STUDIO AIRPART B

QIQI CHEN 634331

BIOMIMICRY

Like Frank Lloyd Wright mentioned, there will be unlimited inspiration that we can find from the natural environment [1], biomimicry is the sense of inspiration based on natural process. For the natural forms, if we look each of the cells of th natural form, most of them are really simple, however, when they piled up by follow the specific rules, the entire object represent a strong and complex form, such as the beehive and spider web. Not all biomimicries are based on the form of the natural objects, some of the ideas could also based on the habit of the natural object, such as the sunflower will always follow the sun, and chameleons can hide themselves by change the skin colour. Some of the design projects can also change the form during different conditions. Think carefully, biomimicry is not only a design technique, but also a kind of design thinking method. Why biomimicry can be used as a technique or method to fix problems and suit the design brief? Because does not matter if the sense of biomimicry is from the form of the natural elements or the habit of the natural elements, these natural element formed in specific shapes or hold specific habit is because they need to survive in the society, which means the form and the habit could actually support them during survival. So these forms and habit that we saw are actually all suit for somekind of purpose. Therefore, to solve different problems and meet different design briefs, we also need to carefully choose the biomimicry which fit for the design project.

BIOMIMICRY

Architects: Emmi Keskisarja, Pekka Tynkkynen, Kristof [2]Crolla (LEAD) and Sebastien Delagrange (LEAD)Location: Kowloon Park, Hong KongCollaborators: Gilles Retsin, EDGE Laboratory forArchitectural and Urban Research, Tampere Universityof Technology, UPM KymmeneBuilt Area: 16 sqmProject Year: 2012

The Dragon Skin Pavilion is one of the most typical example of follow the form of the natural process. The idea of the pavilion challenges the perception of structure versus structurally defined ornament, which means the patterns of the pavilion need to be both framework and decoration and the same time. On the other hand, because the pattern pieces were shaped in curved surface, the gaps between each two plywood pieces created interesting light effect during the night time.

The Dragon Skin Pavilion clearly shows the feature of the bio

mimicry form, which is from simple to complex. Each piece of the structure is just a simple curved plywood piece, however, numbers of these pieces been plug together and turn into a strong and complex structure. On the other hand, because biomimicry is just a design technique and design thinking, which means there would be no right answer for that, even look at the same natural element, different people could been inspirited differently, which means one natural elements could turn into hundreds of the design projects.

Case Study 1.0

Pattern stand not only as a method but also a kind of design thinking, which usually based on the sense of bio mimicry. These type of design projects always start with a little simple element, however, designers develop this element by following a particular recipe, and the result usually would turned out much more interesting and complex.

The use of pattern have been used in architectural design for a very long time, the time was much more longer before designers start use computers. The sense of using pattern can always been found in the ancient buildings, such as the traditional Chinese building with the form and decorations in pattern. However, the computational design does helpful for designers to follow the recipe of patterns.

As Frank Lloyd Wright said, natural elements provide great inspirations for designers to develop, use of pattern is one of the most obvious examples of using natural elements into design ideas. Such

as the Dragon Skin Pavilion I talked about in Part A, and also in this session’s case study ------- the Spanish Pavilion located in Japan.

Spanish Pavilion is one of the example of using the shape of honeycomb, which stand as one of the most perfect shape in the natural process. Because honeycomb shape is a hexagon with six edges and six angles, which have 60 degrees on each angle, and six of them can be put together as 360 degrees. The arrange of hexagons are much more interesting and stable than squares, this is also the benefit from the 60 degree angles.

The use of honeycomb shape not only can be found in architectural design projects, but also in many other areas. Some scientists even designed a maze based on the honeycomb shape, which make people lose the sense of directions very easily. Because there is no right south and north, people inside need to turn around in 60 degrees, not in 90 degrees.

Spanish Pavilion [3]

Beehive [4]

Case Study 1.0

By using different methods, one simple beehive pattern can be developed into numbers of different outcomes. After that, use the same methods onto different basic geometric patterns, so I tried to use different basic shapes as the initial pattern, and keep adding features onto them, to create numbers of changes.

Case Study 1.0

Case Study 1.0

Case Study 2.0

Project Name: Gantenbein Vineyard Facade [5]Designed by: Gramazio & KohlerLocation: SwitzerlandFeature: 2006, Non-Standardized Brick Facade

Gantenbein Vineyard Facade Details [6]

This project shows a very interesting facade form, which was built with bricks. The way that pile up the bricks different than usual created the curved surface of the facade, and also created the little holes on the facade, so the wind could easily pass through, which is suit for the purpose of the vineyard. The technique of create curved facade surface could be used into the part C design process.

The brief that I chose for my future design project is to block the noise, so the flat facade surface could hardly suit my design brief, however, the complex curved surface like this vineyard facade, which works batter to block and reflect the sound, it could be the good choice for me to develop my design project.

Case Study 2.0

Case Study 2.0

Case Study 2.0

TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT

Based on the case study 1.0, I used different shape as the basic pattern and make changes follow the methods, then I got this zig-zag shaped surface, which is also have the similar feature from case study 2.0. The technique that I got from this two case study can help me to create interesting and complex surface, which could be used into the part C design process. And if I use this zig-zag surface as the basic pattern, I can also loft the control points to make even more complex curved surface.

During the development, I also found this form that I developed was quite interesting, because this form was based on the zig-zag surface on the left, which means this form not only have the feature of the polyhedral sueface, but also been formed with multiple layers. The surface in this form was even more complex than the zig-zag surface and also shows the sense of depth. On the other hand, the gap between each two layers can be seen as another feature of this form. For example, if I would like to create a soundproof facade, this form would not only reflect the sound by each individual surface, but also could let the sound reflect inside of each gap, which seem like even more strong than the zig-zag formed facade.

TECHNIQUE: PROTOTYPES

This prototype was made by follow the first iteration that I developed above, w h i c h i s t h e z i g - z a g surface. As the picture shows on the left, I made two initial models with different angles, which turned out with different depths, so I tried to combine them together and made the prototype below, which shows not only the zig-zag shape, but also create a curved surface.

T h i s p r o t o t y p e w a s a l s o followed the first iteration, but I tried different junctions between cach piece of the surface. I simply used foam panel as the base and tied the wire on each piece as the ribs, then just plug each piece onto the foam panel. This method could let me created even ore complex surface than the first method, however if I use the panel as the base, there will be only one side have the curved facade, on the other hand, the weight of the panel is also a condition that I need to think about.

TECHNIQUE: PROTOTYPES

These two prototypes were followed the second iteration that I found interesting during the development. I only made one cell of the entire surface as the prototype. This form not only shows the zig-zag formation, but also been created into different layers and there are gaps between each two layers. I also tried two different ways to join the pieces together, for the prototype on the left hand side, I made a cross center and cut a cross shape out of every pieces, then

plug through each piece with the cross center in order. For the prototype on the right hand side, I punched a small hole on each angle for every pieces, then use the steel wire as the ribs, and join each piece in order from four angles. These two different ways of joint helped me to created the form that I might use for the future design project.

TECHNIQUE: PROPOSALI think the area that near the junction of the Merri Creek and Yarra River, where underneath of the Eastern freeway could be a appropriate site for me to develop my design ideas by following the techniques that I learned from the case study and iterations.

Map of the Merri Creek [7]

TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL

This area is not only the junction between the Merri Creek and the Yarra River, but also the junction of the water, green spaces, the trials, main road, freeway and the residential area. Which means there wil l be lots of human activities happens at this area. So the human experiences for visitors could be quite important.

Map of the Merri Creek [7]

TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL

During the site visit, I found that there was quite a large number of cars went through the Eastern Freeway and when the cars pass through, there would be quite serious noise came from the freeway, which affect the environment of this area. So my main purpose is o design a structure which could block the noise from the site.

Map of the Merri Creek [7]

TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL

How would noise been reflec by different formd surface.

How would noise been reflec by different formd surface.

Recall the theory that sound waves are transverse waves, which can be reflected, and on the flat surface, there will be regular reflection, which means the reflected rays will have the same angle as the incident rays. However, of the surface is rough, there will be diffuse reflection, which means the ref lected ray wil l have the different angles from the incident rays.[8]

So I think the zig-zag surface that I developed from the case study could be an appropriate c h o i c e t o d e a l w i t h t h e reflection of the sound, which is a good form which can be use as the structure to block the noise from the free way.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES

Through the study of part B, I understand this is a very important and powerful section of learning and develop different design ideas, briefs and techniques which could support my future design process. This is also the section that helped me to connect the computational design and the design outcome which follows the brief and suit to fix the problem. There are different ideas that I gained from the part B.

First of all, I found quite a lot interesting buildings which were built out of computational design methods and followed the idea of biomimicry. I think that most of the computational design ideas were bast on development and exploration, because when I look at each individual cell from the entire design project, the cells are usually very simple, however, after the small cell been explored and developed, the outcomes are usually turned out very different from the initial cell, which become more strong and complex.

Secondly, I understood the idea of biomimicry, every natural elements have there own forms, and habits, and this features could solve problems and help them to survive from the society. I think biomimicry is not only a design method that i can form my design project based on, but also a kind of design ideas and design thinking. Using biomimicry is not only use the form of the natural elements, the design projects can also be inspired by the feature and habit of the natural elements. On the other hand, even for the sme elements, different people would think differently, which means the inspiration from biomimicry is unlimited.

Thirdly, I learned how to explore patterns and created a number of iterations which could give me the opportunity to develop a form of structure which I could used for future design that suit the design brief, respond to the site and solve the problems.

I think this section is the combination of computational design methods and biomimicry design thinking, the knowledge and techniques that I get from this the study of part B would not only impact the study of part C, but also very helpful for my future design process.

ALGORITHMIC SKETCHES

ALGORITHMIC SKETCHES

ALGORITHMIC SKETCHES

REFERENCE

1.At the 2012 Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture, Dragon Skin, <http://dragon-skinproject.com/>

2. Frank Lloyd Wright, “In the Cause of Architecture”, Robert McCarter, ed, On and By Frank Llyod Wright:A Primer of Architectural Prindiples, London: Phaidon, 2005. First Published in The Architectural Record, March 1980.

3. Ceramica Cumella Facade covering, Spanish Expo-Pavilion, Aichi, Japan, Stylepark, <http://www.stylepark.com/en/ceramica-cumella/facade-covering-spanish-expo-pavilion-aichi-japan>

4. Can a Smart Beehive Network of Open-Source Hive Help Stop The Bee Apocalypse? Fast Mpany, <http://www.fastcoexist.com/3021740/can-a-smart-beehive-network-of-open-source-hives-help-stop-the-bee-apocalypse>

5.Gantenbein Vineyard Facade, Fläsch (Switzerland), 2006 Non-Standardised Brick Façade _ Gramazio & Kohler, 3D .EARTH, <https://3dearthworkshopiscteiul.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/gantenbein-vineyard-facade-flasch-switzerland-2006-non-standardised-brick-facade-_-gramazio-kohler/>

6.Winery Gantenbein, Team Weaving, <https://petersalimdigitalcraft.wordpress.com/2014/01/20/winery-gantenbein/>, last modified on 20th January, 2014.

7.Merri Creek, google map, <https://www.google.com.au/maps/place/Merri+Creek,+Melbourne+VIC/@-37.7050473,144.9805097,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x6ad645405fe2931b:0x2a0456754b38dc50>

8.Light and Sound, Michelle Lin, IGCSE Physics, <http://askmichellephysics.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/light-and-sound.html>, last modified on 22 April, 2012.