Hai Yip Jim Ng: 2018

Thursday 21 June 2018

Experiment III: The Architecture and Moving Elements

Theory

An institution should not feel like an institution, but instead, should feel like an artifact, and the movement within it, a spectacle.

Source/article:
Molina, Ignacio. "Smiljan Radic: "I Always Collect Things From All Over; There Is Little Invention"" 06 May 2018. ArchDaily. Accessed 10 May 2018. <https://www.archdaily.com/890488/smiljan-radic-i-always-collect-things-from-all-over-there-is-little-invention/> ISSN 0719-8884

The Architecture

This model aims to provide a dynamic experience for the international students moving to and from the three buildings the architecture bridges: the international house, the roundhouse, and the squarehouse.

The textures used meaningfully establishes a clear directional pull to encourage movement through the bridge and between the buildings.

The library and computer labs are also situated right outside the international house, giving close access to resources for the international students and ensuring they don't have to walk all the way up to the main library.

The office spaces and meeting rooms acts as a bridge between the international house and roundhouse, allowing international students to experience the culture and workplace at UNSW as they traverse the bridge.

The lecture hall's shape and design is made so that the lecturer becomes the center of attention; the lecturer alone becomes the 'artifact' of the architecture itself.

The bridge is built around the theory that 'movement should be a spectacle'. The bridge is inspired by Zaha Hadid's drawings for the Vitra Firestation, and functions on the idea that it is simply a collection of platforms bridging all the surrounding buildings.

Indeed, the platforms are not connected, making the bridge-passers having to step on and off the platforms, almost like a video game. This creates a strong sense of dynamism and makes movement through the bridge a true 'spectacle'.

The studio spaces are also located outdoors, both under the bridge and on top of it. This is to encourage creative and open thinking, allowing students to be inspired instead of being trapped inside a room.

Moving Elements

This animation showcases the moving bridge that connects the international house to the roundhouse.

During roundhouse peak hours, it moves in such a way that the bridge width is then doubled, allowing for more people to cross. When peak hour ends, it returns to the square formation for a more scenic view for the staff and students working in the bridge. Here, movement becomes a spectacle and the staff/students working in the bridge will feel like an artifact themselves as they are transitioned.

This animation showcases the platforming bridge.

The moving bridge platforms is based on the theory of movement being a spectacle and creates a strong dynamism in the architecture. The platforms move to transport bridge passers from one platform to another, from one building to another.

Lumion link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-sw3ySYKVzXZQ-VY1wYKYxNCO1b82aPN

Sketchup link: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1P98C8E1nh7Jma_QoD2P9393px1-bjf1S

Experiment III: 36 Textures

Experiment III: Peer Feedback

My experience survey also completed.

Experiment III: Model Development and Progress

This was the initial idea, stemming from the floor plan of Zaha Hadid's Vitra Firestation. Troy suggested elevating/lifting the structure off the ground to make it a bridge so I went ahead and did that.

Here, I elevated the model, getting rid of large amounts of the ground components, having it essentially floating as a bridge, connecting the international house, the round house and the square house.

Troy further suggested to place the model over/overlapping the roundhouse and the parts the mode is bridging. So, as you can see, I shifted the model over the roundhouse, making a clear triple directional bridge connecting the three houses.

I also extended the stepping/platforming bridge, and idea Troy suggested that I really liked: a bridge that didn't necessarily have to connect and that allowed the bridge-passers to step off and on themselves. Essentially, a bridge similar to an old platforming video game.

This bridge was also inspired by Zaha Hadid's conceptual drawing for the Vitra Firestation. As you can see.

And this is my initial test Lumion render. In addition to this, I created a secondary bridge, using the office spaces and meeting rooms (arranged in the square shape) to bridge the roundhouse and the international house.

Wednesday 30 May 2018

Experiment III: 18 Sketch Perspectives and More for Bonus Marks (One and Two Point Perspectives)

Since Troy liked the idea of having a single vanishing point, I rearranged all the sketches in Photoshop to make it look like they all converge to one central point.

Wednesday 23 May 2018

Experiment III: Week 3 (2x Draft Lumion Environment)

Model Development

The chosen architecture was Zaha Hadid's Vitra Fire Station.

The model developed used the architecture's plan as a section, as required by the brief. However, in order to have it fit onto the UNSW campus and to bridge the roundhouse with the square house, I inverted the plan horizontally.

The 2nd draft Lumion environment aims to mimic and exaggerate the sharp angled shapes and style of Zaha Hadid's Vitra fire station.

Wednesday 9 May 2018

Experiment III: Week 1 (Theory)

Theory 1: Architecture is thought made into reality through the means of construction. Therefore, buildings should not exist in a vacuum, but instead, should demonstrate thought and ideas.

Theory 2: An institution should not feel like an institution, but should feel like an artifact, and the entrance into it, a spectacle.

Source/article:

Molina, Ignacio. "Smiljan Radic: "I Always Collect Things From All Over; There Is Little Invention"" 06 May 2018. ArchDaily. Accessed 10 May 2018. <https://www.archdaily.com/890488/smiljan-radic-i-always-collect-things-from-all-over-there-is-little-invention/> ISSN 0719-8884

Saturday 28 April 2018

EXP2: The Architecture and Two Concepts

Light Rail Station Model

Note: Click images for larger images.

The concepts used for this model were "architecture as a stage" and "less is more". Planes and slabs are employed to act as a "stage" for incoming trams and passengers. Additionally, the use of prism based geometry, and its articulation, corresponds to Mies van der Rohe's architecture and his idea of less being more.

Combining the two concepts, the station was thoughtfully integrated into its context. Access from the UNSW campus is clear and direct. Moreover, an overpass structure is used so that the traffic flow of the Anzac Parade is not disrupted whilst offering pedestrians safe crossing.

Studio Gang's Writer's Theatre was referenced as an example on how to seamlessly integrate steps into the architecture whilst maintaining fluidity and space. Additionally, the modern slab-like steps are influenced by the steps at Rohe's Crown Hall.

The textures selected possess rigid patterns with clear directional pull to highlight themes of verticality and horizontality. Furthermore, the influence of the Crown Hall, with its mullions/ribs, is again evident above.

As evident, themes of flow and space from Studio Gang, as well as their talent in creating overhead structures, were studied for this design. The station comfortably fits itself onto the Anzac Parade, encouraging directional flow through the structure and along the main road fronting the campus.

Indeed, this station is strongly influenced by Mies van der Rohe. In particular, inspired by the Barcelona Pavilion and the Farnsworth House. Here, large horizontal planes/slabs are supported by rectangular columns, emphasizing planar themes and establishing the station's horizontal and vertical elements. Consequently, ideas of space and volume are also explored through this design. Lastly, materiality is explored through the use of light materials with darker/denser materials.