Sander Mulders 1108239

1 - Introduction

School for Digital DesignA Design and Research Project

Architecture

1st Mentor Architecture: Ir. R.J. Nottrot

2nd Mentor Building Technology: Ir. H. Plomp

3rd Mentor Thesis: Dr. J.L. Heintz

October 2008

Building Technology

1st Mentor E.B.Tuncer MSc

2nd Mentor Ir. H. Plomp

3rd Mentor Ir. R.J. Nottrot

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Introduction

Master Architecture:

Design Project

Master Building Technology:

Research

Combined master project

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Ontwerp

global proc createVoronoi() {

string $selPoints[]; // Array containing the selected pointsstring $centerPoint;string $curPoint;string $bisectionLines[]; // Array containgin the lines for the bisectors string $bisectorLine; // Individual name of a bisector string $bisectionPlane[]; string $vrniCube[];string $intersectCube[]; string $bboxName = “”; // name of the BBoxstring $voronoiVolumes[]; // Array containing the names of the voronoi volumes int $numberOfPoints; // Initial Number of pointsint $numberOfVtx[]; // number of Vertices of the voronoi volumeint $bboxMethod = `radioButtonGrp -q -sl bboxMethod`; // selected option int $boundaryYN = `checkBoxGrp -q -value1 voronoiBound`; // create voronoi boundaryint $removeYN = `checkBoxGrp -q -value1 bblocksRemove`; // remove the extra bounding volumes?float $randomVal = `floatSliderGrp -q -value pointDeviation`; float $pointPos[];

clear $selPoints;$selPoints = `ls -sl`;

$numberOfPoints = size($selPoints);

switch ($bboxMethod) { case 1: // use default bbox $bboxName = createBBox($selPoints); if ($boundaryYN == 1) { $selPoints = createExtraPoints($selPoints,$randomVal,$bboxName); } break; case 2: // Get name from the textfield $bboxName = `textField -q -tx voronoiBoundary`;

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Research

Interaction between the Designer, his tools

and the design

Develop tools to help the designer in the act of

exploring alternatives

What is the emerging relationship between the designer

and the tool with Design Space Exploration?

This research is done from two different points of view. The first being

the use of digital tools to create a novel approach to a number of

design task situated in the design of a building. The second that of

the development of new tools and techniques and the conditions in

which they should function within the design project.

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Design Space Exploration

Design Space Exploration embraces a number of design

methods which all focus on the use of alternatives as act

of designing. The computer’s role is to help the designer to

explore the alternatives.

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Explorating alternatives

Although the term Design Space Exploration sounds very

contemporary the idea is actually quite old. Design Space

Exploration is basically the exploration of alternatives in a

design process. And that is exactly what architects and other

designers have been doing for over centuries.

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Designer & Process

Tools Process

Designer

Design Project

Designer wants to design

For a successful integration of design space exploration it is important to consider the designer and his act of designing. What the tools should do is support the designer in his act of designing instead of replacing him.

Analysis

Synthesis Evaluation

“Real” design process

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Application of tools

Concept

Tools Used

Potential

Design Detail Production Assembly

Support designer during the

conceptual and design phase

Integrate assembly and production

knowledge in the design/detail phase

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Building Tools

General

Useful

A tool designed to perform multiple tasks and fit multiple

processes or designers can be considered general and more

likely less useful in a specific design problem. Whereas a more

specific tool can be much more useful but less general.

Using scripting the designer (or the toolbuilder) can close the

gap between the more general software available and the

specific tools needed without writing new software.

General tool + Scripting = Specific tool

Tools Process

Designer

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Design problems

Design ??

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Design Project

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Analysis

Synthesis Evaluation

TOOLS

Design as a rational problem solving process Reflection in action

The act of designing can be considered working with various

design problems related to the design task. Most of the design

problems reveal themselves during the act of designing.

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Experiments

Experiment 01

Working with the complexity of the relations. Exploring Voronoi as design concept.

Experiment 02

Subdivision of groups of volumes into individual rooms.

Experiment 03

Giving shape to the structural elements of the building.

Experiment 04

Development of the facade.

Design Project

Exp_001

Exp_002

Exp_003

Exp_004

The experiments are

part of the design

project.

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Design Concept

Digital design and manufacturing is becoming more and

more important in the design process. The integration of

digital design tools is not bound to one specific practice,

it can be found in various design fields amongst which

automotive, aerospace, product and building design. An

improvement in one field can influence the other fields.

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Location

Civil Engineering

(former)Architecture

N

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Program

Education Amount Each Total m2

Workrooms/spaces 5 pers 10 10 100 Group Rooms 20 pers 5 50 250 Lectureroom I 200 pers 1 250 250 Lectureroom II 50 pers 1 75 75 Computer rooms 40 pers 4 150 600

Research Reseachers/PhD 1-2 pers 30 10 300 Meetingroom I 20 pers 1 60 60 Meetingroom II 10 pers 1 40 40 Meetingroom III 10 pers 1 40 40 Department heads 2 pers 4 12 48

Support Amount Each Total m2

Facility/ICT support 1 100 100 CAM Lab 1 200 200 ModelShop 1 250 250 Building Services 1 300 300 ServerRoom 1 30 30 Storage 1 200 200

Other Entrance Lobby 1 100 100 Cafeteria 1 300 300 Atrium 1 400 400 Sanitary 4 20 80 Total ± 4000 m2

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Relations

Entrance/Lobby

Lecture Room 1200 pers

Researchers/Phd30 rooms

Department Heads4 rooms

Meeting Room I20 pers

Meeting Room III10 pers

Meeting Room II10 pers

Cafeteria

Sanitary

Storage

Lecture Room II50 pers

Computer Room III40 pers

Computer Room IV40 pers

Workroom (10x)5 pers

Grouproom (5x)20 pers

Computer Room I40 pers

Computer Room II40 pers

CAM-lab

Model Shop

Server roomBuilding Services

Facility/ICT support

Atrium

Pull to Ground

Entrance PositionStorage Position

Atrium to Center

External Relations Close-To Relations Visual Relations

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Experiment 01

“The diagram is no longer an auditory or

visual archive but a map, a cartography that is

coextensive with the whole social field. It is an

abstract machine. It is defined by its informal

functions and matter and in terms of form makes

no distinction between content and expression. It

is a machine that is almost blind and mute, even

though it makes others see and speak. […] It never

functions in order to represent a persisting world

but produces a new kind of reality, a new model

of truth.”

Gilles Deleuze

Interest in Voronoi Diagrams

Dealing with complexity

Using the internal relations as a design driver

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Physical Models

An important step in the understanding of Voronoi diagrams

is the creation of a 3-dimensional diagram and explore

what happens on the common planes between the various

volumes.

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Network-ed Building

The school for digital design requires a different type of

networked structure; the interaction between the different

disciplines and functions needs a distributed network to allow

allogamy and exchange of information and experience.

Distributed Network Voronoi DiagramDecentralized NetworkCentralized Network

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Dealing with complexity

Entrance/Lobby

Lecture Room 1200 pers

Researchers/Phd30 rooms

Department Heads4 rooms

Meeting Room I20 pers

Meeting Room III10 pers

Meeting Room II10 pers

Cafeteria

Sanitary

Storage

Lecture Room II50 pers

Computer Room III40 pers

Computer Room IV40 pers

Workroom (10x)5 pers

Grouproom (5x)20 pers

Computer Room I40 pers

Computer Room II40 pers

CAM-lab

Model Shop

Server roomBuilding Services

Facility/ICT support

Atrium

Pull to Ground

Entrance PositionStorage Position

Atrium to Center

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Exploration

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Decision Making

The alternatives are generated by the computer and presented to the designer. He has to choose the alternative to continue with.

The decision made by the designer is based on “soft” criteria like intuition and experience rather than on hard facts like numerical criteria.

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Process

Interest in Voronoi

Voronoi Tool

De�ning Potential

Voronoi for modelling spatial relations

3D spatial de�nition of the program

De�ne Program

De�ne Relations

De�ne Network Relation ModelTool

This experiment rises from the interest to use Voronoi

diagrams as the start for the creative process. The first stage

is to able to generate three dimensional Voronoi Graphs

using the Autodesk Maya software package. The second

stage is determining the potential of the Voronoi Graph in

architectural design and determining the direction for the

explorations of the third stage.

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From relations to Voronoi

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By taking the centerpoints from each of the spheres the input for the Voronoi is created. The result of the Vroronoi is a 3Dimentional representation of the relations shown in the common surfaces between the individual volumes.

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Evaluating Experiment 01

Grain of the Model

For the modelling the relations it is important to define the initial grain of the model: divide the model into individual rooms, clusters of rooms, clusters of functions etc.The choice affects the final outcome of the tool.

What to Model?

There are numerous functions that can be added when modelling the relations. The challenge is to properly define the program on forehand.

Time Satisfaction

Force Model Script

Voronoi Script

Complexity

Support

The tool supports the designer while dealing with the complex model of relations and Voronoi shapes.

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Defining the shape

Buildings, backsides

Buildings

Water

Trees

Location

Tram-track

Pedestrian zone

Solar Direction

Mekelpark Promenade

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Top View

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Defining the rooms

Entrance/Lobby

Lecture Room 1200 pers

Researchers/Phd30 rooms

Department Heads4 rooms

Meeting Room I20 pers

Meeting Room III10 pers

Meeting Room II10 pers

Cafeteria

Sanitary

Storage

Lecture Room II50 pers

Computer Room III40 pers

Computer Room IV40 pers

Workroom (10x)5 pers

Grouproom (5x)20 pers

Computer Room I40 pers

Computer Room II40 pers

CAM-lab

Model Shop

Server roomBuilding Services

Facility/ICT support

Atrium

Pull to Ground

Entrance Position

Storage Position

Lit by Daylight

Atrium to Center

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Layout

Atrium

Research

Education

Areas for access, stairs etc.

Support

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Atrium View

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Second Floorscale 1:100

N

ComputerRoom

+5800170 m²

ComputerRoom

+5800140 m²

Toilet

+650018 m²

PhD

+650041 m²

Dep. Heads

+650035 m²

PhD

+650041 m²

PhD

+650018 m²

MeetingRoom

+650035 m²

Support

+620062 m²

GroupRoom

+720050 m²

GroupRoom

+720038 m²

Workspaces

+720072m²

Plan

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Section

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Physical Model

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Construction

Optimizing the shape in four situations:

- for profile Height

- for profile Width

- for profile Thickness

- for all three

Pro�le Depth

Pro�le Height

Pro�le Thickness

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Visual Results

H = 500 / W = 150 H = 750 / W = 150 H = 1000 / W = 150 H = 750 / W = 250 H = Free / W = Free

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Atrium View

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Facade

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Concept

There is a difference in cuts. A smooth one where the volume

is completely removed and a rough cut where the volume is

split.

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Unpredictability of Nature

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Alternatives

Complete control over the position of each of the individual points. Results look structured.

Much control over the position of each of the individual points by the placement of the attractors. Results look structured.

No control over the position of each of the individual points. Results look random but are not consistent.

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Facade

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Inside a workspace

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Details

The complexity of the design implies that there are a large number of totally unique connections. The variation in surface angles and different materials meeting suggest a lot of unique details. By introducing “empty” space in the otherwise hard to connect area’s these connections can be generalized. Rather than creating a new detail for each connection, a modified version is defined.

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Creating space in detailing

Roof - Inner Facade

Roof covering120 mm Insulation 10mm/1m slope18 mm wood470 mm infra+ �oor system Adhesive layer35 mm acoustic foam3 mm white porous covering

Wooden spacer black10x150 mm steel pro�le120x44 mm wooden frameInsulation10 mm plasterboard5 mm stucco

Floor - Outer Facade

Leoxx vinyl �oor covering50 mm �bre-cement boardneoprene600 mm infra+ �oor system Adhesive layer35 mm acoustic foam3 mm white porous covering

18 mm wood boardsteel bracing

Hot water pipe in-/outtakeCold water pipe in-/outtakePower cables LED System

Air intakeAir duckt

60x60 Steel L Pro�le18 mm wood board

Floor - Inner Facade

Wooden spacer black10x150 mm steel pro�le120x44 mm wooden frameInsulation10 mm plasterboard5 mm stucco

Aluminium foam panel120 mm Insulation between steel frame18 mm wood600 mm infra+ �oor system Adhesive layer35 mm acoustic foam3 mm white porous covering

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Final Words

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What If?

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Generating alternatives

Important DilemmaThe alternatives are generated using the computer, the decisions are made by the designer. These decisions are often objective and therefor not (yet) to be made by a computer.

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Evaluating the design methods

Designing Using Design Space Exploration

- it can direct the designer in a direction- the importance of decisions and decision making is more apparent- the alternatives “not chosen” have influenced the final choice

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Evaluating Voronoi

Voronoi creates an interesting relation to nature which expresses itself in the whole building.

It creates the important atmosphere the designer was looking for in this building.

It is difficult to use any other formal language in relation to the Voronoi. It is a dominant formal language.

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Application of tools

Concept Design Detail Production Assembly

Voronoi Creator Voronoi Creator

Relation Modeller

Construction Builder

Facade Builder

Construction Optimizer

Potential

Tools Used

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Working with Tools

The apparent advantages of digital tools deal with the issues of speed, complexity and visualization.

When working with the tool the designer must be aware of who is in control. The tool should support the designer, if not, the designer should consider leaving the tool.

In the early stages of the design project developing tools can help the designer externalizing his ideas.

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Who builds the tool?

Designer as Tool-builder- Closest link between knowledge of the design and the tool to build- Lot of knowledge of building tools needed

Developer as Tool-builder- Specialized in building tools; lots of knowledge- No knowledge of architectural design

New Profession- Specialized in tool building- Knowledge of designing- Close link between designer and tool-builder- Designer needs basic knowledge of tool building

Sketching Using Code$maxDistanceCurve = `curve -d 1 -p ($bboxL[0] * 1.2) ($bboxL[1] * 1.2) ($bboxL[2]* 1.2) -p ($bboxL[3]* 1.2) ($bboxL[4]* 1.2) ( $bboxL[5]* 1.2)`;float $maxDistance = `arclen $maxDistanceCurve`;delete $maxDistanceCurve;

// For each point create the voronoi volume by substracting all other volumes$k = 0;$m = 0;for ($curPoint in $selPoints) {

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Future research areas

Support with complexity

The ability to help the designer deal with complex problems is an useful area of interest for future research. How can a tool support the designer with complex models while focussing on the design project?

Stimulating creativity

The ability to stimulate the designer in his creative process proved to be a powerful application. How can digital tools support the designer in the early stages of the design project?

Sketching using Code

To be able to have a designer who is also a toolbuilder, the designer needs to have a better understanding of toolbuilding. How can we achieve this and can toolbuilding be made more accessible for a designer?

Entrance/Lobby

Lecture Room 1200 pers

Researchers/Phd30 rooms

Department Heads4 rooms

Meeting Room I20 pers

Meeting Room III10 pers

Meeting Room II10 pers

Cafeteria

Sanitary

Storage

Lecture Room II50 pers

Computer Room III40 pers

Computer Room IV40 pers

Workroom (10x)5 pers

Grouproom (5x)20 pers

Computer Room I40 pers

Computer Room II40 pers

CAM-lab

Model Shop

Server roomBuilding Services

Facility/ICT support

Atrium

Pull to Ground

Entrance Position

Storage Position

Lit by Daylight

Atrium to Center

$maxDistanceCurve = `curve -d 1 -p ($bboxL[0] * 1.2) ($bboxL[1] * 1.2) ($bboxL[2]* 1.2) -p ($bboxL[3]* 1.2) ($bboxL[4]* 1.2) ( $bboxL[5]* 1.2)`;float $maxDistance = `arclen $maxDistanceCurve`;delete $maxDistanceCurve;

// For each point create the voronoi volume by substracting all other volumes$k = 0;$m = 0;

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Questions ?