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I arrived in Melbourne from Singapore on February 2014. I graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with Diploma in Architecture. My interest in architecture grew when I took Design and Technology in my secondary education. Entering the working field at SC3 Design + Architects and P&T Consultants Pte Ltd, made me realised that there are more things that I need to learn. I believe University of Melbourne would grant the learning experience I yearn for.

Currently, I am in Bachelor of Environments, majoring in Architecture. I receive an advance standing of two years from University of Melbourne, thus I am currently in my 3rd year. Ever since I was young, I had developed the imaginative skill in designing my own house. I am keen in this career path despite the amount of time you have to commit in this career.

Readings We learn about sustainability and ethics. Algorithmic The basic objective of this exercise is to understand how to use rhino and grasshopper.

Sustainability aims to suggest a more materially grounded objective and agency. It is important that everyone decide on what type of environment they want to live in so that they could live in the environment that they want to the fullest. The realisation of the perfect environment is tough however it is a good start to take into consideration of the environment. Sustainability is taking away our ability to design and be flexible and be creative in our creations. Architects find it hard to work in the domains of democratic design while ignoring over the problem of dysfunctional binary. Design intelligence is part of the process of having a successful qualities of the form and content of the designed environment. Architects need to make crucial decisions and judgements based on the future potential of the environment. In this modern era, it is easier for architecture students and architects to understand and visualise building with materials due to the highly inclined technology. This is an advantage as we could take into consideration of the specification and expression of a particular material in the building without having to build it in real life. It is easier to control as everything could be done in a software. Modernist find it hard to connect certain element to sustainability as they are more concern with how the building will look like in comparison to how the building is sustainable.

The use of linear pedestrian profile from the site, Zaha Hadid extract the profile and form in into an organic form whereby it turns into an organism that sprout network of successive networks. This form has been thought fully in relation to the site context. “As it winds through the site, the architecture increases in complexity, building up height and depth and achieving multiple summits in the bodies housing the performance spaces, which spring from the structure like fruits on a vine and face westward, toward the water.” - Zaha Hadid This building is derived from a set of organizational systems and growth in the natural world. It symbolises the movements in an urban fabric along the central axis of the pedestrian corridor and the cultural centre’s

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seafront promenade where it intersects. The design is formed by a biological analogy such as branches, stems, fruits and leaves Which then abstract diagrams into architectonic design. In my opinion, this is a good example in relation to sustainability in architecture. The use of organic structures reminds people to constantly be aware of the environment. Apart from that, Zaha Hadid made it obvious in making the building sustainable in such a way that she uses greeneries that could grow with the building. This then creates a connection to the natural environment. The use of large windows, skylights and voids also allows natural lighting to enter which then saves more electricity on lighting during the day.

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The emphasis on the large amount of windows use and the use of large sized window show how modernism is thought through throughout the design process. There are also no ornamentation in this building which shows how modernism comes to play. The sense of clarity and simplicity is one of the main factors in modern architecture. The use of pure concrete and steel throughout the building then dominates the who entire design in its modernism. This building shows how much thought she puts in taking into consideration of the site context. Apart from that she place a lot of thoughts into the landscaping design of this building. I would have to disagree on Fry’s argument on the strict boundary we have on designing when we uses technology to design a building. I believe that the basic use of hand drawing and concepts are very important in the beginning stage of the design process. However the use of technology is also important at the later stage as looking at the design in 3D actually allows students and architects to have a better overview of how the building will look like. In conclusion, the material shows modernism. The use of greenery as well as the visual connection to nature shows how she take into consideration of the relationship between humans and nature.

The use of massive timber structures touches on how conservative they are in the choice of material. No doubt that the architect could’ve used a better choice of material however the thought of using timber shows the sustainability of the structure. It has a unique role in which it is an urban space within the dense fabric of the medieval inner city of Seville. It allows variety of activities such as memory, leisure and commerce. This is a highly developed infrastructure which helps to activate the square. It is definitely an attractive destination for tourist as well as the locals. In my opinion, this is a good example in relation to sustainability in architecture. The use of massive timber instead of a typical steel or concrete structure. The form as well as the design also allows wind and natural lighting to go through to the pedestrian walkway of the structure.

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Readings We learn about digital architecture, computational design as well as computerisation design. Algorithmic To explore the use of rhino and grasshopper using different elements such as piping.

Design computation is basically how you bring ideas into reality which in this case is very important in our everyday life. In design computation, you learn to conceptualise, problem solving and judge on various solution. It is easier to put our ideas into computers. It is also easier to spot any mistakes in our computing as there are certain things that the computer are not designed to do. There are limits whereby some softwares are unable to design in the way you want it be when you have the image in your mind. It is particularly obvious that computing is inflexible. Architecture became a profession when Leon Batista Alberti introduce the technical utilitarianism on gothic architecture. This then leads to the renaissance holistic approach whereby architects came out with a floor plan, elevation, section, technical drawings, scale drawing, modelling as well as details. Architecture is known as a profession than a craft. However, practitioners are well respected in the society. Problem analysis, solution synthesise, evaluation and communication are the four factors that are important to the design process of a successful architectural building. Concepts are the basic need in the process of this design. Computing affect the design process as there are certain errors that humans might not have pick up but it is easily detected by the system. Our design could look logical on a piece of paper but it might not be on a computer screen. An architect’s innovation and design ideas do not get affected if they use the traditional way of designing which is by paper and pen. Computation will only be beneficial when one has to have a logical explanation on how the building works. In conclusion, computation is the process where the design is already done before it is translated digitally. Computerisation is a process where digital technology is used from the start of the project.

This is one of the computerised representation techniques that expresses and architectonic ideas. Victor’s main aim to provide this world with something fresh and distinct. His designs do not entirely have to be funny or crazy but just different. His beliefs in the power of creativity in people are the basis of his life choices reminding them that this world can be formulated a thousand times in a single day. This idea is a computerization process as Victor has an idea, concepts, design intentions as well as sketches of how he toggle with a particular building. Which then leads to the computing part whereby he use softwares to digitalised it and also to show how it would actually look like in 3D.

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In my opinion, his works are very impressive in terms of how he manage to create the 3D model with his initial design intent. It is interesting that he does it only to prove his concepts and ideas.

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The design of the building is to have a large complex with different functions and circulations with an extreme low-rise typology. Apart from that, they are trying to re-address Chinese architectural traditions. The use of contemporary and advance structural as well as the material envisioned the Chinese sensibility into a technology computerised design and construction process. This idea is a computational process due to the process of work that they did. They have their concepts and design intentions ready for a design. They automatically use a software computing to create a form based on the site context. In my onion, it is interesting how they design a building in such a way that they decided to create a modern building which includes a traditional Chinese architectural design. The use of the materials are also part of modernism.

Readings We learn about the difference between composition and generation. Algorithmic To explore the use of rhino and grasshopper using different elements such as sphering different sizes on a similar curvature.

Composition is the process of designing is controlled by the designer when a design is generated in the software. Generation is the process of designing whereby the data is place in the software and a design is generated based on the data provided. Algorithm is a set of rules for solving a problem in a finite number of steps, as for finding the greatest common divisor. Projects with composition are generally control due to the façade or because the designer want to create a specific modular. When the data is generated on a software, the design achieved would be an algorithmic design that is duplicated geometrically. The problem with this form is that you’re limited in your design possibilities. Computerisation utilised computers to the document the design process while computation generates ideas through a software technology. The generation of computational ideas have emerge in the form of algorithms, parametric modelling and scripting. I believe computation is very useful when handling a project like our design competition.

This wall was designed with a modernism concept in mind. The form of the angled panel structure was designed to create a more dynamic sculpture than a conventional wall with the intention of separating the spaces. Apart from that, they made it interactive by creating a seating structure. This wall has been a consistent expressive element within the history of gardening which then turn into a computational design. It is a great example as this algorithmic duplication is controlled panel by panel to create a connected overall landscape. This show how the designer control the algorithmic element in the design. h

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Michael Hansmeyer is an architect who explore the use of algorithms and computation to generate architectural structures. He has created an algorithm that explores how subdivision can define and embellish the column order with an elaborate system of ornamentation. This is one of the examples of generation processes. The use of a software to generate a particular algorithm in the design. It is interesting how every column is design in a way that it turns out different due to the data inserted in the programing. In my opinion, these columns create a very interesting façade however many students, as assumed, are very particular about modernism in a building. However I still find that the columns hold a beautiful ornament around them.

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Architecture has no specific meaning or terms for it. It has a very wide discipline that it could be described as anything as architects learn everything including structural engineering studies, geotechnical surveyor, quantity surveyor and many more. Just like the terms sustainability, computation, computerisation, composition, generation, algorithmic and many more. All of the words above has their own meaning to it thus it is interesting that students could differentiate what is the difference between all of the terms above. It is particularly obvious when one building is design in a certain way after learning the different types of terms and technology used. The main research for Land Art Generator competition was to focus on the wave, wind and human activation.

The above image is how we use the movement of the wave to collect energy which would then be reused in the future. With this capability, it is interesting if it could be used by humans as well instead of just a technology that generate energy. The idea was to have a similar idea but to have a more stable and firm platform that allows human to walk on it. When we create an interactive element, more human will walk on it which then allows more movement. Thus, we do not need to expect the energy collection from the waves alone.

The image on the left is another idea of how wind could be part of the technology that collects energy. The device does not necessarily be of the same design as shown.

In architectural design studio modules, I learn many more things as all the tasks and assignments were the things that I’ve never learn previously. This is the first time I am using Rhino and Grasshopper software. I have learn so much thanks to the tutors that guide me step by step every week. I didn’t expect myself to learn so much. During my time in polytechnic, architectural design studio is an individual project that we design with a specific design brief and location. While I am in University of Melbourne, I definitely have a shock at how different it would be. The readings are very interesting as it is something that I have never think the terms existed. It is rather heavy in terms of the readings, algorithmic task as well as the competition occurring at the same time. Although, I believe this would be expected as we are in a tertiary education stage. Initially, I could not differentiate computerisation, computation, composition and generation. However after discussing with the tutors on the topics above, it is pretty much cleared up. Finally, currently I know how to use a bit of rhino and grasshopper and how to make the basic shapes and elements. This is useful in the near future when our design has an algorithmic element in them.

To draw the first curve and connect the curve to grasshopper.

To draw the second curve beside the first curve. Connect the curve to grasshopper.

To draw the third curve beside the second curve. Connect the curve to grasshopper.

Loft all three curves via grasshopper.

Array all the lofted curves.

Grasshopper.

Draw three circles flat on the X-plane. Drag two of the circles above each other. Draw two curves inside all the circles. Connect the circles and curves on grasshopper.

Loft the circles together. Split one of the internal curve into segments.

Pipe the segments on the lofted circles.

Do the same for the second internal curve.

Final product of the algorithmic task

Grasshopper.

Draw a curve. Array Pollar to create a 360degree circle w the curve. Divide the line into segments.

Place spheres on the segments

Grasshopper.

Change spheres from biggest to smallest.

“Zaha Hadid in Abu Dhabi Update”, De Zeen Magazine http://www.dezeen.com/2007/02/02/zaha-hadid-in-abu-dhabi-update/ [accessed 25 March 2014] “Saadiyat in Abu Dhabi: artistic oasis takes shape amid the dunes”, The Telegraph <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/architecture/6055432/Saadiyat-in-Abu-Dhabi-artistic-oasis-takes-shape-amid-the-dunes.html> [accessed 25 March 2014] “Nabileh El-Assaad Design Representation Studio”, Blogspot <http://nabileharch1390-2012.blogspot.com.au/> [accessed 25 March 2014] “Metropol Parasol by J. Mayer H.”, De Zeen Magazine http://www.dezeen.com/2011/04/26/metropol-parasol-by-j-mayer-h/ [accessed 25 March 2014] “Gallery: Metropol Parasol: The World’s Largest Wooden Structure Opens in Seville”, Inhabitat <http://inhabitat.com/metropol-parasol-the-worlds-largest-wooden-structure-opens-in-seville/metropolparasolalda/> [accessed 26 March] “Metropol Parasol”, J.Mayer.H < http://www.jmayerh.de/19-0-Metropol-Parasol.html> [accessed 26 March] “Victor Enrich Designs Surreal Images of Architecture”, This That New <http://www.thisthatnew.com/victor-enrich-designs-surreal-images-of-architecture/> [accessed 26 March 2014] “Project: Xiyuan Entertainment Complex”, Marjan Colletti <http://marjan-colletti.blogspot.com.au/2009/11/project-xiyuan-entertainment-complex.html> [26 March 2014] “Surface Deep A Indoor Installation as a Transformative Wall”, Evolo http://www.evolo.us/architecture/surface-deep-an-outdoor-installation-as-a-transformative-wall/ [27 March 2014] “Complex Cardboard Columns Through Computational Architecture”, Strictly Paper http://strictlypaper.com/blog/2011/04/complex-cardboard-columns-through-computational-architecture/ [accessed 27 March]