ABPL30048 Architecture Studio AIR 2012 SM1 Bowen Ding 349859
Name: Bowen Ding
Faculty: University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Environments
Student ID: 349859
Major: Architecture 3rd year
ABOUT ME
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1
WEEK 01 JOURNAL Bowen Ding 349859
Norman Foster
“My mission is to create a structure that is
sensitive to the culture and climate of its place.
Architects have a vital role as advocates of
sustainable solutions.”
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
01
Norman Foster
Beijing Airport
(Beijing, China, 2003-2008)
“The world’s largest and most
advanced airport building - not
only technologically, but also in
terms of passenger experience,
operational efficiency and
sustainability – Beijing Airport is
welcoming and uplifting. A
symbol of place, its soaring
aerodynamic roof and dragon-
like form celebrates the thrill of
flight and evokes traditional
Chinese colours and symbols.”
Bowen Ding 349859
The building represents “China” obviously with
lots of building elements, such as large red
colored columns, roofing as an abstraction of
dragon. It is also a highly functional, convenient
building, and a project that challenges new
construction technique at the same time.
Instead of a closing space, the whole building is
very open to surrounding environment, large
amount of light is allowed to go through triangle
skylights, truss roofing structure, light weight
strip-ceiling and huge windows all around the
building.
- Y-shape layout maximize the amount of plane
to be allowed to park next to airport building.
- Triangle skylights let sunlight in and protect
indoor space from weather.
- Strips on ceiling following direction of north to
south, easy for visitors to follow while walking
and easy to positioning themselves.
- Services pipes and wires were built into
columns to be hide and protected. Columns are
pre-fabricated by sections and built on top of
each other.
- Long extended roof wing creates large
shading area under it, but stable enough that
would not be blow off by wind or sag down.
- Large with an certain angle allow clear vision
towards outside and not being affected by
reflection from inside. Reference: http://www.fosterandpartners.com
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
01 Bowen Ding 349859
The first time for me to try
on Rhino I have made the
digital objects that shown
in the pictures above. I
think Rhino is easier to
handle and can create far
more smoother surface
than Google Sketchup.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1
WEEK 02 JOURNAL Bowen Ding 349859
Norman Foster
“Crystal Island is one of the world’s most
ambitious building projects... It is the largest
single building in the world, creating a year-
round destination for Moscow and a sustainable, dynamic new urban quarter.”
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
02 Bowen Ding 349859
Reference: http://www.fosterandpartners.com
Crystal Island
Foster + Partners 21/12/2007
“A new mixed-use destination for Moscow…
conceived as a city in microcosm, Crystal
Island is an unprecedented, compact and
diverse urban quarter… the entire
development is enclosed within a vast tent-
like superstructure, with one of the tallest
inhabited buildings in the world…
The tent-like superstructure rises to 450m,
and forms a breathable second skin and
thermal buffer for the main building,
shielding the interior spaces from Moscow’s
extreme summer and winter climates.
Providing accommodation that is flooded
with daylight, this second skin will seal itself in
winter to minimize heat losses, and open in
summer so that the interior can be cooled
naturally. Efficient energy management is at
the heart of the design, with strategies
including on-site renewable and low-carbon
energy generation.
The building’s form spirals upwards in
converse directions to form a diagonal grid,
and the spiraling geometry extends
throughout the project into the park. The
scheme is integrated into a new park
landscape, which provides a range of
activities throughout the year, with cross
country skiing and ice skating in the winter. ”
This project can be seen as a parametric design. These spirals are topologically
identical to each other, this structure can be digitally designed by rotating
repeating one spiral several times with a fixed reference point at the top, both in
clockwise and anticlockwise direction. “Smooth” as one of the main terms and
concepts are present wonderfully on this architecture.
Computational design also allows more
complex sustainable building systems to
be designed in an engineering
perspective, using computer technology
to complete energy efficiency testing,
rating. Example such as the Crystal
Island’s internal environment will have
dynamic enclosure panels slotted into the
structural framing that will allow daylight
to penetrate deep into the heart of the
structure; the panels will be controlled to
modify temperature inside the building –
closed in winter for extra warmth and
opened in summer to allow natural
ventilation.
Contemporary computational design raises more architectonic
possibilities to modern world. Three dimensional structures are able to be
transferred from through digital modeling to real construction consistently and
accurately.
Since computational design has been used in architectural design, there are
increased opportunity for complex and large scale construction to be achieved,
design information became construction information that speeded up project
process.
Unlike old traditional design method, computational design allows romantic
concepts and smooth surface into architecture, it leads modern and future
architecture style to be more expressive and invited curve structure into
construction all over the world.
With this new technique, similar architectural designs which cannot be achieve in
the past, can finally become true nowadays. Such as the Russian designs: Palace
of the Soviets and Monument to the Third International were impossible to build
back in 20th century. However, Norman Foster’s Crystal Island project with similar
concepts, structure and scale can be achieve by modern technology in a few
years time.
Parametric design using computer technology has changed the role of
architectural design. Designers now can create spaces and structures in a more
continuous sense, instead of making individual “blobs”, they can consider the
building as a whole and generate ideas by making and placing parametric forms.
Grasshopper can create series forms in a more regular order than Rhino itself.
Rhino is more about making a model from scratch, with specific aims to achieve
during the process. Grasshopper can start modeling with only a definition in mind,
once it is done, variables can be changed in mangy ways to explore numbers of
different outcomes.
Relate to Gateway:
It would be good to use Grasshopper to design something that has a series
changes of form along the road. While the cars drives pass the feature, this
change can be seen by the people in the cars. I would imagine something has
similar conception as a flipbook animation.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1
WEEK 03 JOURNAL Bowen Ding 349859
Norman Foster
“Digital revolution now is coming to the
point, where the virtual world finally
connected with the physical world.”
I agree with the concept that “computer as
digital design agent”. As the previous journals of
mine, I have mentioned my interest is in
“structure expression and sustainable design”. I
think the most important parts of architectural
design are “how to create a powerful structure
that fit nicely into surrounding environment and
culture”, which requires large amount of cultural
and environmental background research of the
site, structural engineering consideration,
knowledge and technique of environmental
friendly building systems. These are the parts
where computer can help designer to find but
not to give designer the solutions. Computer
cannot “think” of all of the consequences in
real life design, it is up to the designers to find
out everything that may impact on their design.
An simple example of a defect in
computational design when facing real life
construction: Programs such as CAD and Rhino
are easy to create a building design with all
smooth no-corner surface. In real construction,
this kind of building will be hard to place at the
right position on site, hard to reference to TBM
point.
Computational design can
be achieved by using
scripting programs, which is
easy to create series of
different forms. However this
scripting culture is loosing a
bigger frame of
architectural design---lack
of history, referents,
narratives and forces. It
should be combined with
design research to fill in this
gap. Scripting is one of the main
method of computational
design. Like Grasshopper
we have learnt till now,
modeling become
concepts of input
definitions. Input in scripting
is like the design
context/motive in
traditional method, the
definitions we made in
Grasshopper are like the
brief of design. However
using a scripting method,
we can easily get large
amount of out comes by
changing variables in
definition.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
03
Swiss Re HQ
30 St Mary Axe (London, UK, 1997-2004)
“London’s first ecological tall building and an
instantly recognisable addition to the city’s
skyline, 30 St Mary Axe is rooted in a radical
approach - technically, architecturally, socially
and spatially.
Generated by a radial plan, with a circular
perimeter, the building widens in profile as it
rises and tapers towards its apex. This distinctive
form responds to the constraints of the site: the
building appears more slender than a
rectangular block of equivalent size; reflections
are reduced and transparency is improved;
and the slimming of its profile towards the base
maximises the public realm at ground level.
Environmentally, its profile reduces the amount
of wind deflected to the ground compared
with a rectilinear tower of similar size, helping to
maintain pedestrian comfort at street level,
and creates external pressure differentials that
are exploited to drive a unique system of
natural ventilation.
Conceptually the tower develops ideas
explored in the Commerzbank and before that
in the Climatroffice, a theoretical project with
Buckminster Fuller that suggested a new
rapport between nature and the workplace, its
energy-conscious enclosure resolving walls and
roof into a continuous triangulated skin. Here,
the towers diagonally braced structural
envelope allows column-free floor space and
a fully glazed facade, which opens up the
building to light and views. Atria between the
radiating fingers of each floor link together
vertically to form a series of informal break-out
spaces that spiral up the building. These
spaces are a natural social focus places for
refreshment points and meeting areas - and
function as the buildings lungs, distributing fresh
air drawn in through opening panels in the
faade. This system reduces the towers reliance
on air conditioning and together with other
sustainable measures, means that the building
is expected to use up to half the energy
consumed by air-conditioned office towers. “
Bowen Ding 349859
Reference:
http://www.fosterandpartner
s.com
Norman Foster’s talk, Jan 2007, Digital Life Design
http://www.ted.com/talks/norman_foster_s_green_agenda.html
Norman Foster is one of the greatest architect who combined
computational design with traditional design concepts ( cultural, historical,
environmental, structural research), his designs link modern computational
designed architectures with real life style, his motive of every design is clear
and accurate, such as expressing national culture, structural greatness and
always trying to achieve sustainable architecture.
Swiss Re building is one of his most popular design, which showed in the previous page, it is a computer-designed architecture, the motive is to
structurally: having column-free space within building, lower wind resistance
on it, and a more slender body; virtually: appearing smooth curve surface,
transparent skin, modern architectural looking; sustainably: achieving
energy efficiency building system, using the design of building structure itself
to reduce amount of needed energy.
Norman Foster and his partners are focusing on the concept of sustainable
architecture, on January 2007 Digital Life Design, Mr. Foster had addressed that, the digital technology as a tool for designers has brought lots of
advantages for designing architecture, the development is significant,
especially since 1997.
In his talk he also showed photos of his office, from old days till now,
architects and engineers changed their tool from paper and ruler to
computer on every desk in that office. Digital technology had not only
changed the design method, and also changed the style of modern
architecture, and even further more it has changed people’s life style. As
what Foster and his partners always do, now it becomes the time when
computing design is going to change our living environments, change
architectures’ energy consumption, and change human’s future life.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
03 Bowen Ding 349859
Relate to Gateway:
Like Norman Foster’s design, Swiss Re HQ and Crystal Island (discussed in
week 2), a “web” of steel structure can be created starting with a single
spiral, using scripting method.
This kind of “web” structure is able to stand and carry load while it is
formed into three dimensional. From the appearance of the structure, it
looks much like a façade that attached onto building surface.
For my Gateway Project, I would like to express this kind of “web”
structure all by itself without any supporting elements beside, or hang it
onto something. The concept of my gate way should be associate with
a center of “exploring structure”. But not a “sheet” such as I made from
the grasshopper tutorial.
This week’s tutorial used
three lines to create a
surface that twisted
following the lines’
curve. It was a
convenient method to
make flowing surface
with organic shape.
I created an “acaleph”
by rotating one
element by the central
axis. I am interested in
the way that a single
2D curve line can
become a 3D object
just by rotating it.
It then reminded me
about the buildings I
have studied in week 2
and 3. I used this
method and followed
the logic of the Crystal
Island’s concept to
made a digital model
later shows on the next
page.
After this week’s grasshopper
tutorial.I made a similar digital
model as the Crystal Island, shown
in the screen capture above,
using Grasshopper definition
shown on the left side picture.
The basic logic of the definition is
creating a single spiral and then
rotate by the central vertical axis
several times, both clockwise and
anti-clockwise.
I am satisfied with the outcome at the first time, however enlarge the model I
found the spiral is not as smooth as I expected. I think the main curves on the
surface of the cone needs a mathematical definition to keep it smooth, then the
spirals can be made onto that surface.
One of the advantage I found during the process of making this model is, while
changes are made to the original spiral, others will follow the same change, but
the form of this whole building still kept symmetrical by the central axis. Therefore
the random changes had caused variable outcomes of the building form, which
could be valuable to do further exploration on.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1
WEEK 01 JOURNAL Bowen Ding 349859
MITRIX
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
04 Bowen Ding 349859
Design / Selection Method
While I was generating different shapes of the definitions, I
found myself was firstly looking for the shapes that are more
attractive to me. Most of them have complex looking, with
smooth patterns or variable heights of surfaces.
Then when I start to consider them as architectural structural,
problems came out more for those ones were looking better
for me. Therefore I started to simplifying the shapes trying to
make them more achievable in real life.
“Instead of searching the solution space for the solution to a
problem, they look for a solution to the problem. This can be
accomplished by reducing the size of the solution space by
adding constraints until all but a few or perhaps only one
solution remains, making the selection of the satisfactory
solution trivial.”
(Yehuda E. Kalay, Architecture's New Media : Principles,
Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design
(Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2004), pp. 5 - 25 )
In Kalay’s article, this method is much better than starting a
design with randomly playing around with the shapes.
However through the process of changing shapes of one
object more inspiration and un-defined problems may come
out. It maybe a good way to start a design but not to solve
design problems.
Relate to Gateway:
Although this week’s grasshopper tutorial was interesting that we are able
to create patterns on surface due to the image we put in, I wound see the
outcome of this method is more like to create a facade rather than a
structure. It needs further experiment to work out how to transfer the
façade into a structure.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1
WEEK 05 JOURNAL Bowen Ding 349859
Case Study
Airspace Tokyo is a four-storey, mixed use
residential and commercial building designed by
Tokyo architect Hajime Masubuchi of Studio M.
And the public faces of the building were
developed by the Faulders Studio in San
Francisco.
The screen conceived as a protective airspace.
The cellular design and double layering of the
screen is like the lush vegetation. In the night, the
screen modulates views in and out of the
building, and casts shadows of the geometric
voids onto the street.
We choose this building as our case study project
since it is the one which is quite like our ideal
design for the gateway that we try to create an
structural, tridimensional, and vivid project, Not
been made of planar façade and without skin.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
05 Bowen Ding 349859
Randomly create several points in Rhino on a plan,
use these points as center-points to create circles
from. Set boundaries between the edges of circles,
to stop them from touching each other. When the
distance between centers are different, the circles
become irregular with their own unique shape.
The outcome has very organic and random
patterns, that leads to large amount of possible
outcomes.
Several variable outcomes shown on the left. They
are created by increasing number of points,
rearranging points, changing radius of circles and
resetting boundaries.
We chose the one which is most “structure like” to
us. Not too many hollows and edges are thick and
strong enough to be used as structure in further
design.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1
WEEK 06 JOURNAL Bowen Ding 349859
Physical Model
Apply EOI into Case Study, we transferred 2D façade into 3D structures, by
rearrange sheets into several different forms.
1) Using multiple single sheets lean against each other to make them able to stand. Created shadow under structure looks like another layer of
patterns crossing with boxboard sheets.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
06 Bowen Ding 349859
Three sheets form into triangle shape allow structure to be more stable.
Looking through structure, with shadow on ground and structure above,
created a tunnel of the pattern. It gave us the idea to design a gateway
goes across the highway above head, that cars will be travel through this
tunnel.
Acrylic
Steel
Reflective
Material
2) Apply different colors to each layer. To achieve this affect by using different materials.
We decided to have three layers. From outside to inside, there are: Steel (Dark),
Acrylic (Transparent), Reflective Material (Red).
These three layers have three levels of reflecting light. 1. Reflective Material
(Red) has the highest level of reflecting light, it will reflect the car-light at night
that obvious for drivers to see, has similar function as a traffic sign and vehicle
back light. 2. Refraction and reflection will both happen in acrylic, will make it
glowing at night when car-light shine on it. 3. Dark color steel will observe most
of the light and reflect a little, therefore it will be harder to see at night. Steel is
the strongest material in these three, it also function as the most load bearing
layer for the structure.
Physical model cannot
achieve ideal twisting and
hard to keep twisted
shape stable.
3) Instead using single sheet, we found out
several sheets joining
head-to-tail to each other
make it easier to twist and
form relative smoother
surface at the inside of
curve. Sheets insert into
each other at the edges,
may need more stable
joints in real-life
construction, such as large
steel screws to hold two
parts together.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
06 Bowen Ding 349859
We joint three multiple-layer sheets
to create this simple flowing
structure form. Structure load
transfer from the top to two bottoms
of the arch.
In the future design, we may have
several identical arches along the
highway, increase the distance that
car would travel under the gateway.
These are the photos of how the structure may looks like
at night when car driving through the gateway.
People inside the gateway will see clearly of the
“shining” structure. People out side the gateway will see
the structure as dark patterns with bright background.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1
WEEK NTW JOURNAL Bowen Ding 349859
Final Physical Model Development
Using Rhino to twist a single
sheet of the pattern can
create very smooth flowing
organic form. There are
unlimited numbers of
variable forms are possible to
be produced in this method.
Picture below shows only
three of the possibilities.
As a whole sculpture, it is
nice to look at from the far
outside, and there would be
only one material can be
used on such object. It is
against and brings
construction problems to our
“build across highway” idea,
but suit to be put on the side
of road.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
NTW Bowen Ding 349859
Different from the Case
Study, we rearranged the
sheets to overlay them
onto each other with the
pattern facing the same
direction.
More complex pattern
was created by changing
the space between each
two sheets.
Changing the angle of
sheets to make them
“flowing”.
Looking into the hollows, there is sense of extending into a
channel. We found interesting if we can apply it into our
design.
Instead driving along the side of the structure, this idea is
to driving towards the structure, maybe travel into the
hollows of layers.
Using the overlay idea, we made
another model which is totally different
from the previous.
Because we chose to use plastic sheets
instead boxboard, the material is more
flexible that curve are created because
of the natural load of the sheets. Each
layer of the structure has a different
degree of curve, degree become
smaller towards the direction where the
cars will travel from. Cars will drive under
the structure into the channel that
formed by the hollows of layers.
Compare to the previous design, the
shadow is more regular because of the
overlay.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
NTW Bowen Ding 349859
While we pour water on the model, structure sag down to the ground
that create another new interesting from.
With this structure, sound of car driving pass will also be deflect
towards different direction, may reduce noise pollution for neighbor
areas. Wind load is very small because of the numbers of hollows. Rain
water fall through the holes, reduce the live load on structure. Curved
shape roof make less air pressure on top of it when wind travel pass,
which can cancel amount of structure dead load. If we choose
acrylic as main structure material, the whole structure will glowing
when car-light shines on it. In this case we can have different color of
acrylic for each sheet.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1
WEEK 07 JOURNAL Bowen Ding 349859
Review Design Project
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
07 Bowen Ding 349859
Option 1
Option 2
Options of locations of gateway
The purpose of the choice is to design the gateway overhead of the
road.
By driving through the gateway, drivers can experience the inside to
observe the structure, texture and lighting.
Ideas Dropped
1) Folding:
The shadow did not show much different pattern from the structure. Form did nit
clearly show the movement/ flowing of the structure. Folded circular patterns
appeared sharp angles at the edges, a mixture of geometric and organic shapes,
looks point-less complex and messy. Shape of structure was damaged.
2) Toned Sound when car driving through gateway:
Structure has too many hollows with random radius and shapes. If I design the
structure with less hollows and more solid covering, the original design concept
would be changed.
Personal Experience
When I carried the models on the street in a very windy rainy day, they did not be
blown off by the strong wind. I turned them in different angles to face the wind,
their structure were still stable. This experience showed how stable the design is, an
evidence of how wind travels through the hollows of structure that reduces the
wind resistance on structure.
Rain water first left circles of wet marks under the structure, then the marks spread
larger and joined each other finally. I thought it would be interesting to do a similar
test of the final model to record the change of wet marks.
The ideas with bad outcomes I dropped from the model experiments.
&
Personal experience with modeling
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1
WEEK 08 JOURNAL Bowen Ding 349859
Feedback From Presentation
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
08 Bowen Ding 349859
1) The position of gateway did not cover the three roads.
2) Size, scale of the actual structure is a problem for the
material.
3) How to connect every sheet, or is connection necessary.
4) Consider the size, density, prefabrication of the material.
5) How to support this large scale of sheet.
6) How to let sheets really free fall onto the ground.
Thinking of question 5
For the model at this stage, the sheet is supported at
one corner.
I think one of the way to make the structure stronger is
to have less and smaller hollows when closing to the
connection point. Imagine a tree branch. Less and
smaller hollow makes that part of sheet more solid
therefore has more strength.
Sheets can be built into ground or the central island (hill)
of the site. I wound think with a firm material like
concrete to hold the structure in.
ABPL30048 Architecture Studio AIR 2012 SM1 Bowen Ding 349859
Week
09
THE IDEA WHICH WAS DROOPED
Nature
Natural features
(Werribee River, K
Road Cliffs)
Wildlife Sanctuaries
(Point Cook Coastal
Park, Heathdale
Wetlands)
Human
Historical Sites and
Museums (RAAF Museum,
Cobbledicks Ford)
Heritage (Market gardens
farming area)
Community settlement
Gateway (Art)
Encouraging ongoing
interest in and reflect
on the western
interchange.
Site
Flat, wide open
landscape, divided into
two parts with two
different direction
freeway. High speed
movement of traffic
along Princes Freeway.
Car speed
100km/h=27.78m/s
Scale: span across
freeway and AB sites;
height enough for large
track go through.
Material
Acrylic no. of sheets and block
needed
Construction
Bottom built into
ground with concrete
as footing.
Steel Joints, steel bar,
screws, sheets. Allow
movement.
Curve degree of each
acrylic sheet.
Cars travel
direction
Highest
point
An analysis of research related to design
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
09 Bowen Ding 349859
Rather than “travel from
Geelong to Werribee
goes through under
gateway; travel in
opposite direction see
outside view of structure”,
“to have same structure
on both roads. Fixed on
the central island” would
be better.
The gateway shell be long
enough for people to
experience well in a car
that is travelling
100km/h=27.78m/s.
Structure from fixed end
to free end becomes
lighter, material less
weight, fixed end may
combine with steel.
Structure build into
ground with concrete
block footing under.
Steel connection
between acrylic sheets,
use bar and screws to fix
at the ends.
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
09 Bowen Ding 349859
Arch should be wide enough to across the freeway and
allow 3 cars in a row to travel under, height should above
the highest track that would travel under it in future.
Can use two arches to separate drive ways.
Structure would stretch as close to W-G direction freeway as
possible, and allow cars on G-W direction freeway to travel
under it for more than 1s with fastest speed 100km/h.
W > 20m
W1>10m
L >
27
m
H >
4m
Developed form (not final)
Fixed end Fixed end Fixed end Free end
Fre
e
en
d
Fre
e
en
d
Expand further
Exp
an
d f
urt
he
r
Digital Model Development
STUDIO AIR 2012: SEMESTER 1 Week
09 Bowen Ding 349859
After I made this form, obvious problems were easily seen from the model. Acrylic
material is not able to form such a large piece, one piece should be made in numbers of
acrylic pieces. Therefore many joints will be constructed on the structure to achieve the
curve form, which make the “free fall” idea too hard not only at the bottom but also at
the curving points. And the design looks clumsy just by looking at this model.
The EOI model was easy to made but the form is too ideal to be built in real construction
with acrylic pieces. To achieve this design, material need to be changed to more light
ones and a frame structure may need to be applied for supporting the pattern to make
“free fall” happen. However the free fall ends would still be impossible to moving in air,
while there is a big scope of curving. Structure need to be strong for safety issue, but too
strong structure reduces the chance of moving.
Therefore, this idea of design was dropped . Now need a new inspiration.
ABPL30048 Architecture Studio AIR 2012 SM1 Bowen Ding 349859
Week
10
THE START OF A NEW IDEA
Because of the previous design was superficial, therefore I went back to the brief and did
more background research of the western area. The sense of “movement” mainly comes
from the travelling of people on the Prince Highway, new settlement of population moving
to this region, urban expansion, industrial development, and migration birds travelling back
and foreword every year.
“The City of Wyndham is a residential and rural municipality on Melbourne's south-
western fringe. The City is centred on the residential areas around Werribee. The former rural
service centre of Werribee became the focus of significant residential growth from the
1960s. This growth was focused in areas to the north of the original township, principally in
the Hoppers Crossing area. The rural areas to the south boast significant amounts of
intensive horticulture, while a large area is occupied by Melbourne Water's Western
Treatment Plant. The City also includes a substantial industrial presence, focused in the
Laverton North area.
The City of Wyndham experienced a period of substantial residential expansion through the
1970s and 1980s. The primary housing market role that the City played over this period was
to provide affordable home owning opportunities for families and prospective families from
the western and south western suburbs of Melbourne. This period of expansion is set to be
mirrored by a new phase of development focused in Point Cook, Tarneit, Truganina and
Wyndham Vale. This is based predominantly on two factors. The first factor is the declining
amount of easily developable 'greenfield' land in the City of Hobsons Bay and to a lesser
extent the City of Brimbank to the east. The second factor is the significant demand for new
housing from new young families and couples from within the City of Wyndham itself. This is
based on the fact that many of the areas developed in the 1970s and 1980s, will provide
strong demand from children who grew up in these areas who are now forming their own
households.”
There are numbers of wetland and reserves that attract migration birds from overseas.
This “travelling, movement” had drew my attention into birds. This is the time I realized
the “free fall” idea from previous design inosculates with bird’s wings. Therefore a
entirely new idea of design with this “bird’s wings light-weight structure” has began.
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Western Area
Wetland, Sustainability
Migratory Bird
Travel, Journey
New Settlement
Moving, Travel to work
Freeway
Nature Human
Wings
Bird Wing VS Design Idea Two identical structure on
both side of the central hill.
Layers of feather -- Layers of structure
Bird bone (empty inside, hollow) –
Transparent material
Water live bird wings cannot be wetted
by water
-- Structure less rain water capture.
Fixed at one end free the other end,
structure free fall.
Material
Transparent, trusses– light weight
Recycle car material?
(Wind shell, steel cover).
BIRD WING ANALYSIS
Bird’s bone structure--- Hollow, lightweight
Feathers--- Moving floating in air
Wings--- Cantilever
BACKGROUND
Fast developing western area--- Keep changing all time
Cars travel direction Highest
point
Cover both
direction roads
Things need to consider:
1) Design should not affect drivers’ vision while driving on highway, for
keeping safety. People’s eyes may not react fast adapting from a bright
place to a dark place, it way cause traffic accident.
2) Design better to be a open space rather than a enclosed one for safety
issues. If accident happened, enclosed space would increase hardship for
rescue.
3) Material should not be too easy to burn, should not be too sharp.
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FIRST DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
The first version of new design is a free fall panel that is fixed on to a straight column,
using cables to pull columns back down to earth. This symmetrical design has
covered both direction of the high way, it is light weighted with a concept of wing
structure or even one single feather.
However the panels would be hard to fix on columns’ ends with such small
connecting areas. There would be frames needed to stabilize panel. Which would
make this design look heavier and too complex on the appearance. The angle of
curving panels is not easy to control just by designing joints. If there was a strong wind,
the panels might fall over.
This version did not express the concept fully, needs further development.
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Week
11
DEVELOPING
SECOND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
This step of development is trying to start adding movement to designed
structure and allow panels to cover bigger area above the highways. I
designed to use cables to hang panels from straight above, therefore it
would be much easier to construct. The columns were redesigned to add
another part that extend towards highway more, which also made
columns more looks like bird wing’s bone structure.
However the appearance is too much industrial looking and gives a feeling
of unfinished design. The outlook need to be more organic and smooth.
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THIRD DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
In this step of development, I was trying to change the form into more organic
shape, and starting to think how to achieve panels movement. The
columns became curling columns from outside but inside structure will still
remain straight crane r trusses, which is for installing a pulley system onto it.
Therefore the panels can move while cars driving under them.
There are problems appear for this moving panel structure:
1) If cables come from one point and diverge to every corner of the panel,
panel will not be supported stabile enough, and movement is too limited.
2) How and when will the panels move, what is the energy resource, in what
order would the panels move?
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FINAL DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
I designed the final development has two curling column for each panel, cables
coming from columns on both sides of panel, and parallel to each other that connect
onto the edge of panel. Panels are fixed at the end that close to the columns. Which
solved the previous problems. Therefore the direction of movement of panels is
perpendicular to the movement of traffic under them. There is another movement that
is created by the different height of columns, a wave was made.
Due to different heights of the curling columns, the angles formed by the cables on ev
ery curling column and the horizontal line are different. View from the side, the spacing
out cables is like diverging from ground to columns. It’s to achieve an ordering view an
d spectacular expression to the audiences.
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MATERIALS
PANEL Need to be transparent, light-weighted, flexible.
ETFE
Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, known also by its acronym ETFE, is a
thermoplastic fluorocarbon-based polymer (a fluoro polymer). It was
originally designed to have high corrosion resistance and strength over a
wide temperature range.
Compared to glass, ETFE film is 1% the weight, transmits more light and is
also resilient, self-cleaning (due to its non-stick surface) and recyclable.
An example of its use is as pneumatic panels covering the outside of large
sport complexes, such as football stadium Allianz Arena or the Beijing
National Aquatics Centre - the world's largest structure made of ETFE film.
COLUMN INSIDE: Strong, allow installation of pulley system and maintenance for it.
Crane arms steel trusses
OUTSIDE: Industrial feeling, weathering resistant, smooth.
Aluminum cover
STRUCTURE DESIGN
The pulley system design was also inspired by Chunky Move's Connected.
Although the movement is different. In this design, movement of the panel is
more simple, like Mexican Wave, each panel waves from free end to fixed end.
The Mexican Wave starts from the closer end of the gateway to the direction
where cars coming from, and move in order as one by one.
Unfortunately, we have failed to create a movie of this ordering movement. The
one we did was more like a moving of a flag, which was not correct.
JOINTS DESIGN
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The spring at the bottom of structure reduces vibration from highway while
cars passing through.
The aluminum frame of membrane is formed by numbers of bars with hollows
inside, this idea is from the bird’s hollow bones. It reduce the unnecessary
weight of panels.
CONSTRUCTION PROCESS
The curling columns are mainly supported by the paralleled cables which are pulle
d back tightly towards to the ground and fixed by steel screw piles. Every two
columns ‘hanging’ with one piece of thin, light-weight ETFE membrane by cables,
one side of the membrane is fixed on steel truss inside column. In general, the
crane-like curling column, pulley system construction method and steel trusses and
cables construction materials used in the design, they can be seen as a symbol of
Wyndham City’s substantial industry.
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM
This system I designed is for generating the pulley system to move, it basically
follows the idea of “ moving energy --- pressure energy --- moving energy,
electrical energy”. If necessary, solar energy could also be designed into this
system. Lighting also would be possible if there is much energy left after using
by pulley system. This system’s possibility shell be discussed with engineering.
The hydraulic system shell be placed underground between two parts of the
gateways and highways. Try to make it un-seen from above, and it should be
built in a way that cannot affect on columns footing system and the steel
screw piles for the cables. However it should must be accessible, as it might
need maintenance in the future.
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FINAL RESULTS
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SUMMARY OF DESIGN
1) Cable represent the muscle in the analysis of wing structure, it is easy to construct,
it pulls back the structure if it fall when accident happen.
2) Column bottom thicker than top, thinner as going op column, makes them stable.
3) Steel truss better than concrete as much tension is put on columns. Concrete
would be too heavy, not easy to construct, and especially not match concept.
4) Each part can be pre-fabricated and then put together on site later then.
Therefore maintenance would be easy.
5) Panels can be fully pulled back next to columns if there was a very strong wind for
safety issue.
6) Cables, columns and panels all make spectacular views both individually, and
indeed all together as a whole.
RENDERING
Each material is set on one layer with different colors. Cables need to be
made into tubes to be able to show on rendering pictures.
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RESULTS OF RENDERING
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PHOTOMONTAGE
PHYISICAL MODEL 1:100
METHOD:
We used Fablab to laser cut columns and panels with pattern.
Firstly I drew on black paper with pencil to decide the places where to put
columns. Then we cut out holes that fit columns’ bottoms and put them in.
Then stick metal wires on back of them and tie panels onto columns with
plastic strings.
It was totally different from real construction, but the order of process is similar.
This model is made to show how every part come together.
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PHYISICAL MODEL LIGHTING
The model is glowing while lighting on it.
However the result is not exactly what it should looks like, because the
material of panel is not as transparent as ETFE in real construction.
PHYISICAL MODEL 1:500
I chose to use paper strips is because the site model is made to show how
the wave of structures look like on site in ne general point of view.
It was hard to curve the paper strips into right curving angle, the result of this
model is slightly different than it should be.
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PHYISICAL MODEL PULLEY SYSTEM
I was trying to make a model that shows how pulley system works, but
we failed because the truss is difficult to make by hand and rollers
were not working well, as the friction between strings and rollers is
smaller than the friction between rollers and rollers’ supporting bars.
SHADOW THROUGH YEAR
Summer: 76°sunlight Clear shadow of membrane’s pattern is created on road.
Winter: 29°sunlight Clearer shadow of cables and columns than shadow of membrane.
>50% transparent ETFE allow part of light through.
Summer Sunlight
Winter Sunlight
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FINAL PRESENTATION
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LOGO DESIGN
Cables Column Panel
DESIGN CONCEPT
The gateway design is located in the Princes Highway which is the major traffic
connection between Geelong and the south west coast to the CBD.
Western fringe contain numbers of wetland areas that attract thousands species of
migration birds. City of Wyndham is a residential and rural municipality, which is
significantly experiencing residential expansion and urban development these years. The
continuous changing of urban environment and global travelling of migration birds carry
out a strong sense of movement.
The project is inspired by the analysis of bird’s wing physical structure,
its bone and muscle structures and the motion of wings and feathers while travelling in air.
Wyndham city is committed to achieving long term environmental sustainability. The
‘Floating’ design is energy efficiency, aiming to upgrade the condition and aesthetics of
its streetscapes. It represents the entire appearance of Wyndham City is ‘flying’ towards
to a large development in different aspects in the near future. The design would become
an iconic feature to remind people to achieve sustainable Wyndham city.
Nature
Natural
features
(Werribee River,
K Road Cliffs)
Wildlife
Sanctuaries
(Point Cook
Coastal Park,
Heathdale
Wetlands)
Human
Historical Sites
and Museums
(RAAF Museum,
Cobbledicks
Ford)
Heritage (Market
gardens farming
area)
Community
settlement &
Industry
Gateway (Art)
Encouraging
ongoing
interest in
and reflect
on the
western
interchange.
1) Two identical light-weight
structure on both sides
2) Layers of feather, movement
in air -- Layers of structure,
movement
3) Bird bone, empty inside,
hollow – Steel truss & Al frame
4) Water live bird wings cannot
be wetted by water -- Structure
less rain water capture.
5) Fixed at one end free the
other end, structure free fall.
GENERAL ARRANGEMENT
The structure of this design contains two lines of curling columns in different heights
from 12 meters to 16 meters. Each line of columns extends 150 meters along freeway at
2 meters spacing, and 15meters long across the roads. It will take 5 – 6 s for a car to
travel through the gateway at 100km/h speed.
MOVEMENT
The curling columns designed in different heights is in order to create ‘moving waves’.
This “visual movements” is combined with the movements from the membranes. ETFE is
soft enough to allow smooth movement for the membranes.
Due to different heights of the curling columns, angles formed by the cables on every c
olumn and the horizontal line are different. View from side, the spacing out cables is like
diverging
from ground to columns. Achieving an ordering view and spectacular expression.
STRUCTURE & CONSTRUCTION
The pulley system is generated by a hydraulic system, which is to achieve smooth
movements for the free-end membrane. In general, the crane-like curling column,
pulley system construction method and steel trusses and cables construction
materials used in the design, they can be seen as a symbol of Wyndham City’s
substantial industry.
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RE-DRAW STRUCTURE DESIGN ON CAD
FINAL DIAGRAM OF HYDRAULIC SYSTEM
MAKING MOVIE WITH WINDOWS MOVIE MAKER
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Through this semester we have developed the skill of parametric design by learning a
new program Rhino+ Grasshopper. Before I approach my design always start with
aiming and achieving brief, but this time we have started with doing random
Grasshopper definitions, which gave me lots of inspiration through this learning process
that lead to a design that I like the best so far.
I was not used to computer design before this subject, as it shown above on the left,
my design always was poor on outcomes. Design was not showed properly enough just
by hand drawing. This time I have learnt using computer design tools to express my
thoughts better, as the outcome shown above on the right, the result is much more
accurate on expressing the design idea and concept.
Rhino was the one which made my design a nice appearance and Grasshopper
brought out my ideas by playing around with program definitions. The experiences of
material and forms were like the Grasshopper definitions, which lead us to numbers of
various outcomes, then became the beginning points which we could started our
design from. The online quizzes had helped us to learn and understand these programs.
The first design of our EOI was superficial because of lack of background research, as
one of the reading in this subject said, “computer design is blindfolded without
research of background information”. I have truly experienced this word from my
learning outcomes of the mid-semester submission of this subject. After large amount of
research of the site, I have found the most important inspiration that brought out my
final design. If computer design had broaden the design initial, research was one to
exact the design to a concept that fits the particular situation.
It has been a pleasure and great learning experience with this subject. I have not only
got to know and use a new computer design program but also learnt a new method
of design approach.
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IMPROVEMENT
BEFORE AFTER
REFERENCE
NORMAN FOSTER PROJECTS:
http://www.fosterandpartners.com
ACRYLIC: 1)http://www.hydrosight.com/products/acrylic_sheet_sizes.php
2)http://www.hydrosight.com/technology/technical_information_on_acryli
c.php
ETFE: 1)http://www.alibaba.com/product-
free/101352314/Etfe_Ethylene_Tetrafluoroethylene_Copolymer_Sheets
.html
2)http://architecture.about.com/od/construction/g/ETFE.htm
3)http://www.plastemart.com/upload/literature/ETFE-fluoropolymer-
membrane-excellent-clarity-cost-reduction-Transparent-ethyl-
tetrafluorethylene-foils.asp
CITY OF WYNDHAM: http://forecast2.id.com.au/default.aspx?id=124&pg=5520
CHUNCKY MOVE’S CONNECTED: 1)http://www.artsjournal.com/dancebeat/2011/11/the-sculpture-dances/
2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgKxTcds2V8
THE END
THANK YOU
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