Studio Air Journal

ARCHITECTURE STUDIO AIRTIM CHEN 540676

About me

My name is Tim. I’m a Bachelor of Environ-ments student moving into third year major-ing in architecture. With a little experience of Rhino from ‘Virtual Environments’, I believe that Rhino will allow me to explore endless possibilities, creativities, and freedom. Thus I am here in Studio Air to continue learning more in Rhino through Grasshopper. I believe that digital design has helped me moving forward at more convenient and rapid paste during the design process. It does not only save time but also provided more freedom and accuracy in designs. I think Grasshopper will definitely assist me in developing my skills in rhino and become a useful tool for me in the future.

Hello,

Previous work from virtual environments

Case of Innovation 1 Architecture as Discourse2 Computation in Architecture3 Parametric Modelling4 Algorithmic Explorations5 Learning outcomes6 Conclusion

Content Part A

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Lloyd Wright is an example demonstrating the architecture as a “beautiful symphony such as never existed in the World of Art before”. The Guggenheim Museum is an em-bodiment of Wright’s attempts to render the inherent plasticity of organic forms in architecture. His inverted ziggurat dispensed with the conventional approach to museum design. This form of structure demonstrates Wright’s attempt on connecting with nature as a piece of art. With connections with human as a free flowing element that becomes intertwined with the building when walking inside. The experience or ‘atmosphere’ is created within the interior and exterior does not only signify the individuality of the building but also connection with human and nature.

Richard Williams states that ‘architecture as a form art; architecture as a symbolic realm; and architecture as spatial experi-ence.’ Architecture is not only an individual element,it is multiple elements interacted as a whole. It cannot simply be a piece of art without having a specific function. Peter Zumthor emphasises on architecture as an ‘atmosphere’, a form of physical perception which incoporates the space designed for the human experience.

The importance of ‘connection’ in archi-tecture is demonstrated through Frank Wright’s idea of Organic Architecture where it does not only describe environmental concerns but also ‘embodies the human spirit, transcending mere act of shelter into something which shapes and enhances human lives.’It is about with how human can utilise the fundanmentals of nature appropriately to maximise and enhance the future between experiences of human lives and nature itself. Architecture is not only an art that expresses individuality but also explores humans need to connect to the nature. Where ‘architecture frame our lives’ and we ‘inhabit them’.

Architecture as discourse


The ‘Sky Village’ in Denmark is designed by MVRDV and ADEPT Architects. A high rise struc-ture that is designed as an acropolis of stackable green-roofed units. It incorporates lots of sustain-able design elements to reduce environmental im-pacts including building elements like grey water recycling, recycled concrete and use of renewable energy technologies. The building significantly emphasises on the importance of sustainability and green buildings in today’s society. The main concept is centred around a system of individual units that can be stacked in different configura-tions maximizing space and allow for easy struc-tural changes in response to market demand. This building raises the question to the public of whether hollow architectural iconic development should be an improvement.

This building is a successful example of an iconic architectural development which may raise the issue on ‘how important sustainable development is considered architecturally in today’s society.’ This idea of utilising nature to furfill the needs of human while preserving nature is significantly emphasised on this building. With contrasts to Wright’s idea of ‘organic architec-ture’ and his building Guggenheim Museum, there are many similarities. Both buildings are surrounded by the idea of nature with connection to human experience. The Guggenheim Museum is designed to emphasise on human and nature’s connections where The ‘Sky Village’ is pushed further from Wright’s concept of ‘transcending mere act of shelter into something which shapes and enhances human lives.’ It is designed based from environmental concerns. Architecture in this discourse can be defined as the need to furfill human lives while sustaining the future.


Computation in ArchitectureComputation plays a significant role in the process of design. It is an analytical engine that provides the ability for us to analyse and solve problems. According to Jacob Bro-noswki, “ the ability to frame the problem in a manner that will make it amenable to solution” This is exactly what computers can assists us when it is used correctly.

“Design is a purposeful activity aimed to acheived defined goals” Although compu-tational system may benefit us during the design process, there are still disadvantages. we can often get stuck in the design process using computation systems because we do not have a ‘goal’. Therefore we lose the aim and often let the computer take control over us. Another problem is that when communi-cating with the computer, it may be easy to communicate information form computers to human but it is difficult to communicate information from human to the computers if the designer has limited knowledge of the computer.

Thus, it is important to keep an appropriate balance between computational system and human creativity. The balance should be taking advantage of the abilities of comput-ers where we are lack of, and utilise our own abilities where computer is lack of. This will allow us to achieve our goals to it’s full potential in our design.

The Festival Pavilion is an example of a project designed using computa-tional system. This project was designed by the Yale School of Architecture students as an experi-ment of what digital technology can allow to produce using hands and tools. It was constructed from aluminium sheets which could create the effect of transparency. The Pavilion branches out on the two sides where at certain angles it becomes opaque or transparent. As the process using computation system is really important in this project where all the opaque or transparent effect was tested using digital technology with accurate measurements and specific angles.The pattern was designed using grasshopper as two-dimensional parametric pattern extruded to a single at-tractor point.

Computation in Architecture

Computation system allows designers to experiment different extremes of design where human alone cannt reach. Such complex form maybe be hard to achieve without experimenting using digital technology. Using digital technology allows de-signers to save time in the process and provide accurate calculations for fabrication . It will be difficult to manipulate this form just by sketching due to limited drawing skills and time. Therefore computation system in the design process is defnitely an enhancement of the design.

Computation in Architecture

Parametric Modelling

in Architecture“parametric systems bring fresh and needed new capabilitiesin adapting to context and contingency and exploring the possibilities inherent in an idea.”Parametric system allows us to develope and understand skills such as combining data flow; new divide-and-conquer strategies; naming; abstraction; 3D visualization and mathematics; and thinking algorithmically

“Parametric design depends on defining relationships and the willingness (and ability) of the designer to consider the relationship definition phase as an integral part of the broader design process.” One thing that parametric design allow us is to build these relationships in parametric modelling from the start to end. Individuals explores every part of the design by understanding and building a relationship. How we define these relationships in the design process is depended from our individual skills and strategies of the system. In the process of discovering and understanding Grasshopper initially is very dawnting where there was limited skills and knowledge of the program. Thus what i could create and manipulate was limited. As more skills and familiarities are gained, there was much more understandings of how each parameters work and it opened up more opportunities in exploring every part of the relationship. Although Parametric modelling is efficient initially in the design where we can simply create an initial model, it will be harder to amend the model. As every part of the parameters are linked to the ending result, we may need to adjust lots of parts of it manually. It is also depended on how complicated the model is. This could be a limita-tion for us as it takes too much time to change and limits our exploration. Therefore it is important to make the right decision in the early stage of a design to avoid changing large parts of the design in the end as it can be difficult.

Cirrus, Lois & Richard Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Art, Zaha Hadid Architects

The Cirrus is an example of cloud generated into a form using parametric modelling. The designer has achieved by guiding the flow of circulation around the suspended galleries, articulating from the wall the ground. The softness of the shape and free flowing form may resemble the characteristic of a parametric design. This is something paramet-ric modelling can create from an expression of nature to a real form that can be aesthetically real. The parameters such as manipulations of control point increases on the exaggeration of this form and creating more horizontal sur-face space to become a experimental seating sculpture. What parametric modelling has allowed is providing abili-ties like algorithmic modelling and parameters maximises and enhances during the process of form finding or form manipulation. Certain parameters allows us to acheive differen’t effects and the Cirrus is an successful example of this result.


in Architecture

Mercedes-Benz Museum ,Stuttgart, Germany, 2001–2006

The Mercedes- Benz Museum in Stuttgart Germany was completed in 2006 by UN Studio. This project is also a parametric architecture where a paramteric system was used during the design process. The design was created with 3 intertwining loops forming a geometric circulated form. There are signs of this build-ing with parametric style from its exagerateion of exterior and its break through of a tradional style sharpe edges to a soft and organic form. Although there may be signs of parametric system used in the process of this project but this project seems to be more a computerization aided process where it was initially hand sketched from its concept of an organic form and later incorporated digital technology to explore more manipluation in manipulating the structure and the interior space.


in Architecture

Algorithmic Thinking in ArchitectureGrasshopper is a very fun complicated tool. By going through tutorial videos weekly, it has allowed me to gain more understanding of Grasshopper. Although the videos are going through steps by steps, there are still problems as it does not perform the same instructions followed from the tutorial video. Learning different parameters was interesting but also difficult. At different stages i often play around by inputting different parameters in different orders. Some simple algorithms worked and same didn’t.

Below is an algorithm playing with the Morph menu creating boxes on the surface. Surface domains are ad-justed using slider to determine the length and height of the boxes which are divided evenly on the surface. The model on the right was the result after creating the target box to input into the Morph parameter. The boxes that was generated did not work out as it was not correctly attatched on the surface. This was a problem i encounted. After generating to a simple surface and it worked. It could have been the surface i created was not suitable or other issues which i need to gain more understanding of.

Learning Outcomes & Conclusion Studio Air

Architecture is definitely a purposeful ‘activity’ where we should define our goal from the very beginning. If we can identify our goal in the start then we can reveal constraints and also produce possible solutions in order to achieve our goal. Computations is definitely an enhancement in the design process and i think its important to balance in between and utilise what we lack of to maxi-mise our full potential in design. Establishing a strong relationship between ourselves and com-puters and being able to interprete our information into computers with strong communications.Using my new knowledge, I would have defined a clear goal in my past project and have take full control of the computer build a stronger relationship with computers in terms of growing a better

By looking at different discourses of architecture, it has definitely opened up my views towards the issues and impacts architecture encounters in today’s society. Architecture today is influenced from the given impacts of the society therefore is created more for the purpose of human needs than the aesthetic alone. As computation and computerization has different balances on individual designers, the significance of it will be carried on. As an approach, i will be analysing constraints of the brief and setting goals. I will be incorporating parametric modelling, exploring possiblities within grasshopper in terms of form finding and experimenting different parameters to meet the brief. Using parametric modelling will enhance on accuracy of the project in terms of structure, material and cost.

Learning Outcomes & Conclusion Studio Air

Bibliography

Zaha Hadid Architects, ‘ Cirrus’ , http://www.digitalnouveau.com/projects/cirrus-zaha-hadid/im-ages/2008_crrus_stalld_rot_rht_clos, viewed 1, April 2013

UN Studio, Mercedes Benz Museuem,, http://www.unstudio.com/projects/mercedes-benz-museum viewed 2,April 2013

Woodbury, ‘Elements of Parametric design’, http://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/bbcswebdav/pid-3815829-dt-content-rid-11983715_2/courses/ABPL30048_2013_SM1/Readings/.pdf, viewed 4. April 2013

Williams Richard, ‘Architecture and Visual Culture’ , p102-116,Matthem Rampley, Edinburgh University Press, 2005,

Yehuda E. Kalay, Architecture’s New Media : Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided De-sign (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2004), pp. 5 - 25

MVRDV Architects, ‘Sky Vilalge’ , http://www.archdaily.com/8649/sky-village-in-rodovre-mvrdv/, viewed 15 March 2013

Yale University Architecture students, ‘The festival Pavilion’ ,http://archinect.com/news/arti-cle/53302366/yale-assembly-pavilion, viewed 25 March 2013,

Frank wright Lloyd, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum http://www.guggenheim.org/guggenheim-foun-dation/architecture/new-york, viewed 13 March, 2013

PART B: EOI IIDesign Approach

B.1. Design FocusB.2. Case Study 1.0B.3. Case Study 2.0B.4. Technique: DevelopmentB.5. Technique: PrototypesB.6. Technique ProposalB.7. Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Content

B.1.n Design Focus

Material performance refers to the identification of a material through its physical behav-ior and characteristic. Our group has chosen this approach because it allows us to explore between computation and physical exploration in corresponding process. Material perfor-mance closes the gap between digital and physical. We believe that material has capacity to compute and our aim is try to maximize that capacity.

“Material properties, characteristics and behavior can now be employed as active design generators, and the micro scale of material make-up and the macro scale of material sys-tems in architecture can now be understood as continuum of reciprocal behavioral charac-teristics and performantive capacities.” (Menges .A, 2012)

Taking from the example of timber, it is a natural high-performance fibre composite mate-rial that can be testified through computation. It opens up the possibility of employing the potential capacity of wood to materially compute both form and responsive performance. By understanding the physical characteristics and behaviour of materials, we are able to de-termine internal constraints and external forces. By inputting material properties collected from physical experimentations into parametric design will generate a buildable and accu-rate form. This will allow us to close the gap between conception and fabrication. Through physical experimentation and computation, it will expand design space towards previously unexplored architectural possibilities.

What is Material Performance?

Wyndham City Gateway ProjectIn relation to the Gateway project, we want to create something that is dynamic and eye catching. This is through the interpretation of material performance where the final form is driven by the characteristic of our chosen material. The material of wood for example is a resemblance of nature. Our final form will be an ‘iconic feature’ that will create a ‘dialogue between sculpture and landscape to compose the gateway’. It will enrich the municipality as well as responding to the site and connect with the user through the site.

The generation of computational form is driven by the physical behaviour and material characteristics.

Bourrasque, City Council of Lyon, France

EXCITING & EYE-CATCHING

B.2. Case Studyi1.0 V

The ‘Voussoir Cloud’ is a creative design built from a landscape of vaults and columns. These columns are three dimensional petals made from folded thin laminated wood along curved seams. Each petal on the column has slightly different geometry which was generated by a computational script. The script was developed to calculate the curvature of geometry. What makes this sculpture fascinating is its ma-teriality combined a structural based form. This has raised a conflicting constructional logic between the contrasts of a ‘heavy’ compression of a vault built with an ultra-light sheet material. The form-find-ing exploration of the project was driven by the geometric performance of the individual components and how they respond to the gallery walls.

This is an example where it takes on the possibilities of materials that potentially create a dynamic experience. As for the Wyndham City Gateway, we want to demonstrate the same idea by utilising the possibilities and characteristics of a material and let that drive us into form-finding. The difference between this case study and our project is a more direct consideration of materialisation. We have to create something more than just a sculpture with concerns of durability and how it may respond to the site. Furthermore, The Voussair Cloud is special because it explores these material possibilities through computation and physical experiments which are also where we will have our emphasis on.

B.2. Case Studyi1.0 V

Voussair Cloud, IwamotoScott, SCI-Arc Gallery

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From Case study one; we have generated similar mesh geometry which can be stimulated through the kangaroo plugin in Grasshopper. This stimulation can approximate the panel geometry and forces that will flow through the structure. The matrix generated is the process of manipulation of mesh geometry and stimulation.

1. Multiple points generated to create a voronoi cell fitting within curve representing the perimeter of structure2. Rescaling of cells using input point to create base of structure3. Manipulation of cell dimensions through adjusting the slider in scale factor4. Scale geometry moved downwards from adjustment of input z value5. Mesh geometry lofted and lines generated6. Lines generated on panel representing it using spring force in kangaroo

The outcome of these selected variations is to demonstrate different manipulations in scale could achieve different results and effects. These different results could potentially use for different applications. With the understanding of approximation of each individ-ual panel and how it’s laid out, It will help us in fabricating a more accurate form in reality.

B.2. Case Study 1.0

Image by James Goh

B.3. Case Study 2.0in

Textile Hybrid M1 – La Tour de l’Architecte

This project is a textile hybrid system where it demonstrates the organization of bending-active beams and tensile surfaces creating overlapping grid shells and long span arches. It is formed by bending rods that creates the form leaf-like shape and the textiles membranes. It explores the structural capacity and the properties of light weight structure. Utilizing the material performance of elasticity of rods and tensile of textile to achieve an innovative structure ‘leaving the limits of strictly categorized building structures by integrating different structural strategies in an associative system.’ One of the key features of this project in relation to case study one is the use of material as driving force in the process of form-finding. This is also done under the calibration of physical experiments and computational methods. This is again what we want to incorporate into our process for the Gateway project.


B.3. Case Studyi 2.0h

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Reverse engineeringTextile Hybrid M1 – La Tour de l’Architecte

Image by James Goh

We have come up of two ways to reverse engineer this project. First we tried to create a similar form and then apply kangaroo plugin into it to demonstrate mesh relaxation of the material property. Our second approach was to work out how to apply kangaroo physics to demonstrate mesh relaxation by simply worked on a paneled mesh surface and attempted to recreate the form later. The second ap-proach was the most efficient in achieving our result. It allowed us to have a better understanding of how the lines on a mesh surface can act as a force in kangaroo. After having a clearer understanding we than took on the next step to recreate a similar form to the M1 project.

• Form-finding using manipulation of control points• Manual points created to control mesh edges• Control points act as the driven force at the base to create stretched effect of textile

The result of this reverse engineering process was achievable. Although the final form we recreated may not look exactly the same as the project but we have understood the idea of demonstrating material properties through kangaroo simulation and how it could approximate each panel and the forces that can be controlled through the whole structure. This is something we want to take on in terms on exploring our material properties.


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After gaining an understanding of how the two case studies have ap-proached their project through materials physical behavior and char-acteristics, we decided to explore into timber materials as our main approach which will later be the driving force into our form-finding process. We have chosen timber as our focus based from the following points;

Durable & Long-lasting Responding to site condition

Sustainability InitiativeMaterial from Nature

B.4. Technique Development

Interesting properties of bending and shearing

Taking timber as our exploration and from the study of the two case studies, we are focusing on computational exploration in grasshopper and physical exploration of timber material performance which will act as a driving force in identifying our final form. This will by a cycle process where we will be going back and forth between computation-al and prototype experimentations.

Why timber?

ConceptGrasshopper exploration

Material exploration

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One of our explorations on grasshopper into timber properties was manipulation in tapeworm plugin. This script uses the graph mapper to control the bending and twisting values that de-termines the curvature for each segment and the direction of the curvature which can accu-rately be unrolled into a straight strip for fabrication. The accurate values we can input are the length, width and gain. However, the difficulty of this script is that although we can control the values in the bending and twisting through graph mapper, in reality, it will need to be tested physically on whether it is achievable or not because this plugin is still not completely devel-oped therefore it has limited control. The matrix generated on the left is some manipulations in tapeworm in the following process.

1. Single strip generated adjustment of bending value in first graph mapper2. Adjustment of twisting value in second graph mapper3. Manipulation in both graph mapper creating fully bent and sheared forms

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Tapeworm script


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Image by James Goh


1. Mesh relaxation using kangaroo plugin on a mesh surface, relaxation based on the open ends of the mesh

2. Mesh relaxation using kangaroo plugin on a sweep curve surface, relaxation based on the open ends of the form

3. A sheet of lofted strips assigned to axis x/y/z and control vertically, horizontally according to those points.

4. Use of tapeworm script to curl large lofted sheet that curls based on the inputs, one end is an-chored down to a point.

5. Strips of different lofted strips assigned to the same line and controlled without the ends moving from the set points

6. A large lofted sheet that bends and curls based on two poles that can only bend so far.

7. Mesh relaxation using kangaroo plugin on a paneled mesh surface, relaxation based on 3 point from case study

Exploration summary



Throughout our exploration using different methods and plugins, we have collected potential techniques which we will incorporate in creating our final form. One of the methods is to create a line where the ends of timber strips are set. We can control the curvature of the strips without moving the ends. These strips will need to be joined together in a way which will be explored in the physical exploration. In our exploration of prototype, we could potentially measure the length of a strip at its bending state and inputting that value into grasshopper to create an achievable and accurate form.

Main focus

plywood

Bending Methods Joinary Methods

Hot waterSteaming

Natural Lamination

String force

Joint Clips

Screws

Wire

Soft wood

B.5. Technique PrototypeMaterial experimentation

dowel rods

Material selection

diagram by Shelley Xu

Our first experimentation with timber was through 6.mm dowel pinewood rods. We have applied differ-ent bending and shearing forces to it. The result was that it these rods are flexible in a longer length. but as we cut them in shorter length and tried bend-ing them, it became more rigid. Therefore the same force can result differently depending on the length of each rod shown in the photo above. We also attempted twisting a few rods tied together which allowed more force to be applied but it was still very rigid.

B.5. Technique PrototypeMaterial experimentation

6mm pinewood Dowel Rod

bending and shearing state

Dowel rods

B.5. Technique Prototype

plywood With consideration of flexible performance, we have experimented with ply-wood strips. Throughout test of bending and shearing on fabricated plywood strips, we have discovered more capacity in terms of bending properties in plywood than our first experimentation with dowel rods. Plywood is made up of layers of wood which has more strength. However we had to beware of the bending direction where it needs to bend align with the grain but not against the grain or it will snap.


After we made the choice of plywood as our approach, we have explored more in different bending methods. This was done through naturally bending the strip, traditionally steaming the strip, using string hold the bending force, laminating layers of strips together to create for struc-ture and clamping it onto bend form creating the bending state. The result was that the steam-ing method was the most effective in creating a stable bending form while the others are less effective in terms of structural wise and takes longer time. However, we really like the idea of using string to represent the deflection force of the strip which is what our approach is about. It definitely portrays the physical behavior of a timber strip.

bending methods


We have also explored different methods of joining the strips together thought screws, strings, and creating joint clips. As a result in our experimentation, we have tested using screws to join the ends of strips together and attaching strings in each strip to create bending mode was an interesting method where we could potentially create replicated parts of this and join them together to create a form.

Joint methods


The geometry of bending / Exhibition hosted, curated and designed by Fritz Halvorsen.

B.6. Technique Proposal

Through configuration of material properties in grasshopper to physical experimen-tation, our final form will be a dynamic timber structure consisting adjoining timber strips or sheets in a bending state presented in the air. This could be done by utiliz-ing cables supported by steel posts on both side of the freeway which lifts up the structure where the cable to represent the deflection force. The visiblity of cable will not be obvious as drivers coming from both ends of the freeway will experience this dynamic timber structure that demonstrates its bending quality in the air without knowing that the force is passed on to the cables.

Image by Shelley Xu

B.7. Learning Objectives and Outcomes

After presenting our ideas in the tutorial we have received very useful feedbacks on how we may tackle our project to improve it. This also changed some of our decisions and gave us a clear direc-tion on where we should be heading in our design process.

Firstly what we have done so far is not enough to support our argument. We may have focused too much in physical experimentation but less grasshopper development. What we have to focus now is spending more time taking what we learnt from case studies and explorations into the process of form making. That is, getting back into grasshopper with more considerations of timber properties; think about form making with relation to bending and how forces could be resolved. In addition, throughout our process between computational and physical exploration, we have got off the track because there’s a lack of connection from what we experimented physically, and how it relates back into grasshopper. At the moment all we are experimenting is just strips, we need to open up and get away from the idea of strips and get into grasshopper to think about changing the form in a way that it starts relating to bending of timber.

We need to consider our project in terms of scale. What we have experimented physically on pro-totypes may not necessarily be achievable in reality over the freeway. So we have to think about structural components of how to maintain this timber property and refining these details into a more distinctive design. In addition to those considerations, we also need to think about how our form may connect to context of site. Finally, communication skills between our group members are also important. Our whole group will need to have a coherent idea of where we are heading and set goals to what we want to achieve to improve for next time.

Menges, A.: 2012, Material Computation: Higher Integration in Morphogenetic Design, Architectural Design, Vol. 82 No. 2, Wiley Academy, London, viewed 1st May, 2013

Wyndham Western Gateway Design Project brief, Wyndham City, viewed 28th April, 2013

Iwamotoscott, Vousaircloud, http://www.archivenue.com/voussoir-cloud-by-iwamotoscott-with-buro-happold/, viewed 1st May, 2013

La Tour de l’Architecte, Textile Hybrid M1 http://archinect.com/people/project/70004796/m1-textile-hybrid/70006615, viewed 2nd May, 2013

Fritz Halvoson, The geometry of bending, http://thegeometryofbending.blogspot.com.au/, viewed 27th April, 2013

Bourrasque, City council of Lyon, France, http://www.paulcocksedgestudio.com/en/, viewed 27th April, 2013

Bibliography

Documents

Studio Air Journal