the mesh architecture, evaporates and leaves a layer of salt, thus forming a lattice epidermis. In view of the fact that the salinity of seawater in the Persian Gulf is the highest in the world, salt deposited rapidly, making the building surface like a crystal to produce a transparent shell.

9NATURAL ELEMENTS

FurnitureJoseph Walsh

Ireland

His work combines with arts and crafts,

every piece is made in log with the process of carve. The designer does not impose a fixed final form in the material, only using methods of bending and baking to make whole wood without careful treatment. He just peels the wood rough skin off and adjusts them to be furniture. Because of this, the free form naturally comes from the characteristics of wood itself. After restructuring these natural elements of wood, the real things bring into human being living places.

All these images on these two pages are from Joseph Walsh’s Studio website. http://www.josephwalshstudio.com/

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‘I believe we can enhance the quality of our lives by surrounding ourselves with objects that possess values beyond their function

or aesthetic, that possess intelligence in their creation, that one can interact with and that will stimulate senses each and every time one engages with them.’ Jeseph Walsh says that. He is a self-taught designer, realising one of a kind and limited edition pieces. Walsh-stylish creative design approach gives a reflection of his appreciation of nature and his desire to engage the user with visual and tactile forms.

Part A2DESIGN COMPUTATION

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Design is an important component of today’s society and it is everywhere around us. The world is transforming

from traditional manufacturing industry to the era of information. During this revolution, the methods and approaches of design have been changing vastly. The tendency of doing designs by digital methods replacing traditional sketches has revealed.

The computers are playing a more and more important role in the design field and any complicated pictures and time-wasted work could be done by digital tools fairly easily. Moreover, the work could be modified during the design process which can increase a lot of efficiency. Kalay also formulates that computers can help human beings to manage the buildings and also can make great contributions to search and rationality.

Design is a process of problem-analysis and problem-solving. As Kalay argues that ‘Design,

accordingly, is a purposeful activity, aimed at achieving some well-defined goals.’1 Digital modeling software is capable of listing and tracking all the goals and constraints that the design solution must accomplish and greatly assisting human designers to manage smaller parts or larger parts of design process.

Even though design computation never makes mistakes, it lacks of human being creativity and intuition. If there is nobody manipulate on it, it is totally useless. Kalay thinks that ‘computers will contribute their superb rational and search abilities, and we humans will contribute all the creativity and intuition needed to solve design problems.’2 In this case, ‘such a symbiosis is predicated on communication’ which means to share knowledge and make full use of different talents.3

1 Kalay Yehuda E, Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2004), pp. 5-25, (p. 9) 2 Kalay Yehuda E, pp. 5-25, (p. 7)

3 Kalay Yehuda E, pp. 5-25, (p. 15)

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COMPUTATIONITKE Research PavilionICD-ITKE University of StuttgartGermany

Computation can be typically considered as algothrithmic modeling, specifically through digital tools such as Rhino, Grasshopper and T-splines to realize. It is helpful for designers to deal with context, winds, lights, construction and etc. Compare to the outcomes, it maximizes possibilities to explore further design potential rather than pursuing a results. An illustrated example here is ICD-ITKE pavilion which is another bionic successful research pavilion. This mode of working is re-defining the practice of architecture, which works greatly on solving complicated problems through using digital models to extend capability.

Computerization, a conventional approach of designing performance, can help designers to visualize their preconceived ideas easily by using particular drawing tools. Computer assisted design can show and illustrate designs in a better way. Zaha Hadid’s Edifici Torre Espiral is a good example to illustrate this approach. Conceptual ideas sometimes come out from mind suddenly, so quick sketching to note it down and then doing modification later on digital software are quite efficient and clear. Just like what Zaha did for Edifici Torre Espiral. Sketching out ideas on paper is prior to being operated by digital software.

COMPUTERIZATIONEdifici Torre EspiralZaha Hadid ArchitectsBarcelona

Above: Source from ArchdailyBelow: Source from archdaily

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COMPUTATION DESIGNPhoenix International Media CenterBIAD UFo StudioBeijing

The sculptural shape originates from ‘Mobius Strip’. The unique shape provides the building stay in harmony relationship with

surroundings such as existing streets, public green spaces and the lake. Concepts of energy-saving and low-carbon are also applied in the building design. The irregular shape in southern and northern elevations provides quality of sunlight, ventilation and abundant landscape view to the office towers. Moreover, because of different elevations, sunshine to the residential buildings in the north cannot be blocked.

The circular contours around the Phoenix complex respond to one of important ancient Chinese philosophy—‘Yin-Yang’; that is they are sharing similar symbol. Because of irregular shape, leading-edge parametric 3D modeling software would be used for developing ideas. “This building could be characterized as a new study on computational design,” the chef designer explains during an interview.1 Just as Kalay formulates, to overcome all the difficulties in the design process, human beings are supposed to combine their intelligence, intuition and creativity with computers’ superb rational and search ability together, and also make full use of own advantages.

The Beijing-based architect says ‘this modeling software enabled him (the chef designer) to intricately manipulate the parameters of the overall design and structural engineering of the Phoenix Center, to precisely control the airflow around the building and to convert the façade’s steel diagrid into a network of miniature canals to transport raindrops into an array of reflective pools surrounding the building.’2 The conversion clearly explains the importance and power of digital modeling. Designers can copy, delete, track changes and improve digital models on the computer by taking less time. Most importantly, computer can accurately calculate without any mistakes such as the width of pipe, quantity of steel bars etc.

1 Arcspace, Shao Weiping (3 March 2014) <http://www.arcspace.com/features/shao-weiping/phoenix-media-center/ > [accessed 16 March 2015]. 2 Arcspace, Shao Weiping (3 March 2014) <http://www.arcspace.com/features/shao-weiping/phoenix-media-center/ > [accessed 16 March 2015].

All images here are from Arcspace and Wechat

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Part A3Composition/ Generation

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With the application and the improvement of computation technology in design, a great deal of design work which had to be done by hands in

the past times while now can be processed by computer. Digital modeling significantly changes the world of design and engineeringt and increases the complexity and possibility of what can be built and designed. It seems that try to find new breakthrough of computation is crucial to fabricate innovative designs and broaden boundaries of capability.

The development of modeling, actually, is a change from physical modeling to digital modeling. At the same time, the use of digital modeling software is shifting Architecture from drawing to the algorithm in designs. The traits of drawing by hand are: it can express the concepts of designer intuitively; it is vividly show people a feeling of returning to nature. However, hand-drawing usually take a very long time to finish a particular work; besides, mistakes are intolerant because it is not easy to redraw but you can delete and redo works on computer. Undoubtfully, computation is redefining the practice of architecture, which had already promoted the shift of architecture practice from drawing to algorithm, in parallel to the shift from composition to generation.

Computer can be used as ‘a virtual drafting board to make model easier to edit, copy and increase the

precision of drawings.’ Most importantly, computer empowers designers to generate complicated forms furthering by their intelligence, creativity and capability. Computational design is more concentrated on buildings’ performance such as how to deal with construction, environment, ecology and economy rather than the outcome from itself.

In reacting to the shift from composition to generation, computation becomes essential when designs need to be completed. ‘Computation also allows designers to extend their abilities to deal with highly complex situation’, especially good for large projects.1 Unlike conventional approach, computation as a new approach of design is considered as an important way to integrate building with surrounding environment where architects are able to explore further options and speculate on further design potentials. The shift from composition to generation certainly had given architects possibilities to explore more beyond the surface qualities.

1 Brady Peters, ‘Computation Works: The Building of Algorithmic Thought’, The Building of Algorithmic Thought, 83 (2013), pp. 8-15, (p. 10).

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COMPUTATIONAL APPROACHTEK CentreBIG ArchitectureTaipei

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Computation certainly plays an important role of redefining the practice of architecture in the shift from composition

to generation. For large-scale construction projects, from the very beginning of design and planning, project construction, completion and final acceptance, is a long process where a lot of uncertainties exist. Taking technology of parametric design is a major breakthrough to overcome all the difficulties. It is throughout the entire period of building construction as it can prefabricate architectural design, construction and management and list all the complicated information together.

Even though TEK (Technology, Entertainment and Knowledge) Centre in Taipei is designed for a competition by BIG Architecture, BIG Architecture team used computational design to realize their first conceptual design. This project was challenged with the task of integrating streets into building to create more public spaces and what kind of material can be used for construction without affecting lightness of whole building. Architects took a computational approach by sectioning the cube with some inward contraction of potholes on the surface. The material of building is laminated concrete slab, this material not only can be used for shading, but also help visitors easy to enter.

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COMPUTATIONAL APPROACHFootball Stadium Arena BorisovOFIS ArchitectsBorisov, Belarus

Football Stadium Arena Borisov also used the algorithmic thinking to approach. The stadium is surrounded by vast expanse of trees and is made up of flat but smooth silvery steel skin with structural framework and irregular perforation. Architects take consideration about the existence of natural advantage and terrain intervention in the site and they are trying to save these existing trees as many as possible. It would be complicated if do it without computation. One important thing about this parametric precedent is the interpretive role of algorithm does in the design. The use of algorithmic thinking to shape the stadium led to the exploration of new ideas and potentials of further design.

The idea originates from really dynamic things from nature such as foam, rocks etc. This stadium looks like a lightweight textile membrane over a tube. Through separating different parts from it to design part by part, including the building envelop, structure, tribunes, entrances etc., it eventually achieves that a theme that is appropriate for the stadium zonings. ‘Architects are increasingly experimenting with computation to simulate building performance, to incorporate performance analysis and knowledged about material, tectonics and parameters of production.’1 During process of design, computational design allows designers to get performance feedback from various stages and modification can be done in many times.

1 Brady Peters, pp. 8-15, (p. 13).

All images here are from Archdaily

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Part A4CONCLUSION

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Designing a sustainable future for human beings is designers’ main challenge and responsibility. Design is an activity

of purpose and a process of solving new problems. To address the problem of integration between context and buildings and other social problems, computer plays an important role in every stage of design. Therefore, computerization makes the realization of design possible, computational approach and algorithmic thinking push it further, augmenting the intellect of the designer and increasing capability to solve complex design problems. There is no denying that parametric language is redefining the practice of architecture, which had given rise to the shift of architecture from composition to generation.

Before doing Studio Air, the approach of all the projects I did is computerization design. I usually do some hand-drawings first, modified designs on paper as well and then do the final design by using digital tools. I cannot say it wastes time, because quickly sketches what

you are thinking and what you are inspired is an instinctive reflection. However, I did waste a lot time on redoing the same thing. I am intended to have a try on algorithmic thinking as my future approach as it would allow me to explore more new ideas and also easily solve some complicated problems.

With the rapid development of Architecture, some strange landmarks are emerged in different places. It seems to indicate the architectural design industry would face new innovation of technology, which I believe this innovation can rely on development and application of parametric design. In the future, personally, more and more people will aware that the core functions of parametric design, such as maximally extending human beings’ thinking, providing more possibilities and range changes of all the variable etc. Architects can relatively intuitively adjust the variables through parametric design to achieve best state of projects in controllable range.

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Part A5LEARNING OUTCOMES

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By learning grasshopper, I came to realize the meaning of using parametric design as approach is not simply a tool

of generating ideas, but its potential is to explore further options to solve complicated design problems. Even though my computing skills are at introductory level, I believe that the learning algorithmic thinking will help my future designs and will affect the way I am thinking. In addition, using approach of parametric design would create more uncertain designs, which may inspire me to come out more surprising and unbelievable building forms.

Through doing some researches, I found that in existing three-dimensional system, most of architects use dynamic navigation or quick sketch to generate the two-dimensional profile features of three-dimensional structure and then use digital tool of extrusion to get three-dimensional model. However, the parameter of three-dimensional modeling system has

huge difference with actual modeling system. The difference is caused when project tree-dimensional model to two dimension model. Especially for measurements, digital software cannot accurately do parametric design from engineering drawings. Therefore, due to the immaturity of the software, skills of architectural parametric design still need to be improved.

The capability of Architecture is also constantly improved with the development of society. I believe that future parametric design will be able to have s significant impact and change for the construction disciplines, let’s wait and see.

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Part A6Appendix --- Algorithmic Sketches

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The parametric generation of outer cross steel frames around the model is the most interesting

outcome that I have generated through using Grasshopper. Through learning and knowing more about parametric design, I was amazed and crazy about adjusting different the variables to look at incredible and dynamic shape that I ever expected. During this process, it proves me that computation is capable to argument the intellect of a designer and increases his or her capability to solve complex problems.

Further exploration and implementation in integrating multiple computational

techniques in the material systems would be ideal to generate s suitable design outcome for Part B. I have researched some computational techniques from Part A precedents. I am also intended to learn some new material techniques from precedents to integrate it with my later design to broaden the design opportunities and generate proper design outcome for Part B.

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Part A.1Tony Fry, Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg), pp. 1-16.

Faulders Studio (2009) <http://faulders-studio.com/GEOTUBE-TOWER> [ac-cessed 11 March 2015].

Joseph Walsh Studio, <http://www.josephwalshstudio.com/>[ accessed 13 March 2015].

Part A.2Kalay Yehuda E, Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Meth-ods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge: MIT Press, 2004), pp. 5-25.

Archdaily, ICD-ITKE Research Pavilion 2013-14 (8 July 2014) <http://www.archdaily.com/522408/icd-itke-research-pavilion-2015-icd-itke-university-of-stuttgart/> [Accessed 11 March 2015].

Archdaily, Spiral Tower (14 July 2009) <http://www.archdaily.com/29029/first-stone-of-the-spiral-tower-by-zaha-hadid-in-barcelona/> [Accessed 11 March 2015].

Shao Weiping, Phoenix International Media Center (3 March 2014) <http://www.arcspace.com/features/shao-weiping/phoenix-media-center/> [as-sessed on 15 March 2015].

Part A.3Brady Peters, ‘Computation Works: The Building of Algorithmic Thought’, The Building of Algorithmic Thought, 83 (2013), pp. 8-15.

BIG Architecture, TEK Centre <http://www.big.dk/#projects-tek> [assessed on 18 March 2015].

Murrye Bernard, TEK Centre (27 December 2010) <http://buildipedia.com/aec-pros/featured-architecture/technology-entertainment-and-knowl-edge-center-tek-cener> [assessed on 18 March 2015].

Archdaily, Football Stadium Arena Borisov (28 October 2014) <http://www.archdaily.com/562054/football-stadium-arena-borisov-ofis-architects/> [assessed on 18 March 2015].

Reference List