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A I RARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO

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2 Xinyue Zhou 668987

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CONTENTPART A

A.0. IntroductionA.1. Design Futuring

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12 A.2. Design Computation

A.3. Composition/Generation

A.4. Conclusion

A.5. Learning Outcomes

A.6. Appendix - Algorithmic Sketches

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My name is Xinyue, preferred name is April, the third year student major in Archi-tecture. I am an international student from a small city in the southern part of China, which is Suzhou. My hometown is famous of the clas-sical Chinese Gardens, which is a representa-tive style of the Chinese ancient architectural style.

When I was a child, my mother always took me traveled around those historical towns to experience the aesthetics of the ancient architecture. Thus I learned painting over a long period in order to record the beautiful views and building I saw. I finished my high school with the arts major and chose finance when I did my foundation course in Auckland of New Zealand, however, finally I found I still want to learn architecture for the reason that I think it is quite eudemonic to understand, to learn, to image, to create and to build what I like and what I want. After I started my study in Melbourne University, I understood more about this major and learned more skill of architecture. Especially the studio study, I found lots of fun of each program, and the learning from the Master Rem Koolhaas made me understand more about the modern architecture, also the importance about the technology about design and creating. Besides, I really like the modern Japanese architecture style for its clean, simple and functional characteristics. This year is my third year, as well as the last year for my undergraduate period. I really hope I could learn more skills about the grasshopper, the rhino and other technology I should learn for future and better design, meanwhile improve cre-ativity of design.

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INTRODUCTION

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A.1DESIGN FUTURING

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According to the reading this week, both of them pointed out that nowadays ar-

chitecture has more meaning for the culture, the city and the environment. For future,

architecture plays more and more important role between human society and envi-

ronment, which has close connection with the sustainability. Furthermore, to compare

with the modern architecture around 1900s, nowadays-modern architecture gives

and creates more ideas and meaning to projects. With the improvement of technol-

ogy and the changes of lifestyle, the idea of architecture becomes more and more

creative and not just satisfies the needs of functions.

“Answering the ‘design futuring’ question actually requires having a clear sense of

what design needs to be mobilized for or against. Even more significantly, it means

changing our thinking, then how and what we design. Equally, it also requires under-

standing that the ‘ dialectic of sustainment’ is another basic feature of being hu-

man.”[1]

Tony Fry

[1] Fry, Tony (2008). Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg), p4

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AXEL SPRIN

GER C

AM

PUSIn 2014, OMA won the competition

of the new office building for AXEL

SPRINGER SE Company with stellar

proposals of three renowned firms, BIG,

Büro Ole Scheeren. Axel Springer is a

media company that has launched a

movement from print to digital media.

Thus the competition’s task was to

create additional space for the com-

pany, especially for its digital offers and

design a workplace fit for the future of

online media. The new office building

for the company, is not just a place

for working, but both a symbol and a

tool for the transition that from print to

digital media.

Besides, the location of the

new building is on the historical

site of the former Berlin Wall

what was once a no-man’s

land. Therefore, nowadays

this building has more mean-

ing not just for its function,

but also for its representation

of the company, even it has

important significance for the

media area, or it can be a

new landmark for Berlin for its

special location.

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OMA

Figure 1

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For this project, it features an open

valley with interconnected terraces

and public workspaces for all indi-

vidual, collaborative, and mobile work,

won favor with the jury for its forward-

thinking concept[1] . The essence of the

design is a series of terraced floors that

together forms a ‘valley’ that creates

an informal stage at the center[2] . It

combines the formal and informal of-

fices which response to the properties

of the media and create a place to

broadcast ideas to other parts of the

company.

Each floor is a covered part as a traditional work envi-

ronment that is uncovered on the terraces. Meanwhile

the valley is designed to be mirrored to generate a three

dimensional canopy through technology.

Figure 2

Figure 3 Figure 4

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IDEA VERTICAL CAMPUSIdea Vertical Campus was set in Tokyo’s rapidly

expanding Shinjuku ward, it took a radical idea

and design at the time. In traditional, the campus is

always situated on the countryside with lots of big

open spaces and gardens. Most buildings are gener-

ated through ‘Addition’. All the necessary parts are

assembled, adjusted, accumulated in more or less

pleasing compositions. Shinjyuku Vertical Campus

is generated by ‘Subtraction’; like Michelangelo’s

‘Slaves’.

OMA

This unbuilt project reflected a new language

of campus and a changeable lifestyle of the

time. . It is prepared for the competition in 2004,

which theme is no regular towers would be per-

mitted. For this design, Koolhaas thought that the

interior and exterior are significant for a building

at the same time; instead like that many high-rise

structures privatize their strongest features in the

interior. Idea Vertical Campus is a combination

of three different schools, thus Koolhaas said that

they didn’t want to design these three schools

too equal for the reason that all of them have

special characteristics; each school should have

their own style just like each person is different

and has unique identity.

Figure 5

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According to the design futuring, I chose

this project for its new idea and language to

explain new lifestyle and the tendency of the

increase of population and the density. For

the sustainability of the development of the

modern city, this high-rise design is meaningful

and important and has its value for architec-

ture. The Idea Vertical Campus represents the

new concept of architecture and the ten-

dency of the future architecture. However, it

finally didn’t win that competition to be built,

but its idea of design was accept by all of

people, meanwhile brought new definition of

the campus.

Figure 6

Figure 7

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A.2DESIGN COMPUTATION

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Over the several past years, with the invention of the computer and high-speed de-

velopment of technology, many of areas achieved large improvements and changed

to new developing styles. For architecture, it used to use the basic methods for presen-

tations and the design process – hand-drawing and scaled physical model. The emer-

gency of digital computing has shifts the architecture to a new method of illustration

and leads the design for architecture explore to new style. A new and comprehensive

domain of architectural theories is beginning to emerge in the intersection between

science, technology, design and architectural cultural[1]. Nowadays, people’s needs

of architecture not only for the shelter and basic functions, but also consider about the

sustainability, the culture and the new language to express the aesthetic of architecture.

This is an age in which digitally informed design can actually produce a second nature[2]. - Oxman

The above quote indicates that digital design by computation is not beneficial for

making the design work parametric, but good for develop designers’ creativity, further-

more is response to the nature, the environment and the sustainability. Different to the

modern architecture around 1900s, today’s architecture has more meaning; particu-

larly with the improvement of the materials, science and technology, the architecture

represents more for the society. In synthesizing material culture and technologies within

the expanding relationship between the computer and architecture, this phenomenon

defines a digital continuum from design to production, from form generation to fabrica-

tion design[3].

[1]Oxman, Rivka and Robert Oxman, eds (2014). Theories of the Digital in Architecture (Lon-don; New York: Routledge), pp. 1–10

[2]Oxman, Rivka and Robert Oxman, eds (2014). Theories of the Digital in Architecture (Lon-don; New York: Routledge), pp. 1–10

[3]Kalay, Yehuda E. (2004). Architecture’s New Media: Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press), pp. 5-25

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As a significant part of the modern city

life, car is available for each family. In Hong

Kong, the high density, fast pace of life and

lack of the available land result in the prob-

lem of car parking. For this project, its aim is

to romanticize the car as an active urban

object while simultaneously implementing

sustainable strategies. Besides, the pro-

gram is not just for the car parking, but also

including shopping, food and landscaping

aspects.

Its rotational design illustrates the understanding of

the modern life and looks to capture new potentials

for Hong Kong’s infrastructural personality by integrat-

ing the ritual of “the drive” with mixed programs. By us-

ing the digital design tools to realize most possibilities of

the project with the irregular shape. The car is viewed

as an active urban object while also adding a new

storm water management strategy that creates land-

scape retreats in the sky and irrigates the athletic field

occupying the ground plane. It is a civic and mix-use

armature tangled up in a kinetic rotation of animated

circulation.

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HONG KONG CAR PARK

PROPOSAL

INTERFACE STUDIO

ARCHITECTS

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Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

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Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

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KREODChun Qing Li of Pavilion Architecture

As an innovation architectural sculpture, KREOD pavilion was designed

by Chun Qing Li of Pavilion Architecture and located between Emirates

Air Lines and The O2, next to Peninsula Square at Greenwich Peninsula.

This project is famous for its organic form, environmentally friendly and the

inspiration from nature. It was designed to be three pod-like pavilions are

formed with a wooden structural framework comprised of an open hex-

agonal composition and each double-curved wooden shell encloses a

footprint of 20 square meters. For further, a waterproof tensile membrane

seals the interior from the elements. Fully portable with demountable joints;

the individual components may be stacked for efficient transportation.

Considering about the material, ebony timber is a durable, resistant and

eco-friendly choice ideal for both interior and exterior environments. Cur-

rently serving as exhibition spaces, the small buildings may eventually be

used or manufactured on a larger scale as office meeting spaces, garden

or bicycle sheds.

By using the most advanced parametric design tools and digital fabri-

cation, this project brought together lots of the most talented architects,

engineers and innovative materials to make a challenge on current minds

and showcase the sustainable and future thinking building methods.

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A.3COMPOSITION/GENERATION

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With the high speed improvement of the technology around the world in all areas,

digital technologies have been embraced by architectural designs and practices

for the efficiency of workflow and the accuracy of the constructions. Architects are

developing digital tools that create opportunities in design process, fabrication and

constructions[2]. Using built architectural projects, this issue provides insight into emerg-

ing design approaches that use computation as a design method.

In the past decades, architects developed skills of the computation that is redefining

the practice of architecture. What is the computation? Designers came up their ideas

at first in the mind, and then they use computer to illustrate their designs; such as taking

software like CAD, make it easier to draw the draft and increase the precision of draw-

ings. Instead of the “computation”, designers became more prefer to “computerisa-

tion”. To compare between the computation and computerisation, the second one is

more related to algorithmic thinking, parametric modelling and scripting cultures.

An algorithm is a recipe, method, or technique for doing something[1].

- Definition of ‘Algorithm’

[1]Definition of ‘Algorithm’ in Wilson, Robert A. and Frank C. Keil, eds (1999). The MIT Encyclo-pedia of the Cognitive Sciences (London: MIT Press), pp. 11, 12

[2]Peters, Brady. (2013) ‘Computation Works: The Building of Algorithmic Thought’, Architec-tural Design, 83, 2, pp. 08-15

2020

This pavilion is one of my favorite projects for the

algorithmic architecture. The special shape and sur-

face of it is quite brilliant both in daytime and night;

besides, either the experiences of looking from out-

side and inside are fabulous. Wolfgang Buttress took

the idea of the beehive for this project and it is one of

the first pavilions to complete for 2015 Milan Expo. The

idea of the shape is to highlight the plight of honey-

bee and provides an “immersive sensory experience”

for visitors, also leave visitors with a “lasting flavor of

the British landscape”. The dome structured the site

at the end of a meandering wildflower meadow that

leads visitors to the “hive”. For inside, a sensory com-

position of audio and visual effects wills mimic the

activity of an existing beehive in Nottingham.

Reference to the design of the pavilion, it is con-

structed and framed by the digital architectural meth-

ods. It is comprised of a 14 meters lattice structure and

made from 169,300 pieces of aluminum and steel.

The accuracy calculations and designed process are

taken use of the computerization to built the surface

by the regular shaped aluminum and steel. Intensive

structure for the whole project indicated that the digi-

tal design method is necessary for the design process.

The generative design is obvious shown by this project

for the reason that it demonstrates the possibilities of

biomimetic structures can be perfectly realized by

algorithm design. Besides, the efficiency of materials

choices can be improved during the computerization.

Computerisation becomes more and more popular

and necessary for nowadays’s architectural design

and creates more possibilities of changeable times.

Figure 14

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UK PAVILION, MILAN EXPOW

olfgang Buttress

Figure 15

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This project is the last one of the “structural shingle” group of projects taken by Marc FORNES & THEVERYMANY

and it is a new permanent installation located in France. This group of projects are famous for the parametric

design, the efficiency of materials and particular the “structural shingle” of the project. It is made up of pleated

aluminium sheets that related to the firm’s computational design technique. Taking advanced, mature com-

puterisation design for creating new styles of sculptures, discovering more possibilities of architecture during the

design process. Digital technology is useful for ensuring successful constructability but demonstrate alternative

methods of design using computers[1].

To consider about its form, the design was devel-

oped through computational protocols of structural

form finding, descriptive geometry, and stress flow

driven porosity. A voluminous space was created

with minimal lightweight material for the reason

that a 2D network of lines as a footprint inflates and

expands in the air. According to the structure, this

project built a body of research into lightweight,

self-supporting systems that unify skin, structure,

ornamentation and spatial experience. Named with

the “structural shingle”, it is made up of 990 shingles,

each overlapping their neighbour to form tangential

continuity and rigidity.

The computational design technique simultane-

ously serves as the project’s structure, enclosure,

and its primary architectural component. This offers

that once generation algorithm completed for one

project, we can create what we want actually for

our ideas. Figure 16

PLEATED INFLATIONMARC FORNES & THEVERYMANY

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Figure 17

Figure 18 23

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A.4CONCLUSION

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Figure 19

In order to achieve sustainable ways for architectural design, which improving the efficiency, discovering more

possible materials, inspiring creations by computerization. Designers have changed their ways of illustrating ideas

by computations, such as CAD. For further, some of them have shifted to computerization, which generating

forms to create what they want in their minds. For me, I prefer the computerization, for the reason that I find it is

brilliant to enjoy the process of creating designs with various kinds of possibilities. Grasshopper is the software for

digital fabrication, algorithmic design we learned for improving skills of innovative architecture. Using the grass-

hopper to inspire the idea, and then to develop it, enjoy the changing process and achieve the result. This is the

new approach for architects to make designs that is different to past ways.

It is significant to design in this digital way as for the development of the society, changing with times

is the best way for this area, also for human beings. Taking use of the technology to create better

design in a more efficient way for more sustainable lifestyle. For architects, they will enjoy more con-

venient methods for working. For people, they will achieve better environment for living, working and

relaxing.

According to last three weeks, refer to all staff I have

learned, the part A is an introduction for the future, for the most

advanced digital architecture design technology. Whit the

high-speed development of the modern society, the changes

of the situation of the nature, the world, it is time for designers,

architects to change their attitudes, their thoughts, their meth-

ods about architecture. Obviously nowadays, sustainability is

the most important mind for any areas; thus, for architecture,

to consider it in a different emphasis; instead of the functional

aspect, preferred concerning on the relationship with environ-

ment.

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A.5. Learning Outcomes

During last three weeks, from a stranger of the fabrication design to be a beginner of com-

puterization. My understanding of architecture achieved obvious improvement for this discipline.

For one hand, I feel that digital designing and computerization by using grasshopper offers more

possibilities to future, better life and a different way of thinking. For another hand, the limitation

of being a beginner of algorithmic thinking, makes me comprehend that I should learn more

about the digital design, understand the future thinking better. With the learning of grasshopper,

it brings me better thinking about the relationship between nature and architecture. It is closer

and more comprehensive for us to understand nature as a consequence. Modeling is not just

a representation of my finished idea or design; it also can be a process of designing, provides

much more possibilities for the improvement of the idea, even of the materials and improves ef-

ficiency of designing; particularly expresses and illustrates more sustainable thinking and under-

standing about architecture.

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A.6. Appendix

Algorithmic Sketches

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PICTURE REFERENCESFigure 1: http://www.domusweb.it/en/news/2014/04/01/oma_axel_springer.html

Figure 2: http://www.archdaily.com/490298/oma-tops-big-buro-ole-scheeren-to-design-axel-springer-campus-in-berlin

Figure 3: http://www.archdaily.com/459281/big-oma-buro-os-to-com-pete-for-new-media-campus-in-berlin

Figure 4: http://www.detail.de/artikel/oma-scheeren-big-drei-finalisten-bei-springer-wettbewerb-in-berlin-11528/

Figure 5: http://oma.eu/projects/idea-vertical-campus

Figure 6: http://3d-entrepreneurs.blogspot.com.au/2010/10/pragmatics-and-precedents.html

Figure 7: http://oma.eu/projects/idea-vertical-campus

Figure 8: http://www.evolo.us/architecture/car-park-proposal-for-hong-kong-interface-studio-architects/

Figure 9: http://www.evolo.us/architecture/car-park-proposal-for-hong-kong-interface-studio-architects/

Figure 10:http://www.evolo.us/architecture/car-park-proposal-for-hong-kong-interface-studio-architects/

Figure 11: http://www.archdaily.com/275460/kroed-chun-qing-li-of-pavil-ion-architecture/kreod_pavilions_0002

Figure 12:http://blog.bellostes.com/?cat=138

Figure 13:http://www.archdaily.com/275460/kroed-chun-qing-li-of-pavil-ion-architecture/jro_9302

Figure 14: http://www.bdonline.co.uk/milans-british-pavilion-promises-to-be-the-queen-bee/5073298.article

Figure 15: http://www.archdaily.com/632916/gallery-the-top-5-world-expo-pavilions

Figure 16: http://www.ozdoof.com/cool-structures-design/

Figure 17: http://inhabitat.com/marc-fornes-ultralight-informal-amphitheater-in-france-looks-like-an-opening-chrysalis/marc-fornes-theverymany-chrysalis-3/

Figure 18: http://www.arch2o.com/the-chrysalis-marc-fornes-theveryma-ny/

Figure 19: http://xsalas.com/post/100478061978

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