STUDIO AIR JOURNAL

I am Siyu Li, and this is my third year in university, but only the start second year of studying architecture. Before I take this course, architecture for me is just part of the art discipline. However, as Richard William said in his article, that architecture is more than art and it is complex. Especially, when digital design tools have been involved into architecture industry since 1970th, the definition or explanation of architecture gets much more complex.

ABOUT ME

My experience of using digital design tool is few. I took a subject named Visual Communication last year has introduced Rhino to us. I had made some 3D cubes and some curves with the software, but I never went deep with it. From that experience, the digital design tool is only a tool that provides digital model and clearer drawings (refer to the experience with AutoCAD). The first attempt with Grasshopper changes my thought about digital design tools a little. The algorithm conception within Grasshopper program is both simple and complex. It is like a simple system which has input and output, but the presses that occur between two ends are complex. I wish I could learn more about Grasshopper, therefore have more sense about algorithm

DIGITAL TOOL EXPERIENCE

The topic we are dealing with this week is

“architecture as a discourse”. Architecture

is never simply one thing, but crosses many

different fields to become to something. Back to

the ancient time, architecture is just a thing with

4 basic elements: hearth, roof, enclosure and

roof. As our civilization developed, architecture

starts to relate to many other aspects. During

the Roman civilization, architecture starts to

showing power of the emperor, for example

the Triumphal Arch. If we look close to today,

architecture is significantly related to our urban

development, for example the urban sprawl

issue in Melbourne. Architecture is not just

about the building or design concept, but it

actually impacts the surrounding environment

and the society. As Richard Williams suggests in

his article that architecture is something in which

all can participate.

ARCHITECTURE AS A DISCOURSE

GALAXY SOHO

Zaha Hadid Architects

GALAXY SOHO

Zaha Hadid Architects

Zaha Hadid’s project Galaxy Soho in Beijing, China is an example of parametric design and it is also a project that explains architecture as discourse. It brought the idea of Chinese Courtyard, and develops an inside world that could be differentiate with the outside world. It takes the traditional Chinese architecture culture of being private, which is related to the local culture. The layers of the structure also refer to Chinese traditional terrace. Although, it is located in a urban context, it still brings some of the rural aspects of this particular country. And as it is a massive structure, it will impact the overview of the city.

GALAXY SOHO

Zaha Hadid Architects

MARINE AND FRESHWATER RESEARCH INSTITUTE

LYONS

Marine and Freshwater Research Institute is a good example of how building response to the natural environment and even become to part of it. The landscape of the site forms the roof of the building, and as a sustainable architecture, the special roof also acts as a thermal mass. In this case, architecture is not simple a building, but a form that embodies with a concept (sustainability). The building does not form by architect’s design concept, but it characterised by its function and responsibility.