QINGHAO
YANG
PORTFOLIO
Generating Design through Digital Processes
digital design: module 2
Candidates for 3D Printing
Relaxing Cells
Children's Paradise
Children's Paradise
Botanic Pavilion
Critical Reading
Kolerevic B. 2003. Architecture in the Digital Age
Chapter 3: Digital Production
What is the significance of Frank Gehry’s project in relation to Digital Fabrication? Use an example to explain your point.
Frank Gehry is one of the first architects using digital fabrication tool to translate conceptual designs directly into construction. For instance, the Fish Sculpture at Vila Olimpica in Barcelona, his very first digitally realised project, tested the describility and the producibility of a digital design and manufacturing software called CATIA, in which he used three-dimensional digital model for structural analysis, and as a source of construction information, ensuring a high degree of precision in fabrication and assembly. Therefore, Gehry’s project played as a bellwether of digital revolution in both architectural design and construction.
What are the three dominant forms of fabrication technique outline in Kolerevic’s text? Choose one of the technique and expand on how this could be useful in design?
According to Kolerevic’s reading, the three techniques are Subtractive, Additive and Formative fabrication.
The subtractive technique is used to shape the solid by removing a specific volume using the drill-bit. It is particularly ideal when dealing with large pieces, as there is, technically, no limitation of size of the object to be milled. Other means such as additive technique are limited by object size, too costly and too lengthy in production time, especially when dealing with larger pieces. The subtractive approach however, is a more mature technique which has been developed since 1970s. A variety of complex geometries can be fabricated by thoughtfully coded CNC programs, using five-axis system (motion along X, Y and Z axis plus two axes of rotation), by which the cutting head can perform efficiently and flexibly to mill off the targeted parts of the original object. In accord with Kolerevic, the subtractive technique is also useful when casting irregular concrete forms. In this scenario, different curvilinear molds are manufactured through digital instructions, and the spaces or voids that are milled away becomes the body of concrete. This allowed parametric modeling of large pieces like buildings to be realised cost-effectively.
Task A
Subtractive & Additive Processes
ITERATION 01
Generated From Point Grid
This iteration is achieved by manipulating the data structure. Point grid is employed as main strategy here, after some generative process, I decided to make each layer (5x5 grid) to be controlled separately. This allows me to define the space more intentionally and accurately, as the parameter only effects the parts I want to change, to achieve a desired spatial quality.
For this model, the multi-layered structure can potentially afford diverse range of social activities, especially when constructed as a larger scale - a multi-layered pavilion. The repetitive hexagon corridors on both facades is achieved by detailed programming in the generative process, and that results in a great quality if porosity and permeability for this design.
Grasshopper Script - Iteration 01
Geometry Progression - Iteration 01
ITERATION 02
Generated by Growth & Aggregation
The variety of curvature play a central role here. Fragment is cut with ellipsoids which have been mirrored and non-uniformly scaled many times, intentionally to create smooth and wonderful spaces out of the rigid boundary. The appearance of this iteration in my thought has the best aesthetics, the fluent spatial quality offers diverse kinds of experiences and many possibilities of activity it can afford.
The variety of curvature play a central role here. Fragment is cut with ellipsoids which have been mirrored and non-uniformly scaled many times, intentionally to create smooth and wonderful spaces out of the rigid boundary. The appearance of this iteration in my thought has the best aesthetics, the fluent spatial quality offers diverse kinds of experiences and many possibilities of activity it can afford.
Grasshopper Script - Iteration 02
Geometry Progression - Iteration 02
ITERATION 03
Generated by Growth & Aggregation + Conditionals
The variety of curvature play a central role here. Fragment is cut with ellipsoids which have been mirrored and non-uniformly scaled many times, intentionally to create smooth and wonderful spaces out of the rigit boundary. The appearence of this iteration in my thought has the best aesthetics, the fluent spatial quality offers diverse kinds of experiences and many posibilities of activity it can afford.
Grasshopper Script - Iteration 03
Geometry Progression - Iteration 03
ITERATION 04
Generated using Conditionals and by Growth & Aggregation
The fourth iteration is generated using conditionals, in this case the curves, that forms a tree with branches pass through the created voronoi cells. This design is chosen because of its diverse spatial qualities within. There are both open and semi-closed spaces which can afford a variety of usage. A main path is also found here crossing the fragment, encouraging potential circulations through this design.
This iteration is generated based on voronoi cells. Its diverse spatial qualities within gives both open and semi-closed spaces which can afford a variety of usage. People can sits on the individual cell platforms, make any gesture they want, or gathering in the main central area. A main path is also found here crossing the fragment, encouraging potential circulations through this design.
Grasshopper Script - Iteration 04
Geometry Progression - Iteration 04
3D Print (Virtual) Renders
A median height building scaled are selected for this iteration due to its multi-layered composition. The main active areas are the ground and first floor, and the top floor can be dedicated to plantings and coverage. The spaces are defined by the sizes of hexagonal solids.
This iteration is quite ideal for children to play around, as spaces are smoothly sheltered so they are both safe and playful for children, and different separated zone are divided by the structure while with some holes between them functions as thresholds connecting the spaces.
The diverse spatial qualities within gives both open and semi-closed spaces which can afford a variety of usage. The area of circulation are defined by the conditional curves. People can sits on the individual cell platforms, make any gesture they want, or gathering in the main central area.
3D Printing Process
As this module focuses on the digital fabrication process. The iterations I chose to be manufactured are all considered as realistic to be build. i.e. the model should not have any floating parts or extreme thin bearing structures, just like buildings in the real life. This implies that before sending the models to the fabrication process, we as the designer have the responsibilities to examine the constructability of them, deleting parts or rearranging the orientations and making adjustments.
Before printing, the orientation of models are adjusted to a optimized position, that results in minimum support materials required and also minimum printing time. A range of printing materials can be chosen in the current option pool, and options regarding to the fill density are also to be considered, based on the model conditions, in order to achieve a more cost-effective result.
Task B
Section & Waffle Structures
Iterations Selected for Task B
Grasshopper Script - XY Waffle
Grasshopper Script - Radial Waffle
Progression of XY Waffle
The first iteration is selected to be sectioned as XY waffle, due to the horizontality and verticality in its structure. The corridors and openings are expected to be kept with the waffle structure, or even with these qualities enlarged as the XY waffle structure naturally gives sufficient porosity and permeability.
The second iteration is chosen to be the radial waffle, as the curved and smoothly defined spaces could also be demonstrated in the waffle structure as the gradient of decline of radial contours.
Progression of Radial Waffle
Task B Iteration Matrix
XY Waffle
Developed from my iteration 01 which initially has the quality of multi-layered horizontality and verticality, with passages in between spaces. The XY waffle structure further strengthened these qualities. Exponential composition ensured a structural stability after completing the construction.
Radial Waffle
The radial waffle is constructed from my second iteration in task A. As the curved and smoothly defined spaces could also be demonstrated in the waffle structure as the gradient of decline of radial contours.
Preparing for Laser-cutting
When notching the radial waffle structures, the original parameters I selected is based on design concept of gradual decline in contour height, which requires more numbers of contours. While this ignored the reality of constructability. The contours end up intersecting with each other at the centre. I either need to enlarge the central circle, or to reduce the number of contours.
I then decided to reduce the number of contours from 50 to 30, which results in a desired structure that is buildable in the model making process
This is the front facade of my XY waffle.
Exponential algorithm is employed when defining the arrangement of contours. The final decision shown left indicates my consideration of structural stability, which is ensured by the less weight at the top and heavier mass at the bottom.
There is a unexpected situation when I baked out the XY waffle. Expected holes are filled with solid and resulting in inclusive geometries. I then had to do boolean difference command for those incidents before I create the laser cutting file.
Establishing Laser-cutting Submission File
3D Print (Virtual) Renders
The XY waffle structure further strengthened the qualities of horizontality and verticality in my initial iteration. Adequate platforms are generated here to be potential seating areas, and to be thresholds visually and/or physically connecting each space. The generated rectangular cells could be book shells or platforms to be planted with, creating green coverage for the pavilion so that visitors could rest or interact peacefully underneath the structure.
The radial waffle is constructed from my second iteration, which is generated by mirroring and scaling of ellipsoids, the size and arrangement of ellipsoids results in the voids and spaces within this structure. As there are some arched doors and graduate decline of height in radial contours. Circulating through these spaces becomes quite interesting when its size is at a pavilion scale. It could be a gallery exhibiting designs or artworks on those radial walls.
M2 Reflections
What is the key concept explored through your lasercut and 3d-print models?
During my exploration in this module, I want to create models with sense of space, which could function as pavilions in different scales, accommodating potential social activities. Playfulness and curiosity is the main concept that drives the entire generative process, visitors are invited to explore their enjoyable experience here. Considerations relating to the digital fabrication process are also taken into place, the desired outcomes should be realistic and logical to be physically manufactured or constructed, and to have enough durability based on their purposes.
What is the quality of the space generated in your design fragment? How does it influence the threshold condition or possible means of circulating through your structure? Consider this as a fragment of space and the scale is not yet determined, i.e. it can be 1:5 scale or 1:50 scale
The 4 fragments I generated are diverse in terms of spatial quality. My initial design focus is to create shelter with adequate permeability for potential sunlight access, and in which the spatial configuration (like my second iteration which has smooth wall surfaces) encourages diverse circulations based on the porosity on site, and creates a variety of thresholds based on the multiple entrances and separated spaces (small caves in my fourth iteration), to achieve the effect of playfulness and to stimulate visitor’s curiosity. Potential seating area created in my iterations is also a important factor that could influence the circulation, and different privacy levels are defined by the threshold conditions in those seating areas.
Which concepts would you be interested in further exploring in Module 3?
The sense of playfulness and curiosity will continue to be my interest in exploring pavilion morphology in Module 3. The parameters could be more strategic and aim-driven based on some key considerations, such as how people use the space and their gestures, the basic composition of materials, or taking circulation as an conditional. Some conventional rules and physical constrains are to consider to ensure the pavilion is buildable and habitable. The concept of growth and aggregation intimidating the nature is also a potential strategy in the generative process in Module 3.