01 evolutionary production

EVOLUTIONARY PRODUCTION

by PAK LUN, LEUNG

EVOLUTIONARY PRODUCTION The studio is concerned with the emergence of global network society and its effect on architecture, urbanism and design culture. It is an interdisciplinary experimental design research connecting architecture, engineering and computations to theorize and to develop design proposals for the contemporary urban environments.

PRODUCTION PROCESS -

Design Tool Development Material Investigations & Design Strategy for Tokyo Olympic 2020 Prototype Development

Sketch of the original idea of inflatable structure

DESIGN TOOL DEVELOPMENT Working with Both hands-on and computational processes, a series of rigorous material tests were carried out to study the material behaviours. Undertaken within a laboratory attitude to experimentation, set out geometries from digital files will be iteratively tested as the base geometry for physical model tests in order to observe associative relationships between these initial set out geometries and subsequent material behaviours. At the end of the experiment, a design tool which controls the material behaviours will be developed for the prototype development at the final stage of the project.

INFLATABLE STRUCTURE The design tool study was started with a series of stitched plastic bags. The idea of the inflatable structure is to create a 2D stitching pattern on a plastic material and to create a 3D behaviour after it is inflated by a medium, e.g. air, water, plaster...

However, a inflatable structure is reusable and can be deflated after use. Therefore, it works perfectly as a temporary structure.

SURFACE PATTERN AND INDIVIDUAL MODULE Based on the first test on inflatable plastic bags, a simple surface patter was generated by computer. The basic pattern was a series (3) of connected diamond-shaped polygon.

After that the digital patter was drawn by the laser cut machine on 2 pieces of plastic sheets. The drawn plastic sheets were melt together and hence a plastic bag with the digital pattern was manufactured.

INFLATED WITH DIFFERENT MEDIUM The module was then tested with different medium inside the plastic bag. However, The twisting effect was the most significant when the module was filled with plaster, followed by water and air. Therefore, the conclusion was drew. The twisting effect is enhanced when the module is filled with denser material.

NOTES: After casting plaster in the module, the bags were removed. However, the plaster becomes fragile and were broken into pieces easily.

After investigation, it was found that the plastic bag module actually acted as the tension member of the whole system and it should not be removed. A tensegrity model between internal tension and internal compression was discovered.

RESULT: Among all patterns : shifted centre (horizontally and vertically), rotated centre, scaled centre, thin arm. The pattern with rotated centre gave the best result. After analysis, the experiment showed that the rotated centre created extra torsion forces to the module which enhanced the twisting effect.

QUICK TEST OF 2D PATTERN WITH WATER After testing with different materials, different 2D patterns of the module were tested in order to maximize the twisting effect of the modules filled with water.

TEST OF SINGLE UNIT WITH DIFFERENT ANGLES OF ROTATION (filled with air) After figuring out that the rotation of the centre gave better twisting effect. Different angles of rotation of the centre part were studied.

RESULT: The one with rotation closed to the 90 degree perform the best result.

However, all modules had a gradation of twisting performance.

TEST THE TWIST-MOST & THE TWISTLESS MODULES WITH PLASTER By knowing the relationship between the twisting effect and the 2D pattern, 2 modules from the last test were tested with plaster in order to find out their real behaviours in larger scale.

NOTES: In this experiment, the plastic bags were not removed after casting in order to keep the tension member of the whole system. After drying, the plaster at the twisted points were broken similar to the last cast. However, the plastic bags held the plaster together tightly.

Moreover, since the modules were cast with gravity, the tension force of the centre of the plastic bags were acted vertically during casting. However, the direction of the tension force was rotated and it acted horizontally to maintain the form of the whole system.

KEY STAGE: The first cast was the key stage of the whole casting process. It affected the cast afterwards since it maintained the form of the plastic bags for the next cast.

1st FULL CAST A plastic bag with full-pattern-stitch was filled with plaster. The pattern was divided horizontally into 4 modules and they were filled with plaster one by one. Therefore every cast was highly depended on the cast before. The outcome of the cast was not significant since the every module was too thin. However, the overall curvature was still created.

KEY STAGE: The first cast was the key stage of the whole casting process. It affected the cast afterwards since it maintained the form of the plastic bags for the next cast.

2nd FULL CAST The pattern was re-designed and tested again. The new pattern was composed of thicker member and different rotation of centre part of each diamond unit. As a result, the new pattern created a gradation of curvature due to a gradation of rotation of the centre diamond.

However, the test was limited by the size of the laser cut machine bed. Larger pieces of plastic bag were not able to test. It suggested a question about the size of the module in reality. The prefabricated module would be limited by the size of the laser cut / stitching machine.

Material Investigations and Design Strategy for Tokyo Olympic 2020 Last summer, we have witnessed that in London Olympic 2012, over 4000 structures in various scales were constructed at the Olympic Park. However, there were only 6 structures were planned to remain as a legacy building for the future use. Some of the buildings were scheduled to be relocated to other city, and others will be recycled as building materials. For Tokyo Olympic 202, the organizer is proposing a similar strategy as to deply temporary even structures throughout Tokyo in order to turn the city into distributed Olympic Parks linked with their extensive public transit systems.

The exploration of new material cycle & design strategy for Tokyo Olympic 2020 will be the second stage of the project.

AFTER NUCLEAR CRISIS IN JAPAN After the tsunami in 2011, the Japanese Government shut down all nuclear facilities in the country and 13% of the source of energy was lost. In order to main the energy use in Japan, natural gas was import as an alternative energy for nuclear energy for generating electricity in the country. Natural gas was chosen because of water and carbon dioxide are the only product during the combustion of natural gas.

Japan Total Energy Consumption, 2010

Japan’s Oil Production and Consumption, 2000-2011

Japan’s Natural Gas Production and Consumption, 2000-2010

CARBON DIOXIDE IS THE PRODUCT/SOURCE OF ENERGY PRODUCTION As mentioned, carbon dioxide is one of the major products during combustion of natural gas. Since natural gas has been the major fuel for generating electricity, the production of carbon dioxide has also been rising. Refer to Kyoto Protocol, every countries were limited with carbon dioxide emission. However, Japan has been near the limit for few years.

Therefore, in the searching for new material for the new material cycle and Olympic game, carbon dioxide was the start of the research and proposed that carbon dioxide can be a source of energy production.

CH + 3O2

2H2O + CO2 + ENERGY

USAGE OF CARBON DIOXIDE Different use of carbon dioxide was studied. (Starting from the left) Recovery of fossil fuel, geothermal electricity generation, transforming into critical carbon dioxide fluid for Eco-cute air conditioning system in domestic use.

However, energy generated in the first 2 methods are too little. Another method is needed.

OMEGA PROJECT - PRODUCTION OF BIOFUEL

BY ALGAE In 2010, NASA in the USA started a project investigating production of biofuel by algae. Algae takes carbon dioxide, sunlight and other nutrients such as phosphate which can easily found in waste water to produce biofuel. Algae has a very fast growth rate. Its harvesting period is 1-10 days. Moreover, for most of the algae, 400g of biofuel can be produced by 1kg of dried algae. Therefore, by using algae to take carbon dioxide and produce bio fuel is extremely productive .

THE NEW ALGAE FARM In the new algae farm, algae is kept in large plastic bag pumped with carbon dioxide and required nutrients. They are kept on the land instead of in the sea during the old time in order to prevent the biological pollution to the ocean. However, the algae bags are aligned horizontally and packed closely in order to maximize the amount of them. However, by using the design tool developed in the early stage of the project, this infrastructural idea of production of energy can be transformed into an architectural structure for Tokyo Olympic game in 2020.

IDEA OF OLYMPIC 2020 Commercial, Entertainment and Residential fabric are the 3 main foci in organizing Tokyo Olympic 2020. After the failure in 2016 bid, the bid in 2020 has become more critical in raising the countries economy after the depression in 2011.

SITE The venue for Tokyo Olympic 2020 is distributed in the city. However, most of them are located in Tokyo bay, it is also an urban strategy in order to transform Tokyo Bay into a new commercial district.

However, there are two power station, Shinagawa power station and Oi thermal power station, the first one is a gas burning station while the second one is a oil burning station. Therefore, the 2 stations can work with the new bio fuel cycle mentioned for the Olympic game in Tokyo Bay. Moreover, a new type of algae farm was suggested to be located in Tokyo Bay near the venues of Olympic game.

NATURAL GAS STORAGE IN CHIBA

VEHICLES

NATURAL GAS (METHANE CH4)

IMPORT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES e.g. USA, NIGERIA, RUSSIA

ADVERTISING URBAN SURFACE

SHINAGAWA P (TOKYO BAY)

RAILWAY

O=C

CARBON D DOMESTIC LIFE HEAVY INDUSTRY/ MANUFACTURE

NEW MATERIAL FLOW IN TOKYO (carbon dioxide & Algae) The diagram on the right suggests a new flow of carbon dioxide. The system is activated by introducing algae farm into the city. The carbon dioxide will be collected at the power plant and then pumped into the algae solution. After that, carbon dioxide will be taken by the algae and biofuel will be produced for generating electricity, energy for transportation, advertisement, domestic use, industry. The algae becomes a tool for transforming carbon dioxide which was a waste into source of energy.

CITY SEWAGE

八丈島地熱発電所 GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT

LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS TANKER

OI THERMAL POWER STATION (TOKYO BAY)

POWER STATION

SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE

C=O

ALGAE INOCULANT

DIOXIDE (CO2)

CO2 IN

SEWAGE IN

BIOFUEL LABORATORY TO GROW ALGAE INOCULANT

ALGAE - NUTRIENT SOLUTION

BEFORE/AFTER OLYMPIC 2020 In order to sustain the whole system and Olympic 2020 as an innovative test ground, there will be 2 stages in the project before and after the proposed Olympic 2020. Before and during the Olympic games, the algae farm will be located near the venue to attract the public and bring interaction between the public and the foreigners. After the Olympic games, the algae growing devices will spread around the city and continue to act as an energy converter in Tokyo.

COM

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ENTERTAI TIRE PLAYGROUND IN TOKYO

R F

& PRELIMINARY IDEA OF PLAYGROUND CREATED ON EMPTY LOT IN THE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

PRELIMINARY IDEA OF PLAYGROUND CREATED IN THE OLYMPIAD VENUE

MMERCIAL

INMENT

SYMBOL OF ENERGY/FUTURE

RESIDENTIAL FABRIC

TOKYO BID 2016 VIDEO SCREEN SHOTS

KIDS

TOKYO BAY

(PROPOSED OLYMPIAD MAJOR VENUE)

Prototype Development Scenario: Based on several researches about energy consumption in Japan and usage of carbon dioxide. Using algae to produce bio fuel provides a new carbon dioxide cycle in the city.

Algae can be reproduced rapidly in a week(1-10days) and produce bio fuel with 40% by weight. With Tokyo Olympic 2020 as a testing ground and an event requires extra energy consumption, algae fuel will be a potential extra energy source.

By using algae to produce bio fuel, sunlight, carbon dioxide and some nutrients from waste water are essential. Taking the characteristics of a tree, the infrastructural idea of a algae farm can be enriched and transformed into an architectural element in the Olympic venue. In the forest made of “algae trees�, different conditions of environment can be created by varying the composition of trees. During the Olympic game period, the forest will perform as an infrastructure producing biofuel. At the same time, a binder between different people in the Olympic venue by providing opportunities to social events.

After the Olympic and Paralympic games, the trees will migrate to the city of Tokyo and continue to serve as fuel generator.

SPATIAL IMAGINATION In order to transform the infrastructural space in the typical algae farm into an architectural space which provide an environment for different activities, imagination of a new spatial experience in the algae farm was necessary. A single algae growing device was imagine to act like a tree, and it keeps algae in several designed plastic bags pumped with carbon dioxide. The device acts like a tree which absorb carbon dioxide and sunlight. The distribution of the devices also organized in a way that can maximize the sunlight absorption, like a forest.

However, the environment of a forest was studied in order to search for possibilities for different activities.

A “TREE” (one single algae growing device) An individual algae growing device which works by hands so that energy used was in form of internal chemical energy of human body instead of electric energy generated by the power plants. The “trunk” works like a flag pole which holds several leaves. The leaves are filled with algae gel pumped with carbon dioxide. By attaching to the modules filled with concrete which works like a reciprocal, the form of the leaves can be maintain as an inverted umbrella.

PRELIMINARY STRUCTURE IDEA

A CONTINUOUS SURFACE

A NETWORK OF FUN

Several preliminary ideas about the forest was studied based on the collage shown in order to generate different possible activities in the Olympic Game Venue or in the city fabric.

A playground composed of a continuous surface was imaged to be located in the Olympic game venue and residential district after the Olympic game. The surface would be made of 2 kinds of modules, one filled with algae solution, the other one filled with concrete for structure.

Another compositio the first idea. The sp created in this idea the number of “lea one single layer an in carbon dioxide a

NNEL

COLLECTION OF DEVICES

on of a continuous surface similar to patial experience of the forest was a. The dimension of the “trunk” and ave” varies. However, there is only nd extra energy is needed to pump and algae solution.

Based on the previous version of forest, leaves are attached to the tree trunk made of modules filled with concrete. Energy was saved since leaves of algae solution would be replaced by hands. However, the model emphasised more on the practical issue instead of spatial experience.

LEAVES STUDY By using the design tool developed in the first stage of the project, a leave pattern was generated by computer under some parameters: Larger polygons near the “trunk” while smaller polygons far from the “trunk”; thicker member for larger polygons; rotation of the centre offset polygon was limited in order to perform the best twisting effect.

Those parameters were set in order to provide different sunlight filtration. And therefore, number of leaves can be varies and the shading performance can be different in one single “tree” (algae growing device).

TEST WITH AIR: The first leave pattern was test with air on its performance in strength and form.

GENETIC DIAGRAM OF “TREE” The diagram one the right shows the “gene”, sons and daughters of different trees. Every “tree” is made of 3 components, the “trunk”, the “leaves”, the combination of “leaves”. They varies in terms of form, performance and function. Unlimited families of trees were generated by the computer so that a gradation of spatial experience can be created.

ALGAE SOLUTION COLLECTION STATION

RESTROOM UNIT

HIGH SUNLIGHT INTENSITY

MEDIUM LIGHT INTENSITY

LOW SUNLIGHT INTENSITY

VERY LOW SUNLIGHT INTENSITY

ALGAE COLLECTION STATION GYMNASTICS STADIUM

N

0m

50m

100m

150m

200m

250m

ORGANIZATION OF “FOREST” The organization of the forest was based on several nodes between the stadiums, some provide large public space for events, resting place and algae solution collection station. Routes were connected between nodes and indicated by the density of the forest. The diagram on the right shown the composition and the development of the forest.

CYCLING STADIUM

BMX FIELD

TRAM STATION & BRIDGE CONNECTION

ALGAE COLLECTION STATIONS PUBLIC FACILITIES / PLAYGROUND

NODES FOR CONNECTION

OPTIMIZING PATHS

OPTIMIZED PATHS & MAIN ROAD FOR COLLECTING ALGAE SOLUTION

PROFILE OF FOREST

0m

50

m

10

0m

15

0m

20

0m

25

0m

LANDSCAPE

八丈島地熱発電所 GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT

ELECTRICAL ADVERTISEMENT

TRAIN

LIQUIDFIED NATURAL GAS TANKER

NATURAL GAS STORAGE IN CHIBA

VEHICLES

NATURAL GAS (METHANE CH4) IMPORT FROM OTHER COUNTRIES e.g. USA, NIGERIA, RUSSIA

INDIVIDUAL UNIT SPREADING IN THE CITY (AFTER THE OLYMPIC GAMES)

SHINAGAWA POWER STATION (TOYKO BAY)

SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE

O=C=O

AGLAE INOCULANT

CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)

CO2 IN

BIOFUEL LABORATORY TO GROW ALGAE INOCULANT

SEWAGE IN

INDUSTRIAL & LOGISTIC FACILITIES

ALGAE - NUTRIENT SOLUTION

CITY SEWAGE

SYSTEM OF THE “FOREST” & MATERIAL FLOW IN THE CITY The diagram showed the system of the “forest” and the material flow in the city mentioned before. The forest houses different activities, and the infrastructural movement and public event/activities were mixed in the forest. The forest is also connected to the city by the flow of carbon dioxide. In addition, after the Olympic Games 2020, the forest will be decomposed and the “trees” will be distributed in the city as an individual algae growing device.

ICS

AST

MN

GY

IUM

D STA

SPACE IN THE “FOREST�

The space of the forest was imagined to be enjoyed by different citizens of Tokyo and athletes. It can be a place for resting, playing, doing sports, having a family walk, a tourist spots. The shadow casted by the leaves provide different sun shading conditions in order to favour different activities in the forest.

NOTES: The inverted image of the top view of the forest works like a x-ray diagram which shows the density of the forest.

THE “FOREST” The physical model shows the spatial experience of the forest and its system. The combination of the “trees” and the landscape create a continuous experience and a leisure place in the Olympic games which welcome the public to join as part of the games.

INDIVIDUAL “TREE” IN THE CITY After the Olympic games 2020, the “trees” in the forest will be transformed into individual trees and distribute in Tokyo in order to continue to serve the city as a device for transforming carbon dioxide into biofuel - source of energy.