design studio airsemester twoaaron lougoon 328159

contents: week one - architecture as discouse week two - computing in architecture

Oh, Hello there! If your reading this I take it you want to get to know me a bit better. So here it goes, my name is Aaron Lougoon and i’m doing design studio air. Some things about me: I like to cook, play sport and watch movies. I play hockey and am loving that the olympics are on because its one of the only chances you get to watch the Aussie hockeys teams go at it! This is my first semester of my environments degree but I have previously finished a science degree. Why the change? Well its just something ive always occupied the idea of doing (having

done some work experience at an architecture firm during school and then choosing predominantly design based breadth subjects during my science degree). I found that those design subjects were just as engaging as the anatomy and physiology subjects I was also doing. Even from a young age I guess I always loved making things, whether that was playing with lego or creating bush shelters with friends.Getting back to the now, the most recent designing subject ive done was Virtual Environments that took us through the process of choosing a natural process

and abstracting it though a digital means and then constructing it with the help of plugings to Rhino (to help with the nothcing of the paper/card construction).

week one:architecture as discourse

My design was based around embroyonic development of cells multiplying and growing. This was conveyed both by the increasing size and number of interior rings of the balls. I think it was reasonably successful for its purpose. So, up until the start of this year I had had very little interaction with computer based design and it was through this subject that we were introduced to a range of different examples and applications of digital architecture. The main guide I gained from this means of design, was that when combind with

model making is one of the greatest tools for learning about a project and expanding and improving upon it. That process of designing, making, improving, making again was done on a lesser degree in that subject but the idea of how well it works with computer design really stuck with me.It was also around this time that I saw the documentary Sketches for Frank Gehry and it just sort of reinstated how important that process can be, no matter how experienced you are.

Favourite buildings are always fun to talk about but on the same hand deciding on more then one was difficult. Firstly i’ll talk about the one that took some time to come up with. Im not sure whether it actually is my second favourite building but since seeing it ive always been intrigued. The Manadnock building in Chicago was one of the early skyscrapers in the US. In terms of standard conventions

and precedents there was very little, so in that sense it was part of the modern movement. However, with Daniel Burnham as one of the architects, its no real surprisethat it still holds some classical values, allbut subtly displayed. I think it was this subtleness that I was really drawn to, its slightly tapered base and abstract flared cornice add to the effect that it could be a giant column if it wasnt for all the bay windows. Another thing that really stands this building out is the colour, when considering what was to follow is also really rare (1893 Worlds Columbian Exposition and the “White City”, also framed by Burnham among others). Its seems to me that it was part of a one step forward ten steps back process (it being the one step forward). I feel that, that colour really does add to the monoloithic presense of the building.

One of the last giant brick structures to reach for the sky. Its magnificent!

Ever since I saw this next building, I was always facinated by it and as cliche a favourite building comes this ones it. Falling Water or the Kauffman House in Bear Run has forever been amongst lists of the greatest buildings ever designed but my reasons were a bit more simple.I like it because it looks cool, not only is it situated on a flowing creek but its cantilevered out over it too. It wasnt until I actually looked into more of Frank Llyod Wrights work and what was happening else where at the time that it really becomes a bit more significant.

He was a master of siting a building and understanding the environment, both built and natural. I think thats what makes this incredible, creating a grace on this particular landscape. Something fitting such a pristine and natural space while also creating a path that emcompasses fantastic views. Another reason I love this building is because of him, who better to create this then the crazy man himself. Confidence is an understatment when considering the engineering prowess of this build and the hangover of the floors. This building was also quite distant from the utopian dream he was also trying to create during the tough economic middle war years. On one hand economical

minded builds compared to this, which even in 1936 was super expensive. Quite happy to paralell those projects.

week two:computing in architecture

Designers and computers have been working together for decades. Mostly though it has been as another method of showing a design.Computers are superb anaylitical machines that just are not being used to their full potential. Computational design encompasses more then just transfering designs into the digital realm. It also gives us the opportunity to create and build more abstract forms from our thoughts. As opposed to computer aided design, its more then just a tool and can actually help in the means of design by using mathematical information to generate possible new forms or solutions to problems. This age of Information is chaging the way

we think about all aspects of buildings; from conception to constrcuction and sustainability and the impacts on the environment. Through these digital technologies there is scope for greater holistic integration of the process from conception to production to living. When we think of iconic shapes that are defining this age we need not look furhter the in front of us most of the time; our phones, ipods, computers, cars etc all are a part of the this smooth architectural/design discourse. As a part of the digital conituum there is now more expanded exploration in architectureand these links can help in the speed of the entire process as this digital design information is essenitally the construction information (as shown in the ship building industry where there is no drawings anymore, just 3D digital models). Buildings have this same potenitally.

Although there are a range of computational design techniques this one seems unique. Dynamic architectural design takes its roots from the effect not only the outside forces imposed on an object but also its own forces of mass, elasticity etc. It take into account variations in wind, it tracks the sun as well as urban movement of cars and pedestrians and the patterns they create over time. Greg Lynn quote...

I think Santiago Calatravas Quadracci Gallery at the Milwaukee Arts Museum is an exceptional example of this dynamic approach. Coming across the bridge highlights the journey approach to reach the centre, a way of controlling the path of people and designing appropriately. The location is also a big factor in the workings of this building. The most noticeble feature, the giant wings, open out during the day and close during the night and bad weather to shelter the space. The wings, when open, form the shape of birds with its off put straight steel members, which work just as well when down to fit to the flat surface of the gallery facade. This illusion then draws your eye out to the sky (from behind) and out to the port for which the area is most well known. However it looks like it does take some inspiratin from Eero Saarinens TWA flight terminal in its approach to its outer most curving boundaries.