Workshops intro
Introduction and design brief
The workshop to be held at the beginning of the semester focuses on generative systems and algorithmic approach to design problems together with multi-objective optimization techniques as form finding methods. This design assignment is to be carried out during the workshop for students to explore the design methods in a given scenario. Groups of four will explore the design of a pavilion in a given site near the TUDelft Architecture faculty. The geometric logic of both the global and local scales should address the aspects of Environmental, structural, spatial, functional and the fabrication of the pavilion. While the form finding processes take place, environmental aspects should be considered as one of the evaluation criteria. The design system of the pavilion should incorporate a system specific assembly logic which will result in physical models. The different aspects and the elements that make up the design of the pavilion and the evaluation criteria of the form should be interrelated systems where the variation of them would lead to morphological changes in the results.
With this presumption that in architectural design processes we can consider sub-systems that could describe the building performance in its context, here we will try to define these subsystems and methodically study the correlations between them. For each of these sub-systems we can implement generative and evaluative design systems in which measurable objectives can be analyzed and optimized. With this goal students are asked to design a pavilion that should be approximately 400m2 minimum in footprint and provide different spatial conditions where one of which is an enclosed space protected from the outdoor conditions. The design should consider programmatic usage such as a café or other creative functions suitable for the site. The pavilion should have 5-8 anchor points which are the main structural supports on the ground or on the walls of the existing buildings. The design should be site sensitive and provide different qualities to respond to the environment of the site to control the amount of light, consider the effects wind, solar radiation, orientation etc for the enclosure. Students are encouraged to consider of contrasting conditions such as light/dark spaces, day/night, etc. Students should consider different generative systems for different aspects for the design of the pavilion. The integration and the hierarchy of the subsystems should form the system logic of the overall design. The students’ ability to set up the systems logic, use of a combination of algorithms and exploration of the relational approach to the design process should be evident in the final submission at the end of the workshop.
Dates
- ● The workshop will take place during the 2nd and 4th week of September (September 9th-13th and 23rd – 27th)
- ● Final presentation will take place on Friday the 27th of September.
- ● Final submission is in the form of documentation (A4 report) which is due on Friday 4th of October.
Requirements for the final presentation
- ● Slides for presentation – 10 to 15minutes max
- ● Process diagram, model, experiments, site analysis
- ●Other supporting diagrams to explain the proposal, and process
- ● Diagram describing system logic, design concept, environmental/structural/programmatic approach, set up of algorithm, etc.
- ●Sketch Physical models describing the design system
- ●Computational logic describing the associative logic of the design
- ●Rendering to show the design proposal
Requirements for the Final submission
- ● A4 booklet (both physical and digital copy)
- ● Process diagram site, analysis, model, experiments, site analysis
- ● Other supporting diagrams to explain the proposal, and process
- ● Diagram describing system logic, design concept, environmental/structural/programmatic approach, set up of algorithm, etc.
- ● 1:5 scale physical model(1mx1m max size) demonstrating the assembly and fabrication logic
- ● 1:50 scale physical model showing the global geometry of the design proposal. The scale may vary depending on the design. The model should show structural stability, spatial logic and quality of the design
- ● Photographs of the physical models
- ● Renderings of the design proposal
- ● Written description of the work to accompany the images to elaborate the process
- ● Essay demonstrating the conceptual placement of the work either as a part of introduction and/or conclusion of the submission which should address:
- ● how and when the generative methods are used
- ● understanding of the systems approach
- ● understanding of the technical and theoretical background of genetic algorithm in the context of multi-objective optimization
- ● The final documentation should show incorporation/response to the feedback from the final presentation.
