A i r Xiaojie Hazel Bian 633796 2015S1

I’m Hazel, currently studying as a third year architecture student in University of Melbourne. Like many others, my first taste of digital modeling was while undertaking the Virtual Envi-ronment in my first year. We were asked to use Rhino the software to design a lantern that interacts with our hands. I enjoyed the learning process quite a lot as I gradually developing my skill in 3D modeling. Studio Air is a great opportunity for me to further develop my digital design skill. I’m looking forward to it!!

INTRODUCTION

I’ve taken the Virtual Environment in my first year of university. The ultimate goal in this subject is to design a lantern that interacts with user’s hand by using Rhinoceros the soft-ware and paneling tool plug-in. I found this subject strongly relevant with Studio Air, both of them are looking into parametric design using digital software. And the two subject are structured in a very similar way, the design process in Virtual Environment gives a preview to the Studio Air. By being inspired from the natural process, Virtual Environment invites students to generate ideas from daily life and gradually develop deep into it. Studio Air is a more sophisticated than Virtual. It focuses on abstract forms, which requires more the-oretical thinking behind the design process. As Grasshopper the plug-in being introduced, it allows more freedom in the parametric design.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH PARAMET-RIC DESIGN

Sendai MediathequeSendai Mediatheque is now being the landmark of the Sendai city in Japan. It is a seven story height mixed program public facility design by architect Toyo Ito in 2001.The architecture attracts me most by its striking outlook. The overall glass façade conveys the idea of ‘fluidity’ in Ito’s design. (Fig 1.1) Ito was deeply influenced by Mies van der Rhoe and his work. (Fig1.2) The fluid spatial effect is interpreted as ‘barrier free’ floor plan in the Sendai Mediatheque. Ito addresses the issue as removing architectural barriers which how a space must be used, freedom from administrative constraints. This is also how Ito values architecture as a reflection of the society. The users contribute to the building arrangement, as they shall decide the organization of each space. (Fig 1.3)“...this building has many free spaces, that is, spaces that are not intended, as rooms are, to serve specific functions. Such spaces exist, for example, between the tubes and the building perimeter. Visitors will be able to use such spaces as they use the city streets, for various activities. ... I am hoping that, as such spaces are used, the Mediatheque will become a place for thinking about the city.”—Toyo Ito (2001), [1]Besides from the light and airy glass façade, I appreciate the floating floor and the organic looking seaweed tubes and its design concept. The tubes are the most identifiable character in the Sendai Mediatheque knowing by the world. Notice the similarity with Le Corbusier’s slab and column structure; Ito refers the Dom-ino house as precedent for his work. (Fig 1.4) These 13 tubes are used not only for aes-thetic purpose but also address to the structural intention. Four tubes at the corner to support the building and also resist the earthquake; the others are used to with-stand the vertical gravitation loads and also being the vertical circulation shaft for air, electricity, light and people. (Fig 1.5)I was amazed when watching the YouTube clip of how the tubes react during an earthquake condition; they are more flexible when moving up and down, destitute the load to the floor while remaining the structure. I appreciate Ito’s idea of integrating with the surrounding environment and the culture context, as well as the revolution in engineer and aesthetic, will always be my goal in the future studies.

Fig 1.1

Fig 1.2

Fig 1.3

fig 1.4

Fig 1.5

Melbourne school of design

The Melbourne School of Design locates at the center of the University of Melbourne campus, and now has been a new landmark of the university. This is a pedagogical building design by John Wardle Architects (Mel-bourne) and NADAAA (Boston) in collaboration. The MSD building is well engages with the sustainable design issue, it has been awarded a 6 Star Green Star Design v1 rating in Australia. The build-ing well utilized the natural ventilation and lighting, where the magnificent atrium at level one and the huge empty space above allow the air ventilates through the building, and enable the sunlight to penetrate through the panel glass roof. The suspended studio in the middle of the atrium is the jewel on the crown. The unique appearance of the studios invites users to look up and amazed by the stunning visual effect. These studios are structurally ‘hang-ing’ from the roof beam, like a giant piece of honeycomb hanging on the tree. This design appeals to aesthetics as well as the technology innovation, could be taken as a starting point for students studying in the MSD bsuild-ing, inspiring them now and onwards. Personally I enjoy the most in the building is the staircases. The Y Stair has a mid landing area where it splits to up and down directions that us-ers could get to destination in shortest path. The beauty in the design not only provides a clear span across the atrium, while it’s also user friendly, approaching from the aesthetic aspect and coherent with the entire build-ing. And now students might have a quick conversation at the mid landing space of the staircase if they bump into each other while not blocking the traffic. The staircase in the building stands beyond its original purpose of transferring vertical distances, and it also contribute to better user experi-ence, creating active spatial relationship between user and the surrounding environment. Together with innovation of technologies, parametric design was introduced as a method to achieve design goals in more precise man-ner. However, it is not always the benchmark of architecture in 21 century, more importantly, it requires the ability to connect and respond to the local environment.

REFERENCE

Sendai MediathequeFloor plan and perspectivehttps://kmckitrick.wordpress.com/sendai-mediatheque-toyo-ito-kevin-mckitrick/Mies van der Rohehttp://misfitsarchitecture.com/2011/10/Le Corbusierhttp://bobbarton.tumblr.com/post/21138557404/archiveofaffinities-le-corbusier-dom-inoSendai Structure https://www.pinterest.com/sophielem/librarymédiathèque/ito quoteToyo Ito. Hiroshi Wanatabi, Trans. Lessons of the Sendai Mediatheque. Japan Architect, 41 (2001): 7