ABPL30048Tutor: Bradley Elias Yiqing Xiong 621784

STUDIO AIR 2015, SEMESTER 1

Table of ContentsIntroduction

PART A. CONCEPTUALISATION

A.0. Design Futuring

A.1. Design Computaion

A.2. Composition/Generation

A.3. Conclusion

A.4. Learning Outcome

1 CONCEPTUALISATION

Hi!

I AM Yiqing Xiong

3rd Year Architecture Major

University of Melbourne

I was born in China, studied as a international

student in Australia. I have finished the foundation

course in UNSW, which concentrated on design.

That was the first time that I encounter with design

the object by my own. From then on, I have found

my interest in architecture probably because

of the influences from my family i.e. nearly all

of my family members has learning or working

background in architecture or engineering. It has

made me curious about what is architecture

and how it works. Moreover, there is a wish that

I can live in the house designed by myself one

day, which probably everyone is dreaming of.

Introduction

CONCEPTUALISATION 2

Studied the other two studios-earth and

water, I am not familiar with digital design.

My limited experience in design software

just have Sketchup and a little bit 3ds

Max. I realised that this subject could

be challenges, but I still look forward

to handle Rhino and Grasshopper after

learning this subject. I will absorbing

as much as I can during the course.

The Reichstag Dome is the project which construct-

ed on top of the old Reichstag building in Berlin,

for its parliament function, which need to highly

relate to its historical, political, social and envi-

ronmental background. It was designed by archi-

tect  Norman Foster, which especially important

because has symbolized the reunification of Ger-

many.

As said by the architect, the transformation is

based on four issues ----- the significances as a

democratic forum (political), the understanding

of history (historical), a promise to general acces-

sibility (social) and a strong environmental agenda

(environmental). Back to history, the Reichstag

destroy by war and rebuilt insensitively. But this

time, the striking imprints underneath the previ-

ous construction including graffiti left by Soviet

soldiers , which has inspired the architect to create

a space to become a ‘living museum’ of German

history. Comparing to the history, in the middle,

drawing light into the heart of the building will

create an open and visible platform for the Ger-

man democratic process.

Moreover, towards the environmental sustainabil-

ity, the whole design utilizes natural light as the

key architectural feature, and energy efficiency.

Careful attention was towards the sun’s movement

around the building, and how it could be used to

bring light into the space. This glass dome can pro-

vide a 360 degree view of the surrounding Berlin

city space, and the visitors can see working politi-

cians in the chamber while climbing the spiralling

ramps. The debating chamber of German  parlia-

ment is down below and a mirrored cone in the

centre of the dome directs sunlight into the build-

ing. In addition, the Dome actual symbolizes that

the people are above the government illustrate the

democracy.

Initially, this accessible glass dome generated a lot

of controversy, but now it has been convening as a

great Berlin landmark. It gives the building an open

and honest relevance towards past, meanwhile, set-

ting an open-minded and forward-thinking about

its future which emphasis on a united, democratic

German. This also has provide a successful exam-

ple on the architecture in nurturing social ,cultural

, historical values about the architectural discourse

of past and also looking towards future through

new technologies, such as the Smithsonian insti-

tute and the British museum built later on.

REICHSTAG DOME, NEW GERMAN PARLIAMENTBERLIN, GERMANY, 1992-1999

BY Forster+Partner

3 CONCEPTUALISATION

FIG.2 REICHSTAG DOME (EXTERNAL)

CONCEPTUALISATION 4

FIG.3 REICHSTAG DOME (INTERNAL)

5 CONCEPTUALISATION

National Aquatics Centre, better known as “Wa-

ter Cube”, is one of the landmark buildings of Bei-

jing 2008 Olympic Games. This iridescent bubble

wrapped structure is designed and built by a group

of architects including PTW Architects (an Aus-

tralian  architecture firm), CSCEC (China State

Construction Engineering Corporation) etc. ,

located to the west of the other famous Olympics

venue --National Stadium (known as ‘bird‘s nest’).

The Water Cube is formed the structure from the

natural object – soap bubble translating into archi-

tectural form, which took the images from the wa-

ter and related the function as an aquatics centre.

It is also the first building built on “the soap bub-

ble” theory in the world. Considering to the entire

building environment and cultural background,

this cube shape can be symbolic to Chinese culture

and its relationship to the Bird’s Nest stadium has

created an iconic image of Beijing toward whole

world.

In addition, this amazing design outcome can

be considered as a team effort, which means

that the Chinese partners drew the traditional

idea from Chinese culture, which conceptual-

ized a square Earth and a round Heaven. Thus,

this has formed the central theme of this work,

while the cube represented earth and the circle

which means heaven represents by the stadium.

PTW architect group put forward the idea of

covering the ‘cube’ with bubbles, symbolizing

water. Therefore, it can be seen that this design

combines modern technologies with Chinese

traditional values, which has beautifully inter-

connected the past and present in architecture.

“The scheme met international standards for

competition, while maximizing social and eco-

nomic benefits. In addition to being an aquatic

competition venue for the game, the centre pro-

vides public multifunction leisure and fitness

facilities before and after the games.” By PTW

Architect

NATIONAL AQUATICS CENTRE (WATER CUBE)BEIJING, CHINA, 2008

BY PTW ARHITECTS, CSCEC ,CCDI AND ARUP

CONCEPTUALISATION 6

Not only is the design concept formed in a stun-

ning way, the technology is also an innovation,

which comprising a steel frame with the largest

ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) clad struc-

ture in world. This advanced membrane struc-

ture is formed by bubble-like cushions of all siz-

es, becoming the first large-scale public project

coated with the membrane. It has provided the

building better light transmission and good so-

lar and heat control compared to the traditional

glass. It has expanded the future possibility

for the architecture form and materiality.

Nowadays, the stadium has opened towards

the general public users for the leisure activi-

ties, and this impressive architecture not only

contributes to the ongoing architectural dis-

course, but also will bring renewed interest

from the citizens even after game as part of

the games’ legacy.

FIG.4 NATIONAL AQUATIC CENTRE AT NIGHT

7 CONCEPTUALISATION

FIG.5 SOAP-BUBBLE STRUCTURE, NATIONAL AQUATIC CENTRE (INTERIOR)

CONCEPTUALISATION 8

12 CONCEPTUALISATION

CONCEPTUALISATION 13

14 CONCEPTUALISATION

CONCEPTUALISATION 15

16 CONCEPTUALISATION

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CONCEPTUALISATION 17