STUDIO AIR

ABPL 30048 Architecture Design Studio: Air 2015 | Tingru Liu

Contents

Introduction 01

Part A. Conceptualisation 02

Part B. Criteria Design

Part C. Detailed Design

Introduction

CONCEPTUALISATION

01

ABOUT ME

I am Tingru Liu, a second-year architecture student in University of Melbourne.

I am i n te res ted i n t ra ve l l i ng and observ ing d i f ferent color combinations in daily life. Figure 0.2 is a project I made in last semester in Designing Environments. It is a three-level tower that could be placed in the Old Quad on Parkville Campus. I ultilized glass and fabric materials to express the design.

This semester I do water and air studio together, and look forward to learn how to design by using softwares.

Fig. 0.2

Fig. 0.1

Part A.Conceptualisation

A.1. Design Futuring 04

A.2. Design Computation 07

A.3. Composition/Generation 10

A.4. Conclusion 15

A.5. Learning Outcomes 15

A.6. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches 16

A.1.Design Futuring

Design is considered to be a born ability of human beings, but as the development of human society becomes increasingly complicated, design has been gradually objectified, organized and specialised as a series of courses for students to study systematically1. Design can be regarded as an approach of problem solving. For example, by ultilizing renewable materials and minimising energy usage, architecture design will be able to reduce global warming and minimize climate change. In addition, rather than problem solving, design plays a more important role of providing a variety of future possibilities. It does not mean that design can show what the future looks like. It means that design will create and produce multiple choices and possibilities to different clients1. They can ultilize the preferable trends in their own way to satisfy the unique requirements. In this part, two architectural projects will be analysed: the McCormick Tribune Campus Center in Chicago and the Spanish Pavilion by Foreign Office Architects.

03 04

The des ign o f McCormick Tr ibune Campus Center by OMA achieves both the problem solving and providing possibilities approaches.

F i rs t l y, i n p rob lem so lv ing aspect, the no man's noisy land has been designed to be an attractive place on the campus. The architects enclosed the tracks in "a muffling stainless steel cy l inder" where there used to be an extremely noisy place that no one like to stay2. Students are more likely to enjoy their time

inside the cylinder now and thus this design solved the reuse problem of wasted land.

Secondly, this project inspired the expand of future possibilities. By ultilizing special materials to eliminate noise, it provides a thinking of material diversity in architecture design. In addition, the single-storey plan generates a sense of urban condition. This urban condition concept can be observed in many other projects such as the Community Center in Sõmeru.

The design of Spanish Pavilion combines the historical elements and modern concepts, and is also a possibility of future trends. By merging the Jewish-Christian and Islamic cultures into the pavil ion design, the whole project appears a unique style of Spain architecture3. This

is the reason why i t is st i l l appreciated. The theory of combining local culture and new styles will make the project more likely to be accepted by local people. Another similar example of this theory is the Islamic Arts Museum in Malaysia.

05 06

Fig. 1.1

Fig. 1.4

Fig. 1.2

Fig. 1.3

A.2.Design Computation

Design computation is a different concept from design computing. Although both the concepts mention utilizing computer technologies in design processes, design computation is a more flexible approach than design computing. In detail, design computing is mainly used as a series of organized procedure that output people's design, but it cannot be used to re-define practice. Design computation, on the other hand, appears more uncontrollable results by executing people's commands. It underlines the communications between human and computers4. People can use this technology to help develop design thinking because people cannot imagine what will actually happen when changed one of the commands. The unpredictable performance can help designers to open up their mind and ultilize this digital technology to design. In this part, two project that ultilized design computation will be discussed: Voltadom by Skylar Tibbits, and POLYP.lux by SOFTlab

The idea of th is pro ject is generated from the vault in historical bui ldings such as cathedrals5. In this project, hundreds of different vaults were created and shaped by digital tools such as Grasshopper. There are holes on each vault tha t i n t roduce the na tu ra l sunlight at day time. At night,

l ight-fittings inside the vaults could satisfy the light demanding for clients. In my opinion, the appearance of the project seems more likely to be a group of cells that forms a solid corridor in a hallway. The similar appearance of every element and the 3D structure of the entire project is a trend of design computation. 07 08

Fig. 2.2

Fig. 2.1

POLYP.lux is another project that ultilized the computation technology in design processes. The whole project looks like a cluster of textiles. By incising and hollowing out the curve, the appearance of the project presents a sense of draping and flexibility. Shapes of every unit changes gradual ly and combined with the tiny light-

fittings and the blue transparent color, the project balances the lighting conditions and makes the whole space attractive.

Both the two projects have irregular shapes of elements as well as whole projects, which might become an unique feature for computational design.

A.3.Composition/Generation

The shift from composition to generation in architecture design provides more possibilities in the exterior performance. Algorithmic thinking is one of the most important topic of the shift. Currently, design by drawing is gradually replaced by algorithmic thinking in architecture development. By ultilizing design computation in design processes, architects are able to design more complex projects, get feedback rapidly and develop their thinking easily6. Biothing Pavilion and Loop 3 are typical examples of the projects which experienced the shift from composition to generation, and they all perform a strong sense of movement to audience.

09 10

Fig. 2.4

Fig. 2.3

11 12

Biothing Pavilion is composed of multiple space curves. These curves are combined with a cluster of other curves and form a group of arches. The arches communicate with each other with the smooth shape of lines. From the appearance of the project, there is no cross of lines

but the sense of extrusion and pile can be easily observed due to lines' shapes. This project can be eas i l y mode led by computation softwares without making sure every line's shape and direction, which makes the desogn processes more effectively.

Fig. 3.1

Fig. 3.2

13 14

The project Loop_3 by Co-de-iT and UniBologna also shows how the generation and algorithmic thinking work. The whole project is produced by several three-dimensional c u r v e s . T h o s e c u r v e s experienced torsion, contract, stretch and other movements. Thus every corner of the project looks streamlined and smooth.

In my opinion, the appearance of the project looks like a three-pe ta led f lower. The ou tward expansional lines on each petal applies the processes of blooming. What interests me most is that the levels are still quite clear to observe after experiencing so many actions. The project still looks like an actual building rather than a sculpture or something else. This output may require a lot of research and modifications on computation.

Fig. 3.4

Fig. 3.3

Fig. 3.5

15 16

A.4.Conclusion

A.5.Learning Outcomes

A.6.Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches

In Part A, several modern design concepts are discussed: design futuring, design computation, and the shift from composition to generation. Design futuring is not only about problem-solving, but also about presenting various possibilities for different clients. Design computation is a different concept from computing design that it emphasize more communications between human and computers. Algorithmic thinking can assist designers to generate ideas and design much more complex projects.

From the first three weeks' learning, I start learning some softwares in architecture design such as Grasshopper, Rhino, and InDesign. It is my first time to build 3D models by computer softwares and actually I have been experiencing a hard period to understand and get familiar with computing tools. I realised that softwares such as Rhino can only be used as computing design, but Grasshopper can achieve design computation that designers can ultilize this tool to develop their design thinking and output amazing and complex design. Sometimes some models on computer can hardly be made by hand and they can appear better on computer, thus these 3D model-making softwares are more efficient and expressive.

Af ter exper iencing the most comfusing period at the beginning of using Grasshopper, now I can already make some simple 3D models. Figure 6.1 shows a 3D model which is composed with irregular shaped bricks. The bricks are arranged

along some lines on two different curve surfaces. After clicking the preview off of other lines and surfaces, the whole model appears, and in my opinion, the view from this direction looks like a high heel.

Fig. 6.1

1. Fry, Tony, Design Futuring (Oxford: Berg, 2009)

2. Oma.eu, 'OMA- IIT-MCCORMICK-TRIBUNE-CAMPUS-CENTER', 2015 <http://www.oma.eu/projects/2003/iit-mccormick-tribune-campus-center/> [accessed 14 August 2015]

3. Spanish Pavil ion, 1st edn (Aichi, Japan, 2015) <http://digiitalarchfab.com/portal/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Spanish-Pavilion> [accessed 14 August 2015]

4. Kalay, Yehuda E, Architecture's New Media (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2004)

5. Sjet.us, 'SJET', 2015 <http://sjet.us/MIT_VOLTADOM.html> [accessed 14 August 2015]

6. Peters, Brady, and Xavier De Kestelier, Computation Works

17

References

Cover Sheetbackground, Stock, '3D Model Background', Dreamstime, 2015 <http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-3d-model-background-image2398640> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Figure 1.1Mimoa, 'Mccormick Tribune Campus Center, OMA - Rem Koolhaas | Chicago | United States | MIMOA', 2015 <http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/United%20States/Chicago/McCormick%20Tribune%20Campus%20Center/> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Figure 1.2A10.eu, 'A10 - Community Centre, Someru', 2015 <http://www.a10.eu/news/headlines/community_centre_someru.html> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Figure 1.3Spanish Pav i l ion, 1st edn (Aichi , Japan, 2015) <http://digiitalarchfab.com/portal/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Spanish-Pavilion> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Figure 1.4Spanish Pav i l ion, 1st edn (Aichi , Japan, 2015) <http://digiitalarchfab.com/portal/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Spanish-Pavilion> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Images

18

Images

Figure 2.1Sjet.us, 'SJET', 2015 <http://sjet.us/MIT_VOLTADOM.html> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Figure 2.2Sjet.us, 'SJET', 2015 <http://sjet.us/MIT_VOLTADOM.html> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Figure 2.3Designplaygrounds, 'POLYP.Lux By Softlab - Designplaygrounds', 2011 <http://designplaygrounds.com/deviants/polyp-lux-by-softlab/> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Figure 2.4Designplaygrounds, 'POLYP.Lux By Softlab - Designplaygrounds', 2011 <http://designplaygrounds.com/deviants/polyp-lux-by-softlab/> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Figure 3.1Biothing.org, '/////Mesonic Fabrics/2007/09//Biothing', 2015 <http://www.biothing.org/?p=51> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Figure 3.2Biothing.org, '/////Mesonic Fabrics/2007/09//Biothing', 2015 <http://www.biothing.org/?p=51> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Figure 3.3Co-de-it.com, 'Loop_3', 2015 <http://www.co-de-it.com/wordpress/loop_3.html> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Figure 3.4Co-de-it.com, 'Loop_3', 2015 <http://www.co-de-it.com/wordpress/loop_3.html> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Figure 3.5Co-de-it.com, 'Loop_3', 2015 <http://www.co-de-it.com/wordpress/loop_3.html> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Figure 6.1Co-de-it.com, 'Loop_3', 2015 <http://www.co-de-it.com/wordpress/loop_3.html> [accessed 14 August 2015]

Images

2019