On Wednesday, the atmosphere between tutors and me was a little fierce. During that time, some students joined to our debate. Actually, in that moment, my mind was a little crazy.The B still stressed the function. She said, function was the first.
After the course, I had a conversation with my classmates about the relationship between function and shape. Then, Martin showed his works to us and taught us the process about design, which made me understand somethings clearly.
There is a sequence between function and shape of buildings. You know, we should take the people's behaviours into our design, such as the flow. Use the bubbles to show function and try different ways to relocate these bubbles. During this process, the shape of the building will appear in our mind(it is magic). Until the building can meet the function, we cannot think about the shape, because the shape will limit our mind. In another word, if we decide the shape first, we will use the "function" to fill the shape. It is difficult, most importantly, it is not scientific and correct.
Finally, I think, about the buildings, function is important, but is not the first, since the architecture should be diversified, which depends on what designers and users focus on.
22/11/2013
20/11/2013
SANAA and Spatial Effects of Glass
Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa established the SANAA (Sejima And Nishizawa And Associates) in 1995 in Tyoko. In 2010, Sejima and Nishizawa were awarded the Pritzker Prize.
"Their projects have universally admired exactitude and clarity. While their works pursue a consistent ethos of transparency which is not merely visual, material or literal. Since the beginning of their practice, Sejima and Nishizawa have stated, their pursuit of transparency is more than physical; it is about the clarity of programmatic relations and explicitness of spatial organization."
----Engineered Transparency The Techinical, Visual, and Spatial Effects of Glass
By challenging our understanding of transparency, horizon and gravity, they produce a obvious tension that is dependent on the observer's position. Their works, such as the Flower House and the Okurayama Apartments always belie the sophistication of mechanical and structural system.
Even in the models, the expected clarity of Plexiglas is undone by an overwhelming whiteness that hides edges and boundaries. Beyond the blurring of inside and outside, floor and ceiling, the observer is often left wondering how the columns could possibly be so thin, or whether the wall are really made of glass.
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| http://www.archdaily.com/54195/ |
----Engineered Transparency The Techinical, Visual, and Spatial Effects of Glass
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| Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo, Ohio http://www.archdaily.com/54199/glass-pavilion-at-the-toledo-museum-of-art-sanaa-pritzker-prize-2010/ |
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| New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York City, 2007 http://www.archdaily.com/70822/ |
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| Christian Dior Omotesando Building http://jennyp12.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/christian-dior-omotesando-building-2/ |
By challenging our understanding of transparency, horizon and gravity, they produce a obvious tension that is dependent on the observer's position. Their works, such as the Flower House and the Okurayama Apartments always belie the sophistication of mechanical and structural system.
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| Okurayama Apartmentshttp://www.nhit-shis.org/modern-okurayama-apartment-design-by-kazuyo-sejima/ |
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| Flower Househttp://afasiaarq.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/sanaa.html |
19/11/2013
Respond to the Surroundings——Building Acts an Environmental Filter
Recently, I started to understand the real meaning and function of my research. Thanks to my research, the thinking and designing processes are smoothing. The appearance of everything has its own reason and logic. I reaaaaally love this feeling and way of study, which improve my design and make me more professional.
During the project 1, I knew I need do research, but I did not think I caught the real meaning of my research. Sometimes, they were a little blind. You know, I was in the exploration stage, I felt I like the zombie who just know to beat someone but do not realize the effects and results.
However, the condition has changed! During my project 2, I can apply my research results to my design. For me, it is perfect!
1. the concept shape
My concept shape is round. It comes from the shape of yew trees' fruit. Besides, if people want to get the good view, round can offer the continuous view to house-owners. ( In my basic analyses of this site, I analysed the trees, colour of trees and the changes of colour. All of these are the beauty scenery)
2. change of the concept shape
Due to the sun path and orientation, my shape changed. It became the ellipse, because I want to get more sunshine. Then, in order to avoid the overshadowing, I raise my building.
3. How does sun have the influence on the building?
Actually, sun is a big problem. In the Winter, people welcome the sunshine, whereas in the Summer, there is a potential risk of overheating. People's altitude changes during one year. Therefore, the building needs to be more humanized. In order to meet people's demand, I turn the direction of the room, creating the transition space. It is like the attached space.
Apart from that, I think I can get sunshine from another way, the top window. The design is three-dimensional. That is cool.
Lastly, I read the book, design with climate ,showing a picture about building shapes with directional orientation, which enlightens me to make room multilateral.
There is an interesting relationship between rooms and sun's orientation in that book.
4. the passive ventilation
The main wind direction is SW and SSW. Ventilation is related to the windows and doors. Of course, the stairs. So, I use a normal solution to resolve the problem of ventilation. It is the stairs which are near the central building.
Overall, the research helps me to think and design deeply and reasonably. Unlike in the university, sometimes the reason of I created something was I just loved the shape. That's all. I benefits from my research! You are right, Adam! You said, the research and our blog are the answers when Joe and B ask us why.
During the project 1, I knew I need do research, but I did not think I caught the real meaning of my research. Sometimes, they were a little blind. You know, I was in the exploration stage, I felt I like the zombie who just know to beat someone but do not realize the effects and results.
However, the condition has changed! During my project 2, I can apply my research results to my design. For me, it is perfect!
1. the concept shape
My concept shape is round. It comes from the shape of yew trees' fruit. Besides, if people want to get the good view, round can offer the continuous view to house-owners. ( In my basic analyses of this site, I analysed the trees, colour of trees and the changes of colour. All of these are the beauty scenery)
2. change of the concept shape
Due to the sun path and orientation, my shape changed. It became the ellipse, because I want to get more sunshine. Then, in order to avoid the overshadowing, I raise my building.
3. How does sun have the influence on the building?
Actually, sun is a big problem. In the Winter, people welcome the sunshine, whereas in the Summer, there is a potential risk of overheating. People's altitude changes during one year. Therefore, the building needs to be more humanized. In order to meet people's demand, I turn the direction of the room, creating the transition space. It is like the attached space.
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| architecture in a climate of change Peter F.Smith |
Apart from that, I think I can get sunshine from another way, the top window. The design is three-dimensional. That is cool.
Lastly, I read the book, design with climate ,showing a picture about building shapes with directional orientation, which enlightens me to make room multilateral.
There is an interesting relationship between rooms and sun's orientation in that book.
4. the passive ventilation
The main wind direction is SW and SSW. Ventilation is related to the windows and doors. Of course, the stairs. So, I use a normal solution to resolve the problem of ventilation. It is the stairs which are near the central building.
Overall, the research helps me to think and design deeply and reasonably. Unlike in the university, sometimes the reason of I created something was I just loved the shape. That's all. I benefits from my research! You are right, Adam! You said, the research and our blog are the answers when Joe and B ask us why.
15/11/2013
Respond to the Surroungdings
Before I talk about this topic, I want to ask a question: Is it necessary to respond with the environment surroundings buildings?
Hadid said, if the the surroundings is the shit, why do buildings need to echo it?
So, respond is flexible. It is not necessary to respond the environment every time. And the building we created will be the new environment of that area.
About our project 2 in Winchester, the handout shows "the building acts an environmental filter, and good design may be used to control the internal spatial and environmental conditions." In the stage 1, we made the terrain model and analysed the physical characteristic of the site. This is a conservation area , I believe it will be nice to echo the environment.
This is a museum, teshima art museum, designed by architect Nishizawa Ryue (he and Kazuyo Sejima established the SANAA)and a Japanese artist. This museum has the respond to nature through its shape, composition and spirit.
The museum and trees echo each other, showing the boundary of the artificial building and nature.
Maybe I will use the shape,round to do my design. But I cannot give the conclusion now, I try to keep an open mind.
Hadid said, if the the surroundings is the shit, why do buildings need to echo it?
So, respond is flexible. It is not necessary to respond the environment every time. And the building we created will be the new environment of that area.
About our project 2 in Winchester, the handout shows "the building acts an environmental filter, and good design may be used to control the internal spatial and environmental conditions." In the stage 1, we made the terrain model and analysed the physical characteristic of the site. This is a conservation area , I believe it will be nice to echo the environment.
This is a museum, teshima art museum, designed by architect Nishizawa Ryue (he and Kazuyo Sejima established the SANAA)and a Japanese artist. This museum has the respond to nature through its shape, composition and spirit.
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| model of the museum in Venice Architecture Biennale 2012 |
In the museum, there are lots of "water bays" on the floor. They change their shapes and directions when the wind blows.
The voice of seawater beating rocks and wind blowing leaves echos in that space. The change of the whole building follows the change of sun and time.
In my eyes, it is a perfect respond to the surroundings. The idea is so nice! Nothing is fancy, but everything is natural and makes people comfortable.
Turn to project 2, I want to have a intensive respond to these endangered trees, particularly the Yews. In my hometown, the Nanyue montain which is the one of 5 greatest mountains in China has some Yews. When I was little, my grandfather taught how to recognize these trees.
Poetry And Architecture
In the university, I tried to write some poems due to my professor. Some of them are not good, but there is the one,called match stick which my professor said it was an interesting poem （I also love this one and I think it is my most successful poem :p). It is hard to get the praise from that professor, even we are friends beyond generation.
My professor loves a French poet whose name is Arthur Rimbaud. He influenced modern literature and arts, inspired various musicians, and prefigured surrealism.I bought a collection of his poems and I love his works,such as,The Drunken Boat，Vowels，Ophelia. My favorite poem comes from his book,Hell one season.
Recently, since Rimbaud's poems, I have been thinking the relationship between architecture and poetry. Can I use the rhythm of poetry to built the buildings? I remember when I was a student of the middle school, my Chinese teacher said the poem had the beautiful rhythm of architectures. So,in turn, the architectures can have the rhythm of the poems.
Yesterday, I had the English course with Lia. She gave me the teaching material about the "LA CASA DEL OJO DE AGUA" ("house of the waterhole"). This residence is related to our second project. After the course, I read the material again and carefully. I found the interesting conclusion at the end of the article. The author uses the word, punctuation, grammar and examples of poems without grammar or punctuation to explain the buildings.
"As the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein suggested, meaning in language resides less in the individual words themselves and more in the grammar of the ways in which those words are put together.
Something similar can happen in architecture. The equivalents of words in architecture are the basic architectural elements of floor, wall, roof etc."
About the buildings, I think the basic designing principles,such as the normal habitats of people, are the grammar. Based on the correct grammar, try to write the different rhythm of buildings. In another word, I can use the architectural elements of floor, wall and roof to create the different styles via the different rhetorical devices, such as,repetition, hyperbole, simile and so on.
My professor loves a French poet whose name is Arthur Rimbaud. He influenced modern literature and arts, inspired various musicians, and prefigured surrealism.I bought a collection of his poems and I love his works,such as,The Drunken Boat，Vowels，Ophelia. My favorite poem comes from his book,Hell one season.
Recently, since Rimbaud's poems, I have been thinking the relationship between architecture and poetry. Can I use the rhythm of poetry to built the buildings? I remember when I was a student of the middle school, my Chinese teacher said the poem had the beautiful rhythm of architectures. So,in turn, the architectures can have the rhythm of the poems.
Yesterday, I had the English course with Lia. She gave me the teaching material about the "LA CASA DEL OJO DE AGUA" ("house of the waterhole"). This residence is related to our second project. After the course, I read the material again and carefully. I found the interesting conclusion at the end of the article. The author uses the word, punctuation, grammar and examples of poems without grammar or punctuation to explain the buildings.
"As the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein suggested, meaning in language resides less in the individual words themselves and more in the grammar of the ways in which those words are put together.
Something similar can happen in architecture. The equivalents of words in architecture are the basic architectural elements of floor, wall, roof etc."
About the buildings, I think the basic designing principles,such as the normal habitats of people, are the grammar. Based on the correct grammar, try to write the different rhythm of buildings. In another word, I can use the architectural elements of floor, wall and roof to create the different styles via the different rhetorical devices, such as,repetition, hyperbole, simile and so on.
14/11/2013
Narrow the Users of the House
On Tuesday, Adam asked us a question, how much do you know about the house-owners?
Eh............................ Clearly, nothing.
On Wednesday, Joe gave us a lecture about narrow the clients. It was interesting and helpful. In the university, teachers always said, you should target and aim the people group. So, I set the family members' personalities, occupations, relationships and even the constellation（I use the composition of my friend's family and combine the roles of Japanese manga).
You know, it is reaaaally useful. And this method works well. For example, as the son is pretty naughty, he will need the game room to play. His characteristic decides my design.
Eh............................ Clearly, nothing.
On Wednesday, Joe gave us a lecture about narrow the clients. It was interesting and helpful. In the university, teachers always said, you should target and aim the people group. So, I set the family members' personalities, occupations, relationships and even the constellation（I use the composition of my friend's family and combine the roles of Japanese manga).
You know, it is reaaaally useful. And this method works well. For example, as the son is pretty naughty, he will need the game room to play. His characteristic decides my design.
13/11/2013
Model, Basic Analyses and Interesting Analysis in Personal Taste
Since leaving London, I have been good. The warm sunshine, the yellow leaves of sycamores, red fruits and blue sky make me feel happy. It is a nice day to embrace the Autumn.
We made the model of Winchester. Thanks to the power of group, the process was smoothing.  |
| spring equinox |
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summer solstice
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Alexander Calder: Mobile Sculpture
When I visited the Tate Gallery in London, I found a interesting sculpture which I liked it very much!
This is Alexander Calder's mobile sculpture which was made of metal, string wood and wire. By suspending forms that move with the flow of air, Calder revolutionised sculpture. Marcel Duchamp dubbed these works "mobiles". Rather than a solid object of mass and weight, they continually redefine the space around them as they move. Calder's works show the animated version for people.
10/11/2013
Disney, The Lord Major's Show and Use Atmosphere to Create The World You Want !
When I stood at the front of St. Paul's Cathedral, I felt that I could not think due to the continuous rain and cold wind. "When will the Lord Major come?" I had been screaming in my heart. Oh, yes! On Saturday in London, it was The Lord Major's Show. Every year the Major of London has a big demonstration. Today, there were 21 bands, 150 horses, countless vintage cars, helicopters, robots, unicycles, dancers, beds, bathtubs, and one camel - not to mention half a million spectators. How grand demonstration was! This time was the second time in 800 years, the City of London welcomes a woman to the office of lord mayor(686th lord mayor).
The demonstration started around 10 am and was over about 12 am. So, it meant I stood in that harsh weather for 2 hours! At the beginning, I was excited and I cheered for the beautiful horses and Scotland music. When my hands and feet were freezing, I could not be excited like the beginning. Although, I can't help myself hailing to the soldiers,dancers and other perfumers, since they looked like very happy and they put on the show. Some perfumers just wore the short T-shirts or dresses, they were so brave! You know, the weather was really bad!
These dancers made me think of the dancers in Disneyland who pull up to the parties. They create a wonderful fairy tale world and every visitor immerses in that world! This is the atmosphere's magic!
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| we were waiting in the rain |
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| come on! they are coming! so cool! |
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| dancers danced at the brisk paces with the high heel shoes |
Atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere......
For me, it is an key point in my design. Catch the atmosphere, catch the people's hearts and create my own world. Maybe it is a fairy tale world with sweet candies which makes everyone happy, believe this is a wonderful world and can escape from the daily grind.
Look back to the Zaha Hadid's works, she also uses the atmosphere to creates her own kingdom. Her futuristic architectures create a cool world where people can experience the disposition of the buildings and image the future through her sharp lines or curves.
And I want to mention a Japanese architect, Kazuyo Sejima. In her works, people can experience the tranquil atmosphere. The architectures give people the feeling of "floating", "graceful" and "light".
Actually, think carefully,"atmosphere" is a abstract concept and it is a feeling. I cannot just follow my feeling to do my design. I need to summary some principles about the atmosphere I want.
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