JANICE LOBOSEMESTER 1, 2013

TUTOR:DAVID LISTER

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Contents

Bio .......... 1

Architecture as a Discourse .......... 2

Exploring Timber .......... 3

Computerization in Design .......... 5

Parametric Structures .......... 7

Grasshopper Experiments ......... 11

Conclusion ......... 12

The CompletedI first began my digital design journey by playing around in Illustrator and Photoshop. After I took an interest in architecture, I found AutoCad and 3D Max. These were the primary plat-

forms that I chose to work in.

In Semester 2, 2011, I took Virtual Environments at the University of Melbourne. This is where I was first exposed to parametric modelling .

We used Rhino to create a structure that was to interact with our body and draw influence from nature. Through this project I got to experience using parametric modelling and studied

the influence it is having in the current face of architecture.

Even though I enjoyed using it on a digital platform, when it came to fabrication, I was unsure about the materials that would work most effectively with my design, and I regret not going through a trial and error process to fully utilize the properties of different materials into my

design instead of trying to morph them to fit my work.

This semester I would be interested in looking at how materials can influence design, but particularly how parametric tools could be used to most efficently use the materials available.

MeHello.

My name is Janice Lobo and I am a third year architecture student at the University of Melbourne. I am of Indian orgin, but was born and raised in Dubai., UAE Both these places have a big impact on the architectural style that I am interested in. The discourse in both those cities is vastly

different yet interesting because where one is an old country with a his-tory of precedents to look to, the other is young and uninhibited by it.

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Architecture as a Discourse

Architecture is so embedded into our lives that we sometimes fail to see the effect it has on us. For starters, the creation and manipulation of space can inform our emotions, productiv-ity and well-being. For example, an open plan space can prove to be more effective in some office environments in comparison to individual cubicle layout and hence increase produc-

tivity. Therefore it is important that architects take responsibility for the responses their designs evoke in people.

Architecture also has a big impact on the environment, built and natural. Computational tools helps us to maximize efficency of materials by exploring their contraints and working

within them to create new and sustainable design. Parametric tools allows us to design in a responsible way by creating individual panels that can be taken apart and transported easily.

It also allows us to generate a multitude of designs based on the constraints of site, mate-riality and functionality. We can use it to create responsive architecture that uses materials

efficently and in new ways that are environmentally sustainable.

Strips and folding an approach used in parametric modelling that allows for the explora-tion of specific repeating geometeries. For example the exploration of the Mobius strip

in the ContemPlay project explores the geometery and structure of the mobius strips and plays around with it using parametric tools to create a structure that can be constructed out

of timber and utilizes computer software to determine the loads that will be experienced when different parameters are introduced.

This semester we have been asked to look at the Western Gateway Project and use para-metric tools create an optimum solution that reflects our area of interest.I would like to

explore the materiality through strips and folding to help me achieve this goal.

“Free experimentation requires less detailed constraints and computation so architects may turn to simulations with accuracy levels that reflect the stage of

design.” 1

1. Fisher Al, “Engineering integration: Realtime Approaches to performative computational design.”, Archi-tectural design, 82 (2001), 112-117 < http://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-3815792-dt-content-rid-12070568_2/courses/ABPL30048_2013_SM1/Lectures/Studio%20Air%202013%20-%20Lecture%2004%20-%20Performative%20Design%20-%20slides.pdf >

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ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011

Trada Pavillion,2013

Exploring TimberTimber is a material that is usually used for frames and straight line structures. Due to its inef-

fi cency under tension, and its tendancy to warp and twist with changing weather conditi ons, it is not always the most ideal material to use for curved and organic shapes. But ti mber is a light weight, organic and renewable material. It creates an emoti onal response of warmth and can be

designed to be fl uid structures in nature.

Parametric modelling can be used to to explore the possibiliti es of ti mber further. Curved struc-tures can be panellized into fl at volumes that can be easily laser cut and att ached together using

a large number of joining systems. These systems are lightweight and have to be joined at the ground.

The Trada Pavilion designed by Ramboll Computati onal Design that is scheduled to be built for at the Ecobuild Expositi on 2013. The structure used an algorithm to divide the structure into planar

three-valence mesh that can be constructed using fl at panels. The advantage of using a hexago-nal mesh is that it has greater structural effi cencies and requires fewer connecti ons. The panels are 15 mm thick and were fabricated using a three-axis CNC route2. The fabricati on process in-

cluded the drilling of holes for hinges, bolts and cutti ng the contours for the panels. Grasshopper was used to place the hinges in opti mum locati ons3.

Similarly, the ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion at the University of Stutt gart uses computer based design and computer manufacturing methods to create an ideal struc-

ture using complex geometry derived from bionic principles of a sea urchin’s plate skeleton. The structure is built out of thin sheets of plywood measuring 6.5 mm, fastened to the ground to

prevent it fl ying away due to this extremely light weight. The joinery used in this structure was also derived from nature. Computati onal design tools were required in this project to derive the

complex repeati ti ng geometry, where the hexagons change is size depending on what is most struturally viable and the local curvature. This structure also has the advantage for being able to

take it apart and transport4.

2. Admin, “Parametric Timber Pavilion” in evolvo, <http://www.evolo.us/architecture/parametric-timber-pavil-ion/> [accessed 25 March 2013]

3. RCD, “Trada Pavilion” in Ramboll Computational Design <http://blog.ramboll.com/rcd/project/trada-pavilion-completed.html> [accessed 23 March 2013]

4. ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion at the University of Stutt gart” in dezeen magazine, <htt p://www.dezeen.com/2011/10/31/icditke-research-pavilion-at-the-university-of-stutt gart/> [accessed 25 March 2013]

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Computerization in Design

5. Frazer John H. (2006). ‘the generati on of Virtual prototypes for performance opti mizati on’, in GameSetAndMatch II: The Architec-ture Co-Laboratory on Computer Games, Advanced Geometries and Digital Technologies, ed. by Kas oosterhuis and Lukas Feireiss (rott erdam:episode publishers), pp. 208-212

6. Cilento Karen, “Al Bahar Towers Respnsive Facade” in archdaily <htt p://www.archdaily.com/270592/al-bahar-towers-responsive-facade-aedas/#more-270592> [accessed 28 March 2013]

“design computati on is sti ll only seen by many as ‘just a tool’ and remote from the real business of creati ve design” 5

Computerizati on plays an important role in responsive architecture. In the Al Bahar Tower designed by Aedas Architects, the skin of the building is a shading system that responds to

the sun. The shades open and close to let in sunlight and provide privacy. It is designed for the hot UAE sun, so the enti re skin moves along with the sun to shade diff erent parts of the build-ing during diff erent ti mes of the day. Even though this may seem ineffi cent and expensive, the

shading system is expected to reduce the buildings requirement for air conditi oning by 50%.

The form of the shading system is called a mashrabiya which is an Islamic shading system. Us-ing this as an inspirati on, the design was computed into a digital modelling soft ware instead

of computerized which is the creati on of design in a modelling soft ware. In this scenario, the benefi ts of the computed system, allowed the designers to panelize the facade in a way

that can be morphed - moved, opened, closed - to respond to the environmental conditi ons. However the layout of enti re skin and the forms it creates as it moves across the building was

determined by computerizati on6.

This project is a combinati on of both computerizati on and computati on, and is an embodi-ment of the idea that computer aided design leads to structures that combine aestheti cs and functi onality. This structure is almost fi ts into Louis Sullivans idea of form following functi on.

Al Bahar Towers,2012

The ContemPlay Pavillion is based on the principle of a three dimensional Möbius strip support-ed by a triangular truss. Digital modelling was used in this pavillian to ensure that the individual

tubes do not intersect with each other7. They use digital modelling to vary the thickness of the tubes. Grasshopper was able to predict every connecti on and joint accurately depending on the thickness of the structural members8. In this way, computerizati on has enabled the designer to

explore possibiliti es that would have been near impossible to do otherwise. It has opened up the possibliti es for creati on instead of taking away the creati vity. Using Grasshopper, the team was

able to change the variables in the structure, giving them control of the outcome.

Using digital soft ware also helped bridge the cap between engineering and architecture. Engi-neering computati onal soft ware was used to realize the stress of compression and tension that the structure would undergo and the informati on derived from this was inputed into Grasshop-per that checked that there were no interferences with structural changes made. Computati on

has allowed for a platf orm and language that can be read across various professionals.

It must be noted however, that if one is unaware of digital modelling soft ware, it would be much harder to read and understand the programming code than hand-drawn plans. But the advan-

tages of using these soft wares in a professional environment by trained designers is leading to a new wave of architecture that is only possible because of it.

ContemPLAY,2012

7. Chang Lian Chikako, “ContemPLAY: Adventures in full-scale digital fabricati on” in archinect <htt p://archinect.com/blog/ar-ti cle/53814624/adventures-in-full-scale-digital-fabricati on-interview-with-sophie-wilkin-from-mcgill-s-contemplay> [accessed 20 March 2013

8. Mingallon Maria, “ContemPLAY pavilion completes” in World Architecture News <htt p://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseacti on=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=20684/> [accessed 22 March 2013]

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Parametric Structures

Even though the design process requires high technology, it has simplified the construction process by using simple manufacturing techniques. The size of the locally found limestone is cut according to

pre-decided sizes determined by the computer sofware. The complex arched geometeries control the amount of light entering the living spaces to avoid the harsh sunlight in the region.

Computerization can be used to pre-dict environmental patterns.It can also be used to predict the ways in which a space will respond to the environment

depending on its wall thickness, height, etc.

By treating the optimum environmental condition as a constraint in your design, you can use parametric tools to create a

solution.

This housing proposal in Oman utilizes a rhomboil framework within two strips

to produce the model. The surfaces’ length, width and thickness is respon-sive to weather conditions, thickening

up in high temperatures and moving the panels to allow for increased venti-

lation indoors9.

9. Admin, “Eco-Sustainable Housing – Parametric Design” in evolvo <http://www.evolo.us/architecture/eco-sustainable-housing-para-metric-design/> [accessed 21 March 2013]

Housing Competition,2007

Parametric modelling can be used to create efficent structures have increased material efficency.

The basic structual system usied in the Bengbu City Opera/Music Hall is a grid-shell. The quadrilateral grid is comprised of steel tubes and stiffened by steel rods to maintain the systems stability. Us-ing parametric tools, they were able to optimize the curvature of the gridshell to minimize the curvature of glass pan-els that are expensive to fabricate10. This project utilizes the strength of steel as an informant for the design itself. The mate-rial performance of both steel and glass act as parameters allowing for various possibilities within their constraints.

The exterior concrete shell is proposed to be constructed using a steel frame with lightweight concrete pre-cast concrete panels on the outside and acoustical pan-els hung from the interior of the frame. This would reduce construction time and avoid extremely large loads that would be created from a monolithical approach.

10. “Bengbu City Opera House Final” in [n]igma <http://luisquinonesdesign.com/CMTA-Bengbu-City-Opera-House-Final> [ac-cessed 30 March 2013]

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ZA11 Pavillion designed by students for the ZA11 Speaking Architecture event in Cluj, Romania. The purpose of the design was to att ract people to the architecture festi val as well as providing

an interacti ve space that could also functi on as a shelter.

The major constraints of the design was the budget and fabricati on techniques. Parametric mod-elling tools were helpful in this aspect because it allowed for the logical labelling of individual

strips that could be put together on site11.

The students used Grasshopper to create the individual panel strips that were divided into 746 unique hexagonal pieces. The panels were of varying thickness to reduce and increase loads in required areas. In this case, ti mber proved to be a viable lightweight material that allowed the

constructi on process to take place without the use of heavy vehicles11.

This project is interesti ng because it uses simple manufacturing and constructi on techniques and an amature knowledge of parametric modelling tools, but is sti ll a successful temporary struc-ture that functi oned as a pavillion space during the festi val. This contrasts Woodbury’s theory that parametric tools in that hands of amatuer uses leads to amateur design because the soft -

ware controls the user12, but in this case, proved to be the other way around.

11. Jett , Megan. “ZA11 Pavilion / Dimitrie Stefanescu, Patrick Bedarf, Bogdan Hambasan” 05 Jul 2011. Arch-Daily. Accessed 04 Apr 2013. <htt p://www.archdaily.com/147948>

12. Woodbury, Robert F. and Andrew L. Burrow (2006). ‘Whither design space?’, Arti fi cial Intelligence for Engi-

ZA11 Pavillion,2011

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Parametric modeling was used here to cre-ate the three dimensional space for a res-taurant. This discourse around this struc-

ture is that it symbolizes the retail culture and the trappings of the mall context. It

was constructed using steel rods, fixed to plywood panels that allowed the leveling of the framework. The panels do not act purely as a roof covering and decorative element, it also merges into the ground

creating a shelving system that can be eas-ily used by the behind-the-counter staff.

sp+arch are focused on challenging the existing discourse, particularly through changing the socio-economic typologies. They used parametric modelling for their design Indigo Deli in Mumbai13.

One of the parameters that had to be worked within was the brand image of this chain restaurant. The client wanted to maintain the aesthetic feel of the restaurant and insisted on using copper and

timber elements14.

It is a hybrid structure that uses the combination of structural elements such as quasi-dome and quasi-structure to maximize the structural efficency within the constraints of the layout. The ar-

chitects use intersecting strips of timber that have been solved in using parametric modelling soft-wares13.

Indigo Deli, 2011

13. “Indigo Deli, Mumbai” in sp+a <http://www.sp-arc.net/> [accessed 15 March 2013]

14. Shah Dhanishta “sP+A Uncovered” in Home Review <http://www.home-review.com/2012/03/spa-uncovered/> [accessed 15 March 2013]

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Grasshopper

For this course we are to use Grasshopper in Rhino for our Gateway design project. Following the weekly tutorials, I have chosen these 3 experiments because they are most relavent to my fi eld of

interest, even if they are not the most successful.

Fig. 1 uses point att ractors on delaunay mesh surface to create a series of cylinder of varying heights and diameters. This approach would be useful in creati ng my major assignment because it

would enable my group to vary strips of thickness’ and widths at points for either aestheti c value or structural and material value.

Fig. 2 extractes the edges of a delaunay mesh and converts them into individual

planar quadrilateral meshes that follow the form of the initi al curve. This method would

be valuable in creati ng individual panels that can be divided into easily fabricated

panels.

Fig. 3 also works on the framework of a series of curves. It uses a conditi onal state-

ment that off sets theres curves based on the length of the curves and forms a triangu-

lated delauney mesh that is derived from the geometry of the initi al loft and the off set-

ted loft . This experiment was based on the ContemPlay design, one tha I would like to

further explore using additi onal plugins such as Kangaroo. This method could be relevant

to my design project beccause it

Conclusion

My design approach will uti lize material properti es as constraints for my design, and by this, expanding the possibiliti es in which the material can be used, as can be observed

in the Trada Pavillion and ContemPlay, where the designers used the material strengths and weakness as constraints to create new and innovati ve designs. My approach will also

be framed by exploring strips and folding methods such as the Mobius strip. It is signifi -cant to design in this way because it uses the knowledge of exisisti ng material properti es

and geometries to create a new and innovati ve structure that push the boundaries of the basic elements of the structure itself.

I have always had an appreciati on for computers as a design tool. This course taught us that are merely tools in the designers hands, the same way a pencil works as a tool and

therefore does not control the design, merely guides it and helps to provide new out-comes. However learning about parametric modelling has changed my outlook towards

designing. It has allowed my to realize that the computer can also be used to solve problems and force us to design within constraints which would cause us to push our

creati vity within possibiliti es instead of designing creati ve wonders that our impossible to construct and leading us to compromise further on in the design process and ending up with designs that are much less successful. By setti ng up the limits initi ally we can de-

sign structures that can be easily constructed and maximize ti me and material effi cency.

This design approach would have been useful in past projects because it would allow me to make changes further on in my design process without aff ecti ng the overall construct-

ibility of my model and drawings.

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