Studio air part a+b

STUDIO AIR2015, SEMESTER 2, Sonya PartonJintao Huo, 634015

Table of Contents Introduction

Part A Conceptualisation

A.1. Design futuring

A.2. Design Computation

A.3. Composition/Generation

A.4. Conclusion

A.5. Learning outcomes

A.6. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches

introductionMy name is Jintao Huo, I am a third year architecture student. I come from China and choose this major because my family is working on civil works, this makes me choosing a major which is related to building.

From my personal understanding, digital architecture is using computer as a tool in order to assist us to design. The word digital means that all data we created is number or symbol in computer, we use these numbers and symbols to build complex building projects in computer before we build them in real world. For the convenience of design process, few softwares are invented, like SketchUp, Revit and Rhino.

I am not very good at computer tools, I used SketchUp before, but it is not enough for now. Rhino and grasshopper are the main tools that we need to learn in this semester, Rhino is a more complex and useful tool, people use this tool commonly in their design works. So it is important for us to use it well. However, the tasks need to be done in semester ae not easy, I will work hard and try to work out some good designs.

A.1Design Futuring

I want to analysis design futuring from two dif-ferent aspects. Firstly, future design should be able to relate to sustainability. Sustainability is hot spot word in recent year, because of the bad condition of environment and human’s require-ments, more people are asking designer to design more sustainable houses.1 Secondly, from eco-nomic aspect, people don’t want to waste their money, if designer can design their house basic

on their old ones, it will be much cheaper. Com-paring to other aspects of design futuring like science fiction, I prefer these two aspects more, because they are real in our world.

BanQ Restaurant:Dan Gallagher 2008, Boston

BanQ restaurant1 in Boston which is designed by Dan Gallagher is one of my favorite sustainable design. The main material used for this restaurant is wood, curve wood boards are placed one above another and created waves.

The first impression of this restaurant for me is natural. It is correct that creating nature doesn’t mean sustain-ability, but when we walk into a building which creates a fantastic natural feeling, it makes people feel like they are stay in forest or sea, the information carries out from this building is sustainable. This could be seem as one way to achieve sustainability.

Dan Gallagher creates such a natural space by using wood, the first feeling this restaurant is absolutely forest, the columns with different size made by wood boards are standing inside space , when people eat here, they will feel like they are having a camping.

However, when we look at the housetop, a different feeling is created by the waves. Waves all have a smooth pattern which is created by the different height. The pat-tern of wave gives people an illusion, people might think

the waves are moving, it completely lets us feel that we are sit under sea. When we open blue lights, this feeling is much strong.

Furthermore, if we have an overall view of whole space, we will find that Dan creates a grotto, too. The pattern of wave and columns look like stalactite in grotto. When the air is wet inside building, we will have a strong feel-ing that we are stay in a grotto.

As a conclusion, BanQ Restaurant creates three differ-ent natural environments by using their amazing design. People could swap the environment by changing light or view. This gives me an inspiration of how to achieve sustainability by using design.

Red Diamond:D, 2008, Beijing

FIG.1 Interior space of BanQ with blue light FIG.2 Interior space of BanQ with yellow light

FIG. 3 Old building

FIG. 4 Front view of Red diamond

FIG. 5 Interior view of Red Diamond

There are many old buildings around us, they are still good to use but not good to fit into the envi-ronment around or the function of these buildings are no longer useful. What should we do with these buildings? Should we just destroy them and build new buildings? Red Diamond in Beijing which is designed by Chiasmus Partners is a good answer for these questions.

Red diamond was a former factory before, but now people don’t need it anymore. Normally, people will remove it and re-build a new one. But Chias-mus Partners change it from an old former factory to a new fashion dance center and theatre.

The transformation is not that complex, Chiasmus Partners covers the exterior of the existing build-ing with a faceted shell made of evenly-spaced steel tubing. Many parts of the original building are re-mained in place like the front door, this tells others about the history of this building.2

The interior space of Red Diamond is reshaped to a dance center with performance hall, a practice hall and a saloon. (FIG. 5) The area in front of Red dia-mond is used as an open space and a bar is located in front of this open area.

This project shows a possible result for future design when we meet old buildings. Comparing to remove the old one, we can reshape it and let it become the one we want. Due to the WW2 and economic development after war, there were many buildings built, but now most of them are replaced by new buildings, it is a kind of waste. In the fu-ture, we are facing to more old buildings, we can screen the good ones and reshape them. This will absolutely bring economic advantages and histori-cal values.

A.2Design Computation

Design computation is the most effective way to encourage design for all designers since 21th century. Why people would like to use computer? Issa (2010) says: “Computer, by their nature, are superb analytical engines. If correctly pro-grammed, they can follow a line of reasoning to its logical conclusion. They will never tired, never make silly arithmetical mistakes, and will gladly search through and correlate facts buried in the endless heaps of information they can store. They will do all that quickly and repeatedly, by follow-ing a set of instructions called a program, which tells them in minute detail how to manipulate the electrical impulses in their circuits. They can pres-ent the results of these manipulations in the form most suitable for human comprehension – even in dynamically changing images and sounds.”3 But the lack of computer is obvious, it is weak at cre-ative abilities and intuition. Therefore, it is a tool which is used to represent and liberate designers’ creative ability in an effective way.

However, the development of computation has three different phases. We are currently expe-riencing the third phase after “Folding” and “Non-Standard”. In this phase, it is “more easily accommodated the recognition of computational processes and the emerging technologies of ma-terialization.” (Oxman, Rivka and Robert Oxman 2014)

Furthermore, as the main part of design computa-tion and this semester’s study, parametric design should be described. It is emerged from late in post-Folding phase. It is a brand new form of

digital design thinking. Oxman and Rivka (2014) say: “parametric design thinking focuses upon a logic of associative and dependency relation-ship between objects and their parts-and- whole relationships.”4

In this part, I want to describe two precedents from two different aspects. Firstly, computer helps to break through the limitation vision like the form of building, many amazing buildings are designed. Secondly, computer is also smart at many aspects like physics acoustics and surround-ing environment. It helps designer to achieve their design target much easier.

Museo Soumaya:Fernando Romero, 2011, Mexico City

Museo Soumaya which is designed by Fermando Romero lo-cates at Mexico City. It is a good example to show how computer tools are used to break through the limitation of building form.

Museo Soumaya rises up 150 feet, it is encased in glimmering aluminum. The façade is covered by a skin which is consisted by 16000 hexagonal tiles of mirrored steel, they are used to reflect sunlight. The structure is top-heavy, almost threatening to tip itself over. Both big ends are connected by a slender middle part, this creates a graceful curve. 5

Computer tools play a very important role in designing this building. The cure’s angle is tested thousands times in order to get the best. This cure should be able to support the top part and make sure that all hexagonal tiles are laid on a flat surface. It is also need to create an acceptable cure angle which must create good inner space for people to use. Concluding all these require-ments, it is impossible to do all the calculation by human brain.

However, computer tools are used to do all these calculation for human. As mentioned before, basic on computer’s nature, they will not make mistakes on calculations, even the calculation is huge in this project, but computers are doing well. We are also able to change the data we want in order to see the outcome. These outcomes we have tested provide the final and the best one for us to use. That is what design computation brings to us.

As a conclusion, design computation allows us to do those designs which people can only dream about before. The abil-ity of calculation and accuracy of computer helps us to make a model in computer before we start to build it in real world. The computer tools release the burden of designer and help them to design those buildings with irregular forms.

FIG.6 The facade of Museo Soumaya from front view

FIG.7 The facade of Museo Soumaya from back view

FIG.8 Close view of hexagonal tile

Guangzhou Opera House:Zaha Hadid,2010, Guangzhou

Guangzhou Opera House locates in Guangzhou, it is designed by Zaha Hadid. The house sits in perfect harmony with its riverside location. Its unique twin-boulder design enhances the city by opening it to the Pearl River. The form of this building is designed logically. In the opera room (FIG 10), the sound could be maximized by the building. Therefore, it is hard to match the outside façade and function of inner space, but Guangzhou Op-era House works well at this. It has a fashion and irregular form but at same time, its inner rooms satisfy their functions (opera room is an example).6

Again, computer tools helps designer to calculate data from many aspects, it is not just the parameter of the façade or form but also included the acoustics, these elements affect the final form of design. Therefore, from my understanding, computer helps us to find the balance between the function of inner spaces and the form of the building. One more thing that computer helps us about is marching sur-rounding environment and design today. Accounting to Kalay, “architecture design is an activity that deals, in equal measures, with externally imposed constraints (e.g. site conditions, cli-mate, functionality, cost, building codes, and so forth) and the internally drawn inspirations.” Computer helps us with most elements from the list, it is why we encourge to use design com-putation.

FIG. 9 Exterior view of Guangzhou Opera House

FIG.10 Interior view of Guangzhou Opera House

FIG.11 Exterior view of Guangzhou Opera House in night

A.3Composition/Generation

Currently, architecture is experiencing the shift from composition to generation. It leads a huge change of architectural process and brings both advantages and disadvantages to architecture. Before all, the definition of composition and generation are needed to describe. Composi-tion means the traditional way of architecture design, architects design their projects include thinking, modelling, sketching, manually. Gen-eration is a new way of design, it means the computational way of designing. The form of design is generated by a number of data, the outcomes will be created basic on these data and the designer choose the most appropriate one to use. Comparing these two deign methods, many differences are obvious. I would like to say, both methods have their own advantages and short-comings, so it is hard to say which one is better, but tend to generation is unstoppable, so I would like to have a brief and critical discussion about generation.

The concepts about “computerization” and “computation” are needed to explain. “Most

architects now use computers, but usually to simply digitize existing procedures with entities or processes that are preconceived in the mind of design” this mode is named computeriza-tion.7 However, computation is different. Sean Ahlquist and Achim Menges say: “computation is the processing of information and interactions between elements which constitute a specific en-vironment; it provides a framework for negotiat-ing the influencing, with the capacity to generate complex, order, form and structure.” Whatever, the generation here is more about computation.8

No one has question that generation brings huge benefits to design, but we all still in the develop-ment period of design computation, therefore the immature points are obvious, too. I will discuss two projects in this week to show some shortcomings in computational design.

Heydar Aliyev Center:Zaha Hadid, 2013, Baku

Heydar Aliyev Center which is designed by Zaha Hadid locates at Baku the capital city of Azer-baijan. It is one of the master work of Zaha Hadid and also the most important landmark of Baku.

The basic concept of this design is fluidity, the designer wants the idea of continuation runs through whole project including both interior and exterior. The connection between interior and exterior is also related to con-tinuation, this creates a strong feeling of fluidity. The appear-ance of this project shows fluid-ity absolutely. Whole appearance looks like flowing water and gives feeling of moving. The interior space uses the concrete structure combined with space

frame system is used to achieve large-scale column-free spaces, this allows users feel fluidity inside the building.9

However, the computation is used a lot in this project. The most obvious part is the building skin. For the target of achieving continuation, a board range of different functions, construction logics and technical systems had to be brought together to create the envelope. Computation al-lows the continuous control and communication of these com-plexities among the numerous project participants.

No matter how well computa-tion works in this project, the shortcomings that computation brings to this project is obvi-

ous, too. Brady says: “architects are increasingly experimenting with computation to simulate building performance, to in-corporate performance analysis and knowledge about material, tectonics and parameters of production machinery in their design drawing.” The word “in-creasingly” shows the ability of showing performance by com-puter is immature. The analyzing of performance relies on human intellect, computation can’t do these things independently. Even, the new computational tools will work better, but it is still a shortcoming in current period.

Furthermore, the computation tool works weak to analysis surrounding environment from large scale, it is also weak to combine design target and traditional culture. From the picture (FIG.14), a feeling of unhar-monious comes to me. Even the designer works well on fit this building to surround-ing environment by creating the plaza, but if we look from a bigger scale, this building is strange, it looks like a UFO stands on rye. Another problem of combination of local culture is obvious, too. Because com-putation has no appreciation of beauty and understanding of local culture, all it does is following the logic of design tool, therefore the outcome might be strange. So, it always need human intellect to make some changes in order to let people feeling acceptable.

FIG.12 Exterior view of Heydar Aliyev Center including plazaFIG.13 Exterior view of Heydar Aliyev Center

FIG.14 Exterior view of project from city scale

Subdivision Columns:Michael Hansmeyer, 2010

Michael Hansmeyer’s Subdivision Columns is an-other example that I want to use. These columns are productions of computational design process rather than designing them directly. Columns are combined by permutation and permutation could be created by changing parameter. This project could be seem as one of the representations of generation.

Furthermore, this project shows that design computa-tion has no limitation, the outcomes are unexpected, but sometimes they really surprise us, like the columns. The most interesting point of generation for me is that it creates something that we can’t even dream about, that gives infinite possibilities for our design.10

However, this project successes at fabrication of the model. But this gives me a question, is it easy or pos-sible to fabricate all algorithm designs? The answer is no. Basic on current technology of material right now, many algorithm designs can’t be fabricated. Our computer doesn’t consider about the material very

much, it only follows the logics and create something through logics. So the outcome might be out of human knowledge, therefore the fabrication could be seen as a shortcoming of generation.

There is no question that these columns are beautiful, their form and texture give us infinite reveries. But it is real art? From my understanding, my answer is no. What art is? Art is something that created by human and carried human emotion or will. Computer is not human, it has no emotion and will. All outcomes only created by data and logics of process. As a conclusion, generation can’t really help us to create real art accord-ing to culture, this could be said as another shortcom-ing.

FIG. 15 Four orignal colums of subdivision

FIG.16 Subdivision coloums exhibitation

FIG.17 Detail texture of columns

A.4Conclusion

As a conclusion of Part A. There are mainly three parts are discussed: design futuring, design computation and composition/generation.

In the part of design futuring, two possible future designs are discussed. One of them is the design about sustainability. We all know that sustainability will be the main concept the in future, BanQ restaurant helps us have a brief understanding of one aspect of sustainability. The Red Diamond shows us another kind of future design, it shows how we reshape the old building to a new one. It gives us an economic way of design which is very useful.

In the part of design computation, two projects are described to show how computation assists us at many ways. Museo Soumaya shows that computer can help us with the complex calculations and simulation. Guangzhou Opera House shows that computation could not only help us at appearance but also interior design, like acoustics.

In the part of compotation/generation, two projects are selected to show what the shortcomings of genera-tion. Heydar Aliyev Center shows that computation is not that strong at working on building performance. It is also weak at combining design and surrounding environment from large scale. Subdivision Columns shows that computation works follow by computa-tional logics, it has no idea about human culture and emotion, therefore, the outcomes can’t be called as “real art”

A.5Learning outcome

Before I started this subject, even I already designed many times at computer, I thought that is computation, but after I have the understanding of computation, I find that the designs I learnt before can only be called “com-puterization”. However, the algorithmic thinking I learnt in last few weeks reshapes my understanding and my process of design. But, computation is not 100%, if we know the shortcomings of it, we might can do something to overcome them, this is what I get from the topic Com-position/Generation. We are going to future, therefore the understanding of tends of future design is another point that I get from learning of these weeks.

A.6Appendix- Algorithmic Sketches

I would like to choose this example is because, it is the box form of a Mobius circle. It shows that same geom-etry can be reformed to many different shapes in order to get unexpected outcomes.

Similar to last example, this time I reform the Mobius circle to straight line form and once again create box to the divided points. It shows that similar method could get different outcomes if the basic geometries are different.

Reference1, Fry, Tony (2008). Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg), pp. 1–16

2, Dezeen Magazine, “Red Diamond by Chiasmus Partners” ,2009 < http://www.dezeen.com/2009/10/26/red-diamond-by-chiasmus-partners/>

3, Issa, Rajaa ‘Essential Mathematics for Computational Design’, Second Edition, Robert McNeel and associates, pp 1

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

5, Dezeen Magazine, “Museo soumaya by Free fernando romero enterprise”, 2011 < http://www.dezeen.com/2011/04/28/museo-soumaya-by-free-fernando-romero-enterprise/>

6,Dezeen Magazine, “Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects”, 2011 < http://www.dezeen.com/2011/02/25/guangzhou-opera-house-by-zaha-hadid-architects/>

7, Peters, Brady. (2013) ‘Computation Works: The Building of Algorithmic Thought’, Architectural Design, 83, 2, pp. 08-15

8, Sean Ahlquist and Achim Menges, Computation Design Thinking, John Wieley & Sons (Chichester), 2011

9, Archdaily, “Heydar Aliyev Center / Zaha Hadid Architects”, 2013 < http://www.archdaily.com/448774/heydar-aliyev-center-zaha-hadid-architects>

10, Hansmeyer Michael. “Subdivided Columns - A New Order”, 2010 < http://www.michael-hansmeyer.com/projects/columns_info.html>

Image Reference1-2 , John Horner, 2009, “BanQ / Office dA”, Photograph, viewed 01/08/2015, < http://www.archdaily.com/42581/banq-office-da>

3-5, Jenny Hung, 2009, “Red Diamond by Chiasmus Partners”, Photograph, viewed 01/08/2015, < http://www.dezeen.com/2009/10/26/red-diamond-by-chiasmus-partners/>

6-8, Unknown, 2011, “Museo soumaya by Free fernando romero enterprise”, Photograph, viewed 07/08/2015, < http://www.dezeen.com/2011/04/28/museo-soumaya-by-free-fernando-romero-enterprise/>

9-11, Unnknown, 2011, “Guangzhou Opera House by Zaha Hadid Architects”, Photograph, viewed 07/08/2015, < http://www.dezeen.com/2011/02/25/guangzhou-opera-house-by-zaha-hadid-architects/>

12-14, Hufton and Crow, 2013, “Heydar Aliyev Center / Zaha Hadid Architects”, Photograph, viewed 13/08/2015, < http://www.archdaily.com/448774/heydar-aliyev-center-zaha-hadid-architects>

15-17, Hansmeyer Michael, 2010, “Subdivided Columns - A New Order”, Photograph, viewed 13/08/2015, < http://www.michael-hansmeyer.com/projects/columns_info.html>

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

B.8 : Appendix - Algorthimic Sketches

B.1

Research Field

FIG. 1 Wooden Folded Parallel Strips

Research Field Material System Strip and folding

There are many different algorithms listed on LMS, I found strip and folding most interesting. From my perspective, strip and folding means folding a long, narrow structure using a creative approach, including agnostic, non-linear and bottom up. By using strip and folding technique, the structure is fluid and dynamic, which varies constantly.

I choose to create and transform Biothing Pavilion (one project of strip and folding) using strip and folding technique in Grasshopper. As a result, I get a better understanding of computational design, which can also help me create my own project. Overall, this field is used as start of my way on developing my computational design skill.

As a designer, there are many things need to be considered, every little point that we consider might influence the whole structure of the design. How to let the building satisfy every existing and potential users should be the biggest challenge for every designer. Exterior design is important, because it is the most showy part of a building, it plays an important role to attract users, but I think interior design is even more important, because it decides our users will stay or not. Basic on this thinking, my object is to create a design which will integrate local culture and parametric design, this design should be allow all users obtain what they want to obtain from this building and this area.

Seroussi Pavilion Biothing Pairs 2007

The Seroussi Pavilion is another example of Strip & Folding. Narrow plastic strips expand to different directions, which looks like a mollusc swaying its feeler.

The Seroussi Pavilion is structure described as grown from self-modifying patterns of vectors based on Electro Magnetic Fields (EMF). Electron magnetic Fields not only shape the form, but also create infinite variations. The initial computations were done in plan then lifted via microarching sections through frequencies of the sine function. Combining EMF and sine function makes this project unique.

Seroussi Pavilion shows a different approach of creating forms using Strip & Folding technique, which provide me insights of computation design and new opportunities to create my project.

Variations on parameter

Case study 1.0Iterations


Variations on pattern shape and line shape


Variations on basic shape (2D) Variations on basic shape (3D)


Variations on basic shape (3D)

Selection Criteria

Rule 1: Sustainability Our design should be able to contribute to sustainability as sustainability is one important goal that we want to achieve for future design.

Rule 2: Aesthetic Appreciation

Our design should be able to achieve goal or further development on aesthetic aspects, this includes both exterior and interior.

Rule 3: Practical Applicability

Let users use our design is important so practical applicability could be defined as a key factor of our criteria. How do we want to the users use our design is the question that we need remain ourselves again and again.

Rule 4: Cost

The economic aspect is good to be considered. Is the materials easily obtained? If we choose this design, is it will cost a lot of money but for less uses? These questions are good to be ask to ourselves when we select iterations.

Selected Iteration

This iteration has a beautiful pattern, it expands a large area and has dense linellaes. This will help a lot to make shadow.

This iteration has very dense linllaes, and the linellaes does not expand too much, but it allows better shadow area under it.

I like the continuity and fluidity of this iteration. It shows one main character of Strip & Folding. However this shape is beautiful, it perfectly relates to aesthetic appreciation.

This iteration shows how Strip & Folding is designed for a 3D pattern. The upper level’s pattern and lower level’s pattern are pointed to different directions and provided a good feeling on it.

B.3 Case Study 2.0

Phoenix International Media Center2012Weiping Shao

Phoenix International Media Center is one of the famous and large parametric design in China. It reveals the concepts of future design everywhere. The structure of this builidng is basic on Mobiusband, a strip is rotated by 180 degree and connected, it produces a bilateral curve surface.

Weiping Shao transfers Mobiusband into ellipse and obtains a structure like this. This buildings shape and orientation is intelligent. The elevation difference between the southern and northern internal spaces are able to provide quality of sunlight, ventilation and landscape view to the office towers, meanwhile avoiding glare and noises for the broadcasting room.

In addition, energy-saving and low-carbon are also applied in the building design. It miximums rain water conllection and sunlight.

Reverse Engineering

Step 1: Step 2: Step 3: Step 4:

Step 5: Step 6:

Circle Perp Frames

Ellipse

Item list

Item listRotate

Rotate

Merge

Divide

Series

Shift

Shift Negative

Flip matrix

Flip matrix

Interpolate

Interpolate

Pipe

Pipe

Phoenix International Media Center is not hard to built. Firtly, we need to build Mobiusbank at first, this could be achieved by creating a circle and ellipse, let ellipses stand on the circle. (shown at step 1) Then rotate ellipses by different angles one by one to get a Mobiusbank and loft it . (shown at step 2)

Preview our loft surface and focus on the ellipse structure for next steps. (Shown at step 3) Divide each eliipse and creat linelaes for one direction. (Shown at step 4) Then connect a negative fatctor and repeat last step, now we have two layers of linelases with opposite directions. (Shown at step 5) Finally, we built pipe for each linelaes. (Shown at step 6)

Step 1 Step 2

Loft

Step 3 Step 4

Step 5

Step 6


Variations on parameter


Variations on pipe and connections details


Variations on basic shape and line type




Further development basic on two directions pipe

Top views of the design at left side


Selection Criteria

The selection criteria has not too much differences from the criteria for case study 1.0. But because the differences between two project, therefore some little points may be adjusted.

Rule 1: Sustainability Once again, sustainability is still one of the most important factor for selecting. However, it is not quiet clear if we only look at the iterations, so the consideration on design potential will help us to distinguish which one is more sustainable.

Rule 2: Stablity It is important for a building to stay stable, so how good our iterations on stablity is another thing need to be considered. Most iterations which are listed above are basic on opposite direction pipes. Thereforce which iterations are better on connetion of pipes will affect a lot on design’s stablity. Consider about design potential, select the ones which will be more stable.

Rule 3: Aesthetics Same as last selection criteria, aesthetics is important to consider. Where do we want locate our design, which facede is more often to be seen by users will affect a lot on our selection.

Rule 4: Economic aspect As mentioned before, cost must be considered. In this case most iterations are built by same materiasls, so the iterations which use less material have better chance to be selected. For instance, there are two projects and I need to select one from them. They are all designed by same purpose and all satisfy the purpose perfectly. In this situation, I will select the one which use less material, like it has small facade. It will decrease the cost.

Selected Iteration

These iterations are selected because they are satisfied criterias better than other iterations, however they are just better but not good, some more considerations will be added up in part c.

B.3 Case Study 2.0Part 2

Dubai Towers Dubai2006-2008TVS- DESIGN

Dubai towers Dubai is another interesting example that I want to share in my journal as case study 2. The body of the tower is more like a candle light, therefore in China, people call it candle light tower. The building is consist by four different towers, they are basically same, but the number of levels are different and the angle of rotation is different.

I like this design is because, it shows the movement of structure. It shows the most development of architecture in both structure and material.

However, there are few examples similar to Dubai towers Dubai, like the Istanbul building. The twisty form of high-rise building looks very popular recently, it represent the future architecture form. It is one reason for me to choose this building.

Whatever, the development of technology and material science helps us to design this form. When I construct Dubai towers Dubai in Grasshopper, I found it is really easy, I can change the parameters of it and get the result straightway. That helps me understand parametric design more.

Reverse Engineering

Create a polygon base and create a polygon column

Set a centrol point of rotation and rotate the column, this point should be the center of polygon base

Set the dimension of polygon column in order to achieve the looking of tower

Set up a series, in oder to achieve large base face and small top surface

Loft the polygone surface for each level

Draw out the frame line and create pipe for the frame line

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Step 6

Case study 2.0Part 2Iterations

Variation on numbers of side of polygon Variation on dimension of polygon size

Variation on ending point


Variation on rotate angle Variation on the order and dimension of series


Variation on starting and end point of rotation Variation on thinkness of level floor and pipe


Variation on surface of tower Variation on frame line of tower


Set a ending point out of column

Selected Iteration

Selection CriteriaThe part 2 of case study 2 is only something i am interest in. I can’t have 50 iterations as basic on the definition of grasshopper of this project, I cant reshape it into other shapes. Therefore it is only used as an addition of my case study 2.

The selection criteria is same as case study 2 part 1. I will not repeat it again here.

B.5 : Technique Prototypes

Prototype making

Prototype is made by UP 3D printer. Different parts of model are made seperately in order to be more accurate.

Uses of different parts of model

Chair which suspends on the centrol cube. The big back of chair is not only use to suspend but also cover sunlight for people. The chair is light, so people could move it to other side, the semi-circle at back allow the chair move along the slide.

Part of centrol cube. It has slide at both side. The side allows people to move chairs to a group. The slide at both sides allows people to move chairs to one side, in oder to face sunlight or escape sunlight.

The column is used to sup centrol cube. The cube element is used to increase the touch surface between column and centrol cube, it ensures the column is stable enough.

B.6: Technique: Proposal

Site analysis

Merri Creek trail is 21km trail along Merri Creek.

It passes through many parks in different towns and creates many interesting places for people to use.

The trail is not far away from living area of resident.

The most common use of the trail is doing physical training- running, walking and walking the dog.

Start from CERES Community Environment Park to the cross of Merri Creek and Yarra River.

Feeling: good environment, quiet and peaceful.

Users: exercisers from different age groups and residents around.

Disadvantages: 1,Merri Creek doesn’t have enough place for people to have a rest. Only few benches.

2, Many places are not safe enough, they are close to cliff, but have no protection.

3, Bad arrangement of trees and plants.

Design something for Merri Creek trail which will allow people to have rest.

Key factors of site : 1,appropriate distance. 2,attractive

Design purpose No.1 Ideal site position (show in red line)

Distance between the site and starting point/ end point 1.5-2.5 km.

Big slopes in this area, people may feel tried and want to have a rest.

Good vegetation and beautiful.

Selected site

Labyrinth was created by the community for the community over ten year ago.

Classical seven-circuit labyrinth and build by bluestone.

People feel good after they walk around the labyrinth, most of them introduce their friends and families to come.

No place for people to sit or have rest, currently.

Design purpose No.2

Community:

People come here with their friends and families often. The design can not only be used as chairs but also help their community.

Design- Moveable hanging chair

Labyrinth is located at mid point of space which is created by these two curves.

B.7: Learning objectives and outcomes

The purpose of Part B is let us understand the process of designing by grasshopper. In case study 1, the definition is given, we need to make some iterations, through this process, I understand how grasshopper affect the final outcome of design, everything changes in grasshopper may lead a huge change in final outcome. In case study 2, we are asked to reverse a project by ourselves. In this process, I understand more about how to use grasshopper to design a project. The prototype process helps me understand how to transfer a digital model to a real one. Finally, the process of design proposal let me know how to make our design more suitable to the site and the use purposes. These things will help me a lot in my part C and maybe future design life.

B.8 Appendix- Algorithmic Sketches

This is another example of rotate high-rise building. It is more complex compare to Dubai Towers Dubai. However, the construction is similar so the processes in grasshopper is similar as well. This could be seem as a development of case study 2. I think it is good. haha

Reference

Andrew Gipe, 2014, ‘What If Dubai’s Next Tower Were an Architecture School?’, Archidaily, 02 APR, P 1-7

Megan Jett, 2011, ‘In Progress: Phoenix International Media Center / BIAD UFo’, Archidaily, 05 Sept, p 1-5

Documents

Studio air part a+b