Material Considerations in Architectural Design · Material Considerations in Architectural Design - A MATERIAL SELECTION FRAMEWORK IN ARCHITECTURE - {Im}materiality. ... MVRDV. Borneo

Material Considerations in Architectural Design- A MATERIAL SELECTION FRAMEWORK IN ARCHITECTURE -

{Im}materiality. Designing architecture for more senses.Lisa Wastiels | workshop KUL | September 25, 2008

- materials in architecture- focus group study- framework of material considerations

Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 2p. Materials in architecture

MVRDV. Ypenburg (NL)

INTRO

Lisa Wastiels | Presentation KUL Workshop {im}materiality 25/09/2008Please contact Lisa Wastiels with comments or questions concerning the research and/or copyrights ([email protected])

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When an architect chooses materials…… performance aspects are factored in.… also aspect related to the experience and sensorial stimulation take part.

MVRDV. Borneo Sporenburg (NL)

INTRO


“Touching. From concrete that is velvety to protecting”

From ‘Het spel der zinnen, de hartslag van beton’ [infobeton.be]

INTRO


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The discipline of architecture goes far beyond structural performance

The architect relies on information provided by

engineers and manufacturers

The architect relies on experience and

previous knowledgein combination with

provided information

FEELINGEXPERIENCESENSATION

STRUCTURALPERFORMANCE

TECHNICAL

MATERIALIMPACT

INTRO

Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 6p. Material selection

Information on materials in architecture:

– Technical data

INTRO


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Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 7p. Material selection

Information on materials in architecture:

– Technical data

– Material samples

INTRO

Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 8p. Material selectionINTRO


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Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 9p. Material selectionINTRO

Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 10p. Research questions

Information on materials– What information is available in the

current tools?– What information is lacking in the

current tools?

Materials in the design process– What aspects are considered by

architects during their material selection process?

– What are the designer’s needs in terms of material information?

RESEARCH

Which characteristics of materials are desirable information for architects?


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Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 11p. Research GOAL

develop FRAMEWORK with INFORMATION ON MATERIALS that would be useful to architects

RESEARCH

Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 12p. Research setup

Interviews with architects– How does material choice influence

project?– What vocabulary is used to describe

materials?

First framework– material aspects that influence a

project

Focus group study– What aspects are considered while

selecting a material?

RESEARCH


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Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 13p. Goal of study

What aspects are considered by architects while selecting a material? (material and non-material)

FOCUS GROUP

Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 14p. Listing aspectsFOCUS GROUP


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Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 15p. Free sorting taskFOCUS GROUP

Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 16p. Free sorting task

(1) physical aspects(2) appearance(3) subjective(4) cultural context(5) physical context(6) time(7) money

FOCUS GROUP


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Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 17p. Material considerations

FRAMEWORK structures material considerations

– Allows to describe in detail at what level material decisions are made

– Allows to map experience aspects compared to others

– Allows to describe how the choice for a specific material will influence a project

FRAMEWORK


CONTEXT Physical context

– orientation– accessibility– adjacent materials– surrounding buildings

Context of use– interior/exterior– renovation/newly built– building’s use

Cultural context– ethics– style– ecology

FRAMEWORK


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MANUFACTURING PROCESS Production

– molded– laminated– hand-formed

Assembly– dry connection– seamless

Finishing– polished– stained

FRAMEWORK


EXPERIENCE Perception

– tough– warm– formal– friendly

Association– airport-like– industrial– Swiss-cabin material

Emotion– beautiful– repulsive– cute

FRAMEWORK


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MATERIAL PROPERTIES Physical aspects

– stiffness– density– thickness

Sensorial aspects– color– texture– hardness– roughness– warmth– pitch

FRAMEWORK

Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 22p. Interactions

Preconditions– Context

[defined by the project situation][architect chooses how to react to it]

Decisions– Manufacturing– Material properties– Experience

[architect decides]

FRAMEWORK


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Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 23p. InteractionsFRAMEWORK

building in the woods exclude casting on-site

specific function (bathroom) specific material performance (water-repellent, non-porous)

designing for blind people attention for acoustic experience

one-way interaction

Preconditions

Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 24p. InteractionsFRAMEWORK

building in the woods exclude casting on-site

specific function (bathroom) specific material performance (water-repellent, non-porous)

designing for blind people attention for acoustic experience

preconditions help, guide and limit architects while taking decisions

Preconditions


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Decisions

FRAMEWORK

cold and unfriendly space [C] want warm space [X]

problem with detailing of wood [M]

look for warm material [P]

alternative colored plaster [P]

application OK [M]warmth OK [X]

consideration of all categories before decision


“You can not dictate a material to a building. It demands its ownmaterial, from a certain logic, and from a set of preconditions, which can be contextual but also emerge from the design. And it is together

that they receive their meaning”(participant focus group study)

FRAMEWORK


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Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 27p. Structure material information

Structure material information– Properties used to describe a material– Difference in level of objectivity (from

least abstract to most abstract) different levels of information

1. manufacturing process2. physical aspects3. sensorial aspects4. perception aspects5. associations6. emotions

MATERIAL INFORMATION

Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 28p. Next questionMATERIAL INFORMATION

Can we OBJECTIFY the description of sensory and perception attributes of materials…

… to facilitate well-considered (and justifiable) material choices based on performance as well as the architectural experience ?


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Lisa Wastiels | Materials in Architectural Design | Sept 25, 2008 | 29p.

Ir.-Arch. Lisa WastielsPhD Fellow FWO

Department of Architectural EngineeringVrije Universiteit BrusselPleinlaan 2, 1000 Brussel, Belgium

E: [email protected]: +32 (0)2 629 13 64F: +32 (0)2 629 28 40


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Material Considerations in Architectural Design · Material Considerations in Architectural Design - A MATERIAL SELECTION FRAMEWORK IN ARCHITECTURE - {Im}materiality. ... MVRDV. Borneo