ARCHITECTURE STUDIO - AIRLAM GEE WAI 372547

Studio AirArchitecture Design

Lam Gee Wai 372547

CONTENT

WYNDHAM CITY GATEWAY PROJECT

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TCHI

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EXCITINGINSPIRING

VISUAL ARTLONGIVITY

DAY AND NIGHT TIME VIEWING

EXPERIENCE IN HIGH SPEED CAR MOVEMENT

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INDICATION OF METROPOLITAN MELBOURNE

ICONICENRICHES MUNICIPALITY

A. EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Seeds of Change is a past install-ment comissioned by Wyndham City Council, which is a10 me-tre high structure designed to welcome home residents, and attract visitors, to the City of Wyndham. It is located at the eastern interchange (first turn-off to Werribee from Melbourne) on the Princes Highway. However, its static nature of the installation fails to draw people’s attention. Also, the scale of the installation does not allow drivers to have enough experience time in high speed driving.

In recent years, Wyndham City has been addressing the issue of its image by undertaking significant works to upgrade the condition and aesthetics of its streetscapes, open spaces and parks. As part of this program, it has established this Gateway Project.

ARCHITECTURAL DISCOURSE CHURCH OF LIGHT, OSAKA

“In all my works, light is an important controlling factor”- Tadao Ando

Tadao Ando often uses Zen philosophies when conceptualizing his structures. One theme he ex-presses in this work is the dual nature of existence as a discourse. The space of the chapel is defined by light, the strong contrast between light and sol-id. In the chapel light enters from behind the altar from a cross cut in the concrete wall that extends vertically from floor to ceiling and horizontally from wall to wall, aligning perfectly with the joints in the concrete. At this intersection of light and solid the occupant is meant to become aware of the deep division between the spiritual and the secu-lar within himself or herself. One feature of the interior is its discourse of pro-found emptiness. Many who enter the church say they find it disturbing. The distinct void space and absolute quiet amounts to a sense of serenity. For Ando the idea of ‘emptiness’ means something different. It is meant to transfer someone into the realm of the spiritual. The emptiness is meant to invade the occupant so there is room for the ‘spiri-tual’ to fill them.Besides the interior, the architecture itself forms a huge contrast with its surrounding neighbourhood: a whole block of concrete conpared to the co-lourful adjacent residential dwellings. The Church of Light breaks the cultural norms that church has to be classic and grand. Instead, it shows that with raw finishing and simple boxy layout, the church can still brings out a sacred feeling as a discourse to people.The Church of Light gives an insight to me on the gateway project that the message conveyed by the architecture is more important than the details revealed by the structure. Also, the use of light in this church brings a dramatic effect to the whole building. I shall further investigate on lighting effect afterwards.

Architect: Tadao AndoCompleted: 1989b

ARCHITECTURAL DISCOURSEKARTAL-PENDIK MASTERPLAN, ISTANBUL

Though parametricism has its roots in the digital animation techniques of the mid-1990s, it has only fully emerged in recent years with the develop-ment of advanced parametric design systems. Parametricism has become the dominant, single style for avant-garde practice today. It is particu-larly suited to large-scale urbanism as exemplified by a series of competition-winning master-plans by Zaha Hadid Architects, especially this Kartal-Pendik Masterplan in Istanbul.The Kartal-Pendik Masterplan in Istanbul shows a discourse of inter-connectedness among all ele-ments in the area. The result is an elegant, coher-ently differentiated city-scape that facilitates navi-gation through its lawful constitution and through the architectural accentuation of both global and local field properties. This project inspires me to a great extent that it shows the importance of the relationship between the building and its surroundings. Connections with the surroundings must be carefully considered to enhance the overall built environment.

Architect: Zaha Hadid

“Parametricism is the great new style after modernism. The new style claims relevance on all scales from architecture and interior design to large scale urban design.”- Zaha Hadid

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INNOVATION OF COMPUTATIONBRITISH MUSEUM GREAT COURT

The court has a tessellated glass roof designed by Norman Foster, covering the entire court and sur-rounds the original circular British Museum Reading Room in the centre, now a museum. It is the larg-est covered square in Europe. The glass and steel roof is made up of 4,878 unique steel members connected at 1,566 unique nodes and 1,656 pairs of glass windowpanes making up 6,100m2 of glaz-ing. However, each shape of the glass is unique because of the undulating nature of the roof. As a result, it is nearly impossible to design the glass roof by ordinary method. Instead, the roof is designed with the help of computation. The roof geometry is actually a series of maths functions and with the aid of computer programs, it can be resolved quickly as you will only have to input the data while the computer will do the math. Com-putation is particularly useful in making geometries in architecture, especially in large scale construc-tion, like the Great Court. With computation, construction and design process becomes more time efficient. Also, there would be less mistakes in construction and thus more material and labour efficient.Inspired by the power of computation, I shall try to produce some unique geometry by computer programs on my gateway project. Also, this Great Court project shows how digital design can be materialized into a real structure and this provides an insight to my fabrification of model afterwards.

Architect: Norman FosterComplited: 2000

“The glazed canopy that makes all this pos-sible is a fusion of state-of-the-art engineer-ing and economy of form.”- Norman Foster

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INNOVATION OF COMPUTATION THE NONLIN/LIN PAVILION

French architect Marc Fornes of THEVERYMANY has completed a perforated aluminium pavilion that resembles a giant piece of coral. The Non-Lin/Lin Pavilion has a computer-generated form composed of tubes and donut shapes. Assem-bled from 27 components, the four metre-high structure can be taken apart and reassembled in different locations. Over 155,000 asterisk-shaped perforations of different sizes create a pattern on the surface of the pavilion. This pavilion is a prototype which engages in a se-ries of architectural experiments referred to as text based morphologies. Beyond its visual perception of sculptural and formal qualities, the prototypes are built forms developed through custom com-putational protocols. The parameters of these protocols are based on form finding (surface relaxation), form description (composition of de-velopable linear elements), information modeling (re-assembly data), generational hierarchy (dis-tributed networks), and digital fabrication (logistic of production).This is a good example showing how computation can help to create difficult forms and patterns, especially the 155,000 asterisk-shaped perforations of different sizes create a pattern on the surface of the pavilion in this case, which hand craft of this is very time consuming and not as precise as the one did by computatuion. This inspires me in the gateway project that I can create some difficult curvy forms and irrugular patterns with the help of computation.

Architect: Marc Fornes Complited: 2011

“This kind of prototype deviates from a strategy of singular protocols or codes. The emphasis is now focused on multiple ontologisms, which form a sum of many different steps, procedures, and codes, where each component focuses on its own specific fitness.”- Marc Fornes

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FROM PRECEDENCES TO MY DESIGN

Tadao Ando’s attention to-wards the balance and feel-ing of the whole design in-stead of focusing on details is delightful. I shall pay more attention to the overall bal-ance of the design with the environment. Also, his design with lighting is another major thing I learned and I will care-fully encorporate lighting in my design.

Zaha Hadid is one of my fa-vourite architecture that her design always interrect with the landscape very well. I shall learn from her consid-erations on landscape fac-tors, such as topography and shape of the site and consid-er these factors in my design.

the great court gives me an insight of the power of com-puter fabrifaction. Computer fabrication can do some-thing that the ordinary ap-proach cannot do and this give me a strong reason to adopt computer fabrication in my design to unlesh the potential of my design.

This pavilion is similar to my design intent that I want to build something dynamic and wavy. The use of mate-rial and the geometry of this pavilion gives me an indica-tion of the expected out-come of my design. Also, the geometry is a strong exam-ple showing with computer scripting can do and I am strongly convinced by it.

Arbitrary Points

Boolean Patterning

Curve Intersections

Surface Grids

Arbitrary points uses points and surface and the points on the surface will re-spond and create certain outcomes. As an input, it can produce different effects by using combinations of different asso-ciations and output.

Boolean pattering demonstrate how patterns can emerge out of the selec-tion of points. It selects points based on the boolean patterning to create a di-agonal gap throughout the pattern.

Curve intersection extracts the exist-ing information for points. From these points, they can by controled to interect together and create interesting geom-etries.

Surface grids simply divide a surface into grids of points. After divided into grids, different association and output can be connected to create different desirable outcomes.

COMBINATION OF MATRIX

Explict Grids: Square and Hexagonal

Overlapping Patterns

Surface Normals

Works similar to a surface divide, but square grids make more equal in both directions and the arrangements are in the x and y directions. However, hex-agonal grids provide diagonal arrange-ments.

Overlapping patterns create offsets to the orginal surface and produce a layer on top or above. Overlapping patterns can be used to connect with other as-sociations and outputs to create a dy-namic form of patterns.

Surface normals are surfaces that are free formed instead of flat. It is similar to a flat surface that different associations and output can be connected to pro-duce different outcome. Instead, the outcome on a surface normal is more dynamic and interesting.

COMBINATION OF MATRIX

Dior Giza is designed by Kumiko Inui who draw inspiration from the cannage pattern of the signature Lady Dior handbag. The facade was developed as a double-layed skin comprised of two independent surface: an outer perforated layer seperated from an inner, printed layer which is fibre-optically illuminated. In the inner layer, the cannage pattern is scaled down 30%, which combined with the offset between the two layers to produce a hazy, moire effect.

The facade of this building is a good example show-ing the power of parametric design in creating virtual images by overlaying several screens at a certain dis-tance in between them. In this reversed engerneered case study, we are trying the reproduce the same ef-fect by using grasshopper.

Process one:In the first step, we first create a surface and we use surface divide to make a grid of circle dots. Then we use an image of the dior cannage pattern in the im-age sampler to arrange the size of the dots accord-ing to the cannage pattern. This basically makes the outer layer, which resembles the outer facade of the Dior Ginza.

Process two:After we create the outer layer, we move on to the in-ner layer. As mentioned, the inner layer consist of dots that are 30% smaller and are 34cm apart from the outer layer. We do this by overlap pattern in grasshopper. We make an offset of 34cm and reduce the radius of the dots by 30% and we successfully create the inner layer.

The Dior Ginza facade, which uses overlapping pat-tern to create virtual images deeply inspires us and we have further developed this idea into our design.

INNOVATION OF COMPUTATION DIOR GINZA Architect: Kumiko InuiComplited: 2011

‘The Dior facade presents itself like an architectureal ap-parition; a ghost like volume articulated solely through the luminous effects of its carefully edited surface’- Kumiko Inui

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After making design decision, we have to materialize the design to further explore the possibility of the design. We fabricate two sheets of polyproplene sheet with grids of perforations associated with image sam-pler, with the perforations in the inner sheet 30% smaller than the other sheet. We suc-cessfully produce virtual images with a moire effect.

FABRICATING STUDY MODEL

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1. Polyproplene sheet with peforations created by im-age sampler

2. Offset layers

3. Looking from inside cre-ates a different experience

4. Perforations in the inner layer is 30% smaller, the scalar difference creates a moire effectPATTERN STUDY

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After studying the pattern, we now take an investigation on how lighting will affect the design. Polyproplene works very well with lighting as it is semi translucent and it glows with lighting behind. The perforations is illuminated with lighting behind, creating an interesting pattern. We also tried a colour gradient with different colour of light. The gradient is clearly reflected on the surface of the poly-proplene.

FABRICATING STUDY MODEL LIGHTING STUDY

1. Polyproplene sheet glows with lighting behind

2. Perforations are illuminated with lighting behind

3. Colour gradient is clearly re-flected on the surface of the material

4. Picture showing details of il-lumination of the double layers

The site is located next to Princes High-way in Wyndham city, which is in the boundary between metropolitan Mel-bourne and the rural areas. Furthermore, princes highway is the major connection of the rural areas in the south west to the Melbourne city. Therefore, the site serve a significant function of indicating the boundary.With the great significance of the site, we understand that the gateway design will become a landmark welcoming drivers from the south east to the city. Also, the gateway will act as a local landmark to promote the Wyndham city. As a result, We focus our design concept on Wynd-ham city’s rich water resources, such as rivers, wetland reserves and the largest water treatment plant in melbourne. With the concept of water, the gate-way design will form a network with its surrounding local water resources. It will be able to represent wyndham city as it encorporates its important local feature - water. With the concept of water, the gate-way design will also be able to arouse people’s attention on the precious water resource in Wyndham city, especially the Graham wetland reserve and Cheetham wetland, which are important habitat to various indigenous animal and plant species.

DESIGN CONCEPT: WATER MOVEMENT

We have the concept of fluid motion in the design to indicate the importance of the adjacent wetland. We first draw the shape of a water droplet and try to produce a long and narrow design which flows dy-namically beside the road.

Control Points Curve

Option 1: Image Sampler

Option 2: Pattern Overlay

Option 3: Data Driven Extrusion

Option 4: Data Driven Rotation

Control Points Curve

Lofting

Rebuild surface

Makeing 2D shape

Surface frame is used to divided the sur-face to produce grids of dots. The dots are arranged in different size by the im-age in the image sampler to produce a unique pattern. The outcome is satisfac-tory as the pattern is easily seen.

Inspired by the Dior Ginza facade, we found the overlaying pattern very inter-esting. We tried the pattern overlay with the association of image sampler and wish to produce virtual images. The result is satisfactory and we look forward to it.

Extrusion is made on the dots on the grid. The extrusion follows the association of the image in the image sampler to pro-duce a dynamic wave form.

The dots in the grid begins to rotate away from its original position following the as-sociation of the image in the image sam-pler. Some dots were rotated out of the surfac.

Preparing to loft

Making 3D surface

Modifying the surface

DESIGN CONCEPT

After expermenting with different asso-ciation and output, we have decided to adopt the overlaying pattern associated with image sampler. However, we want to refine the design by playing with the light-ing of the installation.

Second Installation in site A

First Installation in site B

After we have decided on the use of overlapping pattern and image sampler as association, we devel-oped our second installation to respond to our first in-stallation. This second installation uses fluid motion as the core idea as well. To fit into the landscape of site A, it is longer in length and follows the shape of the site boundary to produce a landscaped installation. The second installation is located opposite to the first installation, responding to each other to enrich the streetscape.

After we have decided on the use of overlapping pat-tern and image sampler as association, we refine our design by exploring the lighting effect in the stallation. We use Data Driven Shading to produce two contrast-ing colour on the inner layer according to the pattern of the image in the image sampler. This contrast in co-lour produce a colour gradient to the installation and produce an more interesting virtual image through the overlapping pattern.

REFINING CONCEPT

FEEDBACK - The reson for using Image Sampler as the patterning is not strong enough- Need more detail research to justify that virtual images can be created by the offset layers- A tunnel version of the design may be interesting- Proper resoning is needed to justify the scale of the design- Research has to been done on how the drivers will experience the design in high speed car movement- The concept of water is too general- The study model produced is too simple, which is different from the design- Have to figure out the method of fabrication of the design- Have to be specific on the positioning of lights

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT After the EOI, feedbacks were given by the tutor and we have taken their advice and modify our design concept in 4 ways:

DESIGN CONCEPT

Forms

Moire effect

We have developed the original concept of wa-ter into a more specific water form - waves. With the study model, we explore its potential by rolling and twisting it. Finally we have designed a cano-py with a narrow end to a broad end, with up and downs resembling a wave form.

We continue to adopt the idea of producing vir-tual images - a moire effect by using the offest layers. Each layers have the same geometry, with the size of the perforations on the inner layer 30% smaller than the outer layer. The scalar dissonance will create a moire effect to the drivers who look at it. The moire effects also relates to wave to a large extent because it is like looking through the water, blur and moire.

Geometry

The 3 experiences

We have used Image Sampler to produce a pat-tern before, however the result is not satisfactory as it lacks a proper resoning. This time we go back to basic and decide to use points attractor as the method to produce the pattern. The result looks satisfactory as the pattern is simple and elegant, with the size of the perforation differs in a definite way instead of a random way by the image sam-pler.

The 3 experiences will be the core idea of the whole design. With the design concept of wave forms, we expect the drivers to have 3 different experiences depends on the road they have cho-sen. On one side of the canopy, drivers will expe-rience a giant wave approaching. On the other side, the drivers will experience a wave receed-ing. In the middle, which is the road coverd by the canopy, the drivers will have a experience sur-rounded by water turbulance with many bubbles.

B. PROJECT PROPOSAL

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT SITE ANALYSIS

The canopy, with 300m long, 60m wide and 40m tall is located between West Road and Princes Freeway, covering part of Princes High-way. By putting in this location, the goal of giving drivers 3 different experiences can be achieved: the tunnel and the two sides of the canopy.

Also, the shape of the canopy fits exactly into the landscape and interrect with the site well. This is due to the consideration of landscape factors, such as topograpy and shape during the design process. The length of the canopy, which is 300m is definitely enough for the drivers to gain enough experiences during high speed driving.

Being located in the prominent location on the fringe of Metropolitan Melbourne area, the wave form design can successfully represent Wyndham in regards to its rich water resources in the area. Also, the canopy is eye catching enough to become a landmark and welcome drivers to the city.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DESIGN EVOLUTION

Water Droplet

Lofting

Free Transforming

Canopy

The design is inspired by water at first. Our design concept started with water droplet.

In order to create a free form, we decided to use the lofting function in Rhino because it is easier for us to explore different possibil-ites of the free form.

After we do the lofting, we do the free trans-form to make the design look more dynam-ic.

After we have received the comments from the first presentation, we have decided to try a tunnel version of the design. At the same time, we have focused our concept onto wave as water as a concept is too general. We free transform our previous de-sign to make it look more wavy.

Paneling Tools

Grasshopper

For such a large scale design, the curve surfaces are usually made of seperate flat panels packed together to create a curve surface. In order to achieve this, we use the paneling tools in rhino to make flat surface on the curve surface.

After we have created flat surface, we adopted grasshopper to make paramet-ric geometry. We use points attractor to create different size perforations on the surface, making elegant patterns.

Build SurfaceAfter we used the paneling tools, the result may not be satisfactory. Therefore, we have to rebuild some surface to create the form we desire.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT DESIGN EVOLUTION

North East Elevation

Key Perspectives

South Elevation

South West Elevation

FABRICATING FINAL MODEL UNFOLDING AND LASER CUTTING

1. The unfolded pieces being cut on 0.5 mm white card board by laser cutter

2. Building the model

3. Completion of the outer layer of the canopy

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After completing the design, we have to bild the model. As the curve surface has been made of many flat surfaces, it can be unfolded by the unfold command in rhino. After unfolding it, we laser cut it. Using panel-ing tools to create flat surface and then unfold it is an easy way to create curve forms by breaking the curve surface into pieces of flat surfaces. With this method, almost any freeforms can be easily materialized by ma-terials such as card boards.

Cutting and EtchingThere are two techniques to use in laser cutting. By adjust-ing the power of the laser cutter, two effects can be pro-duced: cut and etch. For this unfolded model, the bound-ary and the perforations are needed to be cut. However, the folding lines are to be etched for us to fold easily and to identify the lines.

FABRICATING FINAL MODEL DAY TIME

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1. The canopy design has considered land-scape factor carefully that it fits well into the landscape perfectly

2. The shadow created by the perforations

3. The opening of the canopy, showing the offset layers

4. The other opening of the canopy, drivers drive their vehicles in from this entrance

FABRICATING FINAL MODEL NIGHT TIME

1. At night, lights will be switch on from the inside, the surface of the canopy will glow

2. The perforations are illuminated by the light behind

3. The opening of the canopy, showing the offset layers

4. The canopy will become a landmark and enhance the streetscape with its amazing appearance at night

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FABRICATING FINAL MODEL THE 3 EXPERIENCES

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1. Drivers’ experience on Geelong Road Exit at night2. Drivers’ experience on Geelong Road Exit at day time3. Drivers’ experience on Princes Highway at night4. Drivers’ experience on Princes Highway at day time5. Drivers’ experience on Princes Freeway at day time

After the completion of the model, we took a series of photos similating the 3 different experiences drivers will have on 3 different roads: Princes Highway, Princes Freeway and Geelong Road Exit, and day and night time experiences. All photos are taken close to the groud, similating the drivers’ perspective.

Drivers’ experience on Princes Freeway at night, experiencing a giant wave approaching

CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

White Polycarbonate panel

White Polycarbonate panel

White Polycarbonate panel

Bolt

Bolt

Bolt

Sealant

Steel plate

Steel plate

White Polycarbonate panel

Stainless steel frame (outer layer)

Stainless steel frame (outer layer)

Stainless steel frame

Stainless steel frame (outer layer)

Stainless steel frame (inner layer)

Concrete pad footings

Concrete pad footings

Stainless steel frameStainless steel frame is lightweight, strong and easy to be built, which is more suitable than tim-ber for building such a large scale canopy

Concrete pad footingsIt is the simpliest and cost effective way to sup-port the large stainless steel truss frame above by transfering the point load safely to the ground

Polycarbonate panelIt is cost effective, light weight and available in any colour. It is also weather resistant, which is suitable for structures exposing to outside envi-ronment. Its semi translucent nature allows the canopy to glow in night and produce the desire outcome.

C. LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMEOBJECTIVES

DESIGNING WITH COMPUTERS

COMMUNICATING VISUALLY

ARGUING PERSUASIVELY

APPLYING TECHNICAL SKILLS

Designing with computersI have learned to use computers to make design according to the design brief, and undergo refinment of the design after the crictics and finally use computer to fabricate the final out-come of the design.

Communication via photography and diagrams

Model making skills and computer fabrication

Throughout this semester, I have learned to use high quality photos and vector drawings to communicate visu-ally. I had many chances to practice my visual presentation and I think I have improved on it. I also used study model to make visual exploration to my design process.

I had many chances to practice my model making skills this semester, from various study models to the final model. Also, This is my first time to use comput-er fabrication - the laser cutter. I find it very useful and it definitely release my design potential towards more com-plex freeforms.

PrecedencesThis is my first time to write the EOI and it definitely helps me a lot because I leardned to argue persuasively by cit-ing examples from precedences. Also, I learned to investigate precedence and examine their resons behind, and this help me improve my critical think-ing during the design process

FUTURE PLANS OF LEARNING This is my first time to adopt parametric design and this has definitely change my perspectives in architectural studies. I found that parametric design has become a major stream in modern ar-chitecture. With parametrism, I can design things that is not possible with the normal approach. With the help of computer fabrication, I can even materialize my design easily. This course has definitely given me an insight on my future architectural studies. I will use more parametric design in the future to explore my potential in this field of design. Also, I will definitely use more computer fabrication in the future as it saves a lot more time. I am glad i have taken this course and I think It has changed my life.