air journal 2015

semester 1, 2015tutor: CANHUI CHEN

UT THI HIEN TRAN #633948

AIR

My name is Ut Thi Hien Tran. A Vietnamese international student in Melbourne, Australia.

I am doing Bachelor of Environments majoring in architecture at the University of Melbourne and currently in my third year.

Why architecture?

I do not even know, which is true because it is hard to justify your passion. Architecture is a challenge for me who used to love science and maths back in high school time. I shifted myself from a girl stuffened herself with numbers and formulas to a free one exploring Arts and new notions of herself. And I enjoy it.

PAST DESIGNS

CONCEPTUALISATION 3

4 CONCEPTUALISATION

Table of ContentsCONCEPTUALIZATION 6

DESIGN FUTURING 6

CONCEPTUALIZATION 12

DESIGN COMPUTATION 12


COMPOSITION/GENERATION 22


APPENDIX- ALGORITHMIC SKETCHBOOK 30


CONCLUSION 34


LEARNING OUTCOME 36

CRITERIA DESIGN 40

6 CONCEPTUALISATION

CONCEPTUALIZATION DESIGN FUTURING

PART A

CONCEPTUALISATION 7

D E S I G N FU T U R I N G

As mentioned in the reading “Design Futuring” by Tony Fry, architecture is growing into a critical moment of our human existence, which I think is literally selfish, not only to the planet but also to our own unseen future. Since there is a strong correlation and respond between human race and natural world, we are expected to take the process carefully by balancing creation and destruction which is practically hard. And that is why we need Design.

Design generally has a broader definition that there is not specified border line for it. However, let’s just talk about architecture, what does design do and how should we approach it? To me, the reading has changed my thinking completely. It is not about myself, how I want things to be, but it is more about how things want to be so their habitation and environment will not be affected. Or in another word, sustainability should have been counted and well considered.

Figure 1 is an environmental-solution project by Matt Fajkus Architecture: the Bat House Visitor Center.

FIG 1: THE BAT HOUSE VISITOR CENTER BY MATT FAJKUS ARCHITECTURE

The project is a good example of human-animal, or in a broader image human-nature relationship. I am really interested in the idea of showing our concern also respect as well as protection toward wildlife, in this case the bat species. The project is a strong example of design futuring where human is taking care of the nature for a longer existence of the planet.

FIG 2: ILLUSTRATION BY DUNNE AND RABY

Design can be seen and speculated in different directions and fields under variety of levels of posisbilities and social desires (Fig 2). Within these

areas, design are explored with alternative sceenarios so that it will be more likely to approach better outcomes for defuturing.

I do understand analytical design should be a part of radical design, however, I wonder how we can define the frontier between these zones and that actually has been a block in design since we , human, are not capable of predicting and analysing the outcomes before hand.

8 CONCEPTUALISATION

Fig 3: SkySong ASU: The Scottsdale Innovation Center

SkySong ASU: The Scottsdale Innovation Center

CONCEPTUALISATION 9

built in 2008 in Scottsdale was a massive innovative fabric structure. The design appears to me with a strong image of functionality for shading purposes, also for rainwater collecting.

The rainwater is collected by the tensile membrane then directly transferred down to rainsed planting beds located right under the end of the fabric funnels. By that way, rainwater will be used as a useful water source for local plantation system, also, cause less harm to urban sewage system since amount of water run-off carrying pollutants due to rainwater is reduced.

The design has hit 2 goals, for both human and nature. The people live there are provided with shading and simultaneously, the local environment has been cared and saved up an amount of natural resources, in this case, water.

As what I understand, this is a part of what I should aim for this subject, also for architecture.

The membrane covers up , what I observe, a small “botanical” garden below, and importantly provides water for trees to grow underneath.

Sky Song membrane structure serves well in functionality aspect. It is quite clear to see the concept combines from rational thinking which makes the design more meaningful to users because it actually contributes something into local users life, not just standing there for nothing.

In another word, this membrane structure participates into sustainability system of the site in order to last the surrounding environmental context, and specifically natural drainage and local plantation. And For sure, we would love to have more of these for a better future.

The Eden project is an attraction not only for its unique and radical shape but also for its function as well as its distribution towards local ecosystem

in UK.

The project is a dome complex with skin and bone structure cooperating with inflatable cover and parametric exterior design.

Spiritually, the dome carries educational message about human-plant connection by sheltering thousands of species and local biome.

To me, the project is a real radical design, not for its special shape, but its outcome brought to the local community also global visitors.

Radical design in my own understanding, derive from speculation. Speculation broadens alternatives sceenarios, and sequentially, probable future where everything would be better and different not only to our human race but also to the Mother Nature.

THE EDEN PROJECT

10 CONCEPTUALISATION

FIG 3: THE EDEN PROJECTMULTIPLE GREENHOUSE COMPLEX DOME, INSPIRED BY J. BALDWIN’S PILLOW,ST BLAZEY, CORNWALL, UK

Eden Project becomes a popular national and international tourist attraction. Why? I think because of its extraordinary initial concept and that concept is conducted well. The design does not “educate” people with dry words, instead, it illustrates a realistic image of nature to push us closer to it.

Even though the concept of protecting and preserving natural habitat is quite dry, at least to me, but the way they transform it and bring it alive via architecture is very impressive and somehow appears to be innovative to people. So in this case, architecture appears to be a tool to get people aware of their environment status, involved and think more about future in term of coexistence.

In conclusion, architecture can play pretty well as a tool to visualize and engage people with futuring and sustainability in an easy but effective way.


DESIGN COMPUTATION

CONCEPTUALIZATION

PART A

Parametric design is a completely new term appeared recently in modern

architecture.

Parametric design brings architecture to an innovative digital level of technology that derives from the need of materiality and

fabrication.

Based on paremeters and variables under the control of algorithmic commands and formulas, ideas and concepts are allowed to expand their ability also, designers are able to predict and visualize their designs in a realistic way, with

both negative and positive outcomes.

The introduction of parametric thinking intobuilding technology and design coursespromotes qualitative and analytic thinking instead of the descriptive or metaphorical. Transcodingconceptual design into highly interdependentand parametric sets of relationships confronts uswith the need to

understand design in acomprehensive way.

The ideas will be tested fornew possibilities.From a set of divergent ideas, computational via analysis will narrow the process down via chains of critical elimination or modification in order to ensure the quality as well as the future

performance of ideas/projects.

CONCEPTUALISATION 13

DESIGN COMPUTATION

FIG 1: Heydar Aliyev Centre designed by Zaha Hadid, Baku, Azerbaijan, 2007-2012

Heydar Aliyev Centre designed by Zaha Hadid is noted for its distinctive architecture and flowing, curved style that eschews sharp angles. Zaha Hadid keeps in mind her original design thinking of embracing surrounding context into the design form through image of flowing fluid. From the divergent concept of FLUID, the design process gets narrowed down and more specific through modification and elimination also adjustment with the help of parametricism in order to test whether the idea works well to come to a convergent outcome. However, with my own sense, I am not quite convinced. Inevitably, I do get amazed and impressed by the perfect computational curves that bring people a complete modern taste of architecture, but in contrast, this leaves me a lot of questions and confusion. What I am asking is “WHY?”

Why curves?

Why up, and why down?

I roughly know the brief requires for something that ““modify this plaza surface into an architectural landscape that performs a multitude of functions”, nevertheless, there are many ways to modify and blend the design into the landscape. And technocally, parametric programs would have given out millions of outcomes based on the change of the parameters.

I know there must be reasons for Hadid to come up with this as final design, however, what I have experienced through this design is the confusion that parametricism creates not only to me, also to people who are not professional in the field. Somehow and sometimes, parametric designs are not so friendly, but a part of architecture is about being friendliness to the users in order to convey something.

Heydar Aliyev Centre


FIG 1: Heydar Aliyev Centre designed by Zaha Hadid, Baku, Azerbaijan, 2007-2012

Heydar Aliyev Centre designed by Zaha Hadid is noted for its distinctive architecture and flowing, curved style that eschews sharp angles. Zaha Hadid keeps in mind her original design thinking of embracing surrounding context into the design form through image of flowing fluid. From the divergent concept of FLUID, the design process gets narrowed down and more specific through modification and elimination also adjustment with the help of parametricism in order to test whether the idea works well to come to a convergent outcome. However, with my own sense, I am not quite convinced. Inevitably, I do get amazed and impressed by the perfect computational curves that bring people a complete modern taste of architecture, but in contrast, this leaves me a lot of questions and confusion. What I am asking is “WHY?”

Why curves?

Why up, and why down?

I roughly know the brief requires for something that ““modify this plaza surface into an architectural landscape that performs a multitude of functions”, nevertheless, there are many ways to modify and blend the design into the landscape. And technocally, parametric programs would have given out millions of outcomes based on the change of the parameters.

I know there must be reasons for Hadid to come up with this as final design, however, what I have experienced through this design is the confusion that parametricism creates not only to me, also to people who are not professional in the field. Somehow and sometimes, parametric designs are not so friendly, but a part of architecture is about being friendliness to the users in order to convey something.


FIG 2: Heydar Aliyev Centre and process of parametric modelling


This curvy structure obviously cannot be done manually by human since it requires accurate calculation of each cell panels, directions and angles and

especially, how to bring it into construction and parametric design gets involved.

Figure 3 is a set of images of curves that dominates the design. These complicated and dynamic curves sucessfully illustrate the initial concept of a fluid in a very direct way. However, it contains a lot of knowledge and understandings and requirements behind, which means, only computers can do it.

The series of computational modelling showed in Figure 2 indicates digital analytical as well as parametric performance of the design. The diagrams show the way how the idea is built and dissected for examination, and significantly, how to build it. This represents a strong relationship between architecture and technology, or moreover, computational process gradually engage architecture with engineering .These two fields are merging together in order to satisfy parametricism requirements for a better outcome. Additionally, architects/designers have a chance to understand their designs in all aspects.

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FIG 3: Heydar Aliyev Centre and its curves


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The “Bird’s nest” stadium in Beijing is the very first parametric architectural design that I know, in Olympics 2008, and it parametric computational methods had

me impressed at that time. However, I did not like it only because of its magnificent appeance, but rather the way its visual effect implanted its own meanings as well as concept in my mind. To me, parametric tools are sucessful in this design since it has transferred the original architectural concept to me very well. I can see an enriched imagination of the architects, the spirit of Olympics, the power , the dynamism spreaded by this “bird’s nest”.

As what I have known, the initiator for the design began the concept with an illusion of a nest that nurtures creatures or, abtractly, life. The idea is amzing, however, transferring that into a massive stadium with a capacity of 91,000 is not easy at all. The design requires heavy constructional design with massive structures and all elements have to go into details, hence parametric tool is an obvious tool to scale up the idea. Morover, it is the only way to build up a coherent and intereactive system.

In this case, parametric design helps to scale up the ideas, put in more resolution, add in more elements and allow architects/engineer to zoom in every details for easier construction as well as management and modification.

Parametric design are supposed to support the ideas and concept, spread them and imprint them into people’s minds, not to cover our senses by the fancy looks.

BEIJING NATIONAL STADIUM, “THE BIRD’S NEST”


Fig 4: BEIJING NATIONAL STADIUM, “THE BIRD’S NEST”, CHINA


Fig 5: explanatory diagrams of Bird’s nest stadium


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The Bird’s Nest national stadium seems to successfully transfer design concept and still keeps its purity, however, according to

diagram series in Fig 4, it has overcome a lot of computational changes before arrived to final decision.

-earth quake test

-flexibility and safety

-internal and external structure loading capacity

These indeed led to changes in number of seats, material and some division in construction and transformation of the design.

In a word, since computational process aids designers to predict and test the outcomes before hand, it importantly plays a decisive role in the design process so that it can orientate the concept, the physical geometries or the whole structure.

Additionally, computational analysis gives architects/engineers a chance to cooperate and examine more about the site context in order to put the design into a hierarchical system where there are huge impacts from external as well as internal factors. This improves the performance of the project later on, helping it last longer over time and reducing negative impact from the habitation also from the project towards the environment.

Again, this relates to A1 DESIGN FUTURING since performane of a project can be controlled effectively for a better future.


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COMPOSITION/GENERATION

CONCEPTUALIZATION

PART A

Parametricism has driven architecture to another digital stage in term of practice. Modern architects tend to replace drawings with digital computational

softwares and take adventages from them in order to predict and modify outcomes easier.

When the context get more complicated and tougher, technology seems to transform composing architecture into generating architecture. And modern architects do have to adapt to that and somehow redefine the notion of architecture. Parametric design gives us an open doors “WHA IF....?” for speculative exploration. This second aspect of parametric thinking encourages designers to join technical knowledge with creativity. These new creative factors reflect technical,functional, programmatic, or deeper knowledge feeding into the design process.

Thanks to computational tools, Design becomes a logical, cause-and-effectsequence that can be executed in bothways, from divergent to convergent or convergent to divergent. This enriches different branches of ideas and provide us more choice.


COMPOSITION/GENERATION

fig1 UTS BUSINESS SCHOOL, SYDNEY,2012-2015,FRANK GEHRY

“The fold is primitive, you’re in your mother’s arms when you’re a

child, and so we tried to do that with brick,”


fig1 UTS BUSINESS SCHOOL, SYDNEY,2012-2015,FRANK GEHRY

The design originated with “paper bag” idea of Frank Gehry. The idea was abnormal because somehome, I consider it lacks of rationality which results in its free-style that does not

follow any rules or orders at all. And obviously, this concept cannot be processed mannually or drawings because the form is too unpredictable and hard for measurements.

By that chance, computer is a must. Computational technique is not longer a tool transferring ideas into final outcomes, it completely participates into the design process. Or in another word, computation ,from being an aiding component of the design process, become a chain generating and manipulating ideas.

In my opinion, it is a very harsh design since it is composition between “primitive” and modern thinking. The material : brick which is primitive, however, will be utilized and built in a completely different way and totally depends on computers and machines.

To me, I see this design as a very new and innovative technique of construction.


Fig 2: Center Pompidou Metz 2010 by Shigeru Ban Architects Europe

Fig 3: Parametric BIM models mimic adaptablestructural components


Fig 2: Center Pompidou Metz 2010 by Shigeru Ban Architects Europe

Fig 3: Parametric BIM models mimic adaptablestructural components CEN

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10Centre Pompidou Metz, designed by ShigeruBan and Jean de Gastines

features with a roof surface, a wooden lattice, naturally adapts frombeing a roof into elements such as columns (fig2). This represents design strategy for the realization of flexible structural systems used an idea of asurface-based patterns as design generators forspace frame design. I consider this design strongly shows the transition as well as harmony between structural performance test (fig 3) and defining design system via parametric hierarchy. Specifically, the columns ultimately becomes architectural elements which eventually shape the design concept and qualitatively generate the outlook.

Somehow, the process is a bit opposite to what I have known. Instead of generating ideas first then plug into computer to modify it, in this case, computers and BIM seems to shape the ideas at the end. This is a totally new design thinking to me.


3D-printed houses built in Shanghai

Ten houses have been built of construction waste using a 3D printing technology

in 24 hours in Shanghai.This precedent brings me another understanding of computational design as well as a new vision toward future architecture. Computational design officially generates ideas and give birth them into reality. We need machines to modify and test ideas, and now, we use machines to construct things physically.

These houses are fairly too simple for us to seek help from computational process. However I reckon it is an scientific innovation, a cutting-edge idea that potentially lay out our architecural future. At this point, composition is turning to generation.Or, in contrast, I start asking whether computers will replace architects because our ideas start to rely on them a bit too much. Will we use parametricism as a method or become its slaves?

3D-p

rinted houses

Fig 4: 3D printed houses in Shanghai built in 24 hours



APPENDIX- ALGORITHMIC SKETCHBOOK

CONCEPTUALIZATION

PART A


DIFFEREN

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These examples show my attempt to vary the outcomes with different parameters and inputs in order to investigate contours, effects and fundamental structures.


CONCLUSION

CONCEPTUALIZATION

PART A


DESIGN FUTURING is a completely new but old term. It is old because it has always been our goal of global development. It is new because the solution is kept updated

and changed and adopted under the concern of the whole design industry. The more we define “modernism”, the more we start considering about our next generations and care more for the planet. So, how can we control our influence?

However, we-human- cannot predict and visualize the future and the effects of our products since our environment keeps changing and transforming into harsher conditions. Hence, we need an aiding and supportive system to do that, something can reduces the risks and guarantee the outcomes. And specifically for architecture and engineering, we have parametricism for that purpose.

However, during that process, parametric tools is no longer an additional component. It starts participating and contributing into design process, and design concepts and ideas are changed and generated from that.

I find it innovative, but there are pros and cons depends on how we use it.

DESIGN FUTURING

CONTROL

ARCHITECTURAL COMPUTING

DESIGN CONCEPT


LEARNING OUTCOME

CONCEPTUALIZATION

PART A


Architectural computing to me is a huge step I have to take to approach and learn about modern architecture. Part A has given me fundamental “history” of parametricism, its effect and consequences that I can apply for my

future study in order to run it in right way. I also had a chance to critically analyze some precedents, understand them and practically take some experience for the future projects. If I knew how to operate algorithmic programs earlier, my past works model could have visually look better and have stronger respond to its context.


“Heydar Aliyev Center / Zaha Hadid Architects” 14 Nov 2013. ArchDaily. Accessed 18 Mar 2015. http://www.archdaily.com/?p=448774

Dunne, Anthony & Raby, Fiona (2013) Speculative Everything: Design Fiction, and Social Dreaming (MIT Press) pp. 1-9, 33-45

Frank Gehry’s “paper bag” business school opens in Sydney, 3 February 2015, Dezeen Magazine, http://www.dezeen.com/2015/02/03/frank-gehry-paper-bag-dr-chau-chak-wing-uts-business-school-sydney-opens/

Fry, Tony (2008). Design Futuring: Sustainability, Ethics and New Practice (Oxford: Berg), pp. 1–16

Heydar Aliyev Center, Zaha Hadid Architects, http://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/heydar-aliyev-centre/

Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center Studies for the Build-up Roof Substructure,ROK, http://www.rok-office.com/projects/1000-haider-aliyev-cultural-centre/

Issa, Rajaa ‘Essential Mathematics for Computational Design’, Second Edition, Robert McNeel and associates, pp 1 - 4

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

Kelly, Scott, SHANGHAI COMPANY 3-D PRINTS VILLAGE OF HUMBLE CONCRETE HOMES, April 3 2014, Architect’s Newspaper Blog, http://blog.archpaper.com/2014/04/shanghai-company-3-d-prints-village-of-humble-concrete-homes/

Matt Fajkus Architecture, “The Bat House Visitor Center by Matt Fajkus Architecture”, Inhabitat design will save the world, http://inhabitat.com/matt-fajkus-architectures-bat-house-visitor-center-provides-vital-nesting-grounds-for-bats/matt-fajkus-architecture-bat-house-visitor-center-7/

Mc Comick, Ken, “Bristol Arena: architects of Olympic Stadium and Eden Project among those in running to design it”, Bristol Post (2014), http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-Arena-architects-Olympic-Stadium-Eden/story-24509064-detail/story.htmlMembrane Project, ASU SkySong, http://www.ndnsoftware.com/ Pilloton, Emily, BEIJING’S OLYMPIC STADIUM by Herzog and DeMeuron, Inhabitat design will save the world,2007, http://inhabitat.com/beijings-olympic-stadium-by-herzog-and-demeuron/Pookanoodle, “Eden Project Dome Roof”, Trekearth Learning about the world through photography (2003)http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Cornwall/Near_St_Austell/photo2082.htm

REFERENCELIST

http://www.archdaily.com/?p=448774

http://www.dezeen.com/2015/02/03/frank-gehry-paper-bag-dr-chau-chak-wing-uts-business-school-sydney-opens/

http://www.dezeen.com/2015/02/03/frank-gehry-paper-bag-dr-chau-chak-wing-uts-business-school-sydney-opens/

http://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/heydar-aliyev-centre/

http://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/heydar-aliyev-centre/

http://www.rok-office.com/projects/1000-haider-aliyev-cultural-centre/

http://www.rok-office.com/projects/1000-haider-aliyev-cultural-centre/

http://blog.archpaper.com/2014/04/shanghai-company-3-d-prints-village-of-humble-concrete-homes/

http://blog.archpaper.com/2014/04/shanghai-company-3-d-prints-village-of-humble-concrete-homes/

http://inhabitat.com/matt-fajkus-architectures-bat-house-visitor-center-provides-vital-nesting-grounds-for-bats/matt-fajkus-architecture-bat-house-visitor-center-7/




http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-Arena-architects-Olympic-Stadium-Eden/story-24509064-detail/story.html



http://www.ndnsoftware.com/

http://inhabitat.com/beijings-olympic-stadium-by-herzog-and-demeuron/

http://inhabitat.com/beijings-olympic-stadium-by-herzog-and-demeuron/

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Cornwall/Near_St_Austell/photo2082.htm

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/United_Kingdom/England/Cornwall/Near_St_Austell/photo2082.htm

CRITERIA DESIGN 40

CRITERIA DESIGN

PART B

CRITERIA DESIGN 41

CONTENTB.1 RESEARCH FIELD- BIOMIMICRY

B.2 CASE STUDY 1.0

B.3 CASE STUDY 2.0

B.4 TECHNIQUE: DEVELOPMENT

B.5 PROTOTYPES

B.6 TECHNIQUE: PROPOSAL

B.7 LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES

B.8 APPENDIX- ALGORITHMIC SKETCHES

CRITERIA DESIGN 42

B.1 B I O M I M I C R Ydesign inspiration from nature

the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems.(1)“

”

WHY ASK NATURE?

Our human world always faces different challenges and issues that requires regular changes

and solutions for our adaptation and survival. And nature has become an infinite inspiration in different aspects, specifically for architecture, nature provides us good examples of structure, shape and systematic development.

Why so? Because, natural living organism owns ability to adapt well with the habitation and they keep changing their biological systems to cope with unstable living conditions. Moreover, nature incessantly produces its own alternatives solutions due to natural evolution (2). That process is a combination of creation and elimination under the control of natural selection (3).

Since natural selection is filtration for successive generations, biomimicry always provides diversified good options with the most sustainable structural and systems. Natural forms and and structure are often responsive to their living contexts, which reinforces their performances and survival.

Fig.1 :Leonardo Davinci’s familiar Vitruvian man

Learning from nature has been a “tradition” of architecture at the beginning of its history. Figure 1 is a famous drawing of Leonard Davinci on human proportion-which is actually a study of natural proportion.This strongly influenced the notion of architectural proportion in buildings afterward. Vitruvius himself has also claimed “Architecture is an imitation of nature” (4)

Nature since then is an endless theme for architectural research in order to explore more durable and stable and resilient forms as well as structures, such as shown in Fig.2 is carbon molecule, a product of nature for bettern force distribution and strength (5).

And personally, I found biomimicry is not so fussy because it gives designers freedom to generate their ideas without limitations. Biomimicry then also somehow becomes a source for abstraction. Abtstraction indicates general concepts, not specific ideas(7), thus, is a good start for ideas divergence.

CRITERIA DESIGN 43

B.1 B I O M I M I C R Ydesign inspiration from nature

(1)Vincent, Julian F. V. et al. (22 August 2006). “Biomimetics: its practice and theory”. doi:10.1098/rsif.2006.0127. Retrieved 7 April 2015.(2)Wikipedia(3)Wikipedia(4) Oi Gim Seng 2009, Historical Architectural Explaination. (5)Bradley Hudson, 2013,morphing skin concept development(6) Peter Pearce Curved Space Diamond Structure, aka The Hakone Soap Bubble Castle,2014. The Web Blog for new dads(7)Robert Woodbury 2014, pg 159

Fig.2: Carbon molecule.

Fig.3: Diamond molecule structure model

Fig.4: Peter Pearce Curved Space Diamond Structure, aka The Hakone Soap Bubble Castle

The Hakone Soap Bubble Castle (fig 2) designed by Peter Pearce imitates the structure of diamond (fig 3) is sucessful playground project for kids. Pearce came up with this idea of a “world full of nature-inspired kit-of-parts-based architecture” (6). The design fulfills requirements of structural stability, also brings along an interesting perception of nature in architectural concepts.

CRITERIA DESIGN 44

B.1 M O L E C U L A R ARCHITECTURE & P A C K I N G TECHNIQUEWhen we think of molecules, we think of them in their traditional guise, as tiny connectors linking the smallest atomic particles(1)“ ”

As Biomimicry plays as a source for form definition in a more sustainable architecture, design theories have been

expanded under the theme of nature across variety of fileds including biology, geology, science, and chemistry. These have been studied and explored within different techniques in order to approach the most sustainable and inspiring forms as well as structure.

The field I am focusing is Molecular Biology which is basically about molecules and their connections (1). Molecular study combines the knowledge of both chemistry and biology based on definition of “molecules”. Molecule, from its biological statement, is an electrically neutral group of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds,and is the matter that make up most of the oceans and atmosphere (2). Or in another word, molecule is the unit forming most of natural materials.

A specific technique for Molecule Biological forming is Packing, and this can be directly transferred into architectural technique for form experementing.

Packing technique allows to form space through the 3D patterns of the molecules, which also examines the differences between internal and external spaces with molecules as boundary. This provides a wide range of rational posisbilities for architectural sustainable solutions. Morover, together with the aid of computational processes, the patterns can vary as responses toward the natural environment.

Two striking examples of molecular architecture with packing technique is Climing Boxes (Figure 1) and Historical Nakagin Capsule Tower designed by Kiso Kurokawa(3). The designs are divided into molecular units which defines each individual system that reinforces self-organization and contribute to the whole form.

CRITERIA DESIGN 45

B.1 M O L E C U L A R ARCHITECTURE & P A C K I N G TECHNIQUE

(1) http://www.stylepark.com/en/architecture/magnificent-molecules/336829(2) Wikipedia(3) Wikipedia(4) Historical Nakagin Capsule Tower, Airbnb(5) Stott, Rorry, 2013. Nakagin Capsule tower Prototype for Today’s Micro Housing.

Fig 2: Historical Nakagin Capsule Tower (4)

Fig 1: climbing boxes at Kodomo No Kuni park in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture (1)

“Sort of a weird modular building. Perhaps this is what the inside of a beehive looks like. (1)”

”

“It is a prototype for architecture of sustainability and recycleability(5)”

CRITERIA DESIGN 46

THE MORNING LINE

CASE STUDY 1.0

ARANDA LASCH, ISTANBUL 2010

THE MORNING LINE is famous for its “controversial” form. I said “controversial” because it raises up arguments about “PAVILLION” and “ANTI-PAVILLION” structure (2). Instead of enclosing an internal space, it gradually opens up and reveals individual elements of the structure. The form tends to grow and peel off its core, from 3D to 2D, as what I observe, from a block, to surfaces then edges. As seen in Figure 1, I suppose the structure belongs to molecular properties since the individual blocks pack up together like molecules, which obviously proves it

carries biomimicry features also.

The randomness tranforms the design into a form of nature that mimic the growth of living plantation(figure 2), nurturing itself and falling apart simultaneously (4), creating fantasy patterns also somehow experimenting the

shadow works.

Fig 2: The Growth Pattern (4)

B.2

CRITERIA DESIGN 47

The Morning Line is a drawing in space, where each line connects to other lines to form a network of intertwining figures and narratives with no single beginning or end,

entrance or exit (1)“ ”

(1) http://arandalasch.com/works/the-morning-line/(2) http://www.tba21.org/augarten_activities/49/page_2(3) https://www.flickr.com/photos/arandalasch/3191703998/in/set-72157612286717885(4) http://www.designboom.com/art/the-morning-line-by-matthew-ritchie-with-aranda-lasch-and-arup/(5) http://arandalasch.com/works/the-evening-line/

Fig 1: THE MORNING LINE EXPLANATORY PARAMETRIC DIAGRAMS. (3)

CRITERIA DESIGN 48

2D

MOLECULE

M

ASSEMBLY

A

SET 1 SET 2

equillateral triangle circle

truncated tetrahedrafaces 7; 3 major, 4 minor vertex: 4

sphere2 diameters: 1 and 4

packing method.faces adjacent facesd=0

packing method.touching or overlapping -2<d<=0

d= distance between molecules

SPECIES

CRITERIA DESIGN 49

SET 3 SET 4 SET 5

square diamond pentagon

cubes2 sizes: 1 and 4

wface: 12, all identicalrhombus2 sizes: 1 and 4

truncated triakis tetrahedronfaces: 4 hexagons12 pentagonsedges: 42vertices: 28

packing method.grow in all directions. faces adjacent faces d=0

packing method.vertex to vertex. with rotation d=0


CRITERIA DESIGN 50

SET 1 SET 2

INTERNAL PATTERN

IP

GROWTH

G

SHATTERING

S

fractal pattern using scale and solid subtraction

fractal pattern using scale and solid union

packing method.faces adjacent facesd=0

packing method.touching or overlapping with rotation -2<d<=0

solid explosion and deletionfaces projction and

continuity


continuity

SPECIES

CRITERIA DESIGN 51

SET 3 SET 4 SET 5

fractal repetition3x3x3 rubik, d= 2

random patternsolid subtraction

scaled faces and surface subtractionfactor f=0.8

packing method.grow in all directions. faces adjacent faces leaving gaps d=0, 1<d<3



solid explosion and deletionfalling apart


continuity


continuity

CRITERIA DESIGN 52

SET 1 SET 2

SPECIES

FREE-FORM

F

tree-branches system r=0.3, t=2

tree-branches system r=0.6, t=1

In free-form species exploration, I attempt to push the iteration go further, out of the confine of fractal hedra in shape formation. Based on researches about biomimicry, free-form species is a series of natural-like exploration, in term of structure,

shape and pattern.

radiolarition structured=6, r=0.3

surface morphing techniqueu=3, v=20

F1

F2

CRITERIA DESIGN 53

SET 3 SET 4 SET 5

radiolarition structured=3, r=0.3u=20, v=20

radiolarition structured=1, r=0.3u=20, v=20

weavebird surface smoothened

continuous surface.surface division

u=20, v=30

3D voronoi cellsscaled

3D voronoi cells

radial array structure. r=0.01

CRITERIA DESIGN 54

SELECTION CRITERIA

RATING HIERARCHY

R1- AESTHETICISM

R2-STRUCTURE

R3- BUILDABILITY

R4-MATERIALITY

R5-BIOMIMICRY

R6-MOLECULE FORM

G/SET3 R1 **** 4/5R2 ***** 5/5R3 **** 4/5R4 *** 3/5R5 ** 2/5R6 ****4/5

S/SET 5R1 **** 4/5R2 ***** 5/5R3 *** 3/5R4 ** 2/5R5 ***** 5/5R6 ****4/5

Growth pattern with cubes. The strongest feature of this outcome is its high possibility

of structural flexibility. The cubes are easy for construction and modification. It reminds me of removeable structure to adapt usage and functionality and different purposes. However, aesthetically, cubic forms do not look flexible and dynamic enough, that the space and vision is somehow limited. That why in term of biomimicry, cubic structure, in my own rating criteria, is not so efficent.

Developed from growth pattern, shattering technique seems to give the structure a

stronger sense of aestheticism and better visual performance. Deriving from natural form (similar to hexagons), tetrahedron is quite structurally sustainable. Moreover, since it originated in rigid 3D form and packed up with molecular order, forces are restrained and transformed well in all directions.

Personally, this inspires me with ideas for the final design, since it is the most related to molecular architecture and biomimicry.

CRITERIA DESIGN 55

B.2 SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES AND EXTRAPOLATION

F2/SET2R1 **** 4/5R2 ***3/5R3 **2/5R4 *** 3/5R5 ****4/5R6 -0/5

IP/SET4R1 **** 4/5R2 **** 4/5R3 **2/5R4 **** 4/5R5 ****4/5R6 ****4/5

The form strongly links to biomimicry. It was a sample of branching L-system that gives

random growing pattern, however, a natural way to build 3D forms. However, It does not present any feature of molecular system even totally different to what I have been researching on. In term of structure, it is buildable and can take and spread load evenly in many directions but each branch has to be designed carefullly with aids from engineering. This form is able to fit in any shape and structure, but mostly pavillion or a structural form for example Skin and Bone.

Packing technique was one of the step of the process, however, each face of the cell seems not to match up with the others. Using surface morphing brings biomimicry characteristics to the form. The thorns might lead to shadow effects and contributes into internal spatial arrangement. However, materiality will be a concern since this has to be fabricated absolutely. The form inspires me of designing a massive structure which plenty of cells which are all connected to each other and allow people to walk though. However, in order to enhance and break its confine, interior design might be needed to differentiate the cells.

CRITERIA DESIGN 56

HEXIGLOO PAVILLION

CASE STUDY 2.0

Tutors: Tudor Cosmatu, Irina Bogdan, Andrei Raducanu

Location: Bucharest, Romania

HEXIGLOO PAVILLION is a parametric designed structure that based on a hexagon gril projeced on

a curved surface with a result of 14 rows + 14 columns – having 196 elements (1).

The structure explores different light effects via hexagon grid geometrical potentials, or more specifically, the interest of the design was aiming for interior space and its correlation with external surrounding (2).Via parametric techniques, external surface is enriched with openings in different sizes that successfully varies internal effects due to natural lighting. Different computational techniques are applied to modify internal spatial patterns such as extrusion and scale.

Remarkably, the project brings along a concept that ,in my own opinion, relates to environmental sustainability. It is the material that is utilized: recyclable and biodegradable cardboard (3). Hexigloo has discovered a new perception on hexagon, in term of form, and cardboard, in term of materiality.

(1) Hexigloo Pavilion | Tudor Cosmatu, Irina

Bogdan, Andrei Raducanu, Arch20,

(2)Homedid, Hexigloo – pavilion in Bucharest,

(3)Lisa A., 2011. HEXigloo: Honeycomb Cardboard

Pavilion Pops Up in Bucharest! Inhabitat - Sustainable

Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building

Hexigloo, in conclusion, successfully achieved its aim, however, in some extents, it is partiallly restricted because it does not encourage users experience anything further than what has been provided. For example, the enclosed interior limits spatial continuity and seems to detain whatever comes in. Instead, maybe they should lift the pavillion up at some points to erase the “entrance” which defines the narrow boundary of the form.

Why do I choose Hexigloo as my case study 2.0? Because HEXIGLOO investigates a further possibility of hexagon grid which relates to Biomimicry. I intend to look into hexagon structure and its hidden potential and hopefully, can turn that into ideas for final design.

B.3

CRITERIA DESIGN 57

Fig 1: HEXIGLOO PAVILLION RENDERING.Courtesy of Bence Pap,ARCHI20,2012 (1)

CRITERIA DESIGN 58

1 2

EXTERNAL SURFACE

DRAWING BOUNDARY CURVES LOFTING SURFACE BASED ON CURVES

R E V E R S E E N G I N E E R I N G

CRITERIA DESIGN 59

3 4


APPLY HEXAGON CELLS ON SURFACE

USING HEXAGON CELLS COMMAND OF LUNCHBOX

SCALE THE HEXAGON CELLS

USING ATTRACTOR POINTS TO VARY THE SIZES

OF THE OPENINGS

THE DISTANCES BETWEEN ATTRACTOR POINTS AND THE CELL’S CENTER DETERMINES

THE FACTOR OF SCALE

CRITERIA DESIGN 60

5 6

EXTERNAL SURFACE

ADJUST THE DIRECTION OF OPENINGS.

LARGER OPENINGS LOCATE NEAR THE ENTRANCE.


CRITERIA DESIGN 61

ADJUST THE DIRECTION OF OPENINGS.

LARGER OPENINGS LOCATE NEAR THE ENTRANCE.

7 8

CREATING SURFACE BETWEEN ORIGINAL CELLS

AND SCALED CELLS

USING “RULLED SURFACE” COMMAND


CRITERIA DESIGN 62

INTERNAL SPACE

ATTRACTOR POINTS CONTROL OPENNINGS SIZE

SCALE THE EDGES OF THE CELLS AND MOVE THEM DOWN IN Z-DIRECTION, THEN LOFTING


CRITERIA DESIGN 63

RULLED SURFACE BETWEEN CELLS AND SCALED CELLS

EXTRUDED VERTICALLY IN Z-DIRECTION

PUT THEM TOGETHER FOR ALTERNATIVE LIGHTING EFFECTS


CRITERIA DESIGN 64

FI

NA

L

OU

TC

OM

E

CRITERIA DESIGN 65

Similarity The command “Hexagon Cell” provided by LunchBox is really useful that the outcome hexagon grid mostly looks similar to the original project because the hexagons are adjacent to each other. The technique of extruding the surface downward in Z-direction works and give similar internal effect that is aimed for the design. The variation between the thickness of the pavilion as well as the opening sizes using attractors mainly reach the target and the design ideas behind it.

Dissimilarity: The curved surface of the Pavilion cannot be exactly imitated, hence, that leads to some corrugation and distortion in the surface and the hexagon grid.The amount of hexagons is uncontrollable and totally depends on the surface. Hexagonal cell individual size is hard to be detected also. The factor of scale that is used for opening creation is unknown, hence, may cause overlapping or intersecting. The pattern induced by attractors is not accurate since the position of the points or lines are random and unknown.

Conclusion:Overall, I mainly mimic the general form and structure, understand the techniques and the process of making it. However, it has been impossible for me to modify it to gain the exact patterns.

CRITERIA DESIGN 66

T E C H N I Q U E DEVELOPMENT

B.4DEFINITION EXPLORATION

CURVES LOFTING SURFACES HEXAGONAL GRID SCALE

SOLID

SQUAD GRID

TRIANGULAR PANEL

ATTRACTORS

EXTRUDE

DOME

FACADE

PANELLING

EXCLOSED

OPENED

Definition exploration is my own interpretation in order to explore and go further based on B.3 script. My aim is to distort and transform “Hexigloo” form into something else that go beyond the confine of previous definition.

CRITERIA DESIGN 67

OPENINGS ATTRACTORS EXTRUSION

MOVE INWARD

MOVE OUTWARD

ATTRACTORS

Z AXIS

TO POINT

ALONG NORMAL

EXTRUDE

BOOLEAN DIFFERENT

TO CENTER

CAPPING

LINES

CURVES

POINTS

EXTERNAL SURFACE

INTERNAL SURFACE

CRITERIA DESIGN 71

[38] [39] [40][37]

[46] [47] [48][45]

[54] [55] [56][53]

[45]u=10|v=10.Extrude+Loft+WeavebirdThicken t=6

[46]u=20|v=20.Loft cone cells d=2

[47]u=20|v=20.Loft cone cells d=5

[48]u=10|v=10.extrude curves

[49]u=10|v=10.Lofting+Weavebirthsmoothing t=0.4

[50]u=10|v=10.Lofting+Weavebirthsmoothing t=2

[51]u=10|v=10.Lofting+Weavebirthsmoothing t=2,r=0.7

[52]u=10|v=10.Lofting+Weavebirthsmoothing t=0.4,r=0.3,d=-2

[53]u=10|v=10.Lofting+Weavebirthsmoothing t=2,r=0.1,d=-3

[54]u=10|v=10.Lofting+Weavebirthsmoothing t=2,r=1.5

[55]u=5|v=5.Lofting curves to center

[56]u=20|v=20.

CRITERIA DESIGN 72

B.4 SELECTION CRITERIA

SELECTION CRITERIA

R1- AESTHETICISM

R2-STRUCTURE

R3- BUILDABILITY

R4-MATERIALITY

R5-BIOMIMICRY

R6-MOLECULE FORM

R7-FUNCTIONALITY

My selection criteria aims for structural stability, functionality and some aesthetic

extent. For overall form, biomimicry is the priority for my selection . During iteration process, I was attemtping to imitate familiar or recognizeable natural structure, for example, beehive structure was what I have been aiming for.

In term of functionality, the chosen outcomes must be flexible for different purposes and activities. The structure should fit variety of forms including enclosed or opened pavillion, a nest or fence. Additionally, it should be easy to adapt some modification, or in another word, modular construction can be taken as a method.

And the most significant feature is load bearing capacity. My design concept is a pigeon shelter which is lifted up above the ground. That will lead notable amount of windload exerted on the whold system.

CRITERIA DESIGN 73

My final chosen outcome is not the best or the prettiest or coolest one. However, it it the most buildable and efficent trial. The extruded hexagon edges enables natural lighting effect and transition from exterior to interior, which results spatial possibilites and accessibility. variation in openings allows circulation and reasonable correlation with surrounding context.

SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES

[34]

[35]

[36]

[38]

[39]

[40]

[37] [39]

[35]

CRITERIA DESIGN 74

B.5 T E C H N I Q U E PROTOTYPE

Through out part B.2 to B.4, the algorithsm has been produced to approach a new phase of biomimicry, particularly, I attempted to invent my own understanding of hexagonal structure. However, in order to bring these exploration into reality, materiality and actual construction must be mentioned in order to transfer aestheticism into engineering/architectural phase. Unfortunately, all of my hexagonal structures do not embedded any of these properties yet. This eventually may end up with diminution between architectural and materiality(1).

In this part, B5.0 prototype, a fabrication technique is adopted to zoom into the design for real construction and ideas divergence. It is “explosion and joints”-which is my own way to name it. Explosion will break the system/structure into fragments for the ease and accuracy of measurement as well as spatial variation. Joints are used to connect the components structurally and support load bearing capacity.

“EXPLOSION AND JOINTS”- FABRICATION TECHNIQUE

1. Peter Booth, Digital materiality:emergent computational fabrication, 43rd Annual Conference of the Architectural Science Association, ANZAScA 2009, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia

Practically, laser cutting will be the method to visualize the prototype for this part. Laser Cutting allows the flexibility of joints creation in a high level of details , which is beneficial for design structural and aesthetic testing.

Experimential 3D printing should be avoided since it limits material exploration and the details of joints also any specific feature of the form. 3D printing restricts learnings and comprehensive approach to the recent design and further development.

CRITERIA DESIGN 75

Image: The final outcome chosen for prototype, from B.4, number [39]

CRITERIA DESIGN 76

“EXPLOSION AND JOINTS”- FABRICATION TECHNIQUE

2

3

4

5

CRITERIA DESIGN 77

1- overall form with joints. The structure is fixed by the joints between fragments. These joints are in fact flexible and moveable.

2-Details: Joints are created by cylinders connecting between 2 fragments. The cylinders and fragments are joined by glue. These are rigid joints that do not allow any movement in each cell

3- Each fragment will be lazer-cut with gaps at the edge for cylinders.

4-This joint system can enable 3D mode, which hold different pieces in different direction, result in an unified structure

5-Different cells with different sizes are attached together in a curving pattern to create a coherent surface. The tail of each cells are placed heading toward the center.

6-FLEXIBLE joint system using a L-shape piece that is etched at the corner to enable bending and elastic capacity.

1

6L-shape joints etched at the corner allows flexible movement.

CRITERIA DESIGN 78

PROTOTYPE MODEL scale: 1:75

Single cell front view

cell view from the back

CRITERIA DESIGN 79

2 cells interior of a cell

interior of the cell, view toward center

side view of a cell

CRITERIA DESIGN 80

PROTOTYPE MODEL CELLS CONNECTION: 10 CELLS

FRONT VIEW scale: 1:75

CRITERIA DESIGN 81

CRITERIA DESIGN 82

REFLECTION ON FABRICATION PROCESS

Now I really recognize prototype is a must when design using parametric method. The joints and junctions I have used are not stable and structurally supportive enough. Those circles with flat surfaces cannot hold the elements in place but relying on amount of glue instead. I should have trim some pieces our of circles so that will hook the fragments better. Moreover, transforming a model from computer to reality is seriously not easy at all. The angle between fragments cannot be made accurately hence, result in gaps and tension in the structure and even the joints. In a word, this trial system is not so resilient and cannot be used for further development.

As an experience drawn from B.5, I would need to standardize my designs a bit more for the ease of manufacturing and fabrication. As theory, standardization “ raises not only the obvious question of wha t (and where ) thenew limits are, but, mor e fundamentally , to what ends- to what effects an d affects - should thi s new formal and materia lliberty be directed”(1). Fabrication and manufacturing in digital ages need to be taken under serious concerns which is referred as “material discipline” (2).

Nevertheless, aethetically, this prototype sucessfully illustrates the effects that I aimed for initially. Overall, the prototype gives a strong sense of functionality that can be continue for future design.The shadow effect (photo number [4]) inspires me what to do next in B.6 proposal, for example using light to broaden sensation for cultural linkage (3).

(1) Kolarevic, Branko and Kevin R. Klinger, eds (2008), pg21.(2)Ibid,pg 21.(3) Moussavi, Farshid and Michael Kubo, eds (2006),pg 818

CRITERIA DESIGN 83

PROTOTYPE MODEL scale: 1:75

up-side down face upward

lying flat shadow effect

[1] [2]

[3] [4]

[5] [6]

CRITERIA DESIGN 84

B.6T E C H N I Q U E PROPOSAL

“IT IS ALL ABOUT HEXAGONS”

-Ut Thi Tran-

CRITERIA DESIGN 85

MAP: EXPORTED MAP FROM GOOGLE EARTH PRO PHOTOS TAKEN ON SITE by Ut Thi Hien Tran 2015

CRITERIA DESIGN 86

MERRI CREEK MAP

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION

CRITERIA DESIGN 87

PROBLEM IDENTIFICATIONNOISE POLLUTION

The bridge is a part of a bustling intersection on St George Road where there is a large amount of residents and dwellers with public transports and social infrastructure. These result in a serious level of noise pollution from vehivles and human social life.

LITTERING

People litter from the bridge. People litter while picnicing. People little from residential area. People little while visitting. A large amount of littering that is not biodegrade remains on the bank and accumulates maybe over years. Toxicants in sediments of the Creek basin derived from wash-off from roof and catchment at nearby industrial area(1)

WATER POLLUTION

Due to rubbish remained on the banks, water flows are stopped. This causes terrible smells and low water quality. Sadly, Melbourne Water has identified Merri Creek as having the worst water quality of Melbourne’s urban streams(2). Before the water go through any treatment or purification, the bird habitation along the creek directly drink it.

EXTERNAL DISTURB FROM HUMAN

Cars/vehicles on the bridge or on the trail seem to frighten and disturb bird population along the creek. Since they do not have a proper shelter, they live anywhere possible near the water. Some of them were found trapped in litter. This gradually will damage natural habitation/wildlife on the site.1.Up the Creek. accessed 2015.

2,3.The Age Gallery.

MERRI CREEK , NOT VERY MERRY“ ”(3)

The specific area I am focusing on locates below the Bridge at St George Road. This area, according to what I saw during site visit, has a large amount of birds in different

species. Besides, this part of the Creek stands out with its narrowness and high pollution because of littering. I also observed pigeons and sparrows were living in the clearance box, the space beneath the bridge, in extremely poor condition.

Even though there are other problems/dilemma detected, bird habitation and their living condition, to me, is quite exigent since it directly influences natural habitation along the Creek.

FOCAL AREA AROUND ST GEORGE ROAD

CRITERIA DESIGN 88

MAP: EXPORTED MAP FROM GOOGLE eARTH PRO

FOCAL SITE FOR DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

CRITERIA DESIGN 89

NATURAL BIRD HABITATIONAccording to some research, there are 2 distinctive groups of birds at the Creek, Some live here all the year (sparrows, bulbuls, crows, Eurasian jays, blackbirds, doves and pigeons are amongst the most common town birds); – but in Spring and Autumn Israel witnesses an enormous number of migrating birds – swallows, storks, cranes, birds of prey (very high up), wagtails and others too numerous to mention(1).

Merri Creek in fact is quite rich in bird population. With 73 species (2), birds can be heard and observed seasonally. Looking deeper into the problem, pigeon takes the largest amount on the site. Especially, in a larger scale. pigeon from surrounding area may affect the performce of the creek also.

(1),(2)Merri Growler, The Friends of Merri Creek Newsletter,2012.(3) Moussavi, Farshid and Michael Kubo, eds (2006),pg 616.

relate to DESIGN CONCEPT & BRIEFFrom what I have found and looked at above, I decide to design something to support the Merri Creek natural reserve, and particularly, protecting bird habitation with pigeon as majority.

As a respond to the given Brief, the design will be a living system that amplify technical and natural system connection. This system will help to improve the living quality of local pigeon habitat which is both influenced and influential to the Creek. My intervention will seek help from computational/parametric softwares and mechanicism to renovate and maintain bird biodiversity, which hopefully will induce positive effect to the site and local area.

Additionally, mechanical systems and some engineering concepts will be supportive elements to realize my architectural design. As “Architecture needs mechanisms that allow it to become connected to culture”(3), I would love people to accept it in a practical way especially when parametric tool turns the form into something abstract.

CRITERIA DESIGN 90

VISUALIZING CONCEPTS

SURFACE created by dynamic twisting movement

applying hexagonal pattern

each of hexagonal cell will shelter a pigeon or a family of pigeon depnend on their sizes

2000

0

MER

RY C

REEK

Rain

bow

Lo

rikee

t

Rock

Dov

e

Silv

ere

ye

Red

Wa

ttle

bird

Paci

fic B

lack

Duc

k

Hous

e Sp

arro

ws

Figure 1: Number of birds in different species compared to the total of the site. (the diagram is drawn based on information provided by Friends of Merry Creek Newsletter 2012)

CRITERIA DESIGN 91

SINGLE BIRDS SHELTER

the size of each cell can only fit one BIRD

150 cells = 150 birds

BIRD FAMILIES SHELTER

the size of each cell can take more than 2 BIRDS.

80 cells = (3 x 80) pigeons=240 birds

=390 birds in a tower

According to Figure 1, the diagram says there are 2200 birds along the whole creek. Hence, the project will shelter half of that bird population since it locates half way of the creek. 1200 is the aim for this project since bird population may grow later and it will not be overcrowded. I need 4 towers to shelter 1200 birds.

CRITERIA DESIGN 92

1.RAIN WATER COLLECTING SYSTEM

4.RAIN WATER ROOF COLLECTOR

2.BIRD SHELTERING TOWERS

3.PLANTATION TUBS

5.DOCKING AREA FOR DUCKS

6.BAYS FOR HUMAN ACTIVITIES

MECHANICAL OPERATING SYSTEMS ARRANGEMENT

CRITERIA DESIGN 93

MECHANICAL OPERATING SYSTEMS ARRANGEMENT

8.PURIFIED WATER POND

9.EXTERNAL WATER FILTERING SYSTEM

7.EXCREMENT COLLECTOR

CRITERIA DESIGN 94

1

2

3

4

5

67

8

1 OUTLET PIPES OF EXCREMENT TO PLANTATION TUBS AS FERTILIZER2 PUMPER MOTOR CONNECTED TO ELECTRICITY3 EXCREMENT TANK (quantity = 3)4 STRAINING MESH FOR AGGREGATES5 SMELL ABSORBER6 RUBBISH DRAIN7 RAIN WATER PIPE-RAIN WATER HARVESTING SYSTEM8 SURFACE HOLES AS EXCREMENT IN-LET

PIGEON EXCREMENT FILTRATING SYSTEM

SAND

AGGREGATES

PEBBLES

CRITERIA DESIGN 95

MECHANICAL OPERATING SYSTEMS 1 . RAIN WATER COLLECTING SYSTEM

Rain water is collected on the roof of each tower. The water then will be transfer through hexagon cells from top to bottom of towers and end up in the pond within the region. Rain water will be treated and purified along the way. This provides clean water for the pigeon.

7 . EXCREMENT FILTERING AND COLLECTING SYSTEM

Pigeon excrement is inevitably problematic since it negatively affects local hygien and sewage system. Hence, in order to cope with that, I consider to adopt an excrement filtrating system that helps to reduce that effect and simultaneous, benefit from it. This mechanical system will collect pigeon’s fecal matter then filter and store it in the tanks under the ground. Fecal matters partially is transferred to plantation tubs near by to fertilize, or will be kept to be collected by local farmers. This process also helps eliminates odours and bad smells.

3. PLANTATION TUBS

Plants are grown in a number of hexagonal tubs over the site in order to provide food to birds and bring nature to the design. Moreover, local farmers can use these as well.

4. RAINWATER ROOF COLLECTOR

Rainwater roof collectors harvest rainwater and provide water to all of mechanical systems.

5. DOCKING AREA FOR DUCKS

To embrace site contextual feature: SLOPE and enhance water/land relationship.

6. BAYS FOR HUMAN ACTIVITIES

Human have chances to come, however, quite limited for accessibility. Enables human/nature environment.

8. PURIFIED WATER POND

Purified rainwater ponds supply clean water for pigeon to drink.

9.EXTERNAL WATER FILTERING SYSTEM

Creek water may be cleaned and filtered partially.

2. BIRD SHELTERING TOWERS

4 towers in different heights can shelter around 1000 pigeons and other birds (possibly).

CRITERIA DESIGN 96

BIRD-HIVESARIEL BIRD VIEW

RENDERRED BY VRAY

CRITERIA DESIGN 97

CRITERIA DESIGN 98

BIRD-HIVESINTERIOR OF PIGEON TOWER

RENDERRED BY VRAY

CRITERIA DESIGN 99

CRITERIA DESIGN 100

OBJECTIVE 2 VARIETY OF DESIGN POSSIBILITIES

I attempted to vary my iterations and explore their limitations. However, sometimes I found them irrelevant and hardly belong to any species. Some of the outcomes, because of being “explored” too far beyond the domain, completely switch to something else that I cannot explain or classify. Nevertheless, my knowledge got enriched thanks to trying different weird commands and dragging sliders blindly. My concept is there right in the middle whereas computational tool explode it into bunches of new ones that inspires me to other ideas.

OBJECTIVE 1 BRIEF INTERROGATION

Under the pressure of technological needs as well as higher building performance, architecture is required to adopt engineering under the control of computational driving force in order to fit the building better into its context simultaneously reponse wiser to the environment. I found myself through part B engaged partially with the brief since I always attempted to link my iterations back to my research field and part A. However, I did not completely follow the brief since shaping ideas with computational methods are challenging and do require more experiences.

CRITERIA DESIGN 101

OBJECTIVE 2 VARIETY OF DESIGN POSSIBILITIES

I attempted to vary my iterations and explore their limitations. However, sometimes I found them irrelevant and hardly belong to any species. Some of the outcomes, because of being “explored” too far beyond the domain, completely switch to something else that I cannot explain or classify. Nevertheless, my knowledge got enriched thanks to trying different weird commands and dragging sliders blindly. My concept is there right in the middle whereas computational tool explode it into bunches of new ones that inspires me to other ideas.

OBJECTIVE 1 BRIEF INTERROGATION

Under the pressure of technological needs as well as higher building performance, architecture is required to adopt engineering under the control of computational driving force in order to fit the building better into its context simultaneously reponse wiser to the environment. I found myself through part B engaged partially with the brief since I always attempted to link my iterations back to my research field and part A. However, I did not completely follow the brief since shaping ideas with computational methods are challenging and do require more experiences.

B.7LEARNING OBJECTIVES & OUTCOMES

OBJECTIVE 3 3D MODELLING SKILL

I would mark myself 5/10 for my 3D modelling skill. I am still a beginner. I understand commands themselves but quite struggle when using them practically. I barely analyzed my iterations throughout the process. I also found them not so responsive to its context. This should be defintely improved in part C. Fabrication process made me realize there are both positive and negative correlation/transformation between computational model and physical model. 3D modelling at this stage somehow lacks a sense of structure and buildability.

OBJECTIVE 4 ARCHITECTURE & AIR

I gradually comprehend the role of parametric designs. It just helps to multiply anddigitally fabricate your ideas/comcepts. However, I need to go through part C to understand Air more since Air is a totally fantasy world compared to what I have known about architecture. However, in a vague way, Air saves more time for ideas divergence. Instead of sitting down and sketches for hours, computers give you 10 iteration in just 30 minutes.

OBJECTIVE 5 PROPOSALS

Since Air is so effective and efficient in generating ideas, it was a bit controversial and challenging to pick the successful ones. However, I guess it is also beneficial because I did go through every iteration again, select and eliminate. That ultimately triggerred my own judgement and analytical thinkings while filtering ideas.

OBJECTIVE 6 ANALYSIS SKILL

Air provides fundamental notions and first chances to get in touch with contemporary design methods. Part A pushed me crazily and rapidly via researches and analyze precedent works. By understanding the former works, I got experiences for myself, and building my own knowledge from learning from them. However, Air is a bit loose in design concept since everything started up iteration instead of dissecting the brief.

OBJECTIVE 7 COMPUTATIONAL UNDERSTADINGS

Honestly, not so deep. It has been only 8 weeks and it is hardly possible for me who is a real beginner to swallow and comprehend all about computational design industry. However, I am glad that I have been absorbing knowledge in my own ways. Playing around with grasshopper, I found myself reacting quicker to scripts and started to memorise commands. Randomness reduced when I move to the end of part B. I knew what I was doing and how to go from divergence to convergence.

OBJECTIVE 8 PERSONALIZED REPERTOIRE

Driven by pressure of workload the massive amount of commands to learn, I did explore more ways to do things faster and less time-consuming. My skils and experieces are expanded tremendously by trials and online research, especially Grasshopper Food.

CRITERIA DESIGN 102

FRACTAL TETRAHEDRA 5 SEGMENTS

6 SEGMENTS

B.8 APPENDIXALGORITHMIC SKETCHES

CRITERIA DESIGN 103

APPENDIXALGORITHMIC SKETCHES

LOTUS-SHAPE. The aim of fractal hedra is mostly aetheticism and tesselation.

CRITERIA DESIGN 104

FIELD FUNDAMENTALS

simple 2 positive and 1 negative chargeusing field lines to produce the field environ-

ment and connection between point charge and boundary

CRITERIA DESIGN 105

simple 2 positive and 1 negative charge

divided spiral curve give points that are in-put for spin-force result in a pattern that de-pends on the radius of the spin-force

simple 5 pin force points and their effect within their fields on external points

CRITERIA DESIGN 106

WEAVEBIRD SMOOTHENING

CRITERIA DESIGN 107

CRITERIA DESIGN 108

Evolution, Wikipedia, edited 2013, accessed 2015, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution

Gim Seng Oi, 2009,Historical Architectural Explaination, history and theory in architecture,accessed 20th April 2015 http://architheory.blogspot.com.au/2009/04/historical-architectural-explaination.html

Historical Nakagin Capsule Tower,Airbnb,URL: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1305889, accessed 24th April 2015.

Huson, Bradley, 2013, W13: morphing skin with concept development https://bradleyhudson.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/

Kolarevic, Branko and Kevin R. Klinger, eds (2008). Manufacturing Material Effects: Rethinking Design and Making in Architecture (New York; London: Routledge), pp. 6–24

Magnificent molecules ,2012, Stylepark, accessed 20th April 2015, http://www.stylepark.com/en/architecture/magnificent-molecules/336829

Merri Growler, Help Protect Merri Creek.The Friends of Merri Creek Newsletter,2012.

Molecule, Wikipedia, edited 2014, accessed 22nd April 2015. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecule

REFERENCES

http://architheory.blogspot.com.au/2009/04/historical-architectural-explaination.html

http://architheory.blogspot.com.au/2009/04/historical-architectural-explaination.html

https://bradleyhudson.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/

https://bradleyhudson.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/

http://www.stylepark.com/en/architecture/magnificent-molecules/336829

http://www.stylepark.com/en/architecture/magnificent-molecules/336829

CRITERIA DESIGN 109

Moussavi, Farshid and Michael Kubo, eds (2006). The Function of Ornament (Barcelona: Actar)

Natural Selection, Wikipedia, edited 2013 , accessed 22nd April 2015 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection

Peter Booth, Digital materiality: emergent computational fabrication, 43rd Annual Conference of the Architectural Science Association, ANZAScA 2009, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia

Peter Pearce Curved Space Diamond Structure, aka The Hakone Soap Bubble Castle,2014. The Web Blog for new dads, accessed 25th April 2015, http://daddytypes.com/2014/04/14/peter_pearce_curved_space_diamond_structure_aka_the_hakone_soap_bubble_castle.php

Stott, Rorry, 2013. Nakagin Capsule tower Prototype for Today’s Micro Housing,Architecture Daily.Accessed 21st April 2015. URL http://www.archdaily.com/443609/nakagin-capsule-tower-a-prototype-for-today-s-micro-housing/The Age Gallery http://www.theage.com.au/photogallery/national/merri-creek-not-very-merry-20111116-1niqi.html

Up the Creek. accessed 2015. http://media.leadernews.com.au/Editorial/UpTheCreek/intro.html

Woodbury, Robert F. (2014). ‘How Designers Use Parameters’, in Theories of the Digital in Architecture, ed. by Rivka Oxman and Robert Oxman (London; New York: Routledge), pp. 153–170

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection

http://daddytypes.com/2014/04/14/peter_pearce_curved_space_diamond_structure_aka_the_hakone_soap_bubble_castle.php

http://daddytypes.com/2014/04/14/peter_pearce_curved_space_diamond_structure_aka_the_hakone_soap_bubble_castle.php

http://www.archdaily.com/443609/nakagin-capsule-tower-a-prototype-for-today-s-micro-housing/

http://www.archdaily.com/443609/nakagin-capsule-tower-a-prototype-for-today-s-micro-housing/

CRITERIA DESIGN

PART C

CONTENTC1. DESIGN CONCEPT

C2. TECTONICS ELEMENTS& PROTOTYPE

C3.FINAL DETAIL MODEL

C4.LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND OUCOMES

S I T E O B S E R V A T I O N

M E R R I C R E E K

VISITED AREA

AREA OF OBSERVATION

ST GEORGE STREET/ BRIDGE

P R O B L E M I D E N T I F I C A T I O N

1

2

3

4

P R O B L E M I D E N T I F I C A T I O N

Problems detected on the site all involved local environmental conditions. Particularly, Environmental conditions at Merri Creek can be roughly described with pollution. Pollution level is seriously terrible. As seen in the photos on the left handside, Pollution along the banks becomes obvious and haunting. These derive from human impacts and local acivities and intensively influences the performance of natural habitation on the site.

Particularly, one problem we recognized on the site is Birds living conditions. Like any other natural habitation, birds, from different species, are struggling and sufferring from decaying environment in which they live. They drink polluted water, they get trapped in litters till death, they eat contaminants. That directly corrupts sustainability on the site.

5

6

7

8

MERRI CREEK IS NOT VERY MERRY“ ”

MAP: EXPORTED MAP FROM GOOGLE eARTH PRO

FOCAL SITE FOR DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

NATURAL BIRD HABITATIONAccording to some research, there are 2 distinctive groups of birds at the Creek, Some live here all the year (sparrows, bulbuls, crows, Eurasian jays, blackbirds, doves and pigeons are amongst the most common town birds); – but in Spring and Autumn Israel witnesses an enormous number of migrating birds – swallows, storks, cranes, birds of prey (very high up), wagtails and others too numerous to mention(1).

Merri Creek in fact is quite rich in bird population. With 73 species (2), birds can be heard and observed seasonally. Looking deeper into the problem, pigeon takes the largest amount on the site. Especially, in a larger scale. pigeon from surrounding area may affect the performce of the creek also.

(1),(2)Merri Growler, The Friends of Merri Creek Newsletter,2012.(3) Moussavi, Farshid and Michael Kubo, eds (2006),pg 616.

relate to DESIGN CONCEPT & BRIEFFrom what I have found and looked at above, I decide to design something to support the Merri Creek natural reserve, and particularly, protecting bird habitation.

As a respond to the given Brief, the design will be a living system that amplify technical and natural system connection. This system will help to improve the living quality of local pigeon habitat which is both influenced and influential to the Creek. Our intervention will seek help from computational/parametric softwares and mechanicism to renovate and maintain bird biodiversity, which hopefully will induce positive effect to the site and local area.

Additionally, mechanical systems and some engineering concepts will be supportive elements to realize my architectural design. As “Architecture needs mechanisms that allow it to become connected to culture”(3), We would love people to accept it in a practical way especially when parametric tool turns the form into something abstract.

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C . 1 D E S I G N C O N C E P T

119

BIRDS HABITATION We have decided to narrow the problem down to specific concernment. It is the wide range of birds living along the creek. Of the birds known to utilise the Merri Creek corridor at least four of those considered to be of regional significance (Beardsell op.cit.) are likely to heavily depend on the in-stream habitats associated with the waterways including the Great and Little Egrets, the Nankeen Night Heron and the Sacred Kingfisher (1)

These and other bird species would benefit from water quality and habitat improvement in-stream, and from an increase in wetland habitat in the catchment (2). Unfortunately the water condition at the creek is terribly poor , which consequentially decelerate the growth of birds as well as the performance of Merry Creek natural reservation.

How do birds relate to sustainability of the Creek? In facts, the birds and the creek both influence and tightly connect to each other. The Creek provides the shelters, food and water to birds. Bird habitation on the other hand directly contribute to the ecosystem on the creek. Birds directly have impacts on plantation and cleanliness of the place. When birds come together, the impact is getting more critical. They might affect the growth and health of plantations, the area in which they live. Particularly for Merry Creek, birds live randomly in bushes and on trees along the river affect the cleancliness and water quality of the stream. Their excrement disposed into the creek, their nest material discarded as rubbish floating on the surface of water that traps other birds and blocks the flows. Dead birds bodies then decompose int he water, directly release poisons that consequentially eaten by fishes and aquatic species.

In order to control and degrade the problems listed above, birds species need to be evaluated to generate stuitable and reasonable solutions.

--------------------------------------------(1) (2) )Meeri Creek Management Committee http://www.mcmc.org.au/ index.php?opt ion=com_content&view=art ic le&id=284:mces-33&catid=32:mces&Itemid=341

C . 1 D E S I G N C O N C E P T

B I R D S P O P U L A T I O N

CROWDED: >40 BIRDS

MEDIUM: 20-40 BIRDS

SPARSE: <10 BIRDS

PROBLEMATIC AREAS

AMOUNT OF BIRD NESTS

POPULATIONThe population investigated along the creek included all species and counted generally. The area of counting is restricted within circles of radius of 50m.

AMOUNT OF BIRD NESTSAmount of bird nests are counted within the same region of population. The Circles sizes reflect the amount of bird nest in the comparison with the bird population

PROBLEMATIC AREASWhat I mean by “problematic” is the bird habitation’s health and their living conditions in the context. These sites are problematic because:-water poluttion -rubbish float on the creek -plantation status: the density, the colour.-bird health through how they look: they look wet, injured and sick-birds trapped in rubbish, dead bodies found-bird nest dropped into the river, partly destroyed or totally abandoned. -the water level -aquatic species life

B I R D S P O P U L A T I O N

PROBLEMATIC

AMOUT OF BIRDS IS LESS THAN AMOUNT OF NESTS

AMOUNT OF NESTS ABANDONED IS ENORMOUS

AMOUNT OF BIRD IS MORE THAN AMOUNT OF BIRDS

B I R D S S P E C I E S D I S T R I B U T I O N

AMOUNT OF SEASONALLY MIGRATING BIRDS

AMOUNT OF PERMANENT BIRDS

AREAS OF INVESTIGATION

BIRDS FOUND. THE SIZE OF THE CIRCLE REFLECTS THE POPULATION

FLYING

NO

RTHERN IN

SPRING

SEASONAL MIGRATION DIRECTION

PERMANENT BIRD SPECIES

There are bird species that stay on the site all around the year. They stay there, build permanent nests and constantly influence the performance of local ecosystems.

MIGRATING BIRD SPECIES

There are several bird species that come to the site occasionally. At least 24 of these 42 species are seasonalvisitors, and some have strong associations with particularsites each year. “A number of species appeared to strictly favour the grassland sites and have strong seasonalfluctuations.For example,Spiny-cheeked Honeyeaters and Mistletoebirdsappeared in May,robins were most abundant in May and August; and cuckoos favoured August and November. In November, White-necked Heron, RufousWhistler, Rufous Songlark were usually recorded, but rarelyat other times.” (1)

----------------------(1)Merri Growler, Friends of Merri Creek Newsletter, May-July 2014. http://www.friendsofmerricreek.org.au/media/newsletters/Newsletter_May14_Jul14.pdf

B I R D S S P E C I E S D I S T R I B U T I O N

FLYING

NO

RTHERN IN

SPRING

FOCAL AREAS

PREDATORS FOUND

V E G E T A T I O N P A T T E R N S

NATIVE GRASSY BUSHES

NATIVE TREES

AREA OF INVESTIGATION

BIRDS LOVE NATIVE GARDENSAcoording to what I found from research, birds live along Merri Creek because of the density of native vegetation on the site. Most of big native gardens on site are found right on the bank of the creek

Non-indigenous trees such as willows, poplars and elms have limited habitat value when compared to native vegetation, and inhibit native vegetation and are classified as environmental weeds (1).

Native vegetation is developed everywhere by the community in order to provide the birds place to shelter and food to eat. Moreover, native grassy bushes help to cover their nests and hide them from being attacked by the predators.

This vegetation pattern will aid the design process especially site specification.

-----------------------------(1) Merri Creek Management Committee. http://www.mcmc.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=284:mces-33&catid=32:mces&Itemid=341

V E G E T A T I O N P A T T E R N S

S I T E S P E C I F I C A T I O N

STEPPING-STONE HABITATION

A habitat is an animal’s surrounding physical environment. All animals, from the smallest bug to the largest mammal (including us), need certain things within their habitat to survive and to thrive. By providing the types of food, water and shelter that benefit local wildlife, you can create a habitat link between the existing wildlife corridors in your area.Providing habitat stepping stones between existing wildlife corridors enables animals to move through the landscape and is one of the most important factors in maintaining biodiversity.

HABITAT STEPPING STONES:- Facilitate the migration of species to buffer the effects of drought and fire -Encourage genetic diversity which lessens in-breeding and susceptibility to disease -Enable species to migrate as climate changes

According to benefits mentioned above, my concept will aim to create a stepping stone habitation on the site. Why? Because it will not dramatically affects existing natural habitation, in fact, it will just slightly rearrange the bird habitation that can positively control the relations between birds and the creek corridor. Hence, that will also enhance creek’s sustainability by accmodating the birds in more organised ways. ------------------------------------------

SOURCE: HABITAT STEPPING STONES http://www.habitatsteppingstones.org.au/faq

400 M

400 M

600 M

400

M40

0 M

500 M

AMOUNT OF MIGRATING BIRDS

AMOUNT OF PERMANENT BIRDS

AMOUNT OF NATIVE VEGETATION

SELECTED LOCATIONS

S I T E S P E C I F I C A T I O N

PREDATORS FOUND

SELECTED LOCATIONS

The locations are selected based on:-the largest amount of permanent birds-the largest amount of migrating birds-the largest density of native gardens-to avoid predators-near the creek/water-they are evenly spaced-the distance are not too long or short for birds to fly along the creek

EURASIAN JAYS

BULBULS

CROWS

DOVES

PIGEONS

BLACKBIRDS

SPARROWS

• Sparrows are small, plump, brown-grey birds with short tails and stubby, powerful beaks.

• The house sparrow is a very social bird. It is gregarious at all seasons when feeding, often forming flocks with other types of bird.

• Well adapted to living around humans

• deep orange to yellow bill, a narrow yellow eye-ring and dark legs.

• found in urban areas and surrounding localities, but has successfully moved into bushland habitats.

• White Doves are small birds.• Dove they are quite hardy. If they are kept outdoors

and are accustomed to cold weather, they can take below freezing temperatures for a short period of time.

• Crested Pigeon is a stocky pigeon with a conspicuous thin black crest. Most of the plumage is grey-brown, becoming more pink on the underparts. The wings are barred with black, and are decorated with glossy green and purple patches. The head is grey, with an pinkish-red ring around the eye.

• Australian Ravens are black with white eyes in adults.

• The Australian Raven is found in all habitat types, with the exception of the more arid areas of Western Australia.

• Australian Raven is mainly carnivorous.

• It has a pointed black crest, white cheeks, brown back, reddish under tail coverts and a long white-tipped tail.

• Bulbuls are common in urban areas

• beautiful Corvidae easy to identify thanks to the bright blue wing patch.

• Eurasian Jay is secretive and wary, often heard rather than seen.

PHYSICAL FEATURES

P E R M A N E N T B I R D S P E C I E S

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beak

• • Favorite: • social activities such as dust and water bathing,

and “social singing”

• builds a cup-shaped nest of dried grass, bound with mud, and lined with fine grasses.Also use

tree hollows.

• flimsy nest builders so it is best to provide them with an open nesting container. Suitable housing for a White Dove would be a large cockatiel cage along with some flight time outside the cage.

• White Doves are very clean birds and love to bathe.

• The Crested Pigeon builds a delicate nest of twigs, placed in a tree or dense bush. Both sexes share the incubation of the eggs, and both care for the young.

• construct a large untidy nest, normally consisting of bowl or platform of sticks, lined with grasses, bark and feathers.

• Food: eats insects, earthworms, snails, spiders and a range of seeds and fruit. It mainly forages

on the ground, lands and soils.

• Food: grains and weeds, but it is opportunistic and adaptable, and eats whatever foods are available

• a wide-ranging diet that may consist of grains, fruits, insects, small animals, eggs, refuse and carrion;

• The Crested Pigeon’s diet consists mostly of native seeds, as well as those of introduced crops and weeds. Some leaves and insects are also eaten. Feeding is in small to large groups,

• They not only enjoy their greens, but will also enjoy spray millet and such things as crumbled cornmeal and bread. Grit is essential as all Ringneck Doves swallow their food whole, and it helps grind up the food.

• inhabit parks, gardens and along creeks.• an open cup nest of rootlets, bark and leaves,

lined with soft fibre. The nest is usually placed in a low tree fork. Two or three broods may be reared in a season.

• feed on a variety of native and introduced fruits, insects and flower buds.

• Both sexes build a well constructed platform of twigs. The cup is fairly deep and lined with softer plant materials. Nest is situated in fork near the centre of the tree or lower crown, concealed by foliage and vegetation, at about 4-6 metres above the ground.

• feeds primarily on invertebrates such as caterpillars and beetles during the breeding and nesting seasons. It gleans from foliage in trees. But as other Corvidae, it also takes eggs and nestlings of several bird species. uring autumn and winter, it feeds on seeds and berries, chestnuts and acorns

P E R M A N E N T B I R D S P E C I E SHABITATION FOOD

EUROASIAN JAYS

BULBULS

CROWS

DOVES

PIGEONS

BLACKBIRDS

SPARROWS

28-29 cm

~21 cm

~52 cm

~30.5 cm

~33 cm

~23.5-29 cm

~15 cm

LENGTH

S I Z E S : W E I G H T A N D L E N G T H

S I Z E S : W E I G H T A N D L E N G T H

120-130 g

32 g

557 g

170-200 cm

207 g

80-125 g

~27 g

WEIGHT

RANGE AVERAGE15-36 CM

27-200 GRAMS

27 CM

200 GRAMS

BIRDS NESTS FEATURES To successfully design bird accomdation, natural bird nests should be a compulsory precedent to study from. Bird nests show birds living habit anfd their favourite living conditions. Natural bird nest will help me to understand how birds build their nests in nature, what materials and what forms they prefer. And I believe that is what biomimicry means.

There are countless types of nests built by birds in nature, however, I am only looking at the type of nests built by the birds on Merry Creek. In order to successfully mate, lay eggs, incubate them and produce a new generation of birds, each bird species must have an appropriate scheme that is suitable to their life style(1).

However, I am attempting to look for similarities between the nest type, then standardize it into a type of shelter that can accomodate any kind of birds.

In that way, the design is flexible and responsive at the same time. It respects natural decision since it only provides the space for birds to stay and allows birds to do whatever to the rest of their nests.

Similarity: the form

Difference : the nesting materials

Morover, based on what we observed on the site, bird nests are abandoned after the migrating birds leave. The Design will aim to fix that problem since the provided nest “molecules” will we useable and cleanable. Birds can reuse the nests and will not build more nests and abandon after using which negatively affects the ecosystem sustainability and cleaniliness of the site.

---------------------------------------------(1)Bird Nest and Nesting Scheme http://www.utahbirds.org/featarts/2013/BirdNests.htm

134

EURASIAN JAYS

BULBULS

CROWS

DOVES

PIGEONS

BLACKBIRDS

SPARROWS

BIRD NEST FORMS

135

BIRD NESTING MATERIALS

SOFTER PLANT MATERIALS

GRASS

GRASS

BARK DRIED LEAVES

TWIGS

TWIGS

MUD

FEATHER

WOOL

STANDARDIZED CONTAINER

INDIVIDUAL NESTS

BIRDS ARE ALLOWED TO BRING THEIR OWN FAVOURITE NEST-ING MATERIALS INTO THE BUILT NESTS. THAT HELPS TO SERVE DIFFERENCE REQUIREMENTS AND NEEDS OF EACH BIRDS

136

ITERA

TION

FORM INTERNAL OPENINGS

FORM FIGURE CELLS SIZE AND NUMBERS

137

EXTRUSION OUTCOME

CELLS SIZE AND NUMBERS

EXTRUSION LENGTH

138

ITERA

TION

139

SELECTION CRITERIA

EXPLANATORY DIAGRAM

FORMATIVE CURVES LOFTING CURVES FOR SURFACE

INWARD EXTRUSION FOR INTERIOR SPACE

Primary curves are placed in a dynamic position. The curves illustrates the body of a tree trunk which has cavity inside where birds usually love to live. By imitating the overform of the tree trunk to accomodate birds, the design intends to embrace biomimicry theme to seek for the most comfortable way that birds live. Tree trunk will provide a vertical structure that can be raised up and down in height to fir the birds view.

In order to have a sense of enclosure and “housing” something in the middle, curves then are lofted to form interior space. The lofted surface creates a border surface between internal and external areas. That theoritically approachs the traditional defition of a shelter for any species. It helps to provide birds with privacy and something to protect them from external environment.

Internal space is then divided up into smaller units for different birds/ bird families. Since birds are not so happy to live next to each other, especially birds from different species, these cells after division will provide them with their “persona” space. The cells are linked by joints and connections, however, not accessible from one to another. Hence, birds in each cell can determine their own living conditions that does not affect othe birds.

OUTWARD EXTRUSION FOR CELLS OPENINGS

FINAL OUTCOME

Outward extrusion are placed in front of each cell. They are designed with specific features for specific functions. -extrusion gives “eaves” that protect nests and birds eggs or nesting materials from the rain as well as excessive sunlight in summer that ca n lead to burning.-at tip of the extrusion, it is cut pointed to create a “poky” form overall. That helps to keep the predators away from attacking the eggs and small birds. -transparent external skin to control the natural sunlight penetrating through the cells.

NEST INNOVATIONThe final outcome is a combination of 2 different layers . The extrnal skin plays as a shield that reduces the impact from the surrounding environment as well as predators. The internal cage helps to hold the nest stably , forming a space in the middle to protect the eggs also avoid direct winds that can blow the nesting materials away. Morover, when the 2 layers come together, the design will again insulation properties which is not achieved by natural bird nests.

142

SPLIT INTO HALVES

CELL 1

CELL 2

CELL 3

CELL 4

CELL 5

DIMENSION: H= 10CM|W=12CM





CELLS ORGANIZAT ION

143

SPLIT INTO HALVES

CELL 6

CELL 7

CELL 8

CELL 9

CELL 10






144

SECT IONS

TOP SECTIONS

MIDDLE SECTIONS

BOTTOM SECTIONS

145

TOP SECTION

- CLOSED AT THE TOP- SMALLEST CELLS- GAPS FOR RAINWATER TO PENETRATE

MIDDLE SECTION

- ROUND IN SHAPE- VOID FOR AIR VENTILATION - BIRD COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE STRUCTURE-SMALL AND BIG CELLS

BOTTOM SECTION

- CLOSED AT THE BOTTOM- BIGGER CELLS TO SUPPORT THE STRUCTURE- ENCLOSED TO COLLECT RAINWATER AND EXCREMENT

20-40 CELLS

40-70 CELLS

30-40 CELLS

146

Medium Cells:- Ranges from 10 - 25 centime-ters- Shelter for smaller birds such as Bulbuls, Sparrows and Blackbirds

Small Cells:-Cells below 10 centimeters in size- For human interaction ; Pot planting, plant seedlings, pro-vide food for birds, etc (before the nest is hung)-Birds excrement system

Big Cells:-Ranges from 25 - 30 centime-ters-For bigger birds such as Jays, Doves, Pigeons and Blackbirds

Cells in increasing order

Cells in decreasing order

8 cm

32 cm

148

PARANESTDIGITAL MODEL

149

PARANESTDIGITAL MODEL

FRONT BACK

LEFT RIGHT

ELEVATION

150

RAINWATER COLLECT ING SYSTEM

SECTIONCUT IN MIDDLE

RAINWATER HAVESTING

RAINWATER DISTRIBUTION

RAINWATER OVERFLOW EXIT

RAINWATER IS COLLECTED AT THE TOP. THE ANGLE OF THE CELLS ONLY ALLOWS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF RAINWATER TO PENETRATE THROUGH THE STRUCTURE.

RAINWATER PURIFICATION

RAIWATER IS PURIFIED ALONG THE WAY BY FILTRATION SYSTEM TO PROVIDE BIRDS WITH CLEAN WATER.

RAINWATER ARRIVAL AT EACH CELL

RAINWATER ARRIVES AT EACH CELL AFTER BEING PURIFIED.

THE PIPES GO AROUND THE EDGES OF CELLSM USING MOTOR TO PUMP WATER GO AROUND.

IN RAINY SEASONS, RAINWATER MAY EXCEED THE ACCEPTABLE LEVEL AND POSSIBLY CAUSE FLOODING AND MOISTURE DISRUPTION.

OVERFLOW RAINWATER WILL DRAIN OUT THROUGH PIPES AT THE BOTTOM.

151

SECTIONCUT IN MIDDLE

SAMPLE CELL

RAINWATER PIPES

RAINWATER PIPES RUN AROUND THE CELL EDGES, PURIFY RAINWATER ALONG THE WAY

CLEAN WATER CONTAINER

CLEAN RAINWATER ARRIVES IN A LITTLE CONTAINER ATTACHED TO EACH CELL. BIRDS USE THIS WATER TO DRINK OR SHOWER.

GRAVELS

COAL

SAND

RAINWATER

PIPE SECTION

152

EXCREMENT COLLECT ING SYSTEM

EXCREMENT COLLECTING

EXCREMENT STORAGE

EXCREMENT IS PRODUCED BY BIRDS IN EACH CELL RESULTING IN UNCOMFORTABLE ODOR AND HYGIENICAL ISSUE THAT AFFECTS LIVING CONDITION OF THE BIRDS.

EXCREMENT COLLECTING EXCREMENT TECHNICALLY GATHERED AND COLLECTED AT EACH CELLS THROUGH THE PANELS

RAINWATER ARRIVAL AT EACH CELL

EXCREMENT THEN TRANSFERRED DOWN TO STORAGE THROUGH PIPE SYSTEM THAT RUNS AT THE EDGE OF THE CELL, USING PUMP AND WATER TO ACTIVATE THE PROCESS.

EXCREMENT IS STORED IN THE CELLS AT THE BOTTOMS, THEN COLLECTED BY LOCAL FARMERS FOR PLANT FERTILIZER.

153

PIPE SECTION

EXCREMENT PIPES

EXCREMENT IS TRANSFERRED TO STORAGE THROUGH PIPES RUN AROUND THE EDGE.

CLEAN WATER CONTAINER

CLEAN RAINWATER ARRIVES IN A LITTLE CONTAINER ATTACHED TO EACH CELL. BIRDS USE THIS WATER TO DRINK OR SHOWER.

WATER FOR CLEANING

EXCREMENT

MOTOR ENGINE

WATER VALVE

154

CAMERA SYSTEMS FOR SURVE ILLANCE

EXCREMENT COLLECTING

CAMERAS ARE PLACED AT THE TIP OF EACH CELLS AND WHAT IS RECORDED WILL BE BROADCASTED TO LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICE, IN ORDER TO:

-MONITOR BIRDS

-RESEARCH STUDY ABOUT BIRDS SPECIES

-EASILY TRACK BIRDS AND CONTROL THEIR POPULATION

155

CAMERAS

LITTLE CAMERAS ARE PLACED TO RECORD AT EACH CELL.

156

C . 2 T E C T O N I C E L E M E N T S & P R O T O T Y P E S

157

C . 2 T E C T O N I C E L E M E N T S & P R O T O T Y P E S

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PROTOTYPES

MATERIALS:-BLACK CARDS-LUAN PLYWOOD : PAINTED AND UNPAINTED

JOINT SYSTEMS: SPLIT END JOINTS. UHU GLUE , DOUBLE SIDED TAPES

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F A B R I C A T I O N

161

F A B R I C A T I O N

162

LA

ZE

R-

CU

TT

IN

G

TE

MP

LA

TE cut lines

etched lines

dash cut lines for folding

INTERNAL CAGESsample cells 1-15

labels for assembly

dash cut lines to foldinternal cutout

etched lines to fold

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EXTERNAL SKINsample cells 1-11

labels for assembly

tabs to form the cells

dash cut lines to fold

tabs to connect to cages

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C E L L A S S E M B L Y

INTERNAL CAGE

EXTERNAL SKIN

FOLDING

2222

22cm

18cm

21cm

22cm9cm

ATTACHING

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C E L L A S S E M B L Y

ATTACHING

COMPLETED CELL

EXTERNAL SKIN AND INTERNAL CAGE ARE ATTACHED USING THE PREFABRICATED TABS WITH DOUBLE SISDED TAPE

FINAL OUTCOME: EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL CAGE FORM AN INTERIOR SPACE TO HOLD THE BIRDS

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JOINT SYSTEM

- AESTHETICALLY GOOD- LOW STRUCTURAL STRENGTH

167

DOUBLE SIDED TAPE

STAPLES

BUILT-IN TABS

168

CELL 1

CELL 2

CELL 77

CELL 89

EXTERNA

L SKIN

JOIN

TS

INTERN

AL C

AG

E

A S S E M B L Y D I A G R A M

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CELL 77

A S S E M B L Y D I A G R A M

CELL 20

CELL 32 CELL 40

CELL 19

CELL 37

CELL 16

CELL 92

CELL 84

CELL 72

CELL 63

CELL 53 CELL 5

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F A B R I C A T I O N P R O C E S S

171

I totally agree fabrication is a effective method to understand the design. It was a long process to realize a design in 1:1 scale.

In fact we were actually building something that is ready to use.

In details, the process includes numerous steps and stages. After receiving the cut pieces from laser cutting, we had to fold them and form cells individually. Since the labels on each cell does not go in the order from smallest to biggest number, it was terrifying to connect the cells that are arranged randomly.

The tools we used are: double sided tapes and staple guns for connections. And the result turned out, it did not work so well since the cells were too huge and heavy for the tapes to hold everything together. It was out carelessness. The prototype was made with cards (paper) and tapes were able to hold it. But the final model is in Polypropylene which is much harder to glue and fabricate.



Foremost, I used the laser cutter for fabrication process as it was the most cost-effective and efficient for the

form that I was trying to create. With the etching and cutting options available, the laser cutter enabled folding and facilitated my modeling process in overall. Transforming my design from a 2-D layout to a 3-D object was the most challenging part of the process as I had to envision the cutting template, the folding lines, directions, and the feasibility of pasting / connecting before sending the job into the machine.

Moreover, I used polypropylene (white and transparent) to mimic the product as it is in the real world. Unlike card, which is flimsy, water-absorbent, and translucent, polypropylene is waterproof and structurally stable, which is ideal as a bird’s nest which may be exposed to extreme, external environmental conditions. Furthermore, the inner parts of the nest is opaque as a protective sun-shading device from all-directions, to maintain the optimal temperature for living and ensure the health of its inhabitants.

ALTERNATIVE SYSTEM

- MIGHT LOOK BUNKY- STRONG STRUCTURAL STRENGTH

C . 3 F I N A L D E T A I L M O D E LS C A L E 1 : 1

E L E V A T I O N V I E W SS C A L E 1 : 1

PHYSICAL MODELSCALE 1:1Z O O M - I N

S C A L E 1 : 1

Z O O M - I NS C A L E 1 : 1

D E T A I L SS C A L E 1 : 1

P E R S P E C T I V E SS C A L E 1 : 1

O N S I T E1 : 1

I N T E R I O R1 : 1

RENDERED PERSPECTIVESUT THI T.

192

RENDERED INTERIOR OF CELLSUT THI T.

194

OBJECTIVE 1 OPTIONEERING

During the process of design, I have been always attempting to relate my design back to the given brief. It was challenging honestly since it was hard for a beginner like me to control and manipulate Grasshopper in the way I want it to be. However, after “wandering” around Grasshopper and seeking for solutions, I had a chance to explore the programs by trying different commands and plug-ins. Gradually, I understood fundamental ideas of how and why designers need computational programs to help them diverge their brief and produce different possible outcomes to choose from. However, to select the right technique and develop it in the right track, I still had to struggle to “tape” myself with the brief and together be creative at the same time.

OBJECTIVE 2 DESIGN POSSIBILITIES

By dragging the sliders up and down in Grasshopper, I produced heaps of outcomes for fabrication. However, the pain of parametric design does not only exist in the computer, the outcomes have to be buildable. That turns the process into hardship to decide which one is buildable and which one is not. It was even worse when the best looking outcomes are impossible to construct in reality and I had to twist the script to satisfy fabrication requirement as well as the brief. Nevertheless, that actually brought me closer to my design that I understood it in different phases and comprehend the process of making it.

C . 4 L E A R N I N G O U T C O M E S

195

C . 4 L E A R N I N G O U T C O M E S

OBJECTIVE 3 WORKING IN 3D SPACE

It was a long journey for me throughout the semester to get familiar with Grasshopper bit by bit. It was terrible at first when I could not understand a thing about algorithmic commands. It was too scientific for me, to be honest. Gradually, the more I work with it, the more I understand its logic and know how to classify commands according to their usages. Within 3D space of digital design,I understood the connection between designs and science. Even though it is not comfortable at all to merge these two together, I have to admit it is totally a new method to me to approach design and explore my concept in a “fancy” way. It is time saving, effective and accurate. Especially using mouse to rotate objects is extremely intriguing, which saves much more time compare to hand drawings.

OBJECTIVE 4 ARCHITECTURE AS PHYSICAL MODEL

It was fun but seriously it was a nightmare making that huge 1:1 model. I started to realise how terrifying an architect’s life would be. It was not only about time, or our strength or the expense I spent on the model, it was my brain that got hurt since I had to construct a real thing. It is 1:1 scale, it is not a model anymore. Mistakes were made during the process. The worst mistake is the joint systems we chose initially. I thought I was in modelling world that I used staple guns to build a real bird house. At least, I learnt something from it. It took me to a higher level when its not about architecture anymore, but rather construction for my fabrication process.

OBJECTIVE 5 PROPOSALS

My proposal in part B was “half-baked”- according to my tutor. I realised it was a failure because I directly propose my imagination without testing or analysing them. There was not correlation or connection between the site and the design, in term of contours and linkages. It was a down side of parametric design since it easily takes us away from the design track and gives us something irrelevant and we can not really justify it. However, the proposal was my first attempt to solve the problem and respond to the brief. At least I tried. At least I realised it was not right. At least I learnt from it and I knew what to do for part C. That helps me understand more about architecture. Architecture lies between divergence to convergence.

OBJECTIVE 6&7 UNDERSTANDING

At the beginning of the semester, I did not understand Grasshopper at all. I wrote my scripts byfollowing step by step shown in tutorial videos. It took hours and hours to do sectioning on a simple sphere. However, that process penetrate into my brain somehow and I realize, the more you do it, the more you will know what it is and how to use it. At this stage, I may not understand the components or real definitions of commands, but I know where and when to use it. And my goal for Grasshopper in the future is getting familiar with it, use it and lastly, understand it. Bringing something into practice is the best way of learning.

OBJECTIVE 8 PERSONAL REPERTOIRE

I am glad I am still alive after Studio Air. There were countless times I got stuck, I got frustrated, I got overwhelmed and exhausted. There were no other way to go but Grasshopper. I hated it so much since it was not ideal at all to learn a computational program in 3 months and design something with it. HoweverI realised, it is not necessary to have excellent Grasshopper skills to get along with parametric design. Even when you have a simple script but you understand it throughout the process, you know how to fabricate it, you know how to improve it, you know its functions and you can explain what you have done, then parametric design works! Studio Air tested my understanding of architecture and my capability to suffer from it. And finally, at this stage, I overcome the test, learnt new skills, gained more experienced and especially, how to architecture involves every-thing else when computational tools come in.

Merri Growler, The Friends of Merri Creek Newsletter,2012.(3) Moussavi, Farshid and Michael Kubo, eds (2006),pg 616.

R E F E R E N C E SMerri Growler, The Friends of Merri Creek Newsletter,2012.

Moussavi, Farshid and Michael Kubo, eds (2006),pg 616.

Bird nest and nesting scheem http://www.utahbirds.org/featarts/2013/BirdNests.htm. http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/2-Bird-Habitat-NecessitiesImages:http://www.emilysodders.com/ http://momotte2stocks.deviantart.com/art/Cut-out-stock-PNG-23-collared-dove-340644642http://pixshark.com/dove-png-transparent-background.htm

Evolution, Wikipedia, edited 2013, accessed 2015, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution

Gim Seng Oi, 2009,Historical Architectural Explaination, history and theory in architecture,accessed 20th April 2015 http://architheory.blogspot.com.au/2009/04/historical-architectural-explaination.html

Historical Nakagin Capsule Tower,Airbnb,URL: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/1305889, accessed 24th April 2015.

Huson, Bradley, 2013, W13: morphing skin with concept development https://bradleyhudson.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/

Kolarevic, Branko and Kevin R. Klinger, eds (2008). Manufacturing Material Effects: Rethinking Design and Making in Architecture (New York; London: Routledge), pp. 6–24

Magnificent molecules ,2012, Stylepark, accessed 20th April 2015, http://www.stylepark.com/en/architecture/magnificent-molecules/336829

Merri Growler, Help Protect Merri Creek.The Friends of Merri Creek Newsletter,2012.

Molecule, Wikipedia, edited 2014, accessed 22nd April 2015. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecule

Moussavi, Farshid and Michael Kubo, eds (2006). The Function of Ornament (Barcelona: Actar)Natural Selection, Wikipedia, edited 2013 , accessed 22nd April 2015 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_selection

Peter Booth, Digital materiality: emergent computational fabrication, 43rd Annual Conference of the Architectural Science Association, ANZAScA 2009, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Australia

Peter Pearce Curved Space Diamond Structure, aka The Hakone Soap Bubble Castle,2014. The Web Blog for new dads, accessed 25th April 2015, http://daddytypes.com/2014/04/14/peter_pearce_curved_space_diamond_structure_aka_the_hakone_soap_bubble_castle.php

Stott, Rorry, 2013. Nakagin Capsule tower Prototype for Today’s Micro Housing,Architecture Daily.Accessed 21st April 2015. URL http://www.archdaily.com/443609/nakagin-capsule-tower-a-prototype-for-today-s-micro-housing/The Age Gallery http://www.theage.com.au/photogallery/national/merri-creek-not-very-merry-20111116-1niqi.html

Up the Creek. accessed 2015. http://media.leadernews.com.au/Editorial/UpTheCreek/intro.html

Woodbury, Robert F. (2014). ‘How Designers Use Parameters’, in Theories of the Digital in Architecture, ed. by Rivka Oxman and Robert Oxman (London; New York: Routledge), pp. 153–170

air journal 2015

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