Digital design module 1 journal

Digital Design - Module 01 Semester 1, 2019 Mingjia Shi

Tony Yu 944560

Week One

Reading: Zeara Polo, A. 2010. Between Ideas and Matters.

According to Zeara-Polo, the diagram does not play a representational role in the design process but provides an organisational and can have a performative quality depending on how it is deployed. Explain how Diagram is different from Signs and Symbols? (100 words Maximum)

Diagram is a tool that describes relationships and prescribes performance in space. It shows visible and invisible things, and has relation between form and meaning. The present information could be dynamic situation through time and abstractions.

But signs and symbols normally have no correlations between form and meaning. For example, the sign of Nike is a checkmark which has no relation with the shoes, but has a more abstract meaning. Also, the information represented by sign and symbol would be inadequate. This is why sometimes diagram would use curtain sign and symbol as a method to show some information.

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Week One

Precedent Analysis

Plan of three basic sphere

Isometric of debuilding surfaces into straightsections

Isometric of debuilded surfaces Nicho, Saieh. Radix. Photograph. 28 August, 2012. Accessed 17 March, 2019. https://www.archdaily.com/267567/venice-biennale-2012-radix-airesmateus To model this pavilion, the plan and sections of geometrical composition between spheres and cube are essential. Each sphere has its own polar axis and with different directions. It is important to rorate those polar axis in order to create correct pattern for later render and structural representation.

In reality, the curved surface are prefabricated by bending metal slides, so the surface would not be smooth. And this is why rebuildsurface is needed and spheres are built into straightsections to show the trace of processing.

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Week Two

Reading: Hertzberger H. 2005. The in-between and The Habitable Space Between Things, from Lessons for Students in Architecture.

Herzberger discusses how design should not be extreme in its functionality. Use your precedent study to explain how the pavilion allows for an appropriation of use. (100 words Maximum)

According to the concept of Radix, the designer tended to present a combination of traditional awareness and modern digital technology. This pavilion is an arch supported by three points and one of the corner hanging over the water. The location of Radix is near the water which could support activities around river bank. Because of the overhangs at the corn, it could be used as shelter. When sphere booleaned together, some tiny space could be created, and this could be an appropriate place for children and teenagers to crawl and have fun.

In terms of the larger scale functionality, this pavilion could be a medium to seperate pedestrain flow. People who come from main road could be divided into two seperated flows and combine again at the end of the building.

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Week Two

Isometric

Aires Mateus - Radix This isometric is the view from south-west. The main material of Radix is steel. Thus, texture is added on rendered model by photoshop to show a more reality representation of the pavilion. The surrounding environment is presented as a base of pavilion in order to show the contour and environmental change.

In the modelling process, surrounding environment was chosen to show only by the stepped river bank and water. Even though the structure is close to the building nearby it, that is unnecessary to leave it as the weak connection with pavilion. The step of river bank was modelled in more detail to show some seats are left by designer for people to enjoy the microenvironment created by the water and steel structure.

In terms of circulation, by modeling this model, the idea of height could lead to different function of the space became clear. As a reason of digital modelling technolegy, some curved surface become fabricated. In this pavilion, it has some tight space created by the nature of sphere. This height change could influence people’s behaviour like sitting, crawling and walking.

In terms of threshold and construction, the feeling of threshold can be influenced by structure thickness. This is why the thickness analysis would appera in diagram. Thin strcture like shelter would make people feel spread which is the featrue of ‘soft threshold’,and vice versa.

The concept of Radix is to combine traditional awareness and modern technology. The pavilion is actually a modification of arch, but in a mdern way. The thresholds are those three openings and two semicircular holes at the bottom of structure. With various opening types, designer try to lead people to explore and enjoy the conversion of space.

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Week Two Diagrams

Circulation

Threshold

Starting with the height analysis, the pavilion shows more variety in function. People will select different space with diffrerent height to change their behavior. The main behavior leads to the pedestrain flow direction and the amount of pedestrain in and out of the building.

As the reason of the pavilion is designed as a solid with multiple change, the thickness of structure would give people different feeling of threshold when people getting inside of it. The thick place might construct as wall or little voids which is the ‘hard threshold’. Then, the hard threshold would be more private space, and vice versa.

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Appendix

Create basic model

Process

Model a 8*8*4m cube. Set points on the position of central of sphere and intersection point between spheres and cube. The model spheres and change their location according to the plan and section drawing.

After modeling three sphere, change the direction of it by drawing the central line of sphere.

Then use command: rotate to turn polar axis to the appropriate location referencing to pictures.

Use boolean difference to delete unnecessary part of cube. This command will result in a smooth surface of the cube. But in reality the surface is part of polyhedron because of industry manufaction. Thus, to rebuild this polyhedron surface, we need to rebuild surface.

Use command: rebuildsurface, then select surface which want to be rebuilt. Change the point count to proper amount, and change type to straightsections. Press enter at last. A polyhedron is mod-

After modeling all the polyhedrons, draw another 8*8*4 cube, and boolean them to get new model.

Final model in perspective view.

eled. Use this method to produce others.

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Appendix Process

Modeling surrounding environment

Try to model surrounding environment like river bank. Use fillet surface command to make the corner of step smooth.

Import render into PS, and adjust line thickness in AI, place link in PS in order to operate at the same time. Then, add texture in photoshop.

Also modeling the traditional building behind pavilion.

Final A1 1:50 scale isometric.

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Test and find the best scale of surrounding environment and the best view of model. Then export it in render and make2D in order to get linework.

Appendix

Process

Diagram process

Paint gradien in photoshop to present first diagram- circulation1. To analyse height, blue and red are used to show high and low space change.

Height Analysis

In order to produce the function analysis diagram, use illustrator to draw different symbole to present.

Function Analysis

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The third sub-diagram is the primary circulation path. By using illustrator to draw surface and live paint it into gradient. Use red and blue to show people inside the pavilion and outside of it.

Primary Circulation paths

Appendix Process

Diagram process

Use thicknessanalysis in rhino to make the first subdiagram in threshold diagram.

Thickness Analysis

Use offsetsrf in rhino to produce the threshold space in the second threshold diagram. Then use gradient in photoshop to paint the color. Use red to show hard threshold and middle one,blue to show soft threshold.

Threshold Space

Use illustrator and ps together to present the private space and public space. Combine them together and adjust transparency of color.

Private & Public Space