Handout: Digital Formations, PeakPerformance

Workshop ”PeakPerformance” Martin Tamke http://cita.karch.dk

Center for IT og Arkitektur

Project by Stephen Nieto

Workshop: PeakPerformance A series of Workshops conducted by Center for IT and Architecture, Afdeling 7 Which parameters drive performance in architecture?

What is “fit” architecture?

19. – 23. Mai 2008 The Workshop will take place at Department7 – seminar room A2 Intro and first session 6. May Conducted by: Norbert Palz (CITA) Martin Tamke (CITA) Paul Nicolas (RMIT/ ARUP, www. mesne.net)

In recent times a shift from continuous to sub-structured surfaces in computed architecture can be observed. No longer have blobs, but delicately subdivided skins appeared in architectural design. These skins, which are not continuous, but consist of large amount of disconnected surfaces (discrete surfaces) bear the potential of great relevance for the build, as they can fulfil essential criteria for architecture, i.e.: • Modularity • Opening • shift in opacity • possibility to inherit different materials (composite materials and layering) These surfaces can consist of non-standard elements or optimized modules. They can adapt to given parameters, as geometry, or create their own. Furthermore they can be individually addresses to react to external parameters (parametric design).

Yet what is the potential for design? What are the aesthetic, spatial, tectonic potentials of individual adjusted discreet surfaces and structures? Can a surface go in depth? Can a surface be proactive?

Within the frame of the workshop we want to look behind the skin and look how it can become a membrane - a membrane able to react to local conditions rather than a monolithic cover. A cover which becomes spatial and tectonically active. Herein the constituting cells are distributed by performance criteria, natural distribution patterns and conditional statements.

We will use all accessible means to explore the reactive, aesthetic, structural, spatial and tectonic possibilities. A special emphasis will be set on the linkage of external performance criteria to the structure. This parameters might derive from simulation being

Workshop �PeakPerformance�

Martin Tamke http://cita.karch.dk

Center for IT og Arkitektur

made, but other criteria from functional, social or aesthetic considerations weigh equal in the design process.

TOOLS

We will use Rhino and Paracloud (http://paraclouding.com/WP/ ) and Excel as basis for our investigations and combine it with other tools learned and new ones to get insights in the parametric design of performance surfaces. The workshop will serve as an entry of the understanding of complex structures and serve as starting point for further investigations in the scripting of space and structure.

Project by mesne.net

Workshop �PeakPerformance�

Martin Tamke http://cita.karch.dk

Center for IT og Arkitektur

SETUP AND DESIGN TASK

The aim of the workshop is to explore the nature of change on performance driven surfaces, especially its aesthetic and tectonic implications. A design task helps to focus energy.

Different interplaying elements of the compound surface will resonate the matrix based transformations in geometric alterations on various levels.

1. In a first step a functional envelope is derived from singular or multiple surfaces. This first intervention is merging site specific and functional aspects into a preliminary spatial arrangement.

2. This encapsulated space is the subdivided layout matrix that serves as base for a component population.

3. The components properties will be steered through an interplay of adjustable elements within the component that receive their configuration though a numerical matrix 4. In the last step a design research has to be developed that examines the ability of the design to express change. These changing parameters can be expressed on a different levels, be it the general matrix level, the configuration of the offset cloud or the component level.

The design task derives from an ongoing competition in The Netherlands. Herein a design for an inhabited complex sound barrier is demanded. (http://www.schiphol.nl/designcontest/ ) We will take a condensed competition brief as starting point. This consists of: Program Define a setup of programmatic alternatives that could benefit from the location. Define a relationship between program, users, site and geometry. Investigate levels of programmatic expression that are spatially articulated.

Landmark The future sound barrier can be experienced with a variety of viewpoints (far-close) and perspectives (birds eye-standard perspective) perceived a variation of tempos. www.schiphol.nl/designcontest/

Structure How can materiality and geometric structure interact with acoustic requirement? What are the different tectonic levels on which the requirements of reflection, absorption, internal acoustic traps etc. could be met?

Behaviour How is the design interacting with its surrounding? How do the different tectonic elements resonate and articulate change? Can we embed more than one notational aspect to drive time or material based alterations (as night/day–program & transparent-non transparent)?

The workshop should train to numerically translate functional, environmental and artistic requirements. The developed project should be seen as an interactive entity that reacts to a set of changing parameters. The changes can be addressed on different design levels as e.g. the resolution of the point cloud, the definition of cell heights and the interactivity of components. Accordingly a single worksheet could be numerically scaled to perform on these three levels at the same time but releasing a varying impact on every stage.

Workshop ”PeakPerformance” Martin Tamke http://cita.karch.dk

Center for IT og Arkitektur

OUTPUT

All presentations are done via projections from the schools server. All intermediate works are collected and later published. High quality renderings will assure a high level of understanding. A render environment will be provided.

• • •

Project by R&Sie

documentation of design process Proof of “performativity”: production of the structures spatial and timebased transformation, interaction with environment, landscape character, effect on passerbies, passengers in planes and close views….

Optional: physical model (3d print, laser cutter…)

Workshop ”PeakPerformance” Martin Tamke http://cita.karch.dk

Center for IT og Arkitektur

SCHEDULE TUESDAY 6.MAY 2008 - 10.00-16.00H

Workshop Brief Technical Intro to ParaCloud and Rhino

MONDAY 19. MAY 2008 – 9.00H

Lecture – performance based modelling in architecture (Norbert Palz) Advanced Paracloud – i.e. different ways of creating Pointclouds from Surfaces, Splines etc Afternoon: Tryout: 17:00h PinUp – Day1 – presentation and discussion of concept / personal aim for the week Task:

build first component, inhabit surface, create structure

TUESDAY 20. MAY 2008 – 9.30H

Lecture – Paul Nicholas- Architecture, Emergence, Performance and Optimisation Introduction to formulas / setting up algorithms with conditional statements/ cellular automata in order to create different distribution patterns and linkage of those to ParaCloud

project by Christoph Klemt

Afternoon: desk crits - initiation of design task Video conference with Eyal Nir on conditional statement programming and troubleshooting Evening: PinUp Task:

control individual components, link system to external sources Breeding of different components, with different character, behaviours and different distribution patterns

WEDNESDAY 21. MAY 2008 – 9.30H

Video conference with Eyal Nir on spider components and troubleshooting

PinUp Afternoon: desk crits - concretization concept project by Norbert Palz

Task: Visualisation of found concept Optional Production of model, 3d- Print / lasercut THURSDAY 22. MAY 2008 – 9.30H

PinUp – Day3

Afternoon: desk crits - troubleshoot Task: Optimisation and Production Optional Production of model, 3d- Print / lasercut FRIDAY 23. MAY 2008 – 9.30H

Production

project by mesne.net

Presentation / exhibition