Wednesday 13 May 2015

Blog post for Experiment 3: The Bridge

Draft 250 Word Mashup:


Official 250 Word Mashup:





20 Sketch Perspectives












36 Custom Textures

I used the textures as a guide to perpetuate the form of the building, whether it be the massive scale that 'dominates' the dwellers or the 'magnetism' that draws users to want to dwell in the spaces of the building. This is especially seen in the glass extension from the first floor of the gallery to the upper floors towards the lecture hall. The piping variable of the stair way becomes tighter to emphasise how long the users should dwell in that space.




4 Real Time Image Captures Showing 2 Draft Lumion Environments:
  • Rhino Modelling







  • concept model in lumion








Student Feedback from Draft Lumion Environment



1 x Model That Includes the Two Moving Elements


As you can see between the two images, the sheltering device is one that morphs.
This design was considered as it can allow for a change in experience when the weather itself changes, the building adapts.


The second moving element is very similar, but was portrayed onto the bridge elements. Wave like motion responding from Herzog and De Meuron's floor plan drew on the crest and trough motion. This is seen as a constant motion for the dwellers to never stop in those particular areas, especially if heavy traffic when travelling between students was to persist.




5 Real Time Image Captures of the Developed Lumion Environments
/1 x Developed Lumion Environment


This shot shows the dominating scale of the building to passers by and showing the stairs that provide constant movement between levels.


This shot provides the external space that is semi-enclosed via the moveable sheltering device which would change shape in specific weather conditions.


This image directs you to see the lecture hall and its place within the building as it covers the sun to become a well defined space for dwellers to stay under during warmer seasons.




Wednesday 29 April 2015

Blog post for Experiment 2: The Space Between

2 Architects: One dead, one alive.

3 axonometric amalgamations for each architect and their 3 concepts:


12 Sketches:


3 parallel projections exploring the interconnection between pairs of your drawings:



Cedric Price's concept: "Interaction with people and architecture bring experience to a whole new dimension", was derived from his works such as the Fun Palace which would serve its purpose based upon the activity taken place. It is therefore, that the space itself would bring a certain level of experience, a new dimensional way of thinking that generated a closer connection between man and architecture.

In Neri Oxman's case, her works were based on organic, growth related architecture which drew upon the natural world. Even though she experimented with man made materials, a certain presence of large scale in combination with this biological understanding, she clearly emphasises on using materials that have a living presence about it and thus challenged the notion of man made materials and the way it can be perceived in the world.


Using the Artisan tool in Google Sketchup:


36 Custom Textures:


Voronoi diagram sketch attempt:



Development of design:

I chose to develop the second concept:

Large scaled spaces derived from naturally inspired from integrate a living characteristics that define experience in a whole new dimension.

I started off with the axonometric block design built in sketchup which I imported into Lumion. Thus below shows possible preliminary marker design in Lumion where I tested scale and potential multifunctional purposes. This image in particular resulted with my own interpretation of an organically shaped form morphed together with a space which could be used as a children's play area to wander through and around or a bus stop to temporarily dwell in.

I quite like the fact that its large scale makes you feel like a child again, almost as though you are in amongst another world, an oasis. A utopia.


It was from here that I wanted this marker design to explore the natural world that Aboriginal people have lived in by designing a form which would draw the manmade objects (such as the bridge and road) into an organic freeform. Essentially, this would illustrate growth and ultimately interest from what already existed there.

Instead of understanding each concept that I've derived from Cedric Price and Neri Oxman in their works (2 Short texts describing the architectural concepts):
  • Interaction between people and architecture bring experience to a whole new level 
  • Large scale natural design can integrate a living aspect to it (space, growth, interactivity)
I felt that both actually blended together harmoniously and thus the space in which to dwell in (rectilinear form) was also the childlike space that you could wander in and around (curvilinear). In order to do this, I limited the spaces into a facade (specifically a surface) which would morph into spaces that would both provide shade, but not necessarily be enclosed from the natural world. The bridge itself was an object that I wanted to explore the use of, by morphing its presence to this organic form and allow the marker to immerse itself as though it was meant to be there. But of course, one of the most important things that were considered was its presence when viewed on a highway. An interesting and fluid form is certainly one that will stick to the viewer and when driven past at a great amount of distance over time, there is unlikely a high chance of it being unrecognised due to its extended form to be seen once crossed to the other side. This is also presented as a monumental structure shading the driver from a tall distance when driven on the bridge.




Finally, the final design shows the naturally shaped freeform inspired from Aboriginal designs and patterns. This was also drawn from a combination of a few of the 6 texture sketches as shown above, most specifically the first, second and fifth columns.

 The structure itself is presented lightweight, thus must be bolted down to either sides of the bridge, yet still maintains a sense of growth as a feature of the landscape. Just as the concepts have suggested, this marker is definitely one that encourages interaction between people and the architecture to present itself with a new dimension by turning away from the man made highway. However, most importantly as it is representative of being comprised of a living characteristic that Neri Oxman is known to use in her works to ultimately engage those to interact with it, and essentially define the movement and ever-growing spirit of Blacktown International Sports Park. 

This marker is known as Waterfall.

5 Real time image captures showing a lumion environment: