Final Journal Yiqing Xiong 621784

ABPL30048Tutor: Bradley Elias

Yiqing Xiong 621784

STUDIO AIR 2015, SEMESTER 1

Table of Contents

Introduction

PART A. CONCEPTUALISATION

PART B. CRITERIA DESIGN

PART C. DETAILED DESIGN

1 CONCEPTUALISATION

Introduction

Hi!

I AM Yiqing Xiong (Serena)

3rd Year Architecture Major

University of Melbourne

CONCEPTUALISATION 2

I was born in China, studied as a international

student in Australia. I have finished

the foundation course in UNSW, which

concentrated on design. That was the first

time that I encounter with design the object

by my own. From then on, I have found my

interest in architecture probably because

of the influences from my family i.e. nearly

all of my family members has learning or

working background in architecture or

engineering. It has made me curious about

what is architecture and how it works.

Moreover, there is a wish that I can live in

the house designed by myself one day,

which probably everyone is dreaming of.

Studied the other two studios-earth and

water, I am not familiar with digital design.

My limited experience in design software

Introduction

just have Sketchup and a little bit 3ds Max. I

realised that this subject could be challenges,

but I still look forward to handle Rhino and

Grasshopper after learning this subject. I will

absorbing as much as I can during the course.

CONCEPTUALISATION

CONCEPTUALISATION 7

PART A. CONCEPTUALISATION

A.0. Design Futuring

A.1. Design Computaion

A.2. Composition/Generation

A.3. Conclusion

A.4. Learning Outcome

A.5. Appendix- Algorithmic Sketch

A.6. Reference List

PART A.A.1. DESIGN FUTURING

PART A.A.1. DESIGN FUTURING

The Reichstag Dome is the project which

constructed on top of the old Reichstag build-

ing in Berlin, for its parliament function, which

need to highly relate to its historical, political,

social and environmental background. It was de-

signed by architect Norman Foster, which espe-

cially important because has symbolized the re-

unification of Germany.

As said by the architect, the transformation is

based on four issues ----- the significances as a

democratic forum (political), the understanding

of history (historical), a promise to general acces-

sibility (social) and a strong environmental agenda

(environmental). Back to history, the Reichstag

destroy by war and rebuilt insensitively. But this

time, the striking imprints underneath the previ-

ous construction including graffiti left by Soviet

soldiers , which has inspired the architect to create

a space to become a ‘living museum’ of German

history.1 Comparing to the history, in the middle,

drawing light into the heart of the building will

create an open and visible platform for the Ger-

man democratic process.

Moreover, towards the environmental sustainabil-

ity, the whole design utilizes natural light as the

key architectural feature, and energy efficiency.

Careful attention was towards the sun’s movement

around the building, and how it could be used to

bring light into the space. This glass dome can pro-

vide a 360 degree view of the surrounding Berlin

city space, and the visitors can see working politi-

cians in the chamber while climbing the spiralling

ramps. The debating chamber of German parlia-

ment is down below and a mirrored cone in the

centre of the dome directs sunlight into the build-

ing. In addition, the Dome actual symbolizes that

the people are above the government illustrate the

democracy.

REICHSTAG DOME, NEW GERMAN PARLIAMENTBERLIN, GERMANY, 1992-1999

BY Forster+Partner

3 CONCEPTUALISATION

FIG.2 REICHSTAG DOME (EXTERNAL)

Initially, this accessible glass dome generated a lot of controversy, but now it has been convening as a great

Berlin landmark. It gives the building an open and honest relevance towards past, meanwhile, setting an

open-minded and forward-thinking about its future which emphasis on a united, democratic German.2

This also has provide a successful example on the architecture in nurturing social ,cultural , historical val-

ues about the architectural discourse of past and also looking towards future through new technologies,

CONCEPTUALISATION 4

FIG.3 REICHSTAG DOME (INTERNAL)

5 CONCEPTUALISATION

National Aquatics Centre, better known as

“Water Cube”, is one of the landmark buildings

of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. This iridescent

bubble wrapped structure is designed and built

by a group of architects including PTW Archi-

tects (an Australian architecture firm), CSCEC

(China State Construction Engineering Corpora-

tion) etc. , located to the west of the other famous

Olympics venue --National Stadium (known as

‘bird‘s nest’).

The Water Cube is formed the structure from the

natural object – soap bubble translating into archi-

tectural form, which took the images from the wa-

ter and related the function as an aquatics centre. It

is also the first building built on “the soap bubble”

theory in the world. 3 Considering to the entire

building environment and cultural background,

this cube shape can be symbolic to Chinese culture

and its relationship to the Bird’s Nest stadium has

created an iconic image of Beijing toward whole

world.

In addition, this amazing design outcome can

be considered as a team effort, which means

that the Chinese partners drew the traditional

idea from Chinese culture, which conceptual-

ized a square Earth and a round Heaven. Thus,

this has formed the central theme of this work,

while the cube represented earth and the circle

which means heaven represents by the stadium.

PTW architect group put forward the idea of

covering the ‘cube’ with bubbles, symbolizing

water. Therefore, it can be seen that this design

combines modern technologies with Chinese

traditional values, which has beautifully inter-

connected the past and present in architecture.

NATIONAL AQUATICS CENTRE (WATER CUBE)BEIJING, CHINA, 2008

BY PTW ARHITECTS, CSCEC ,CCDI AND ARUP

CONCEPTUALISATION 6

“The scheme met international standards for competition, while maximiz-

ing social and economic benefits. In addition to being an aquatic competi-

tion venue for the game, the centre provides public multifunction leisure

and fitness facilities before and after the games.”4 By PTW Architect

FIG.4 NATIONAL AQUATIC CENTRE AT NIGHT

7 CONCEPTUALISATION

Not only is the design concept formed in a

stunning way, the technology is also an innovation,

which comprising a steel frame with the largest

ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) clad struc-

ture in world. This advanced membrane structure

is formed by bubble-like cushions of all sizes, be-

coming the first large-scale public project coated

with the membrane. It has provided the building

better light transmission and good solar and heat

control compared to the traditional glass. It has

FIG.5 SOAP-BUBBLE STRUCTURE, NATIONAL AQUATIC CENTRE (INTERIOR)

expanded the future possibility for the architecture

form and materiality.5

Nowadays, the stadium has opened towards the gen-

eral public users for the leisure activities, and this

impressive architecture not only contributes to the

ongoing architectural discourse, but also will bring

renewed interest from the citizens even after game as

part of the games’ legacy.

CONCEPTUALISATION 8


PART A.A.2. DESIGN COMPUTATION


PART A.A.2. DESIGN COMPUTATION

9 CONCEPTUALISATION

Design Computation

“The dominant mode of utilizing computers in architecture to-day is that of computerization; entities or processes that are already conceptualized in the designer’s mind are entered, ma-nipulated, or stored on a computer system. In contrast, computa-tion or computing, as a computer-based design tool, is generally limited.”7

Computational architecture, which is recent new way of providing designers to create, explore, and examine various forms through the software, is distinctive from utilizing computer as the pro-cess that the concept has already formed in de-signer’s mind named Computerization.

In my opinion, even the most common way of using computer as a tool to model up the design, has allow the complex work visualized in three dimensional which could be faster, accurate and clearly. This way of creating has offered the design-er new way to “communicate with the builders and clients”, but also to test different design solutions e.g. form, function, material, which can be more convenient and faster than the traditional way ---- hand-drawing and modeling.6

FIG.6 BENDING TEST OF PLYWOOD STRIPS

CONCEPTUALISATION 10

This can be seen as the good example to illustrate one of the benefits offering by the computing, which is towards the material and structure. The whole structure is made by thin plywood strips which have elastically-bent properties, and the entire structure oriented on this material. It has been broadly known that no matter which sort of material the form constructed is determined by pressures and constraints in the internal and external build-ing system.8 Nevertheless, this complex rela-tionship have not generally realized by in the digital process in architecture. Otherwise, this research pavilion has discovered this “tricky” interconnection, which has demonstrated the bending behavior and elastic characteristic of plywood strips. The strips are subsequently connected to each other which will develop the structural capacity of the system through the tensioned region of the connected strip. One of the most important points of this pavilion is to analyze the where to join the strips to reach the stable structural system, thus they has set up a

ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION 2010STUTTGART , GERMANY

BY ICD & ITKE

model based on a FEM simulation. This model can find out the equilibrium of each bending elements about its local stored energy, and also can get better understanding about the chang-ing of bending structural elements under wind, snow load.9 This is a very pioneering way of consideration about the lightweight structure which has strongly influence the formation of whole pavilion.

FIG.7. EXTERNAL VIEW OF ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION

11 CONCEPTUALISATION

FIG.7. EXTERNAL VIEW OF ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION


FIG.8 THE FORMATION WAY OF TWO WATER DROPS FIG.9 TEXTING WITH THE PROGRAMING


BMW BUBBLE PAVILION GERMANY,1 999

BY Frankfurt am Main

This pavilion was generated by computer for its whole process from the concept to the end of the construction. In order to suit the concept of clean energy, it start-ing design the form from the basic water drop, which has used a drop stimulation computer program to the generate different form according to the one characteristic of water---movement and surface tension of two water droplets.10 The team has built a water drop simulation computer program named FEM to test the formation and move-

ment between two drops of water, and then created this shape. 11 The form has not only strongly based on the computing which is the curvilinear form, but also the pavilion has used the computational process to test and explore even for the structure and con-struction. Thus, it has been considered as one of the first structures in the world that was entirely created by digital approaches.

FIG.1O. BMW BUBBLE PAVILION


PART A.A.3. COMPOSITION VS. GENERATION


Since emerge of architecture, the widely used formative principles is composition which can create from in an ordered way that each single elements composite to the total form, such as the balance, symmetry, etc. Otherwise, following this rule can also create some beautiful masterpieces which already did. Recently, this way of architecture thinking has been considered to be shifted towards a new approach --- generative design.

This way of thinking is inspired by nature world, which has based on a basic logic in the formation process, same in the design. The generative design has highly connected to the parametric modeling, which has used scripting to set up computer programming which make design becoming a digital process. Scripting is the higher level of computing programming said by Burry which can provide a faster way to form different potential outcome that suit the brief needed with “automating routine aspects and repetitive activities”.12 With

the help of computer programming, the parametric modelling can help to generate various possible outcome which is faster, more precise and efficient than the past. This way of thinking can make the whole design process as the integrated system. However, just because of whole thing has “associative and dependency relationships between objects and whole” in the parametric modeling, one of the challenging is that a slight change in the model will give rise to dramatic influence on the whole system.13 This will restrict design at some time if you want to freely explore the design outcome, which will limit and slow down the whole process. 14

In spite of, the critiques still exist about the use of generative approach in the architecture design process. Personally, the generative thinking has open a new world to design possibilities focus on the internal logic rather than the external form, which the modelling technique will more matured in the end.

Composition vs. Generation

FIG.11. GENERATIVE DIAGRAM OF PAVILION

This pavilion is fabricated from the glass and carbon fiber composites according to the “morphological principles of arthropods’ exoskeleton”. Before fabricated, they have investigated the behavior and cuticle differentiation of arthropods such as the lobster’s exoskeleton to find the biological principles to abstract to transfer in to the reliable design logic.15 Base on the result of this detailed investigation, this has transferred into the fiber orientation and arrangement and even the thickness and stiffness need to match the exoskeleton of lobster.16 All the operations is by the robot, and the entire compound structure is based on a fiber composite system which built from abstracted morphological principle. It has made of the logic for the computational form generation in the end. No matter the form finding, material testing or structural design are all based in the complete digital model. The connection of each geometry and element simulations has transferred into computational models which can generate

various potential outcomes to compare and analyze towards the final. Meanwhile, the testing of the material was proceeded during the process of the form generation to meet the material optimization. This is an effective example about the way of using generative thinking in the design process, which is based on the biological principles translated towards the whole form, materiality, construction and structure.

ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION 2012STUTTGART , GERMANY

BY ICD & ITKE


FIG.12. ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION 2012


FIG.13. GENERATIVE COMPONENTS SOFTWARE FOR ANALYSIS

AA COMPONENT MEMBRANELondon , United Kingdom

BY EmTech

This membrane is a canopy for the roof balcony of Architectural Association in London. Considering to the environment condition, the structure of the canopy need to withstand the high wind pressure, light and view. 17 Thus, they have used a parametric modelling and developed with a software named Generative Components based on the underlying logic of materials, changing of natural environment like seasons, weather and even different time in a day. All of these need to be digital simulated and investigated, and the efficiency of the whole structure is assisted by component-based logic system considering the degree of sun path, rain protection and the airflow. 18 All of the digital results has been translated to manufacture and assemble of each components. As result from these, the membrane not only

can protect the roof from the rain not interrupt the view, but also avoid the high wind load towards the structure.19 In this example, the generative design had played a vital role to form a logic relationship between each components and larger system, and it can direct the response among systems, environmental


FIG.13. GENERATIVE COMPONENTS SOFTWARE FOR ANALYSIS

AA COMPONENT MEMBRANELondon , United Kingdom

BY EmTech

This membrane is a canopy for the roof balcony of Architectural Association in London. Considering to the environment condition, the structure of the canopy need to withstand the high wind pressure, light and view. 17 Thus, they have used a parametric modelling and developed with a software named Generative Components based on the underlying logic of materials, changing of natural environment like seasons, weather and even different time in a day. All of these need to be digital simulated and investigated, and the efficiency of the whole structure is assisted by component-based logic system considering the degree of sun path, rain protection and the airflow. 18 All of the digital results has been translated to manufacture and assemble of each components. As result from these, the membrane not only

can protect the roof from the rain not interrupt the view, but also avoid the high wind load towards the structure.19 In this example, the generative design had played a vital role to form a logic relationship between each components and larger system, and it can direct the response among systems, environmental


FIG.14. AA COMPONENT MEMBRANCE


PART A.A.4. CONCLUSION

Architecture has been considered as a disciplinary discourse, which is not just about the form or material. It has to consider in system, such as the relating background, the historical and cultural aspects which will effect on the design outcome. We rarely considered the interrelationship between elements and whole form. But in computational design, it has provided a more systematic way of thinking by using the software to test and explore the new forms and materials, innovative structure and construction, which will open a new world toward the future of architecture.

PART A.A.5. LEARNING OUTCOME

As past few weeks study, it has formed a new way of thinking in the design process. I was narrowed by just composite of the each elements and make the design to suit the conditions of the surrounding environment in the past. But now, I has make to realized that the parts and whole design may have the significant logical relationship which can be generated from a rule which may investigated from the nature environment. Since you have form this logical rule, through the parametric modelling it will provided various potential outcomes, and finally you will find the best.

As for the next stage, the algorithmic, generative and parametric way of thinking need to keep in mind all the time. The architecture is the discourse, which reminds me of clearly respond to the site especially environmental aspect, the AA component canopy is the best example that consider the environmental situation. With the help of these, I can find more creative possibilities for my own project.


A.6. APPENDIX -- ALGORTHMIC SKETCHES

I have chosen the buding Guggenheim to creat the NURBS surface, the outcome of the models are resulting from the changing the nubmer of point on th e surface and the leaves (have the slider connect to the form).



A.6. REFERENCE LIST

1. Foster+Partners, ‘Reichstag, New German Parliament’, from http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/reichstag-new-german-parliament/ accessed on 7 March, 2015.

2. Visitberlin, ‘Reichstag’, from http://www.visitberlin.de/en/spot/reichstag accessed on 7 March, 2015.

3. TravelChinaGuide, ‘National Aquatics Center’, from http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/beijing/water-cube.htm accessed on 7 March, 2015.

4. PWT , ‘Watercube-National Swimming Centre’, from http://www.ptw.com.au/ptw_project/watercube-national-swimming-centre/ accessed on 7 March, 2015.

5. Birdair, “ ETFE”, from http://www.birdair.com/tensile-architecture/membrane/etfe accessed on 7 March, 2015.

6. Kalay, Yehuda E. (2004). Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press), pp. 9-10.

7. Terzidis, Kostas (2006). Algorithmic Architecture (Boston, MA: Elsevier), p. xi.

8. Normallab, ‘ ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion’ from http://network.normallab.com/portfolio/pavillion-2010 accessed on 12 March, 2015.

9. Futuresplus, ‘ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2010’ from http://futuresplus.net/2011/12/14/icditke-research-pavilion-2010-stuttgart-university/ accessed on 12 March, 2015.

10. Franke-architekten, ‘ Bubble’, http://www.franken-architekten.de/index.php?pagetype=projectdetail&lang=en&cat=0&param=overview&param2=21&param3=0& accessed on 12 March, 2015.


11. Kolarevic, Branko, Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing (New York: London: Spon Press, 2003), pp. 21.

12. Mark burry, “Scripting Culture: Architectural Design and Programming’, (West Sussex: United Kingdom, 2011), p.8.

13. Oxman, Rivka and Robert Oxman, eds (2014). Theories of the Digital in Architecture (London; New York: Routledge), pp. 3.

14. Concurrentengineering, ‘ the Pro and Cons of Parametric modeling’, from http://www.concurrent-engineering.co.uk/Blog/bid/97311/The-Pros-and-Cons-of-Parametric-Modeling accessed on 12 March, 2015.

15. EVOLO, ‘Researching New Tectonic Possibilities in Architecture, from http://www.evolo.us/architecture/researching-new-tectonic-possibilities-in- architecture-robotically-fabricated-pavilion-in-stuttgart/ accessed on 15 March, 2015.

16. University of Stuttgart, ‘ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2012’, from http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=8807 accessed on 15 March, 2015.

17. Achimmenges.net, ‘AA Component Membrane’, from http://www.achimmenges.net/?p=4445 accessed on 15 March, 2015.

18. Bentley, ‘AA Component Membrane Canopy for the Architectural Association in London’, from http://ftp2.bentley.com/dist/collateral/docs/generative_components/CS_AA-Component-Membrane.pdf accessed on 15 March, 2015.

19. Membranespaces, ‘AA Membrane Canopy’, from http://www.membranespaces.net/?page_id=806 accessed on 15 March, 2015.


CRITERIA DESIGN


CRITERIA DESIGN


PART B. CRITERIA DESIGN

B.1. Research Field

B.2. Case Study 1.0

B.3. Case Study 2.0

B.4. Technique Development

B.5.Technique: Prototypes

B.6. Technique: Proposal

B.7. Learning Objectives and Outcomes


Criteria Design 24

34 CONCEPTUALISATION CONCEPTUALISATION 34

PART B.

B.1. RESEARCH FIELD:

GEOMETRY

Criteria Design 25


PART B.

B.1. RESEARCH FIELD:

GEOMETRY

LAVA-- GREEN VOIDSYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Green Void is an installation of green lycra at centre hall of Customs House Sydney. It was realised in lightweight fabric using the latest techniques of digital fabrication to create more with less.1

This sculpture has successful created an intense visual contrast to the interior building background of Customs House with the help of the organic shape and bright color. Moreover, the shape is not exact design which was formed with the most efficient connection of different boundaries in three-dimensional space inspired by the nature e.g. cell, crystals, soap bubbles.2 The designers have determined the connection points in the space, then use mathematical formula to shape a minimal surface. It has achieved with a flexible material which follows the rules of gravity, tension and growth same as a spider web, which has successfully taking the surrounding environment data into account.3


Criteria Design 26


SG2012 – GRIDSHELLSMARTGEOMETRY 2012, RPI, TROY, NY

This is the project that focused on material properties and construction of straight wood lath such as the “wood grain orientation and density and their relationship with bending stresses and joinery techniques”.4 It has bent straight wood members fixed along outline of a relaxed surface, the cluster focus on timber gridshell which offer the opportunities to investigate of material reality based on the parametric tool. It has minimized the material waste as well as successfully maximizing the architectural presence in the space. Moreover, the loop was designed with help of the parametric geometric model and test with iterative physical prototype to achieve a smooth workflow that incorporated geometry, structures, and material. This is a good example which has shown the effective way of thinking about the relationship between material properties and design shape.


Criteria Design 27

CONCEPTUALISATION 371 CONCEPTUALISATION

SOFTlab has made a site specific installation of a large hanging canopy for Gateway North of the San Gennaro. This piece hangs beside one of the most effective classical architecture, which they has developed an oculi towards the most iconic classical architecture feature with the other defining the zone on the street. 5 It has created the minimal surface to combine the two oculis together and blur the distinction between them. In addition, this form is complete hanging in tension by the cables attach to the building and closely related to the site which has been used the software to developed the way of fabrication and installation. 6General, this is a great piece that integrated the design to the site successfully through the parametric programs.

SOFTLAB - SAN GENNARO NORTH GATEHOUSTON AND PRINCE, NYC

Criteria Design 28

38 CONCEPTUALISATION CONCEPTUALISATION 2

PART B.

B.2. CASE STUDY 1.0:

LAVA GREEN VOID

EXPLORATION OF ITERATIONS

The exploration is based on the Lava Greenvoid, which can be a good ways to investigate the nature of structure and surface. Based on the properties of minimal surface structure which is highly related to the brief needed-- a hanging structure that cannot touch the ground. All of the iterations is the based on Kangaroo plug-in which can play with the actual data to the structure like the stiffness, tensile force. It can produce different form finding to the initial structure, such as the top four is explored with the changing of the anchor points and stiffness.

At the bottom, these outcomes is based on the changes of anchor points and stretching, adjusting the rest length of the springs from the vectors. These result is successful than the top as have more elegant shape with clearer anchor points.


Criteria Design 29

EXPLORATION OF ITERATIONS

40 CONCEPTUALISATIONCriteria Design 30

Exoskeleton with stretching of anchor point and vector springs

Duplication of different iterations formed patterns

Changes of curve inputs with exoskeleton

CONCEPTUALISATION 41Criteria Design 31

These four are the iterations which I think are more successful than others. As the first two with clear anchor point, it has formed a beautiful shape while mesh relaxing. And the other two with thin branches like tentacles which make me think it can be join together or array. It could create some great pattern like the bottom one. According to the brief, we cannot touch the ground like hammock, canopy, thus the clear anchor points can be really important which need also to create a beautiful surface and structure at the same time. The sense of pattern can be integrated to make the space more interesting and appealing.



PART B.


SOFTLAB POLYP.LUX.

Criteria Design 32


PART B.


SOFTLAB POLYP.LUX.


SOFTLAB – POLYP.LUXNEW YORK CITY, 2012

SOFTlab has produced a hanging installation at the entrance to St. Patrick’s Catholic School for the exhibition. The piece was intended to light up the entrance for event at the night time. It can also lead the visitors to co-mingle and interact with the help of three hanging components. The whole form was generated through a gravity process, and each of surfaces has LED light attached to the each join points which will flicker in the wind.8 Personally, this work has quite successful to achieve the idea of co-mingling the visitors. The three funnelling forms have created a barrier which will slow down the traffic and lead the way to the visitors to shuttle across the project. In addition, large amount of the lights will light up the space and also flickering in the wind, which will create through the visual experience. It is not a typical barrier, which is more focus on the way of engaging people through the experience in the work which will make them stop more like a barrier formed through the mind.

Criteria Design 33


34


1. Creating the initial form by intersecting the plane surface and three truncated cones, which has made the initial geometry form of the mesh.

2. Using the commands Boolean Difference to get the uncapped shape from the initial form, and input into the grasshopper as the BREP.

3. Connect the Brep to the brep mesh command, which can create the brep geometry directly into a mesh surface.

4. Then, selecting the mesh edges which only have the single adjacent face then join together to input as a curve. They will explode as the vertices, which is important as the anchor point for the mesh relaxation later on.

5. With the help of Kangaroo plug in, it can input the data such as the Stiffness and the Rest Length Factor of springs from the mesh. They are highly related to the performance of mesh relaxation.

35


PART B.

B.4. TECNNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT

As from the study before, it can be considered that the relaxed surface has its own potential to be a aesthetic outcomes based on the initial forms. Thus, the following development is general focus on the techniques that will have effects on the possibility outcomes of the mesh. Kangaroo plug-in would simulate the nature of membrane based on shape, which can generated the potential forms that would help me to develop for my own design.


DEVELOPMENT: STURUCTURAL ANCHOR POINTS &RELAXED SURFACE

Various selection of anchor points will lead to different mesh surface after mesh relaxation. The single point selected for the anchor will create a sharp branches after mesh relaxed and also with the influences from rest length set to zero. However, most of the outcomes looks messy, but the bottom four could be more potential for the further design.


As from the stufy before, it can be considered that the relaxed surface has its own potentail to be a aesthitc outcomes basec om the innitial forms. Thus, the following development is general focsu on the techniques that will have effects on the possibility outcomes of the mesh. Kangaroo plug -in would similate the nature of membrane based on shape, which can generated the potential forms that would help me to develop for my own design.

39

DEVELOPMENT: STURUCTURAL ANCHOR POINTS &RELAXED SURFACE

Various selection of anchor points will lead to different mesh surface after mesh relaxation. The single point selected for the anchor will create a sharp branches after mesh relaxed and also with the influences from rest length set to zero. However, most of the outcomes looks messy, but the bottom four could be more potential for the further design.


40

DEVELOPMENT: TRIANGULATION WITH ANCHOR POINTS &DUPLICATION

Triangulating the mesh surface can observe the role of changing of smaller mesh surface in the mesh relaxation, which make me to consider the shape of mesh surface is changing while relaxing. This could be consider for the project by using the mesh relaxed to create the distinctive pattern same as the purpose of duplication.


41

DEVELOPMENT: DIFFERENT FORM FINDING

It has changed the way of different shape input to see the relationship between the mesh relaxation and form. it has found that the more curve plane can create more interesting and contrast shapes, especially with the changing of anchor points.


42

DEVELOPMENT: VORONOI & QUAD WITH WIND FORCE

Using the Voronoi and Quad has divided the space into irregular area. With the wind force from different angle which is the simulation like real environment, but it has made the mesh lose control.


43

The top two one are the one which I think is much more successful then the others. it has better control in shape and clear anchor has integrated well to he form. The holes can be used to point out the users viewing some particular things. It is can be potential for the future development for my hanging project. As the duplicated one is the way of thing about the pattern. In terms of the bottom one, I just think the irregular shape of rectangles has form a sense of perspective view , which is quite interesting, and it also make me think about the space dividing could be a potential way of thing about the a project for 1-10 users according to the breif.


44

PART B.

B.5. TECHNIQUE: PROTOTYPES


As the previous development of techniques and brief needed, all of the forms are strongly based on the mesh relaxation.

First of all, the material should have the quality of good tensile,which have the capability of bearing the whole structural towards gravity. There is potential of using membrane materials like fabric or plastic. They both has the quality of flexible, lightness and easy to fabricate. These quality can give the project warmer affects and blending well to the surrounding back ground.

As the way of connection, hanging the mesh and the connection between each mesh surfaces is the one of the important thing that need to take into account. As from typical tensile structure, it will probably use the steel tensioned cables to hanging the whole frame, and the each joint of mesh will be possible connected by the hoop to connected the mesh surface and knots for the edges.

The Deep Surface Prototype below has showed one of the possibility of connecting the mesh edge and surface by using the string and knots at edges to make sure the face is not moving for the whole frame.


45

The first prototype is testing the way of connecting the mesh edges, and each corner will be tied . It is the way of connection not that fixed , which has the space to adjust to suit the form of the mesh while relaxing. I have try this through twisting the two balsa wood to examine this quality.

PROTOTYPES


PROTOTYPES

This model is to examine the connection of mesh surfaces, which has chosen the hoop to connect between each surface, which can show the interactivity through shape-changing, same as the material. The plastic also have the other good effect of light transmission, which can be used to create visual effect for the project.


46

PROTOTYPES

This model is to examine the connection of mesh surfaces, which has chosen the hoop to connect between each surface, which can show the interactivity through shape-changing, same as the material. The plastic also have the other good effect of light transmission, which can be used to create visual effect for the project.


47

PART B.

B.6. TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL


According to the specific brief, it should be a hanging project like web, canopy that cannot touch the ground. From the previous case study and technique development, I have focused on the study of geometry with technique of kangaroo plugin for the purpose of mesh relaxation. This is the quite useful for this brief purpose which is the hanging project, which needs to consider the shape-changing under the gravity and also the surrounding environment as the kangaroo can also input the environment date to stimulate the changing of forms under these effects. This is really necessary for the project of this time, which will help the work to engaging better to the natural environment that cannot achieve with other techniques.

Through previous works, I have found the changed of different shape input and anchor point will lead to some interesting outcome based on the case studies. The program will make the mesh self-relax, so it will produce some unpredictable results through this program. It will change a lot just with the adjustment of some date input. Thus, these make me think that could be a good and useful technique for my further design.

In terms of site, I have chosen the space near one of the popular park in Melbourne- Yarra Bend Park. There is the site with strong geological and cultural background and it also a place that three trails join together. My conceptual thinking is to create a mesh barrier that has sagging mesh surface will let the users to shuttle back and forth through the project to achieve the purpose of slow down their pace, which may be good to make some pattern with the help of tessellation techniques combined with mesh

TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL


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SITE PLAN & MODEL


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PART B.

B.6. LEARNING OBJECTIVE & OUTCOMES

Through this part, I was start with the Green Void to really get familiar with using Kangaroo. With process of leaning the definition, it has really helped me to think about the actual logic behind each command which as start is just by remembering. The manipulation of create mesh and changing the structural anchor points is quite handle them, but the apply some changes to the meshes is still limited. As for my second case study, with the knowledge from the case study 1, I have encountered some problems because of the limitation of the knowledge of commands.

As for the next step, I still need to improve the skill of using parametric modelling, which I need to achieve my design idea of creating pattern by the mesh surface. I also need to think more detail about the fabrication and materials, trying to create a parametric derived frame with more thinking on possible way of fabrication, not just 3d printing.


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B.8. APPENDIX. ALORITHMIC SKETCHBOOK

62 CONCEPTUALISATION52


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REFERENCE LIST

1.Softlab, http://softlabnyc.com/portfolio/polyp-lux/, access on 28 April,2015

2. design room, http://www.designboom.com/design/softlab-polyplux/access on 28 April,2015 3. GREENVOID,http://www.archdaily.com/10233/green-void-lava/access on 28 April,2015

4. Lava, http://www.l-a-v-a.net/projects/green-void/access on 28 April,2015

5. Lava, http://www.l-a-v-a.net/projects/green-void/access on 28 April,2015

6 Smartgeometry, http://smartgeometry.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=134%3Agridshell-digital-tectonics&catid=44&Itemid=131access on 28 April,2015

7.Behance, https://www.behance.net/gallery/2357886/San-Gennaro-North-Gate,access on 28 April,2015 8.SOFTLAB, http://archinect.com/softlab/project/san-gennaro-north-gate,access on 28 April,2015


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DETAILED DESIGN

Part C.

C.1. Design Concept

C.2. Tectonic Elements & Prototypes

C.3. Final Detail Model

PART C.C.1. DESIGN CONCEPT

C.1.1 PRECEDENT RESEARCH

SOFTLAB-POLYP. LUX (2012)Source:http://blog.softlabnyc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_13811-640x426.jpg

THE ROLE OF CIRCULATIONSource:http://blog.softlabnyc.com/w p - c o n te n t / u p l o a d s / 2 0 1 2 / 0 6 /

This project by softlab has sucessfully using the haing installation to co-mingling the visitors, which is generated the from through the gravity process . This made me to thoght of the specific locacation which interacted with the movememnt of people in the site, that can have my project to "interpose" the movement.

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C.1.1 PRECEDENT RESEARCH

Vlad Tenu 's MC_2 London (2012)Source:http://blog.softlabnyc.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/IMG_13811-640x426.jpg

Vlad Tenu 's MC_2 London 2012 has using 500 different pieces to from a minimal tessllated surface. It can be considered a sucessful methodc of combining the surface with the paterning toghter which can create a more attraction visual effect to the viewer.

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C.1.2 MERRI CREEK PROJECT: DESIGN CONCEPT

Rethinking the initail design propsal in Part B, I have finialized the main conecept is to create a hanging barrier to slow down people pace in the site with the help of the visual experience.

As the concept hightly realted to the movement of people, it has made me to choose the site location for my canopy located at a small delta sapoce near the confluence of Merri Creek and Yarra River. This is also the juction of three main trails -- Merri Creek Trail, Main Yarra Trail and Captial City Trail. If the visual barrier installed here, it can be most efficient place to interact with the visitors from three different directions.

It also has the other purpose that I want to achieve is a shading space for short rest due to too many open space exposing under the sun in this site area, which ,may be achieves by increasing the single surface compoment area in the frame.

Thus, the whole project will create a flow of fuctional process --- slow down, rest, shading, enjoy. The barrier can be simply achieved by dropping funnel like shapes from the canopy, which can be a effictive way to slow down the pace.

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Site Location

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C.1.3 Site Analysis

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20m0m

• Dight Fall

• Geological Cliff

• Fishway Weir

This site also relates to the geological background i.e. the geloogical formed cliff and water fall. It also has an artifical fish weir built for the fish upstream for breedding which has been traped by that water fall. It is the site show the harmomy relationship between human and the nature,which is also the other reason why need to slow down visitors' pace here to have more time engaing in the site.

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appox

. 8m

appox. 5m

Detail Site Analysis

Form Finding• MovementofUsers• Trails• TrangualarSmallOpenSpace• LocationofTrees

Main Concept• HangingInstallation(canopy)• HighlighttheMovementofPeople• SlowDownthePaceinthesite• Shading• TheShapeGeneratedfromNatural

Forcee.g.Gravity• VisualExperience

C.1.4. Form Finding

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C.1.4 Form Exploration

Exploring the different mesh outcome with the changing of the geometry input which is generated from the site such as the road shape , the site boundary.

The left site two photos are the first attempt using the gravity simulation and geometry imput , but from the presentation feedback which is not really incorporated to the theme of slow down the pace , that dropping some part might be better.

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C.1.5 Final Shape

BREP MESH TRIANGULATE

SPRINGFROMMESH

DECONSTRUCTMESHFORVERTICES GRAVITY

KANGAROO MESH

ANCHORPOINT

CUSTOMMESHSETTING SLIDER

SLIDERNEGATIVE

Based on the previous exporation,the shape of site boundary, which is the effective shape to get more canapoy surface. Three dropping shape is formed bases on the site, as th big one over the small grass delta in the middle and the two small one haging over the pathway which could slow down people. All using the traingular shape represent the main feature in the site and point to the centre area of the site.

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C.1.5 Final Shape

INSERTMESHSELECTFACEBOUNDARY

SCALE

SELECTPOINTSINCERTAINLENGTHOF

EACHVERTICES

EVALUATE&SELECTMIDDLEPOINT

MERGEDATAOFPOINTS&DRAWNURBSCURVE

DRAWCIRCLEATEACHVERTICES(UNION&

DIFFERENCE)

SUFACEOUTCOMES

• Scale & Select Middle Point • Evaluate Curve in Length & Select Intersection Point

• Draw the Nurbs Curve& Connected • Final Surface Outcome

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Site Plan 5m0m

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Top View

Elevation

Perspective

8m

2m

2.5m

1.5m1.0 m

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C.1.6. Envisaged Construction Process

PolypropeleneSheetCutintoPieces(Laser

Cutter)

UnrollSurfacesonComputerModel

AssemblyEachPiecesWIthBolts&Nuts(in

Section)

ConstructSteelFrameOnTheTreeforFuther

Connection

PreparationforInstallation(IncludeElectricityCablefor

Lighting)

BringSectiontoSiteforInstallationviaTransport(Trucks)

In-situConstructionforSectionConnection

TreeConnection

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PhotoMontage

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PhotoMontage

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PhotoMontage

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PART C.C.2. TECTONIC ELEMENTS & PROTOTYPES

C.2.1. Initial Idea

This is the tectonic element of the initail design, which using the bolt and cleat. When doing the prototpye, I find this is not a effiient and stable way for the whole structural. It also the whole shape not enough surface for the shading purpose, thus, I have changed to the other more stable and effctive way for the new form.

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C.2.2. Tectonic Elements & Prototypes

Each traingular mesh surface has been turn into curve boundary lines with the circles at the vertices in order to the easy assembly. Thus, the method of connecting each curved traingles is the main tectonic systerm for my design. It will using bolts and nuts for the connections.

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1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

The whole process of prototype making is using the laser cutter to cut the shapes with the number label on it which will ensure assembly the same shape in the computer model. Then, joining each surfaces by bolts,which is effective and ajustable to suit different number of layer of the surfaces, The reason why using polypropelene is that is a easy bending , good tensile quality, no easy to tear apart and realative leightweight.

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From testing , the shape is stable while bending which can be used forming curved shapes, and it can also create a good visual pattern of shadow.

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PART C.C.3. FINAL DETAIL MODEL

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Model in Natural Environment--- it has attracted nearby children come to see when taking picture outside , which may partly prove the enough appealing at least for childern.

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Model in Natural Environment -- the little gap pattern seem hamony with the tree

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Model in Controlled Light

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Model in Controlled Light--- the shadow is really interesting which will consider installation the light on the tree to creat this shadow effect , also for safety issue at night.

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Through the whole semester study, I think it has strongly improved the skill of algorithmic design thinking and computational thinking from zero to able to use and produce a project now. There are lots of things that I have not tried it before, such as the digital fabrication. At past, it was generally using the hand make model, as now the whole project using the digital laser cut. One of the most significant things that I have learnt from this subject is the relationship between design and construction. It means that it cannot design a project which it not able to build it, which is quite important for architecture which is highly related to the construction and structure possibility. During the design process, the way of thinking about the surrounding natural environment and how it could related to the design proposal can be consider as a important start point for future design process. The algorithmic software are able to using the natural data to control the design outcomes such as the Kangaroo used in my project, which also informed me that design should have closely reacted with the surrounding atmosphere, also the same for the building. Every single detail would affect the design outcomes.

As for the further study, the computational design can take into account for the future design, which can create some unpredictable successful outcomes which is cannot design fully under the control.

C.4. Learning Objectives & Outcomes

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http://www.archdaily.com/94612/minimal-complexity-vlad-tenu/

http://www.surface-gallery.com/?cat=14

Reference

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AIR

Documents

Final Journal Yiqing Xiong 621784