Morphing box refined definition & iterations

gh experimentation - morphing box

Assignment 3 Proposal

Modelling proposal for assignment 3

The site chosen for my final project is the corner of Cathedral Street and Crown Street. Considering existing context of the site such as residential areas, the Domain, and arterial driving routes of the city I will try to examine and develop the thesis made in the research paper:

‘The advanced morphogenetic computational design techniques through a biomimetic approach entail an integrated set of design methods, generative and analytical tools and enables technologies that facilitate evolutionary design and evaluation of differentiated material or structural systems towards a highly performative and sustainable built environment with aesthetically pleasing form’ not only by the final product but from the beginning of the design process.

The structural form of my design will be based on the catenary arches, inspired by Antoni Gaudí’s catenary arch and his experiment using hanging model which allowed him to obtain equilibrated form. I will explore different plug-ins for Rhino and Grasshopper such as Kangaroo or WeaverBird to create the form that is physically in the equilibrium state, and try to find a way to apply the idea of self-organisation and form-finding from morphogenesis to design process. Through the experiment, I will be creating different parameters and criteria regarding the performativity of structure and sustainability of the building. At the end of the form-finding process,  I will look for the iterations that is the most aesthetically pleasing and fit into the site.

1.Gaudi’s Space Hanging model(left), 2. Grasshopper description for basic catenary using kangaroo(right)

I will also attempt to consider the performance of the building in terms of relationship with the surrounding natures dealing with the current situation of the site as an entry point into the city as well as the connection to the larger context.

Final 12 Sources

Work of Gaudi
1. Huerta, S 2006 'Structural Design in the Work of Gaudí', Architectural Science Review, Volume 49.4, pp324-339 (Main Source)
2. Burry, M 1993, ‘Expiatory Church of the Sagrada Família Antoni Gaudí’, Phaidon Press Limited, London.
3. Gómez-Serrano, J., Espel, R., Grima, R., C.Burry, M., Aguado, A., 2009 'Evolution of the formwork used in the temple of the Sagrada Família', International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 3:p93-109
4. Barrios, C , ‘Transformations on Parametric Design Models: A case study on the Sagrada Familia Columns’
5. Maher A.M., Burry M.C., ‘Hybridized Measurement: Interpreting historical images of Sagrada Familia Church in Barcelona using CAD-based digital photogrammetry’ eCAADe 20 Modelling Real and Virtual Worlds Session12 p448-455
6. Hernandez, C ‘Parametric Gaudi’ SiGraDi p213-215




Morphology
1. Menges, A 2011 'Biomimetic design process in architecture: morphogenetic and evolutionary computational design' IOP Publishing Bioinspir. Biomim. 7, p1-10 (Main Source)
2. Hensel, M, Menges, A 2008 'Designing Morpho-Ecologies Versatility and Vicissitude of Heterogeneous Space' Johon Wiley & Sons Ltd p102-111
3. Killan, A 'Linking Digital Hanging Chain Models to Fabrication' ACADIA: Structures p110-125
4. Burry, M. 2011 ‘Geometry working beyond effect’ John Wiley & Son Ltd p80-89
5. Hensel, M., Menges, A., 2006, Morpho-ecologies, Architectural Association, London.
6. Moussavi, F. The function of form, Actar and Havard University Graduate School of Design, USA

Lexicon

1. Structural equilibrium
2. Catenery arches
3. Gaudi's space-hanging model
4. Equilibrated forms of vaults
5. Biomimetic architecture
6. Morphogenetic computational design
7. Morphological differentiation
8. Morphological structure

3 images of architecture

Sagrada Família

Antoni Gaudí

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Casa Milà

Antoni Gaudí

Barcelona, Spain

Casa Batlló

Antoni Gaudí

Barcelona, Spain

Parabolic arches of Casa Batlló

Assignment 2 : 6 Sources

<Aspect of design>
1. Huerta, S 2006 'Structural Design in the Work of Gaudí', Architectural Science Review, Volume 49.4, pp324-339
Analysis and design of masonry arches, vaults and buildings. Gaudí's equilibrium methods are studied with some detail, stressing their validity within the frame of Limit Analysis.


2. Burry, M 1993, Expiatory Church of the Sagrada Família Antoni Gaudí, Phaidon Press Limited, London.
Explanation on the structural and historical aspects of Sagrada Família and modelling process of it with drawings and photography.


3. Gómez-Serrano, J., Espel, R., Grima, R., C.Burry, M., Aguado, A., 2009 'Evolution of the formwork used in the temple of the Sagrada Família', International Journal of Architectural Heritage, 3:p93-109
Construction complexity  of the structure of Sagrada Familia, especially in relation to the set-up of their formwork. The vaults is discussed and this discussion shows how the construction method, and in consequence the formwork, is adapted to the construction needs according to the geometric shape, size, position and repetitions of each vault.




<Technical aspects of complex geometry>
1. Menges, A 2011 'Biomimetic design process in architecture: morphogenetic and evolutionary computational design' IOP Publishing Bioinspir. Biomim. 7, p1-10
The paper explains how computational design enables the development of biomimetic design process specific to architecture, and how they need to be significantly different from established biomimetic process in engineering disciplines.


2. Hensel, M, Menges, A 2008 'Designing Morpho-Ecologies Versatility and Vicissitude of Heterogeneous Space' Johon Wiley & Sons Ltd p102-111
The authors outline their theoretical and methodological framework for 'morpho-ecological design' in architecture, illustrating it further with two projects that combine research and design.


3. Killan, A 'Linking Digital Hanging Chain Models to Fabrication' ACADIA: Structures p110-125
The paper traces the development of a digital hanging chain modeler in Java inspired by Antonio Gaudí's physical hanging chain models. More importantly, it demonstrates how fabrication schemas for physical mockups of the digitally simulated hanging chain can be linked to the real time form finding simulation