Journal

AIRSTUDIO

Architectural

Journal

The University of MelbourneBy Dejun Xiang_349329

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C O N T E N Part A The Case For Innovation

C O N T E N 1.1.1 Architecture as discourse1.1.2 Personal Experience & Interests1.1.3 Previous Studio Work1.1.4 Two Favorite Architectures

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W2 1.2.1 Computers in Architectural Design1.2.2 Computer Aid Design1.2.3 Computational Design In Architecture

1.3.1 Parametric DesignW3

2.4.1 Back Looking & Evaluate2.4.2 Grouping and Interests2.4.3 CASE STUDY 1.O

Part B Cut project

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W5 2.5.1 CASE STUDY 2.02.5.2 CASE STUDY 2.0 (2)

W6 2.6.1 CASE STUDY 2.0 Development2.6.2 Matrix

W7 2.7.1 EOI Preparation & Model Fabrication

W8 2.8.1 EOI Presentation

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1.1.1 Architecture as discourse

The way of judging the performance of an arhitecture varies with time progressing, with changes of the composition of architects and with the change of the way how people see architectures.

Basically, architecture is seen through art, spatial experience and symbolisation. It has been quite common that thinking the seniority of whether an architecture is good or bad is those professors’ exclusive right, other than the public, probably saying they do not understand the intention of architect or the cultural context behind back. The architecture has some nature of art, and that has been accepted by a lot of people including me, before I read this week article, which also made me be hesitive in studying architecture for a while.

However, architecture is a kind of gigantic, expensive, heavy production and needs tremendous human and material resource and time to produce, and, it is built for people to live or use for a long period. It need social patronage and there are lots of customers using it. As a product, the experience of customer is an essential

element in evaluation, and architecture does not only just about facade and outlook, but also about planing the space indoor, which, meanwhile, arranges the way of living and probably people’s luck. Besides, architecture also has to be interracted with surrouding environmental, which will contribute to the city development as well. It means these architectures compose the plan of city, which will , furthermore, establishes social order in some degree, and the architectures that designed and built under that context in the city may become a symble of that period, region or the people living the city, which is the way how architecture speaks as discourse

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I am Dejun Xiang, but I prefer Derek, which is my name in Australia. I am doing Bechelor of Environment in the University of Melbourne majored in Architecture.

I come from China, so, with some occasionally cause, FengShui theory pops into my eyes which is a branch of Chinese metaphysices. I am keen on ancient Chinese culture especially metaphysics, which is about how our behaiour and our surroundings affect our living condition. Therefore, I usually pay more attention on how the surrouding environments and the building itself influences people so that it could be more possible to find a way to give people a better living experience. Furthermore, philosopgy is also one of my interests, and I always wonder how to demonstrate those concept into architectucture design.

1.1.2 Personal Experience & Interests

..., w h i c h i s j u s t t h e t i p o f t h e i c e b e r g.

As for the digital design experience of mine, it is not a long story. The first design software is skethup, when I did the visual environment. I just learned how to desigin a physical model by using computer software, so here, as you can see, computer is just a tool in model making. Then, I design a building in the water studio, which actually is a combination of some geometry graphs, by using the Rhino, which is my first time to touch Rhino. I found it much more usefull than the skethup, because it has three views to work, which makes design more essay and efficient and there are more organic surfaces can be built, compared to the sketchup. Also, other assesory software such as illustrato and photoshop has been brought to my design process more or less.

Basically, what I found is that those tools I used are, in fact, kinds of tools to hepl me to convert my thoughts to a 2d plan or a physical model. However, the software we are going to study is to change the way of design, so definitly, l am looking forward to studying it.

Digital Design Experience

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..., w h i c h i s j u s t t h e t i p o f t h e i c e b e r g.

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This is a design of a boathouse from Water Studio, which was located in Yarra Bend park next to the river. The aim of this practice is to study from a master which is Frank Lloyd Wright for my case. Therefore, by following his later design principle, which has more organic and circular shapes, I used three circular shape units with different heights and size, and two of them on the sides made of concrete with glass wall as exterior boundary, and the middle serving core building is covered by glass bassicaly, but supported by

concrete. Moreover, I also reshape the landscape there. Through building a circle-like road from high spot, where cars goes across under a waterfall, where people can enjoy the views in 360 degree, and people also can walk or go riding to access the building through the entrance on the top floor or from the path on the bottom. This create several circles on the site, which gives the landscape, building, a same architectural language to make them more coherent.

BOATHOUSE

1.1.3 Previous Studio Work

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BOATHOUSE

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1.1.4 Two of Favorite Architectures

The Falling Water is one of my favorite architecture, which is designed by Frank Loyd Wright, who is an architect in the period between modernism and classicalism. Therefore, a lot of classical style can be found in his design, which is what I like. He is not only a architect, but also a good landscape designer. Especially in terms of the Falling Water, It really fits the natural environment vary well. In particular, the little river flowing in front of the building , and the surrounding trees interacting with the building make the architecture have a friendly relationship with the envionment, no matther what season it is on. What’s more, the overlapping roof and ground provide more level of spacial experience, and the yellow colour also makes the concrete warmer. The

tile stone plays a role of tansition between the ground and building, which make it more natral.

Overall, I like its locality and how it connects to the surrounding encironment. Standing where a river flowing in front and lush plants will bring people who live in the house good luck.

The Falling Water

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As Chinese national stadium, Bird’s Nest indeed fully demonstrates the inclusive nature of Chinese culture, harmony generous traditional and eclectic. To bigin with, the concept is very warm. Bird’s nest represents home, hope, and any other object that can make people comfortable. Moreover, it is just designed by a simple nest shape, compact but not dull, which, inversely looks magnificent, and the steel ‘nest skin’ looks extremly dynanmic and morden. Furthermore, the semi-open roof welcomes sunshine, which makes the ‘nest’ more like the one in the nature, and the spetacular scale of this stadium, which is capable of containing about 100,000people, giving people an significantly impressive view, and that can also encourage the sportsman to perform best.

I love it not only because it is a landmarker architecture in BeiJing, which conveys peace, warmth,happiness etc, but it also achieves a high level in on matter in the area of art, spacial experience or sybolism

The Bird’s Nest

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Chinese National Stadium

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In the history of the role played by computer in design field, the computer appears by two main forms, ie. computerized and computational tools. In terms of the former one, it was the first application of computer in design, which acts as a tool that help human to present what in his/her mind. In another word, it plays a role just like the pen and ruler in the past. Nevertherless, as for the computational use, it actually helps human in the the way how people design rather than acting as a tool.

The nature of design process can be divided into two actions which are analysis and creativity, which both are what human is capable of. However, human tends to make mistakes, especially, while analysing complex problem, and the more complex, the more possibilities of making mistakes.

This shortage has been made up by computer technology, since last few years, as the computers are superb analytical engines, which means it will run quickly following the program , as long as people tells the computer

1.2.1 Computers In Architectual Design

what to do,when meeting what kinds of issue are. Nevertheless, computer does not have the ability of being creative, which has been studies in past decades, but still not make it.

Therefore, in terms of design process, human does the creative part, which the computer is not capable of , and computer will help to do all the rational analysises as much as it can. That will form a powerful system, which is changing the way how people design architecture in recent few years.

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The advance in the technology in computer has a radical influence in a lot of fields. It varies the way how people explore geometry, which means instead of only playing around with the Platonic geometry, which are those convential geometry such as square, circle, trangular etc. the more organic geometry like Euclidean geometry or non-Eclidean geometry like what is named by Grey Lynn as ‘folding’ geometry, which is questioning ‘the existing notion of built space, its aesthetics and utility’ as asserted by Branko (2003: 5).

That, in some extent, brings a revolution in design of industry, especially like the design of electric and machanical product, ie. phones, camera, even the outlook of cars, and the changes in the design of ships is significantly influenced by the advances in computer techonology.

Moreover, architects also get tremendous inspiration from ship building industral, as there both have lots of subcontractors to produce and assemble a big amount of components. To achieve this kind of complex huge project, constructing according to a three dimensional model and calculating the amount of the material, area, angle of some folding surface are essential, and the computer will play an extremely important

Effects on various aspectsrole on the calculation and the capability of calculating and demonstrating digital model, which is far more easier to see the outcome and modification before construction in reality, and the unconventional geometries are able to be created on the computer, otherwise, the traditional way of design constrains the shape within the Platonic solid, and the difficulty of making experiment on physical model also block the way to explore more intrersting and perfect outcome.

The Torus House, named after by the design attempt, designed by Preston Scott is a successful aproach on combining seemingly incompatible geometric languages to provide a new living experience by computer technology. Actually, this design saw an development in the CAD software, because it is how the two-dimentional plan can be draw out. Furthermore, this kind of experiment on a digital stage indeed help people to see all of the possible outcome and modify the direction to fullfillthe design approach.

Torus House

1.2.2 Computer Aid Design

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1.2.3 Computational Design In Architecture

This kind of design is taking one or more of performance of building as a principal guid, and adopt those characteristics into the design, which could be the environment and the form of the city etc.

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software is mainly used to analyse the airflow around a building. In addition to that, it also can analyse how the air flow through thermal mass and the heat transformation. Therefore, the building generated will fulfill all of those requirement.

With computational technology, some new forms of architecture emerges,because this type of technology allows architects to establish a system to generate a design which just follows a specific norm, which suggests the designer may not predict what is going to be create. Those technology includes parametric, datascapes, metamorphosis, genetics and performative design etc.

Performative Design

The City Hall in London designed by Foster and Partner is designed by this mathod, but the approach is different. Its principle is to optimizing its energy performance by minimising the area exposed by direct sun light.

Moreover, the top which is the place where absorbs the most sun light is covered by solar panel, which will improve the energy performance of the building.

In conventional design mathod, it is no way to design a building “manualy” to achieve those requirement. If you can, there will be tremendous calculation and trial to be done before really figure out the shape. However, we can have an idea to have some direction or approach to head, and computer isn’t able to have this creativity, but it has a remarkably powerful capaility of calculation.

So, the combination of both sides can make a big difference on the new forms of design.

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GLA Headquater

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1.3.1 Parametric Design

Parametric design, which is suggested by its name, is a design method refferencing parameter no matter it is lines, depth, width, surfaces, or connection between components. The way of working is like a formula. With different requirement, we may take different number of elements as parameters into a function, and the principal of the function can be changed. Therefore, through adjusting the parameters and the rule of the function, computer will provide a range of outcomes, which means it is a kind of “bottom to up” approach, as once we change a unit or some details, the whole design will change immediately, which opens a universe for design field.

However, like all the other things existing in the world, the parametric also have its advantages and dis advantages.

Firstly, there is no doubt that parametric design is remarkably more flexible compared to conventional design, regarding to modifying the whole design outcome, since the design will change and transform immediately with the changes in a parameter, unlike the conventional way by which we may need to change all of the pieces on by one. Conversely, because usually, there are some specific connection between elements,so if we change an indivisual component, it will affect others,

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but with the conventional way, we can easily modify an indivisual element without bothering other components. What can be seen here is the unflexibility of parametric design, but if we simply just use traditional technic, potentially, there will be a possibility to start over agian, maybe, again.

Nevertheless, with parametric design, we are able to test a number of outcomes, which is very important and convenient for architectural design, and the conventional method is still useful and widely accepted. As far as I found, a large-scale design usually dont just apply parametric design method. A kind of combination of those twe technic

is moreproper. They can work parallel to obtain the advantages of both sides.

The Beijing National Aquatics Centre, which is well known as the Water Cube, and are two key examples of using both parametric and conventional design method.

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Water Cube

The landmarker architecture Water Cube , which is designed by an international team, which includes PTW Architects, Arup , CSCEC and CCDI, which an be descriped as a parametric design, but meanwhile, the traditional design method is also put into use, as the ‘cube’ form is generated by the CSCEC (Chinese Team)based on local culture.

The texure on the surface is built by a ‘soap bobble like’ structure, which is designed by parametric software. The soap bobble spreads with the rulre of nature, which can be redemonstrated by paramatric design, which also can generate the pattern by a similar rule, which could be said a biomimic approach as well, so it really looks natural and dynamic.However, for a conventional form of building, parametric way is kind of constrained on decoration or the purpose on achieving some specific performance of the building. Moreover, the construction may bring some difficulties, as the patterns are too organic.

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PART B:

CUT PROJECT

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2.4.1 Back Looking & Evaluate

After three weeks of studying into the context of design itself, the footprint of the evolution of design method and the new forms of design ie. parametric design, I have a brand new view on the design world.

Parametric design indeed help me to open a window to another universe, which I have never known. The more I study, the more interesting I think it is, because I love math since I was a child, and now I like create things, so the parametric design is knd of a combination of mathmatic parts and design, even more or less more about math, which is like creating by numbers.

However, honestly, because I haven’t done or even just try to design something, I still quite not sure how to work out a thoughts by grasshopper. Sometimes, although we are studying a parametric tool, the way I think is still conventional. For instance, if I want to work out a basic shape of a building, the first thing I consider is still to think about the form, rather than haveing a ‘bottom to up’ way of thinking. Probably I just have not been accustomed to think this way, which I may need to changes and improve.

For the grasshopper, they are cool and seems very useful, but I find it can not really be used too widly, because it is not good at arrangement of space. As far as my own experience, more people woulf prefer conventional spatial feeling, which means for example, a triangular ceilling decorated with lots of pentagons is not that comfotable for living.

Maybe that is because I havent touched those field, so I will keep digging the potential of parametric design. Although it has con constraints, I still believe it is the right direction where the innovation of architectural design is heading.

So far:

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2.4.1 Back Looking & Evaluate

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2.4.2 Grouping and Interests

This week, Matis, Roman and I form a biomimicry group, in order to work for the gataway project, because we all think studying from the nature will come out with some intersting idea.

Biomimicry, “the study of nature’s best ideas and then imitates these designs and processes to solve human problems.”, literally ‘life-imitating’. Naturally many ancient or modern inventions came from natural inspiration. Like columns from trees and plants, and radar from bats.

Nature offer a great range of opportunities. We think that biomimic results are attractive to people, therefore it can well perform as a site of attraction which will grandly welcome people on their way.

Life has been evolving far earlier than human civilization. There are a lot to learn from nature since it has a long history, and the resilience to face changes. Growing cities are dynamic places; characterized by virtual and literal movement, growth and decay, times and

Biomimic Parametric:

Back to Nature:

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2.4.2 Grouping and Interests

areas of dormant(ness) and vitality. It is like the seasonal cycle of nature: winter to summer, life cycle of living things, chain reaction... Objects inspired from nature may be blended into landscape, but it is not always the case. Many public sculptures and displays come from nature. It is flexible, as the way to represent that are limitless. It can be pattern, structure, scale, dynamic process, responsive, and so on! More importantly, most natural objects are based on certain laws or rules. For instance, sunflower faces toward the sun, algorithms, fractal geometies, crystallization based on chemical properties of the compound, etc. These patterns are valuable features for biomimicy in parametric design. The rules of nature are parameters. Lastly, nature itself is sustainable, and sustainability is now a big consideration in the world. Biomimic design may provoke this idea. This should be appreciated by road user, the council, and everyone.

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2.4.3 CASE STUDY 1.O

The first case study is to tinker with a parametric definition of grasshopper used in creation of the facade of MacCormick Tribune.

From a distance, the portraites look like being printed on the panels, but when zoom in the portraits are, in fact, composed of ‘pixel’ of differenct figures with varing size, so, the portraits are formed by the specific size and density of different little figures.

As consequences, the objective of this technique of this case is to redefine the picture as pixels and associate the figures in different sizes according to the grade, contrast or brightness of the picture.

The Facade of MacCormick Tribune Campers Center by OMA

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The givin definition is pretty much straight forward. The pre-drawn figure is laid on a surface. This is clear and simple that one can changes these the number of u and v dirction of the frame and the image inside to get the outcomes we pursue

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2.5.1 CASE STUDY 2.0

Yorkshire Diamond Pavilion by Various Architects

This is ‘an innovative Mobile Perormance Venue’. Just like its name, this pavilion is inspired by the stucture of carbon in diamond, which is the strongest carbon structure in the world. The whole structure of this building the a collection of numerous atomic structure in a cube form basically.

From the perspective of visual experience, the diamond pavilion is quite remarkable as this kind of unique structure will provide different views with people moving, which makes it vety dynamic.

According to the real construction process, we guess in order to achieve this design in grasshopper, we need to have several flat grid parallel to each other and though connecting the specific points, we will get this kind of structure.

But,

Fact told us that was a wrong way to head, since it was too complex to define which point to connect which, and even if we can make it, it doesn’t seem to be a parametric design

First guessing...

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2.5.1 CASE STUDY 2.0

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2.5.2 CASE STUDY 2.0

The second attempt is to find the basic unit of this structure and refference it into grasshopper, which will allow us to repeat adn array the basic unit in x, y and z direction, which forms a cube. Besides, we also should be able to manipulate the size of the basic unit.

To find the basic unit which means the repetition of units should be capable of connecting each other no matter it is up, under or beside them.

However, several attemps don’t work because of different reasons

Then we look back to the building, and do some research on how the atom of carbon connect to each other. We found it always connect to four of other atom, and in this case, it connect like the image below, which is like two tick, 180 degree oposite to each other. Based on that, finally we found the basic unit

Second Attempt:

To Find the Basic Unit:

Don’t stack

Can’t connect

Strange outcome

... ... ... ...

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The next problem we met was that we couldn’t adjust the distance between units, which makes the form messy, which was not what we expected.

So, we brought a new component-bounding boxand the vectors which were generated by the apex of bounding box. By that way, we can adjust the distance between unites to be the length of their sides, which means it looks connected to each other

But actually they don’t, which would become a constraint of this parametric design in the following design. Nevertheless, it works in this case.

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2.6.1 CASE STUDY 2.0 Development

Firstly, we did some linear and curve transformation, which is just simply having a serise of unit with gradually changed scale, in order to represent the concept growth.

Transformation:

However, it seems right, but in fact the units don’t connect to each other, which means they are independent, so this will be a problem if we want to build this up, and futhermore, the changes in density is not dynamic enough.

Therefore, we were trying to figure out another way to go, and what we fould was a component called graphmapping and a clever way to using twisted box.

By those two components, we can connect units even though the line they are sitting changes, and there are several graphy we can use to generate more range of density of the units on different position of the line.

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In order to vary our outcome, we create five different units which are natural geomety.

Parameters:

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S=18Line

S=18Line

S=9Line

S=18Sine

S=9Sine

The results look amazing. Although it seems very complicated, but in fact, the behind logic is quite simple, which is just makeing repetition of units run along different curves. For our matrix, the curve are those can be expressed through mathmatic functions.

Moreover, the form of units are taken from natural objects: particular mineral structure but also spatial occupation of cells and behaviour of animals. We found the mineral structure is good but probably weak in representing trend, which may be achieved by the density and amount of the group of units.

2.6.2 Matrix

Units

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S=9Sine

S=18Bezier

S=9Bezier

S=9Bezier

S=9Line

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2.7.1 EOI Preparation & Model Fabrication

Trying to present all of our content within five minites is a challenge for us , because there are a lots of stuff there.

Meanwhile,

Because our model is quite complex to fabricate, so it indeed takes us a lot of time working on it.

Before printing, we figure out a way to do experiement, which is to test on our physical model, by cutting simple geometry and nurom cell shape, to see what kind of shape will more fit the context of our approach-Growth.

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2.8.1 EOI Presentation

Matias Hon Pong Lao_396076 Roman Aizengendler_356921Dejun Xiang_349329

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-Repetition, scaling and deformation of the base element will be used reach the conceptural goals of our design.

-A skin derived from the shape of a cell will be used to reinforece an aesthetic of the natural, as well as act as the prominant mediator of light.

-An element of interaction with the sculpture and site will be achieved through a subtle transformation of form as the user drives around the sculpture.

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2.8.2 Why us?

Compare to most of other groups, the most obvious characteristic of our group is that we can fulfill the requirment of the design.

We establish a clear argument with the context of this site, and by sticking to this argument, we successfully work out a solution by a parametric way.

Moreover, we are able to put the majority of our founding into five minutes presentation, which is significantly differing from other group.

All of above suggests that we always stick to what we are after, so we are more likely to achieve the original goal, instead of working out something else.

But

Yeah, there is a ‘but’, our lack of this design is not too ‘biomimic’, which is what we will improve and explore in the following design.