Assignment #5 Interior Rendering

Assignment 3 (correctly post on blog)

Fred Lynn Blob Tectonics (redo)

Digital design has led to a revolution in the type of shapes that can be created. Fred Lynn addresses the creation of the Blob. A figure type that prior to digital design and computers to help create structure would have been impossible.Prior to digital design architects were constricted to an unfortunately few number of shapes and forms. Relying on the Cartesian grid structure and the use of drawing techniques where crazy forms were hard to draw and copy, architecture relied on simple shapes placed together in a complex manner.The blob changes all this.

The blob is a monolithic structure that has a complexity that is much greater then what was producible 15 years ago. It is not always a stable object and doesn't rely on a single point for its support system.

Blobs are an unstable and nearly un-copyable objects. Their shape is unpredictable and their organization and method of creation only describable on a computer. Their form is not reliant on a grid or structural pattern but rather the requirements of the space and what is exactly needed. Blobs have no boundaries and no rules. Without the tools of digital design they would be impossible to design. Part of the no boundaries is those on the paper created by the tools of an architect.

Fred Lynn suggests that the blob is like the blobs seen in class B Hollywood horror movies. They become objects without boundaries and control. They seem to take over neighboring objects and use the for support. Since blobs have no control they can go to far, encompass to much, or become nonfunctional. Their monolithic design can grow to far, and destroy the homogeneous nature of surrounding building. Surrounding objects are critical to giving the blob definition. The strange forms of a blob may feel out of place if left to float alone without surrounding context.

Mr. Lynn also notes that the blob is fairly easy to design in comparison to its construction. Construction of a blob is a fairly new and delicate science, which needs to be individualized every single time. The blob's strange shape take dramatic lengths to make stand up. Without computers to help organize the individual designs it would be nearly impossible. Computers are a great assist in understanding the engineering and the physics behind a blob, but that in no way means blob construction is easy or more predictable then their design.

Shoei Yoh of Japan has recently run test on structure of blobs to make these strange and expressive objects a reality. His test have worked to simplify and find ways to make blobs more common. However blob construction is continually hindered by their design that promotes individuality. This is good for architectural purposes as it allows for many varied and beautiful designs, but makes construction difficult. Engineering and construction can be simplified when an architect uses predetermined lengths of material, and a strong organizational scheme, Blobs use neither of these.
In many ways blobs are an architects mythical adventure. The focus of the blob is on design and beautiful forms (sounds like a stereotypically architect). Blobs are monolithic objects in which all program is designed within, showing a massive control over the program. Blobs can have great designs, however, their construction, and economic feasibility remain major problems.
Until some method of control can be applied to blobs they will remain mythical or sporadic objects in the built landscape. Blobs will require some form of structural organizational system to become more feasible. This however could ruin the exact reasoning behind a blobs design and individuality. But without a low cost way to produce blobs, only achievable through new materials and a more organized construction method, blob's may never go main stream. This is disappointing because hundreds of blobs could be great to have colliding into each other all over a city or town.
The design and construction of blobs remain a new and exciting architectural field of architecture. Fred Lynn should be commended for shining a light on these new and futuristic designs. But blobs should be noted for their currently extreme goal of design and form over feasibility. However with digital design and the need for architectural progression the blob and its supports should be encouraged not to drop the ideas, but rather begin to apply the ideas to the real world.

Fred Lynn Blob Tectonics

Digital design has led to a revolution in the type of shapes that can be created. Fred Lynn addresses the creation of the Blob. A figure type that prior to digital design and computers to help create structure would have been impossible.

Prior to digital design architects were constricted to an unfortunately few number of shapes and forms. Relying on the Cartesian grid structure and the use of drawing techniques where crazy forms were hard to draw and copy, architecture relied on simple shapes placed together in a complex manner.

The blob changes all this. The blob is a monolithic structure that has a complexity that is much greater then what was producible 15 years ago. It is not always a stable object and doesn't rely on a single point for its support system. Lynn suggests that the blob is like the blobs seen in class B Hollywood horror movies. They become objects without boundaries and control and seem to take over neighboring objects and use the for support. Surrounding objects are critical to giving the blob definition. The strange forms of a blob may feel out of place if left to float alone without surrounding context.

Mr. Lynn also notes that the blob is fairly easy to design in comparison to its construction. Construction of a blob is a fairly new and delicate science, which needs to be individualized every single time. The blobs strange shape take dramatic lengths to make stand up.

Shoei Yoh of Japan has recently run test on structure of blobs to make these strange and expressive objects a reality. His test have worked to simplify and find ways to make blobs more common.

The design and construction of blobs remain a new and exciting architectural field of architecture. Fred Lynn should be commended for shining a light on these new and futuristic designs.

Assignment 3

Images for project #3 can be seen on the public folder and were handed in on time. Blogger.com is telling me that due to "internal problems" I can't post my PDFs.

Generative Systems

Over the last twenty years the design process has changed and involved into a far more comprehensive process. As the world has gotten more complex so hasn't the design process. No longer can designers merely look to solve a single problem, but now they must anticipate future problems and reactionary forces. In world a that is increasingly becoming more connected the need for research that can lead to the most reasoned decisions is more important every day. Computers can and do help. Technology is no longer just viewed as important to solving design problems. Now computers and give designers the ability to design buildings that don't rely on technology to solve their faults. Do to computers designs should more efficient, cheaper, and more functional then ever before.

Generative form design is a new process that by using computers can help an architect bring the design process together. Computers can assist in the organization of the design process. From defining the problem to researching the solution and the creation of models and solutions. Computer software has many application can achieve a lot of solutions, but all software's success is determined upon the user. Different firms use computers in different ways with different results. Every problem can analyzed and clarified on the computer. These advances in technology that allow us to clearly see ever aspect of the process can be the difference between a good building and a bad building.

The design process is now able to be developed at all level at one time and with a higher level of organization. The forms of a building can now more directly relate to the function and use of the building and connectivity of the whole design is enhanced with computer technology. Computers allow for ideas to be further developed and more comprehensive solutions to obtained. The generative form design process allows for every architect to approach problems different, but still allow for complete and comprehensive design solutions to come forth. Computers can help us rationalize the design process to a new level. No longer will we rely so much on human nature and phenomenology but can now rely more on the strengths of reason, as computers have allowed for comprehensive thought to be greatly progressed in architecture design. Now conceptual ideas and abstract thought can be developed to a much farther level then ever before. The organization given to great ideas can allow for the developed of those buildings into actuality.

Larry Sass Lecture

Larry Sass a professor from MIT lectured last Thursday on using the power of digital technology and applying it to the building process.

It would be hard for anyone to say they weren't impressed with Larry Sass's lecture. While most architecture lectures seem a like an hour of ego stroking and explaining design ideas that really aren't that revolutionary, this lecture broke away from the pack. In discussing building techniques that he had helped develop with students at MIT Mr. Sass, walked us through ideas that were on the cutting edge. The basic concept of his work was to apply to the digital technology that has opened up new worlds for more exact and interesting design and apply that to construction. The system that was developed was a system of interlocking wood pieces.

By using the computer to create pieces that snapped together, a building could be created completely out of plywood, plastic, and glue. The designer must create every individual piece on a computer. Once the pieces are created they are sent to a machine that is essentially a large laser cutter. The piece are cut into plywood and plastic boards and shipped to the construction site. There the piece are fully cutout and assembled. The building created is stronger then conventional stud wall construction and more exact. The beautiful thing about this system is anyone can now put this building together not just a contractor. Also the since the actually construction piece were created on a computer the building is very precise. Mr. Sass talked continuously about taking error out of the construction process and with computers the natural human errors that occur in construction can almost all be eliminated.

The idea of this new construction is tantalizing. Now architects can watch their exact designs be built and not buildings that are partly representative of interpretation and skills of contractors. These techniques are promising and a important thing to continue to study going forward but they have lots of question marks surrounding them.

This process is not cheaper or more efficient then the standard building methods employed today. It may be stronger and faster, but none of the prototype buildings has survived long in bad weather. A new material or better plywood must be developed for these structures to make sense. And then their is the design point of view. An architect now must create every structural piece of a building, this costs time and money and a master builder could probably build as fast as it takes to create every piece.

Mr. Sass's work should draw the attention of everyone in the architecture world. His work is important and holds significant promise. A lot of questions remain around his work, but that doesn't lower the necessity to be looking for new and better construction methods. I believe his work is leading us in the right direction. I believe Mr. Sass's philosophy of bringing the computer that revolutionised the architecture design process, to the building process is a logical and important step.

Techniques and Technology

Techniques and Technology

By, Rahim Ali


In his essay "Techniques and Technology" Rahim Ali talks about the relationship between three easily confusable words, Technology, Technical, and Technique. The Relationship he says is something called the "technology and cultural feedback loop." In this relationship new technologies effect the way artists and professionals do their work. These changes in techniques force new innovations in technology and the loop starts all over again. The technical efficiency helps show the productivity of a new technology with a new technique. This is measured numerically and is independent of outside forces that would usually judge a technologies success This relationship can be seen extremely clearly in architectural design in the last ten to fifteen years. The new technology of digital design has revolutionized the techniques used by architects to do their jobs.
Ali exams the work of the Eameses brothers who created create fiberglass chairs that have become the cheap and typical chair of many schools and other institutions. He walks the reader through the development of the chair's technology and then its effect on society by providing a extremely efficient, cheap, chairs to the market place. His main focus is not on the success of the chair, but on the innovation needed behind it. The brothers had successful plywood designs and laminated wood designs, but those designs had flaws, and by adopting new technology they changed their technique and over came their design flaws. Their practice was busy exploring new ways to fill the void for low cost durable chairs. When they discovered the use of fiberglass from a set designer, they created new techniques to use the technology effectively. Soon fiberglass was being used in many applications it originally wasn't intended for, but the extra uses raised the technology (fiberglass) to a new level of relevancy.
The new chairs in turn effected culture and society greatly and eventually became so popular they became monotonous with large institutional settings. The story of the Eameses brothers is to show how technology is pushed forward by the innovative and creative techniques of the Eameses brothers.
Ali writes about how technology that may have been revolutionary just five years ago is common place in firms today. Noticing that technology is quickly changing is key to a firm that may become stuck in design techniques that are out dated in a mere couple of years. To stay current a firm must adopt temporal techniques. This means taking a "bottom up" approach to architecture. The process is "non-linear" and has less formal structure then the usually design process. It stresses lots of exploration of new ideas and intensive analysis. The bottom-up method also creates a building that has many elements designed in unison making the final project a more united piece of work. The use of technology is vital in this process. The computer makes organization of analysis and working on a building as a whole easier. It allows the designer to discover new patterns and ideas that might have been lost or unforeseeable otherwise. It also makes innovation easier and more possible to explore.
Digital design has allowed temporal techniques to become effective in architecture. The technology changed the way architects work and practice. These temporal techniques allow for maximum innovation in design and force the need for newer technologies and better computer programs. Therefore after adopting digital design it is important to keep a open mind and continue to innovate. An architects cannot be become entrenched in a single design method or attached to a single computer program, but must be willing to adapt and be flexible enough to change the techniques and programs he or she uses extremely quickly.
Ali makes a valuable point about "the Loop" he recognizes the need for innovation in the techniques used by architects to force the computer programmers to create new and better products. He also promotes a work place that is maneuverable and adaptable to a quickly changing world. In all the most important thing to learn from this essay is that the architecture design world is changing all the time (if we notice or not) and innovation in technique is just important to stay one step ahead of the competition as the newest computer program is. Following linear and rigid design technique will not continuously produce original work even if done on the latest technology.

Digital Morphogenesis
by Banko Kolarevic

In recent years new digital design technology has started a revolution in architecture. The advances in design on the computer have created new tools for architects to use to create more diverse and complex structures. Today architects are able to build structures with amazing accuracy that only decades before would have been impossible. Banko Kolarevic argues in his essay "Digital Morphogenesis" that digital design as helped transform and progress the architecture profession to new heights. I agree that the use of computer designed buildings bring a new level of sophistication to architecture, as well as helping to build structures that are more efficient, and cheaper and faster to construct.
Kolarevic begins his discussion about digital design by talking about revolutionary buildings of the industrial age. He points to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Crystal Palace in London as buildings that helped start a revolution in iron and steel design. He says that this is architecture adapting to new technology. He then points out that digital design technology is very similar to these iconic structures of the industrial age as it allows us to use our new technology to produce buildings once thought impossible. Kolarevic is correct in his assessment. Digital design is allowing architects to enter a whole new world of building design. Architects can now create shapes and distort forms that would have been to complex a generation before. Look a Frank Gehry's work at the Guggenheim Museum in Spain. The unconventional shape of the building could only have been produced on a computer and without a computer it would have been almost impossible to create the construction documents.
The revolution is moving architects from creating boxes to creating "blobs." This movement Kolarevic argues is a change to a more intelligent building. As we use computers the precision of our construction will increase, this allows us to build structures that aren't subjected to the constraints of a basic structural system. This is a massive release for architects. Architects now have more freedom over their design work as the structural systems that can be built advance tremendously.
The design process has also changed in this revolution. No longer does the architect work so strongly in plan and section. Now an architect has the ability to design with 3-D modeling and perspectives. Borrowing a design tools from ship builders (who work almost exclusively in model and 3-D form) architects can now work on all aspects of the building at one time. This simplified process allows the architect to deal with forces and problems faster and with a better understanding of what is going on. The designer also has the ability to take risks with designs that can easily be corrected at a later date. The form of the structure also begins to take a more important role. Now an architect can work with form while working in plan, meaning he can give a form a more meaningful purpose in relationship to the plan. Architects also have the ability to distort a form creating unstable curvilinear forms. This level of complexity is interesting, but the architect now must edit. The architect must edit his work to make sure the form doesn't overwhelm the function.
Kolarevic, make a strong point about the future of the digital revolution. The production of "Blobs" is interesting today, but if architects don't edit and redesign their work to complete functional tasks then their the novelty of their work won't survive. "Blobs aren't enough," Kolarevic says and he is right. Architects have been given great new tools to build structures inconceivable 100 years ago, but if they can't preform functions beyond their facades then they are doomed to fail. The new forms created by the computer should still follow the motto "form follows function." We should use the computer to progress our designs and create better buildings, not just use this new technology to entertain ourselves with interesting forms.

Abstract- Frank Gehry

Please read comment 1 for abstract