STUDIO AIR

Youn Hwa Lee

2013STUDIO AIR

Youn Hwa Lee

2013

table of contents

INTRODUCING ME

MY PREVIOUS WORK

ARCHITECTURE AS DISCOURSE

COMPUTATIONAL ARCHITECTURE

PARAMETRIC MODELLING

CONCLUSION

LEARNING OUTCOME

ALGORITHMIC EXPLORATIONS

1

2

3

7

16

19

20

21

CASE OF INNOVATIONV

INTRODUCING ME

Hi I am Youn Hwa or as known as Yoona. I am 20 years old, third year student major in architec-ture. I was born in Republic of Korea and lived in a small city Christchurch in New Zealand for 5 years. I lived by the beach called Sumner for 2 years, where I still miss. However for better environ-ment for my education, I have moved to Mel-bourne in 2009.

When I was a child, my parents took me to lots of different countries such as United State, United Kingdom, Italy, France, China and many more. All of those experience influenced my perspective. I started to get interested in architecture when I first read an architecture megazine a few years ago. Later I found out it was the Villa Dall’avall by one of the masteres, Rem Koolhaas. Also fascinated by Zaha Hadid’s abstracted and curvy form. She broke my stereotypes of what architecture looks like. T, not only design purpose, continued my inter-est.. Not only design purpose, the idea of making spaces and making a house for certain purpose continued my interest of architecture.

rem koolhaas villa dall’avachristchurch cathedral,

christchurch, 19ad

KYUNG-BOK PALACE, SEOUL, 13 ad

MY PREVIOUS WORK

architecture as a discourse

Figure 1Frank gehry, Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, 1997

“We are led to think about buildings as individual works of art.” 1

Architecture is not just simply designed building. They are considered to be suitable for the surrounding environment, space and movement of people, as architectural experience is composed with every senses. The design of facade reflect the social and culture of the period as well as the architect’s tectonic, “We expect them to be expressions of their time as well as of their individual creator.” (Williams, Architecture and Visual Culture:Definitions,Concepts,Contexts, p. 105) Either lots of ornaments or no ornaments, aesthetics exists. It is expected to be refined and stylish. Aesthetics on facade had been associated with architecture for centuries. Which means that as the country or community opens a new period, the revolution is adapted in architecture as well? Today the new innovation, the parametric design began in 21st century is still developing with computer softwares. Gateway Project has to be design considering all of these criteria to satisfy others.

New technology creates new design. Experimenting constantly, moving forward step by step, to a new generation. Computer has become an important tool for architecture. It opens a wider range of design potential. Frank Gehry designed Bilbao Guggenheim Museum in Spain in 1997. It is enormous dynamic deconstruction architecture with layers of steel plates without any column. Gehry is well known for using aircraft modelling software, where he can find the system enables to transforming his design. In addition, he invented software with a new algorithm to take further of his design. ‘An algorithm is an unambiguous, precise systematically to a set of tokens or objects.’ 2 The Fig. 2 and 3 is a lady’s clothe shop in Hangzhou in China. The Romanticism Shop is by Japanese architects Keiichiro Sako and Takeshi Ishizaka of SAKO Architects. Keiichiro Sako said “The client asked me for a design that no one could copy...the clothes and the relationship between body and space.” 3 Reflecting on the clothes, they have clothed the facade, and around the walls. The organic net shape works as the ‘skin’of the architecture.

1 Williams, Richard ‘Architecture and Visual Culture: Definitions, Concepts, Contexts’, ed. by Mattew Rampley, Edin burgh University Press, 2005, p.105

2 Wilson, Robert A. and Frank C. Keil, ‘Definition of algorithm’, The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences, London: MIT Press 1999), p.11

The exterior of is more like a sculpture rather than an architecture. It is made out of steel frame and Titanium Sheathing. The Romanticism shop has an organic shape of the curve and circles that flows in front of the building. The facade certainly attracts people’s eyes as it sticks out. Also more like an art work. Architecture can be considered as a large piece of a complex sculpture. The aesthetic is as important as the function of the building. ‘the term architecture applies only to buildings designed with a view to aesthetic appeal... the good architect requires the sculptor’s and the painter’s modes of vision in addition to his own spatial imagination.’(Williams, Architecture and Visual Culture:Definitions,Concepts,Contexts, p. 103)

3 Mr Blunt, ‘An interview with keiichiro Sako (JP)’, in movingcities.org, < http://movingcities.org/interviews/mr-blunt/> [accessed 13 March 2013]

Figure 2The Romanticism Shop, Keiichiro Sako and Takeshi Ishizaka of SAKO Architects, Hangzhou, 2007

Figure 3The Romanticism Shop, Keiichiro Sako and Takeshi Ishizaka of SAKO Architects, Hangzhou, 2007

computational architecture

“ The three steps of digital design processes are, First, shape is created and modified through digitize data and factor, then re-modified and shape is created due to architect’s intuition and finally adapting various digitalized codes pres-ents a final model.”

figure 5ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011, ICD and ITKE, University of Stuttgart,2011

In past 10 years, computation changed design tool for architects from basic design to final design, and in consequence it changed the process of design. Through pre-Renaissance to digitization, exploit process of design. From Ivan Sutherland’s Sketchpad in 1968, the first use of computer in architecture industry, to Rhino Grasshopper, computer has become an essential tool for architects. It changed how architects design, in form, style and how they progress. Computer-Aided Design programs do not only draw lines and geometries, they are now prerequisite in digital design. The process of digital design process can be divided in to three steps (Fig. 4). First, shape is created and modified through digitize data and factor, then re-modified and shape is created due to architect’s intuition and finally adapting various digitalized codes presents a final model. CAD certain is a revolutionary in architecture.

The difference between art and architecture is that architecture requires aesthetic and function. It needs to consider other circumstances such as the environment of the site, space, movement, acoustics and so on. So the design in architecture takes in part of problem solving. “Problem analysis plays a major role in the process of design” 4 Following solver’s capability and solve them rationally. From simple shelter to skyscraper, design has

developed and is still developing. Architects solve problems relating to mostly the envi-ronment of the site. To work out, architects needs to keep educating themselves to understand the problem and to solve them with most effective solution quickly.

In pre-Renaissance only crafting existed. “Buildings, prior to the Renaissance, were constructed, not planned” 5 The constructed buildings were unplanned, undersigned or no models to follow, but instead a legion of profes-sional craftsmen assigned from head to toe with every details under strict rules. Since Renaissance, architects commerce visualizing everything of the building before it started construction. Using such as scale drawings, job of architect transformed from technicians to designers.5 Afterward, scale models were introduced for people without architectural knowledge such clients, can understand and see how the building is going to be built. Communicating with plan and section drawings and models helped the builders to understand what the archi-tect wants in graphics and numbers. Furthermore, they help the architects to find and fix errors. “Drawings and scale models allowed architect not only to communicate with the builders and their clients, but also to experi-ment with alternative design solutions and test them on paper for form and function before they were commit-ted to stone. They allowed more people to become involved in the design process, and allowed the architects to develop more intricate designs.” 6

Since 1960s, Computer-Aided Design programs grew. Especially in past 10 years, design process of archi-tecture had intimate relation with digital technology. Computer is a new necessary tool for designing archi-tecture. As the use of computer increased, the development of programs expended. Computer, if correctly programmed, will never make a mistake such as mathematics, unless the users do. They are programmed to do thing faster and repeatedly. Human can do the same job but it takes longer and chance of error increases. Initially, computer

Figure 4Three steps of designing digital architecture

Initially, computer was designed to calculate mass equations for military use during World Wars and now it is a device that process codes. Computer surely can get very complicated and be able to perform that most human cannot do. Nonetheless, computers cannot design. 7

Architects can now design complicated forms easily by throwing in codes for parameters and edit the result as they come through computer software in few seconds. This could mean architects need to be more creative and experimental. Much more complex algorithms with self-generation or self organiza-tion concept opened a new world of creativity for architecture.8 As it frees from physical restriction, architects can be as creative then ever. Due to limit-less, it is significant to make a physical model to find problems and fix it before it is constructed and cost fortune. Representative of digital architecture is non-linear. They are different from linear science, they can be understood inside non-linear paradigm, organism, complexity and new biology. The ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011 (Fig.5) is by ICD and ITKE, in University of Stuttgart. It is a pavilion made up of polygonal plywood plates in overall shape of semi sphere with biome shape. “The project explores the architectural transfer of biological principles of the sea urchin’s plate skeleton morphology by means of novel com-puter-based design and simulation methods, along with computer-controlled manufacturing methods for its building implementation.”9 It is an example of a model that started with the topic of sea morphology (Fig. 6) and developed a pattern on surface through process of computation (Fig. 7 and 8).

Figure 7Digitalized and developed sea urchin

Figure 6sea urchin

figure 8ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion 2011, ICD and ITKE,

University of Stuttgart,2011

figure 9Sketch of disney concert hall, frank gehry 1999-03

figure 10model of disney concert hall, frank gehry, 1999-03

“The project aims at integrating the performative capacity of biological structures into architectural de-sign and at testing the resulting spatial and structural material-systems in full scale”9 The shapes and pat-terns are modified using algorithms, architect’s intuition changes over and over until it is satisfied using a soft-ware such as Rhino Grasshopper. Digital architecture goes through Digitize, Digital Processing and Digital Presentation. First, digitize an idea or a sketch through program then, develop design and present the final work. So step one, different codes and factors are thrown in to digitize, step two, generate and edit the form by the user to create their own shape and finally visualize. The works done by following those steps are automatically made by computer and have modify-ing system that needs to be controlled by users.10 As it mentioned in former chapter, Frank Gehrey used a software CATIA, primarily a 3D model design program for aircraft and cars. Gehrey and his team then have transferred the 3d model data into Computer Numeric Control Mill, which is a 3D printer.11

4 Yehuda E. Kalay, Architecture’s New Media : Principles, Theories, and Methods of Computer-Aided Design (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2004), p.15 Yehuda E. Kalay, Architecture’s New Media , p.86 Yehuda E. Kalay, Architecture’s New Media , p.97 S.J. Lee, A Comparative Study on the Architectural Design Process of Frank O.Gehry and Peter Eisenman After the Introduction of Digital Technology, (Department of Architecture & Architectural Engineering Graduate School Dankook University, 2002) p.228 S.J. Lee, A Comparative Study on the Architectural Design Process p.389 University of Stuggart, ‘ 2011 ICD Research Project’, in University of Stuggart, <http://icd.uni-stuttgart.de/?p=6553> [accessed 21 March 2013]10 S.J. Lee, A Comparative Study on the Architectural Design Process p.4411 S.J. Lee, A Comparative Study on the Architectural Design Process p.41

The difference between Gehry and ICD and ITKE is that Gehry would draw a sketch or make a sketch model before the digitalization. He would do a quick sketch (FIg. 9 and 10) and his workers would digitize the inspiration he finds from accidents, movements, momentary creating curve. Innovating consequence in design, architects have gained a new digital lab that broke construction limitation as well as software.

With a new tool computer, the way of designing architecture changed considerably. However no mat-ter how easily a complex shape is created, it is still architects who have make decisions and still design by modifying codes. The limitless of virtual world have caused more experimental design which broadened creativity.v

disney concert hall, los angeles, frank gehry, 1999-03

parametric modelling

Galleria Centercity Facade in Cheonan was a project done by Ben van Berkel in UNStudio. Galleria department store has multifunctional facilities where customers can fulfill their luxury and causal shopping as well as cultural values. Ben van Berkel commented “ Social and semi-cultural meeting places” and the idea of the design is a propeller principle of fluent upstream flow of people. With four staked programmed zones, each thematically combine three storey.12 As men-tioned in previous writing, Berkel have developed a pattern from the idea of propeller outcome of dynamic flow.

Using 23,000 LED lights creates media facade. It is programmed to light various colour waves on the glaze of the facade as well as they can display any images or messages. They produced maximum media with minimum fixture. “The skin is articulated in a trompe l’oeuil pattern of vertical mullions making the building vertually scale-less as the structure provides no hint as to how many stories it contains.” 13 In the daytime the dynamic flow still appears on the exterior. (Fig. 11) As there are double layers for the exterior wall,(Fig.12) The outer and inner layer intercept and they are in an angle, set ups a wave. Interestingly, the view of the surface changes in different angle.

galeria centercity facade, cheonan, ben van berkel 2010

The aesthetic of the building would had been crucial in the progress of designing for the luxury and trendy look to reflect the building’s purpose it was relevant to use parametric modeling as it is a new trend in architecture. The wavy pattern would have been designed with software using mathematical interfaces. By using this mathemat-ics, Berkel would have been able to modify the intensity of the curve.

12 Galleria Centercity / UNStudio in arch daily, <http://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_5_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_262336_1%26url%3D> [access on 1 April 2013]

13 Galleria Centercity / UNStudio in arch daily, <http://app.lms.unimelb.edu.au/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_5_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_262336_1%26url%3D> [access on 1 April 2013]

figure 11galeria centercity facade, cheonan, ben van berkel 2010

figure 12detail of galeria centercity facade

figure 13galeria centercity facade, cheonan, ben van berkel 2010

To attract visitors to former kaoliang mine in Cornwall, United Kingdom, the Eden project constructed under Nicholas Grimshaw. It is 22,000 meter square world’s largest indoor rain forest made in series of eight geodesic pattern dome linked together (Fig. 14). The re-cursion of transparent tessellate hexagon forms the spherical shape successfully in space and function.(Fig. 15) Patterns help the designers the new complexity imposed on them by paramet-ric modeling.13 Arranging eight domes and modify the shape as they combine. The fitting in to the site commenced at very last stage, the mine was not evacuated until the late stage of the design process, because it is a parametric modeling, he was able to modify the shape easily.

figure 14plan and section drawing of the eden project

the eden project, cornwall, nicholas grimshaw, 2000

Grimshaw used one of the modern materials that enable the greenhouse effect. Ethylene tetrachlo-roethylene as known as ETFE is a fluorine based plastic;15 it is designed to resist broad range of temperature change and durability of abrasion. It has a weakness of easily ripped, nonetheless it is transparent, has a high melting point and strong enough to resist weather. Compare to glass, they are much lighter and cheaper. It can be recycled so it is economically and environmentally efficient.

14 Woodbury, Robert (2010). Elements of Parametric Design (London: Routledge) pp.8

15 The Eden Project: The Biomes in Grimshaw, <http://grimshaw-architects.com/project/the-eden-project-the-biomes/> [access on 1 April 2013]

figure 15the eden project, cornwall, nicholas grimshaw, 2000

conclusion

Architecture is a solution of design. Contrast-ing from art is that arhitecture needs to reflect on habitat, communication, concept, technol-ogy, aesthetics and a lot more to consider. For Wyndaham Gateway Project we are using parametric programs to create a flashy eye catching, innovating gateway in a high-way. From use of basic lines and geometries, computer softwares are now developed enough to be in a part of the design. The pat-terns and dynamic movement of parametric form certainly stands out from other ordinary building or installation.

In the last decade, computers have become a fundamental tool in designing process of architecture. The increase of computer-aided design have changed how design progress. Run through CAD program that now creates by data and factors, and adjust them until the architect is satisfied. The virtual world opened a new door for designers’ creativity as there is no limitation. Also 3D printing is available by using 3D modeling programs. Without ex-ception, the Wyndaham Gateway Project will go through the same procedure. First, find a topic and parametric shape that interests me and develop in to a design model that grati-fies the conditions required from the client in this case the judges.

The new exploratory design parametric design is the new format in architecture. It is not just a temporary style; it has now become one of the design processes. Parametric is a tool to capture design decision in “ an explicit, auditable, editable and re-executable form” By using mathematic interface, shapes and patterns are formed and architect make adjustments to the formula to change the shape. The key idea of parametric modeling is to revise the codes. In our case, we would change the components or number of the number slide to manipulate the intensity, size and shape.

Parametric modeling, grasshopper, algorithm and tesselation, in past 4 weeks, I believe I have learned more than ever about parametric design. I have used rhino for the previous course Virtual Environment. However I did not use them ever since first year, because I felt more comfortable with Auto CAD and Google Sketchup. I have wondered before how that kind of pattern is is formed? And how do they make such a complex form that does not seem like it’s possible. From first class, the questions were answered. It was very surprising to me that they are made up by codes and scripts Grasshopper was very new for me. I am not accustomed plugging in the components instead of doing it straight on Rhino. If I knew how to use Grasshopper, I defiantly would have used for mak-ing patterns and skeleton form in my previous design studio. Parametric model-ing is a new architecture style, and since I am the new generation of architect (If I become an architect) or designer, I know that this course is going to help me a lot for next decades or so on. Again I felt that the time management is very important for studio subjects but especially Studio Air, I need to constantly experiment with grasshopper because knowing more commands will support my design. I have also learned how to use Adobe InDesign, I always used Microsoft Power point or Adobe Photoshop for my portfolios but since it needs like hundred pages, I found InDesign really useful. I am looking forward what I am going to learn and what I will be capable of doing in after few weeks.

lerning outcome

EXPLODING THE DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENTLOFTING AND STATE CAPTURE

TRIANGULATION ALGORITHMS

Mesh Geometry

Vector Fundamentals

The Single, the Multiple, and the Many