Guo zihao finaljournal

STUDIO AIR2016, SEMESTER 1, Brad EliasZihao Guo 683552

FIG. 1 PROFILE PHOTO

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SELF INTRODUCTION

My name is Zihao. I am currently in my third year of my bachelor of environment at the University of Melbourne, major in architecture. I was born and raised in Guangzhou which is one of the most beautiful and dynamic city in China. I am keen on traveling around the world and enjoy experiencing different urban space. I found architecture or buildings are the fundamental elements for the urban space. Such evocative and dynamic architectural design could make the city looks a way more different. That might be the reason why I decided to do architecture in the University.

In my last two years of study in architecture, I done some design studios like Studio Water and Studio Earth which gave me chances to design by working with the site and some functional requirement. They also improve my designing skills and logical thinking. However, a subject called digital design and fabrication is the one that actually make me experience how digital method can be applied to the design processes. I feel it makes my life much different when I took this subject in my second year. It lets me know how design processes and fabricate processes can work in a circle. Digital design can evaluate the potential design outcome and decide which fabrication method we are going to use. Then, feedbacks can be generated from the fabrication process which can be re-applied to the design to optimise the original design.

I am looking forward to getting more comprehensive understanding of the algorithm designing and improving my computational designing skill in this semester with studying in Studio Air.

FIG. 2 ILLUSTRATION OF FABRICATION COMPONENTS IN DDF

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PREVIOUS DIGITAL DESGIN EXPERIENCE

I have done some digital design practise in the subject called Digital Design and Fabrication. In this subject, we were required to design a second skin for users to create personal space. This exercise gave us a chance to use data to generate the design outcome. In terms of personal space, the dimension of the space are measured and integrated to the design process. It is my first time for using such entry-level data-driven system to achieve design outcome. Even though Grasshopper has not been used during the digital design process, my partner and me still got a rough understanding of data-driven algorithm design process. More importantly, we started to explore the interaction between digital design and fabrication.

CONCEPTUALISATION

[A]

Content

A.1 Design Future 6 Asian Cairns by Vincent Callebaut

Burnham Pavilion by Zaha Hadid Architects

A.2 Design Computation 11National Stadium China

BMW Bubble Pavilion

A.3 Composition/Generation 16 Beijing National Aquatics Centre

Origami Pavilion by Tal Friedman

A.4 Conclusion 20

A.5 Learning Outcomes 21

A.6 Appendix 22

A.7 Reference 24

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A.1 DESIGN FUTURING

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In terms of design, most people think it is mostly about problem

solving. Undoubtedly our world are facing huge challenges such

as overpopulation, water shortage, and climate change. Designer

are empowered to fix them[1]. However, it seems to become

clear that lots of challenges we face today are unfixable unless

people change their values, belief, attitudes, and behaviour. It is

also a fact that those challenges make our world keep changing

in many aspects including our society and natural environment.

Then, there is a question, with the massive changing world, how

designer and architect are going to facilitate the flows and changes

to their design to make it fit in the future context. According

to Fry, design futuring has to struggle from slowering the rate

of defuturing and redirecting people towards more sustainable

living environment[2]. In effect, future design is about how

design can actually secure the future living[3]. In the past, due to

urgent need, people used to create fast developed living in such

convenient and unsustainable way. The way they did ignored the

relationship between creation and destruction. The design also

brought destructive cost to the society and environment when it

brought something into being. Therefore, the way of design need

to be reshaped to secure a sustainable living by facilitating the

flows and making connections between systems.

FIG. 3 ASIAN CAIRNS PROJECT

The Asian Cairns Project

The Asian Cairns project is designed by Vincent Callebaut who is a Belgian ecological architect. He is keen on planning and designing ecologic projects for the future. The Asian Cairns project has developed a concept of integrating natural ecosystem into cities. The concept of ‘farmscrapers’ is made from piles of giant glass pebbles. The project is made up of six towers. Some of them contain up to twenty glazed pebbles. The curve shape of the pebbles are created by a steel structure while solar panels and wind turbines would be installed on the outer surface.

Speculating The Probability & Possibility

There is no doubt that people in this planet are facing the challenge of overpopulation. And probably, this issue will last or get more serious in the next decades [4]. According to Mcdougall, the world population will climb up to 9.2 billion in 2050. Higher population means more habitation need to be constructed for accommodating more people. Meanwhile, the natural environment will be compressed along with the urban sprawl. With the expansion of urban, Vincent Callebaut is trying to reshape the current urban structure with the idea of embedding the natural environment into the high rise building and developing vertical ecological space. That is such way of future design that create things without bringing destruction. Despite this is not a built project, but the architect intent to build a new type of urban habitat which is completely contextualize the rule of natural world. Moreover, he also attempt to explore the possibility of harmonising relationship between human habitation and the ecological environment.

Energy Self-Sufficient

One of the concept behind the building is the philosophy from the architect which ‘the more a city is dense, the less it consumes energy.’ All energy are sourced from the sun and wind through solar panels and wind turbines installed on the outer surface. The self-sufficient community enable the sustainable and renewable living.

FIG. 4 ASIAN CAIRNS HABITATION

FIG. 5 VERTICAL ECOLOGICAL SPACE

CASE STUDY 1 Asian Cairns by Vincent Callebaut

Burnham Pavilion by Zaha Hadid Architects

Burnham Pavilion is a well-innovation in Millennium Park in Chicago. The pavilion is made up of a curving aluminum framework exceeding 7000 pieces and 24 custom-made fabric panels. Its bent-aluminum structure created an unique curvilinear form. The distinctively fluid shape is established by fabric skins wrapped tightly around the metal frame created a secret and private space to attract people to walk inside. The fabric skins also works as screens for video-installations in the pavilion.

Redirect People To Think About Future

The pavilion is described as resembling a “futuristic camping tent”. Hadid conceptualized how tension shaped appearance just as fabric is pulled taut or twisted, which resulted in the elliptical structure. The diagonal lines in the structure is aligned with Burnham’s 1909 city plan, which visualized a fanned grid of streets expanding diagonally from Chicago’s city center out into the suburbs. As part of the Burnham Plan Centennial celebrations, the Burnham Pavilion attracts the visitors’ curiosity and encourages them to consider the future of Chicago. In addition, the pavilion is designed and built to maximize the use of recycling and re-use material which can also be used in the future. Fabric is such lightweight and sustainable material that requires less cost and labor on site.

“Fabric is both a traditional and a high-tech material whose form is directly related to the forces applied to it - creating beautiful geometries that are never arbitrary. I find this very exciting.”

- Zaha Hadid

FIG. 6 EXTERIOR OF THE BURNHAM PAVILION BY ZAHA HADID ARCHITECTS

FIG. 7 INNER ALUMINUM FRAME

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CASE STUDY 2 Burnham Pavilion by Zaha Hadid Architects

“Computation augments the intellect of the designer and increases capability to solve complex problems”

- Brady Peters

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A.2 DESIGN COMPUTATION

Location: Beijing, China

Client: National Stadium Co Ltd

Seating Capacity: 91,000 including 11,000 temporary seats for the Games

Gross Floor Area: 254,600m2

Height: maximum 69.2m (266.4ft) above pitch level

Design Consortium: Arup, Herzog & De Meuron Architekten AG, China Architecture Design & Research Group

Completion Date: Early 2008

FIG. 8 NATIONAL STADIUM CHINA IN NORTH BEIJING

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CASE STUDY 1 National Stadium China

The ‘Bird Nest’ Project

The National Stadium in Beijing hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 29th Olympiad, as well as athletic track and field events. It has a capacity of 91 000 seats, including 11 000 temporary seats. Architects intended to develop an architecture that will continue to be functional after the Games in 2008, in other words, to create a new type of urban site that will attract and generate public life in this part of Beijing. The building’s immense proportion and dramatic form make the stadium become a new icon for China and the City of Beijing. From the distance, the stadium looks like a vast collective shape, like a vessel while its undulating rim reflects the rising and falling ramps inside the stadium. Based on the appearance of the stadium, the Chinese crowd nicknamed the stadium “Bird‘s Nest” in the early stages of the project. Therefore, the architects essentially assimilating it before it had even left the drawing board.

Contextualization and Formation

Frank Lloyd Wright introduced his concept of organic architecture in the 1900s[5]. In his organic architecture, a building should be shaped to harmonize with its surrounding if nature is manifest in the environment. For instance, the prairie has its own beauty, hence building on it need to be shaped in low proportion and quiet skylines. However, the design methodology has developed so quickly in both evolutionary and subversive way in the past century with the booming development of economics and technology.

At present, a hundred years after the introduction of Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architecture, ‘formation precedes form’ [6]. Designing processes are becoming the thinking of generation through algorithmic logic with the assistance by computation. For instance, instead of imitating the appearance of the organic, natural design now is learning from natural principle of how to produce form which is responded to the conditions of environmental context.

Back to The National Stadium, even though its structure is popularly described as the ‘Bird Nest’. The pattern was initially inspired by Chinese style ‘crazed’ pottery, and the randomness of the natural world. Of course, bird nest is also a representation of the organic randomness in the natural world. Despite the form of the ‘Bird Nest’ seems arbitrary while those steel members seem to be crossing each other randomly. The formation of the form is never arbitrary, and the pattern abides by complex algorithmic rules. Mathematical geometry and biomimetic algorithms have applied to the form-finding process of the pattern. The Parametric design in the project is a logic of associative relationship between the building and the context of natural randomness. Computation enables all the creation and modulation of this complex design.

FIG. 9 RHINO MODEL OF THE ‘BIRD NEST’FIG.10 ALGORITHMIC RULES OF THE ‘BIRD NEST’

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Client: BMW Group

Location : IAA 1999, Frankfurt / Main, Germany

Project-Team :Bernhard Franken, Sonja Albrech, Nils-Peter Fischer, Kirstin Fried, Niklas Führer, Thilo Kurzemann, Hans-Herbert Kuss, Michael Lulay, Thomas Remdisch

Partner: IBZ+L,Bollinger + Grohmann

Status: realised 1999

Dimension: 260 m²

FIG.11 EXTERIOR OF THE BMW BUBBLE PAVILION

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CASE STUDY 2 BMW Bubble Pavilion

Computation And Contextualization

As one of the leading automobile manufacturers, BMW intended to introduce their new brand image for the upcoming era through the 1999 International Auto Show took place in Frankfurt. Driving with clean energy from water and the sun was symbolized in the form of a drop of water. A drop simulation computation program was used to create this shape. The form of two water drops is consisting of an aluminum framework that supports the transparent Plexiglass skin. Three hundred different spherical plexiglass sheets were fabricated with CNC milled polyurethane foam mold thermoforming at 150 to 160ºC.

Computation and Performative Architecture

“The digital linkage also established an advanced environment for interactive digital generation and performance simulation as a paradigm of collaborative design between the architect and the engineer.”

- Rivka Oxman & Robert Oxman[8]

The Bubble Pavilion was one of the first structures in the world which was completely created with computational means, from the design to construction. Analytical computational technique based on finite-element method has been used in the project[9]. The geometry model was divided into small and interconnected mesh which can be used for performing structural, energy and fluid dynamic analysis for building. Besides, the wireframe cross-sections which are produced by contouring in computation process can be manipulated to construct an abstraction of the building’s structural framework[10]. Therefore, the construction process can be optimized and waste can be reduced.

FIG.12 THE FORM OF TWO MERGING WATER DROPS

FIG.13 STRUCTUAL FRAMEWORK OF THE BMW BUBBLE PAVILION

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“Generative design is not about designing a building. It’s about designing the system that designs a building”

- Lars Hesselgren

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A.3 CONPOSITION TO GENERATION

Composition and generation

With the development of computation and the continuous exploration of possibility, the design approach of architecture has shifted to generation from composition. For a long period, architects proceed their design with sketching concept and geometry forms. Unlike generation, composition is an one direction linear process which composition is the input and design or visual representation is the outcome. In contrast, generation is the outcome which generated by a set of rules and algorithm in the generative design process. Generative design is basically relied on the computation processes and parametric modeling. It is the process with scripts, algorithm and simulation. With generative design or computational design, multiple optimized design iterations can be generated if detail projected data and requirements are integrated into the programs[11].

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Soap Bubble Ceiling

The soap bubble like ceiling of the Aquatics Centre used a complementary approach instead of using a series of versions to decide what is best on comparison. Architects used computation to find structural solution which are self-organizing by genetic algorithms.

Computing Performance And Simulation

The structure of the Aquatics Centre was optimized by analyzing a series of configuration of the thousand of steel members and connecting nodes. In order to manipulated such complex geometry system, Arup created a parametric software which is able to automated the drawing and analysis process. The algorithm of the computational design checked the forces distribution within the structure according to the member sizes, and provide feedback in 25 minutes. Therefore, a new design opportunity which is optimized based on the weight-to-strength ratio. Such alternatives generated by the parametric design save around $10 million on design cost compare to original design methods. It has also been argued by Peters[13], computation assists architects by simulating building performance , incorporate performance analysis and the materialism, tectonics and parameters of production machinery. These tools can provide performance feedback at various stage of a project and create new opportunities which can be used to improve efficiency.

FIG.15 SOAP BUBBLE LIKE CEILING

FIG.16 INNER STRUCTURE

“Using parametrics, I was able to investigate far more alternatives. We built version 34 because it was better. But version 1 would have worked fine. Generative design allowed us to get better results in a fraction of the time.”

- J Parrish, director of ArupSport

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CASE STUDY 1 Beijing National Aquatics Centre

Parametric Fold Finding

The Origami Pavilion is a good example of generative design and parametric design. The entire structure is made up of eight aluminum sheets. The architect took the most noble function of parametricism which is structure optimization for the folding of thin rigid materials.

FIG.16 PARAMETRIC STRUCTURE OPTIMIZATION

FIG.17 ORIGAMI PAVILION

FIG.18 ORIGAMI PAVILION FOLD FINDING

FIG.18 ORIGAMI PAVILION FABRICATION

Shortcoming of the Generative design

One of the biggest challenges of the generative design is the problem of communication which is a process of sharing information between humans and computers[12]. It is easy to communicate information form computers to human. But it frustratingly difficult to work well in the opposite way when someone is lacking of the intelligence to interpret messages with script. In addition, some performance criteria such as human behavior, intuition and ‘feeling’ can not be rationally measured and integrated into the computation design.

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CASE STUDY 2 Origami Pavilion by Tal Friedman

ConClusion The development of the design environment is moving as fast as a non-stop train, the design contexts are also changing continuously. We can still appreciating Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architecture or Louis Sullivan’s ‘form follows function’. However, designer need to seek alternatives for the changing environment. Because human are facing a series of problems, and actions need to be made to secure our future. That requires designers facilitating the flows and exploring the possibility of future by contextualizing, and building connection between systems.

Computational design and generative design are the tools which are able to empower the architects by algorithmic logic. It provides architects more opportunities to explore design possibility and achieve more satisfied outcomes.

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learning outComesThe first three weeks study in Studio Air actually brings me into a new knowledge sphere or concept sphere. With the study in parametric design tool Grasshopper, I am gradually shifting from an one direction linear composition logic to a feedback looping algorithmic logic. I did have some previous experience in digital design and modeling, especially in Rhino and Sketchup. But I have never thought about using parametric design to achieve better design outcomes by manipulating with the parameters. Despite the application of parameter enhances the complexity and difficulty of the design processes at this stage. But somehow, I find it improves the efficiency of the design process as it enables users make changes in single component or parameter to achieve refined alternative outcome instead of making changes to the whole composition. I am looking forward to moving to part B for getting more familiar with Grasshopper and gaining more comprehensive understanding of computational design and generation.

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A. 6 APPENDIX

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[1] Dunne, Anthony & Raby, Fiona (2013) Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (MIT Press) p2.

[2] Fry, Tony (2008). Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg), p3.

[3] Fry, Tony (2008). Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg), p6.

[4] Mcdougall, Rosamund. Too many people: Earth’s population problem, p1

[5] Wright, Lloyd Frank (1908). “In the Cause Of Architecture”, Robert McCarter, ed, On and By Frank Lloyd Wright: A Primer of Architectural Principle, London: Phaidon, 2005. First Published in The Architecture Record.

[6] Oxman, Rivka and Robert Oxman, eds (2014). Theories of the Digital in Architecture (London; New York: Routledge), p3



[9] Kolarevic, Branko, Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing (New York; London: Spon Press, 2003) Suggested start with p24

[10] Kolarevic, Branko, Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing (New York; London: Spon Press, 2003) Suggested start with p25

[11] Generative Architecture – Transformation by Computation, Retrieved 17/03/2016 From http://www.builtr.io/generative-architecture-transformation-by-computation/.

[12] Kalay, Yehuda E. (2004). Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press), p3

[13] Peters, Brady. (2013) ‘Computation Works: The Building of Algorithmic Thought’, Architectural Design, 83, 2, p13

Case Study:

Asian Cairns by Vincent Callebaut

http://vincent.callebaut.org/page1-img-asiancairns.html

http://www.dezeen.com/2013/03/21/asian-cairns-by-vincent-callebaut/

Zaha Burnham Pavilion

http://www.archdaily.com/33110/burnham-pavilion-zaha-hadid

Beijing national stadium

http://www.archdaily.com/6059/inside-herzog-de-meuron-beijing-birds-nest

http://www.e-architect.co.uk/beijing/birds-nest-beijing

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A. 7 REFERENCE

http://www.dezeen.com/2008/07/30/national-stadium-beijing-by-herzog-de-meuron/

https://libertecture.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/algorithmic-boogie-beijing-olympic-stadium-case-study-gsapp-adr-i-13/

https://www.herzogdemeuron.com/index/projects/complete-works/226-250/226-national-stadium.html

Bmw Pavilion

h t t p : / / w w w . f r a n k e n - a r c h i t e k t e n . d e / i n d e x .php?pagetype=projectdetail&lang=en&cat=0&param=overview&param2=21&param3=0&

https://books.google.com.au/books?id=kJEMWde-REYC&pg=PT117&lpg=PT117&dq=bmw+BUBBLE+PAVILION&source=bl&ots=iuEFMOMSQZ&sig=ZobM0JcnPNAtDWudrCdjxdL5-74&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiUtsS-zcfLAhUEW6YKHYwyA-sQ6AEIPzAJ#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://www.noveformy.cz/blob/blob-reference/the-bubble-bmw-pavilion/

Beijing National Aquatics Centre

http://www.cadalyst.com/cad/building-design/generative-design-is-changing-face-architecture-12948

http://www.dezeen.com/2008/02/06/watercube-by-chris-bosse/

Origami Pavilion

http://www.archdaily.com/781664/origami-pavilion-creates-shelter-with-just-3-folded-aluminum-sheets

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CRITERIA DESIGN

[B]

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Content

B.1 Research Fields 28-29

B.2 Case Study 1.0 30-37

B.3 Case Study 2.0 38-43

B.4 Technique Development 44-61

B.5 Technique: Prototype 62-65

B.6 Technique: Proposal 66-68

B.7 Learning Objectives and Outcomes 69

B.8 Appendix 70

B.9 Reference 71

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VoltaDom by Skylar Tibbits

FIG.19 VOLTADOM

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tessellationIn order to narrow the design possibilities and make an appropriate project for part B, I decided to specialise in tessellation as a start point. In the past, tessellation is the tiling of a flat surface by using one or more geometric shapes. It was commonly used in wall decoration or the tiling of the façade. With the assist of computational process and digital technology nowadays, tessellation can be integrated into some complex form or structure with physic simulation. It can be the division of an undulating surface or 3-dimensional structure, and into polygons in a repeated pattern without gaps or overlapping. The exploration of tessellation is able to generate more interesting design outcome which is tightly connected to different systems and movements.

Picture on the left is the VoltaDom project by Skylar Tibbits, an American designer and computer scientist. It is a structure that fills the concrete and glass corridor with hundreds of vaults. Those vaults are the repetitive geometric pattern which fill the 3-dimensional structure without any gap and overlapping in tessellation. VoltaDom creates complex double curved vaults through the simple rolling of a sheet of material with an innovative fabrication technique. It requires computation process es to generate rapid prototype and also the connection.

FIG.19 VOLTADOM

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B. 1 RESEARCH FIELDS

Voussoir Cloud by Iwamotoscoot

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The Voussoir Cloud design fills the space with a series of vaults which can be experience both from within and above. It is a landscape of vaults and 5 columns consisting of cluster of 3-dimensional petals that formed by folding with wood laminate along curve seams. The curve generates a dished form that relies on the internal surface tension of the wood and the flange to hold the structure .The concept of Voussoir Cloud is trying to explore the structural paradigm of pure compression combined with light weight material system. The design used hanging model to find efficient form that maintain the overall stability of the structure. Computational hanging chains model was used to refine the profile lines when form finding programs to find the compressive vault shapes of a Delaunay tessellation. The curvature of each petal depends upon its adjacent voids. To achieve this curvature a computational script was written for Rhino model to manage the petal edge curvature as a function of tangent offset.

FIG.20 VOUSSOIR CLOUD

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B. 2 CASE STUDY 1.0

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1.1 Varing the length of the columns by manipulating the offset of the anchor points at the bottom

Number of Anchor: 5Offset: -10 on Z-directionUnary Force: 1.0

1.2 Using Kangaroo WindMesh

Strength: 0.7Wind Vector: -0.63 on Z-direction

SPECIE 1

1.3 Exploring Fluid Shape with Kangaroo Rocket

Rocket Strength: 6.6

1.5 Using Kangaroo MeshPressure

Pressure Level: -1.7

1.6 Using Kangaroo HydroMesh

Fluid Density: 0.2

1.7 Creating Reciprocal Structure

Scale: 1Angle: 100Radius: 0.1

1.4 Exploring Fluid Shape with Kangaroo Vortex

Strength: 11.4

1.8 Creating openings by using Weaverbird’s PictureFrame

Distance: 0.211wbThicken: 0.1

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1




Fluid Density: 0.2



SPECIE 2

2.1 Base curve is changed From rectangle to polygon

Number of Anchor: 6Offset: -10 Z-AxisUnary Force: 1.0








Fluid Density: 0.3








Strength: 6.6

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SPECIE 3

3.1 Base curve is changed from rectangle to circle

Number of Anchor: 12Offset: 0 on Z-directionUnary Force: 12 on Z-direction


Strength: 49.5











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Strength: 49.5

SPECIE 4

4.1 Voronoi radius is changed to 1000

Number of Anchor: 12Offset: 0 on Z-directionUnary Force: 12 on Z-direction














Strength: 4.7



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ITERATION 1.3 ITERATION 2.2


SUCCESSFUL ITERATIONS

sleCtion CriteriaTessellations and structure can create shelter space for users and provide experience to users.

Tessellations and structure should generate a unified and dynamic movement across the surface which is tightly connected to the surrounding movement.

The form need to facilitate the connection and interaction between the users and the natural environment.

iteration 1.3The fluid shape of the upper structure which is generated by the Rocket force simulation in Grasshopper provides some dynamic and compressive movement to the original Voussoir Cloud structure. The dynamic ‘rising’ form might be more likely to get visitors’ attention and make connection to the current cultural and social contexts such as urban consolidation or population growth which are able to evoke awareness.

iteration 2.6In this iteration, openings are added to the structure with the Weaverbird Picture Frame. With those openings, it can provide more natural light and ventilation to the shelter space which will be more likely to generate unique experience to the users and create interaction between human and nature.

iteration 2.2In this iteration, the aesthetic quality of the form doesn’t quite satisfy my aesthetic requirement. However, the relationship between the form and natural element makes this iteration successful. The iteration is generated by the wind simulation parameter in Grasshopper. The entire structure and tessellations is reshaped by the wind force on Z-axis. It creates a fluid structure which is tightly connected to the natural phenomenon.

iteration 4.6Similar to the iteration 2.6, openings are created by wbPicture Frame. Comparing to the previous iteration, the form of the iteration is differentiated by changing the Voronoi diagram to make it become more organic and more harmonious with the site’s landscape and vegetation.

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FIG.21 POLY.LUX BY SOFTLAB

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POLY. Lux by SOFTlab

POLY. Lux is an installation that hung within the entrance of St. Patrick’s catholic school in the busy metropolis. The installation sculptural form was generated through a gravity driven process in which three funnelling forms of varying depths hang downwards. the surface contains more than 1400 battery powered LEDs, installed onto the Mylar panels which make up the form, flickering and blowing in the wind with the intention of slowing down traffic through the experience, engaging and encouraging visitors to co-mingle and interact with the work.

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B. 3 CASE STUDY 2.0

STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3

STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3

create a basic geometry in rhino turn the Brep into mesh in Grasshopper

use Kangaroo Physic for from- finding

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STEP 3

STEP 4

STEP 4

STEP 5

STEP 5

use Kangaroo Physic for from- finding

Define the boundary of each panel with attractor points

Use Boundary Surface to create surface from the boundary of panels

Reverse-Engineering

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The most complicated process for the reverse engineering is the form-finding of the panels because they are various in shape and size. In order to achieve the outcome, attractor points are used to manipulate the size of the panels. As it can be seen from the figure 22, the boundary of one panel is made up of three splines. Those splines are defined by the vertices of the outer triangle (with white dashed line) and the mid-points on the edges of the smaller triangle which scales down from the outer one. Thus, the shapes and sizes of panels can be differentiated by the size of inner triangle and scale factor between two triangles. The scale factors are driven by the distances between the attractors and the centre of the triangles. In other words, panels which are closer to the attractor will be smaller because the scale factor is smaller.

FIG.22 PANEL FORM-FINDING

FIG.23 TOP VIEW FIG.24 BOTTOM VIEW

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FINAL OUTCOME

FIG.22 PANEL FORM-FINDING

FIG.25 FINAL OUTCOME

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1.01-Using Attractor PointsNumber of Attractor=5Rest Length of Spring=0.60



SPECIE 1

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1.04-Using Kangaroo MeshPressureNumber of Attractor=7Rest Length of Spring=0.60Pressure Level=-10


1.06-Using Kangaroo WindMeshNumber of Attractor=7Rest Length of Spring=0.60Wind Strength=1.0Wind Vector=-2.68 on Z-direction

1.07-Using Kangaroo WindMeshNumber of Attractor=7Rest Length of Spring=0.60Wind Strength=1.0Wind Vector=-2.68 on Y-direction

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B. 4 TECHNIQUE DEVELOPMENT

1.08-Using Kangaroo HydroMeshNumber of Attractor=7Rest Length of Spring=0.60Fluid Density=0.7


1.10-Changing the Length of SpringNumber of Attractor=7Rest Length of Spring=1.27


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1.12-Smoothening by using Weaverbird PictureFrameNumber of Attractor=7Rest Length of Spring=0.60Distance=10

1.13-Smoothening by using Weaverbird Frame ThickenNumber of Attractor=7Rest Length of Spring=0.60Distance=0.1

1.14-Creating Openings by Scale-NU and Solid differenceNumber of Attractor=7Rest Length of Spring=0.60Scale-X=0.71Scale-Y=0.71

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SPECIE 2

48


2.05-Using Kangaroo MeshPressureNumber of Attractor=5Rest Length of Spring=0.60Pressure Level=50



49





50




51




SPECIE 3

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3.08-Using Kangaroo Reciprocal Structure Number of Attractor=8Rest Length of Spring=0.60Line Scale=1Rotation Angle=0Radius=0.3




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SPECIE 4

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SUCCESSFUL ITERATIONS

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sleCtion CriteriaTessellations and structure can create experience to the users and engage visitors to interact with the work

Tessellations and structure should generate a unified and dynamic movement across the surface which is tightly connected to the surrounding movement

The form need to facilitate the connection and interaction between the users and other species on site.

The form need to allow small animals cross on the top of the structure.

The form is able to complicate the circulation and slow down the traffic

iteration 2.08The fluid shape is generated by the HydroMesh in Grasshopper. It provides dynamic movement to the original structure by applying depth dependent pressure. As the structure is a hung installation, the lower part of the structure will be hanging like a water drop that drops from the top. The idea of water drop is tightly connected to the natural phenomenon and also the creek.

iteration 3.05Personally, this iteration quite satisfy me in aesthetic perspective as its form is similar to some natural creature like the fountain or flower. However, the relationship between the form and the surrounding movement in the iteration interests me the most. The form is generated by the MeshPressure in Grasshopper. The pressure can represent the traffic and human movement around the structure.

iteration 2.13In this iteration, openings are added to the tessellations with wbFrame in Grasshopper. The openings can let more natural light in and achieve better natural ventilation. In addition, there is potential to let plants growth onto the tessellation. Plants represent nature and brings more natural factor to the design. Besides, plants can work as intermediate between human and the other species. It can visually separate human and wildlife from each other but bring them together into one space.

iteration 4.6I found this iteration very interesting because of its maze like form which might succeed in slowing down the traffic. In addition, the reciprocal structure is similar to the branches of trees or the form of bird nest (possibly attracts more birds coming). It can evoke user’s awareness of the natural environment and facilitate the interaction between visitors and other species

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Unlike the tessellations in Voussoir Cloud which consist of a series of vaults, the Poly.Lux hanging installation is made up of hundreds of panels that have no curvature. The fluid shape is created by the angles between the panels and the joints which connect panels together. Therefore, I decided to use 2D laser cutting to fabricate the panels as well as the joints. Grasshopper was used to create joints to each vertices on the panels.

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B. 5 TECHNIQUE: PROTOTYPES

My first attempt is using material MDF (Medium-density fibreboard) and 2D laser cutting machine to fabricate the panels and joints. The reason why MDF is used rather than polypropylene is to meet my brief requirement which allows small animals to cross above the structure. The extremely flexible and thin polypropylene which is used in the Poly.Lux Project will not be able to support such amount of loads and meet

Cable ties are used to fix the joints. Cable tie is extremely strong and stable when it is fastened.

In this failed sample, I create angle between panel and joint by twisting or bending. However, it is not very successful because most of the joints came off when I tried to twist or blend them due to the poor flexibility of the material. In addition, I found MDF is still not strong enough to meet the structural requirement as some panels were deflected when tensile force applied to it.

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Prototype Optimisation

When I was trying to solve the problem of the joints in my previous attempt, I had a very hard time as there is no such material which is high in stiffness and flexibility to meet my structural requirement. However, I received a very useful suggestion from the tutorial which can easily solve the problem of my prototype. Brad suggested me to add a floating joint between joints to enable rotation and folding instead of overlapping the joints.

Floating Joint

Material is changed from MDF to Perspex which seems to have better performance in tension. In order to create fully adjustable joints, I need to make sure there is no overlapping between the circle joints when fastening the cable ties to fix the joints.

No Overlapping

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B. 6 TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL

VIEW C

D

C

B

A

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B. 6 TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL

VIEW C

My chosen site is one of the footbridge in the Merri Creek which crosses the Merri Creek Valley. The spanning of the footbridge connects the traffic from both sides of the valley. Footbridge is the only way for cyclists and pedestrians to get into another side of the valley within the area unless someone wants to get wet. When I was on the site, I found 80% of the pedestrians spent at least one minute staying on the bridge to relax or take photos while all cyclists just quickly passed through. The circulation on the footbridge presents a potential opportunity for me to implement an architectural intervention, which is similar to the POLY. Lux project, with the intention to slow down the traffic on site and engaging visitors to interact with the work, and more importantly the surrounding natural environment.

In terms of the surrounding natural environment, there are plenty of tall vegetation on the both banks of the valley. Unlike human who can use footbridge to get into other side of the valley, the natural environment is divided into two pieces by the valley. Other species might find it hard to get into other part of the site if they don’t use the same path with the human. The separation of the natural environment by the valley presents an opportunity to create a structure which is able to bring two separated pieces together as well as provide a corridor for other species.

VIEW A

VIEW B

VIEW D 67

Interface Between Human And Other Species

In order to satisfy my own selection criteria and our studio’s requirement which is interface between human and other species, an installation that hung above the footbridge will be implemented. The structure will be efficiently slow down the traffic by complicating the circulation and encourage visitor spend more time on the site as well as interact with the work. In addition, the hung structure will be connected to the treetops on site and span through the valley which can provide a corridor for other species. The concept of the project is trying to create a functional space which brings human and other wildlife together. The structure allows other species like possum cross the valley on top of the structure while human are walking underneath. More importantly, it illustrates an idea of how human being can share the space with other species in the existing natural environment.

Materiality

According to the function of the structure and feedback from the prototype, the material of the panels or tessellations need to be high in stiffness to avoid deflection, especially on the area around the joints. In fact, using high stiffness material will cause less flexibility of the structure. However, those panels are all planar surface and do not have any curvature. Thus, it might have lower requirement for flexibility. In addition, materials for the structure also need to be high in durability and easy to maintain when it is exposed to the natural environment.

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DESIGN PROPOSAL

Objective 1

The brief of creating interface between human and wildlife narrows my direction on the case study selection and provides limitation to the parametric design process instead of randomly making something arbitrary.

Objective 2

Techniques and components that learned from online video and Grasshopper3d forum have been applied to the parametric design processes of making iterations as well as reverse-engineering. Those techniques create much more possibility to my design.

Objective 3

Part B is very challenging and time-consuming. Grasshopper techniques is very important in this section. However, I also need to practise my skills in other fields and programs such as rendering with Vray, diagramming with Illustrator and working with laser cut machine

Objective 4

In my opinion, ‘Air’ represents flows and movements. In this section, I have a chance to experiment with Kangaroo Physic to achieve forms which are connected to the world of physics and other natural movements such as wind and pressure.

Objective 5

At this stage, I felt that the hung tessellation concept in Case Study 2.0 was very helpful for putting my brief and design outcome together. However, it is still lacking of critical analysis in both the proposal and the successful iterations selection.

Objective 6

With the knowledge of Grasshopper and Kangaroo, I am able to identify the techniques used in the case study and rewrite my own script to achieve the same or similar forms.

Objective 7

Studying in Part B forced me to do a lot of own researches in techniques through online tutorials. It actually enhance my understanding of Grasshopper components and data structure. More importantly, I have developed my algorithmic thinking through working with my iterations.

Objective 8

At this stage, I am able to achieve some desired forms through parametric programming. At the next stage, I need to develop the skills of using parametric programming as a tool to make the design more site responsive and generate sustainability.

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DESIGN PROPOSAL B. 7 LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

B.1

B.2

B.3

B.4

B.5

B.6

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B. 8 APPENDIX

Case Study:

POLYP.lux by SOFTlab:

“POLYP.lux by SOFTlab”, Retrieved 16/04/2016 from http://designplaygrounds.com/deviants/polyp-lux-by-softlab/.

VoltaDom by Skylar Tibbits:

“VoltaDom by Skylar Tibbits”, Retrieved 10/04/2016 from http://designplaygrounds.com/deviants/voltadom-by-skylar-tibbits/.

Voussoir Cloud by Iwamoto Scott and Buro Happold:

“Voussoir Cloud by IwamotoScott with Buro Happold”, Retrieved 10/04/2016 from http://www.archivenue.com/voussoir-cloud-by-iwamotoscott-with-buro-happold/.

“Voussoir Cloud” Retrieved 10/04/2016 from http://www.iwamotoscott.com/VOUSSOIR- CLOUD.

Images

19. http://designplaygrounds.com/deviants/voltadom-by-skylar-tibbits/

20. http://www.iwamotoscott.com/VOUSSOIR-CLOUD

21. http://designplaygrounds.com/deviants/polyp-lux-by-softlab/

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B. 9 REFERENCE

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DETAILED DESIGN

[C]

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Content

C.1 Design Concept 74-87

C.2 Tectonic Elements & Prototypes 87-99

C.3 Final Detailed Model 100-123

C.4 Reflection 124

C.5 Reference 125

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Human ResidenceRecycle Center Victoria Park Stadium

Chosen Site

Our chosen site is one of the footbridges in Merri Creek and its surrounding environment. The footbridge connects the traffic from both sides of the valley. Furthermore, the area is a conjunction between human residences and the natural environment. Thus, there is more potential for us to create interface between human and other species. Besides, one of our clients is possum, which can also be found in human residence apart from the forest area. The circulation of possum might beactive in this area.

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Merri Creek Main Yarra Trail

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C 1.0 SITE INTRODUCTION

SITE & CLIENTS

Visitors

Human Circulation76

Brushtail Possum

Possum Circulation 77

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Concept: our design is aiming at building an artificial span or bridge that assist the possum from crossing the creek. At the same time, it is supposed to create another interaction between human and possum by redirecting both human’s circulation and possum’s circulation into one three-dimensional space, and encouraging either visitors or possums to occupy the space.

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C 1.1 DESIGN PROPASALC 1.1 DESIGN PROPOSAL

Concept: our design is aiming at building an artificial span or bridge that assist the possum from crossing the creek. At the same time, it is supposed to create another interaction between human and possum by redirecting both human’s circulation and possum’s circulation into one three-dimensional space, and encouraging either visitors or possums to occupy the space.

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Xtra Moenia by SoftlabXtra Moenia was installed in front of the Northern entrance to the San Gennaro festival, and delivers the same dynamic mix of form, color and context as a typical SOFTlab project. It was made up of 7,680 laser cut panels and hung from the surrounding buildings. There are a lot of things we can learn from this project, and also their other projects. Firstly, it is the form of tessellation. In addition, we have learned a lot from their projects, in terms of fabrication processes as well as the selection of material and connection.

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C 1.2 PRECEDENCE STUDY

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C 1.3 METHODOLOGY

In order to make our design become site responsive, the first step in form finding is pointing out the contexts on site. As our design is going to build a bridge for possums, we picked those three big eucalyptus where possums are more likely to stay as a starting point. Then, we figured out the boundary surface of our structure and trimmed the surface with those three circles which are supposed to surround the trees. We tried to use the boundary and circles as the anchor points.

When I was on the site and staying on the footbridge, I found the area was quite windy. It might be caused by the creek landscape. Therefore, I tried to integrate the wind element into our design. I decided to use WindMesh in Kangaroo Physics to inflate the base geometry surface and create such fabric-like form. Moreover, as our structure need to be connected to the branches or even the treetops of those eucalyptus to let the possum get into our design, I lifted those three circles or anchors to certain height.

After those three anchors , I noticed that I could make the form more interesting and more harmonious with the creek landscape by adding two anchors going down towards the water, which is inspired by the canopy outside of The Union House. In addition, the two anchors going down can drain water out of the structure during extreme weather and avoid structural failure.

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Distance to attractor points-

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In order to make our design even more site responsive, we applied two sets of attractor points in the form finding of the panels in tessellation. The first set of attractor points are connected to the evaluate curve component which controls the tangent vector of the curves. The tangent of the curves will be smaller if the plane of the geometry is closer to the attractors. Smaller tangent value will make the panel more squeezing. We put these attractor points somewhere close to the river. The squeezing panels look like being scouring by the water stream and become the reflection of water stream. Apart from it, when the panels in the middle are more squeezing, the gap between panels will be enlarge. Thus, visitors on the bridge, might be able to see the possum crossing.

The second set of attractor points are controlling the size of the middle opening on the panel. The scale factor will be smaller when the plane of the geometry is closer to the attractors. We put these attractors on the location of the treetops. They make the openings smaller on the panels around the treetops, and let the possums get into our design safer and easier.

Distance to attractor points +

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Form Finding Diagram

Construction Diagram

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TECHNIQUE DIAGRAM

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C 2.0 PROTOTYPE 1.0

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Based on the experience in Part B, we realized that we need flexible panels with rigid joints or rigid panels with flexible joints to fabricate the form of our tessellation. Our first attempt was using rigid panels with flexible joints. At the beginning, we laser cut the panels that we got from grasshopper with the number tags on them. We chose perspex material for our panels as it is rigid. After that, we tried to connected the panels with strings which are flexible joints. We started from one anchor, and connected the panels in one layer with two continuous strings. Then connected two layers with the joints that we laser cut in MDF. This method seem to work well in connecting the panels and also provide angles between panels. However, it is not able to provide the form that we want as the panels keep moving on the strings and cannot be kept in consistent spacing.

`

Since we got the problem of inconsistent spacing, we have experimented a couple of other flexible connections. This one is using polypropylene connector plates and screws to connect the panels. It allows angles between rigid panels and connects the panels with consistent spacing. However, when we tried to assemble more panels and connector plates, the polypropylene plates were not flexible enough to allow movement and provide angles between panels. The whole structure became very rigid and almost flat.

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C 2.1 PROTOTYPE 2.0

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After failing in using the middle connectors, we started to explore the potential of flanges which can also be found in some Softlab’s project. We used polypropylene again for this prototype as it is easier for building flanges with laser cut. We applied flanges to the edges of each triangle panel, and then simply glue the flanges together to connect the panels. Obviously, the flange connection is able to provide angles between panels and generate the form. And there is no gap between the panels. Therefore, we don’t need to think about how to figure out the spacing. In terms of constructability, this prototype is also one of best in the prototypes that we have got so far. However, using flanges connection means we need to go back to normal triangle and cannot get the desired form of the panels which is controlled by our magical attractor points.

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C 2.1 PROTOTYPE 2.0 C 2.2 PROTOTYPE 3.0

C 2.3 PROTOTYPE 4.0`

C 2.3 PROTOTYPE 4.0

The failure in using rigid panels with flexible connections forced us to switch into flexible panels and rigid connections. As we have seen eyelets in most Softlab’s projects, our first attempt of using rigid connection was playing with eyelets. For the panels, as we are using eyelets, we rewrote our definition a little bit to make that loops on vertices of the triangles. And we decided to use polypropylene again, not only because of its flexible but also its toughness. The panels need to be tough enough to support the weight of the possums as a brief requirement. Therefore, we cannot use any material like cardboard or paper. In addition , polypropylene is such durable and water-proofing material which might be suitable for the construction in reality. For the connection, eyelet is such a strong and rigid connection that fix the panel together very well. But poor in constructability holds we back from using this connection in our final model. Once we fixed eyelets into the loops, there was no way for us to undo the fixing and reassemble. As we had no previous experience in make this kind of form with 640 panels, it was hard for us to build the whole thing without any fault during the fabrication. It was time consuming and not easy for us to correct the mistake that we made. The only thing that we could do was cutting off the loops and laser cut the wrong panels again.

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C 2.3 PROTOTYPE 4.0`

C 2.4 PROTOTYPE 5.0

With the experience in using eyelets, we decided to use bolts and nuts to fix the panels. Similar to eyelets, bolt connection is also a kind of rigid connection. But the bolt connection is easy to undo the fixing and reassemble. It can provide more tolerance and flexibility in the fabrication process. The only problem of the bolt connection is that the nuts went off from the bolt gradually when we frequently moved the model during fabrication. We managed to fix it with two nuts fixing or using lock nuts.

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C 2.5 FINAL MODEL FABRICATION

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STEP 1

Lay out 640 panels we got from

grasshopper in the laser cut

template and send the file to

fablab.

STEP 2

Collect the laser cut sheets and

assemble the model by referring

to the 3D model.

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STEP 3

Bind steel rings to those five

anchor circles with fishing lines to

keep the form.

STEP 4

Construct the stand for hanging

the structure with eyescrews and

fishing lines.(also represent the

trees on site)

STEP 5

Apply tension to the structure by

fishing lines and the timber strips

on the floor to keep the form

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C 2.6 FINAL MODEL INSTALLATION

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C 3. 0 FINAL DETAILED

MODEL

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C 3.1 FINAL DESIGN OUTCOME

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C 4.0 REFLECTION

learning outComesThrough the semester, I have gained a lot of skills and knowledge from Studio Air. I recognize the structure of the course is very helpful for getting me into parametric design. We were introduced to computational design and generative design at the very beginning of the semester. Those theory did establish a starting point of understanding the context of parametric design and the roles of computation in the design process. In Part B, the experiment with grasshopper and making iterations gave us a chance to get familiar with the grasshopper components. By doing part B including the reverse engineering and iterations, I was able to improve my algorithmic thinking as well as skills in writing the definition and control the parameter. I think the project that we made in part C is the combination of the theories we learned in part A and the techniques in part B. By doing a virtual and physical project on site with brief requirement, we learned how to create a design using parametric modelling. We can use parametric design to meet the brief requirements and contextualise the elements on site which is related to the theories in part A. Apart from the parametric design , I have gained a lot knowledge and skills in rendering, visual communication, and prototyping from both my tutor and group mates.

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SOFTlab: Xtra Moenia

http://www.alantansey.com/blog/2011/09/19/softlab-xtra-moenia/

http://www.frameweb.com/news/xtra-moenia

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C 5.0 REFERENCE

Documents

Guo zihao finaljournal