and its all over

tectonic pleasure

tectonic plate with hydraulic arms below, and the aeroponic hair system. working on my building sections still. i dislike this 'CAD' program immensley. thank god for a double dose of match of the day this weekend, will keep me going!

the skin

time to add units

main structure is done...

run for your lives the structure is comming!...

the manifestation of le buff.

the buffer zone yesterday... it has changed slightly since, but the expression is the same. oh btw my max file is 150mb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 100mb of which is purley the hairs!

Recycled Waste Concrete

Recycled Waste Concrete Video Clip
Just a quick clip showing what its all about

http://www.csiro.au/files/files/p2se.asx

Richard mega structure Saunders

Structural madness, im behind but its getting there

Vertical farms - again, more, better…

As posted to metametric - but you may have missed it...

I am rather unsure that farmers, even vertical ones will wear white coats, but still…
Vertical farming gets more publicity….from New York Magazine

Urban farming has always been a slightly
quixotic endeavor. From the small animal farm that was perched on the
roof of the Upper West Side’s Ansonia apartment building in the early
1900s (fresh eggs delivered by bellhop!) to community gardens
threatened by real-estate development, the dream of preserving a little
of the country in the city is a utopian one. But nobody has ever
dreamed as big as Dr. Dickson Despommier, a professor of environmental
sciences and microbiology at Columbia University, who believes that
“vertical farm” skyscrapers could help fight global warming.

linkoid to New York magazine article

link to vertical farm home

Vertical farms - again, more, better…

As posted to metametric - but you may have missed it...

I am rather unsure that farmers, even vertical ones will wear white coats, but still…
Vertical farming gets more publicity….from New York Magazine

Urban farming has always been a slightly
quixotic endeavor. From the small animal farm that was perched on the
roof of the Upper West Side’s Ansonia apartment building in the early
1900s (fresh eggs delivered by bellhop!) to community gardens
threatened by real-estate development, the dream of preserving a little
of the country in the city is a utopian one. But nobody has ever
dreamed as big as Dr. Dickson Despommier, a professor of environmental
sciences and microbiology at Columbia University, who believes that
“vertical farm” skyscrapers could help fight global warming.

linkoid to New York magazine article

link to vertical farm home

fur

fur is sooo easy on maya.....max sucks

how nuts is your architect(ure)

Maybe one particularly for Richard 'megastructure' Saunders - from World Architecture News.

Far East Organization, Singapore’s largest private development company, has commissioned the Office for Metropolitan Architecture for OMA’s first architectural project in Singapore – a 36-storey residential high-rise. The 153 meter tall tower will be located at the intersection of Scotts Road and Cairnhill Road, in close proximity to Orchard Road, Singapore’s famous shopping and lifestyle street. With 20,000m² of built floor area, the building will provide 68 high-end apartment units with panoramic views. The design strategically maneuvers within the highly regulated building environment to maximize the full potential of the site: Four individual apartment towers are vertically offset from one another and suspended from a central core. The skyline of floating towers directly relates to the surrounding building volumes and explores the most attractive views towards the city center and an extensive green zone to the north. The lifted apartment towers reduce the building’s footprint to a minimum; the liberated ground level provides communal leisure activities embedded in the tropical landscape. “We are thrilled with the opportunity to create an outstanding project in partnership with OMA. The design reflects the new vibrancy and vitality of Orchard Road and Singapore. OMA with its extensive international experience will certainly bring a new perspective to luxury urban living and add to the cosmopolitan flavor of our development,” says Far East Organization Chief Operating Officer, Property Sales, Chia Boon Kuah. “The collaboration with the Far East Organization is an exciting opportunity to further engage Asia,” says Ole Scheeren, Partner of OMA. "The design vertically redistributes the floor area in four alternating towers to create a skyscraper in which architectural and urbanistic concerns merge with mechanisms that create added value. The architecture, in this sense, goes beyond form and generates symbiotic qualities”.

Stop Press
Clarification from OMA - The Singapore tower is a design by OMA Partner Ole Scheeren. Unlike most architecture firms we are a collaborative office which works as a Partnership, Singapore Scotts Towers is by Ole Scheeren.

link

Online Review

A rough brief with new industrial aspect idea. Following through to model images and then design ideas.

The final image shows the pods and pavilions roughly on the site with blocks for the idea of an entrance area and the industrial side with a shop and composting area. I couldnt add any maya because it kept becoming unstable.

Interim crit...

3 projectors are better than one. I should koko..

Everything from sustainability to sea monkeys, tidal patterns to tuna. An informative talk given by all

interactive screen

As posted to Metametric - nice...
link

The Models

The model is under ways and the finishing work will be done this week, lets contribute our efforts to the phyisical model this week. perspects at ukc is 50 pounds so it is best that we buy it from the place we got it before. hope to see every one in today or tomorow with lots of enthusiasm and money.

the prophet of garbage

plasma technology... another way to get rid of your 'diapers to chemical weapons' with a self sustaining 'garbage eater' with safe byproducts, why is there such a slow uptake of these developments!!!

linkage
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/873aae7bf86c0110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

A limber future?

metal rubber... ?? thats what i thought... check this out and just imagine the possibilities!
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/f30c0b4511b84010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

shape shifting aircraft

"New “morphing” technology promises adroit aircraft that reshape themselves, bird-like, in flight. University and industry researchers funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and others are experimenting with wings and helicopter rotors that fold, shrink, extend, tilt, and twist in flight. "

Sounds to me like this has architectural implications also - shading systems, airflows, ventilation etc...

linkoid

hey finally worked out how to post things, thanx guys for 'not' helping, lol. I got a couple of websites based around recycling if it helps in anyway.

http://www.greatgreengoods.com/category/uncategorized/

http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/recycle/main/english/3r_policy/overview.html

http://www.greensteps.co.uk/view/menu.do?id=1

http://www.ecobuild.co.uk

http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk/

http://www.architectureweek.com/2004/0811/building_1-1.html

Grimshaw

The grimshaw website has info on both the eden project and eco-rainforest which i thought may be of interest. The eco-rainforest is a mix between eden and a waste disposal plant. They come under projects, science and education once you are in the site. http://www.grimshaw-architects.com/grimshaw/launcher.html?in_projectid=

BBC Climate change report

Collection of trinkets from BBCs TV series.. some useful.. more worrying. Buy wellies click here

aeroponics, microgravity and weed growers

Progressive plant growing in space. Aeroponics tested on board the MIR space station

http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2006/er_2.html

link to http://www.aeroponics.com/home.htm selling you aeroponic systems at affordable prices! presumably for those sustainable weed growers outhere... contains images of aeroponics in action!

Concise demographic statistics for all

click here

or here

Kenneth's very own food stat malarcky pdf

Richard my boy dont be contesting the REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAL issues here... food stats. They keep you on your toes at 2.19. see you dont crash at 4.01, and great you with warming embrace at 10.14 when you are risen from your slumber by the rest of us who have been up for 2 hours already. Love 'em.

global urbanisation

Here are a few website concerning globalisation statistics etc.

www.unhabitat.org
www.stat.go.jp
www.census.gov
www.oja-services.nl
www.earthtrends.wri.org
www.eia.doe.gov

Site model the really really really really really really real issue...

if you can't see the time, its 4:01am monday morning...

still working on the site model... havnt put the final thing into 3dmax yet... hopefully will have done by john's tutorial... wish us luck! oh and if you have any red bull or some other caffiene fueled drug lying about pop it round!

GROUP MEETING monday 10.00AM

Hello All,
This is an image of Zaha Hadid's proposed new building in the U.A.E. Looks to me like a Lindenmayer system may be involved in the morphology - tutorials may be available for L-systems in Maya if enough people are interested...
Anyhow - glad to see the work is progressing.

I would like to see everyone at 10.00 tomorrow for a general meeting.

Please ensure all know by ringing round if possible.
J

link to Abu Dhabi proposals

Urban Curators

BoingBoing Has a post about this group - I thought it worth the re-post as we have a site which is and abuts derelict parts of the city - perhaps these techniques could be imported/adapted for urban analysis - particularisation of the overlooked and underloved...
From their site: The goal of the Urban Curators project is to engage the public in the celebration of the decaying urban environment, recognizing its inherent aesthetic qualities as well as the important role that it plays within our cultural habitat. The project achieves its goal by elevating common, overlooked objects and spaces within the city of Providence, Rhode Island to the level of high art.
link

Building Massing

The building massing blocks are coming along well. I have a huge pile of them however i have run out of the acrylic block to make more. Plus i also need more heights and an exact size and location of the site we are using for the model. Would be useful to have all on monday to be able to do some more.

friday night

rich and CAD working merrily...

sombrero, CAD and i working merrily...

tea running dry...

getting late...

still goin strong!

ho, ho, ho whats this?? is this max i see before my eyes???... yes but let not thee be excited, for this is just a test!

GRL in Rotterdam

This is a really interesting take on ephemeral urbanism, IMHO.

Communique from the GRL

"Last night @ 2200 hours, the GRL laser-tag system went online and fully operational. The laser tag system status is GO and we are calling all writers in the Netherlands to please report to Rotterdam most riki-tik for training and deployment. The GRL will be turning over control of the system to writers, protesters, artists and the citizens of Rotterdam from the 7th to the 10th of February, starting each night around 1600 hours at the KPN building in Rotterdam. If you’ve ever wanted to catch a 20-story high tag with a laser beam, WE WANT YOU "

linkoid

images

http://river-lea.co.uk/2000s/bowcreek/bowcreek01.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/iantindale/sets/72157594180264371/

a couple of useful websites for extra images

Flooding

Images of Flooding in the area

systems theory

This is a heads up for all you theorists - we will be employing systems theory in all aspects of the CDP. Check Wikipedia for initial points of entry - then get reading/thinking/discussing ready for immanent seminar....

The systems view is a world-view that is based on the discipline of SYSTEM INQUIRY, Central to systems inquiry is the concept of SYSTEM. In the most general sense, system means a configuration of parts connected and joined together by a web of relationships. The Primer group defines system as a family of relationships among the members acting as a whole. Bertalanffy defined system as "elements in standing relationship.

The joining and integrating of the web of relationships creates EMERGENT PROPERTIES of the whole. These properties of the whole may not be found in any analysis of the parts. This is the VALUE of systems theory. the WHOLENESS that can't be seen in the parts.

SYSTEMS INQUIRY is a system itself. As a conceptual system, it has four interrelated and internally consistent aspects acting as a whole: systems PHILOSOPHY, systems THEORY, systems METHODOLOGY and systems APPLICATION. Furthermore, systems inquiry embraces two kinds of disciplined inquiry; its conclusion-orientated inquiry mode PRODUCES systems knowledge, its decision orientated inquiry mode APPLIES systems knowledge to the formulation and selection of systems methods that address real-world situations.

sounds like architecture, no?

get on it....

I said it was a f***in' swamp.

true

bding ding dum etc

gee whiz kids, i sure hope you all are working BECAUSE I AM.....slightly pissed off...need a drink....

no, no happy as a clam really...

Friday night in front of 2 computers and a mountain of pain - i think i'm going to start writing country music

or not

monday had better be sunny...

meanwhile here is some philosophy...or sociology or something...I particularly agree with the Baudrillard condensation, for what its worth.

Cabinet Orifice Report: Waste and stuff

Waste psychology: What gets us all narced orf when it comes to sorting plastics. High end reading click here

Environment Agency Report

Flooding assesment in Lea Valley. The really really real issue. click here

Generative Elements- analogue procedures

Time to get busy, everyone - here is the first exercise in the project proper - lots to do, so I thought I would post it here. This is pretty straightforward - just follow the instructions and attend the tutorials - I am assuming you all want to do incredibly well, so you can start as soon as you like. I expect to see everyone with at least some ideas on how they will proceed on Monday morning - ideally you will have work in progress. BTW, the images are not to be taken as literal guides to what is required, they are stages of an AA thesis project which embodies some of the aspirations I have for this phase of the work. Your initial constructs should preferably be relatively simple, to allow for systematic analysis and development. Don't worry - just do it.

life - what life?...enjoy this instead!
J

This brief is and all subsequent briefs will be available as downloadable pdfs from metametric.net

Generative Elements

In this set of operations and elaborations you will develop an aspect of your project outside the envelope of programmatic speculation, which will inflect the organisation of your emergent design from a material–morphogenic axis. You will undertake the development of a material system which will be elaborated and tested in a series of exercises which are to be extrinsic to but parallel with the development of the functional brief for your project.

Both the physical–analogue and digital-analogue phases of the work will be conducted rigorously and to the highest standard.

Each stage of the work must be comprehensively documented and formatted to professional quality.

You will produce all paper based work at A2 size, landscape format outputted through InDesign. Each stage of the process should be documented photographically, with video as necessary. Photographs will be made under controlled lighting and environmental conditions to avoid extraneous information in shot - use backdrops!

The Task

At a convenient size - preferably no larger than 600mm on the longest side, construct a minimum of 3 material instruments; choose no more than 2 materials , which may include, but are not limited to:

wire
plastic rod or sheet
timber
latex or other elastic material
paper


Choose 1 method of assembly, which may include, but is not limited to:

bundling
weaving
cutting
folding

Definition

The Material instrument will be defined as the systematic organisation of a chosen set of materials to form a scaleless construction. The material instrument is an analogue through which morphogenic strategies can be developed. It is not a model, it is a constructed system with dynamic and formal properties with respect to imposed criteria.

You must, therefore choose to combine materials and assembly technique in such a manner as to produce a construction which may or may not be self supporting, but which can be analysed as a component within a possible, though as yet untheorised system. Folded, slotted, bundled or woven constructs are all suitable, cutting slots, bending elements, flexing or stretching materials are all appropriate to consider. Try to define through making, the beginnings of a performance through testing the constructs as you make them - evaluate and present as many as you feel appropriate over the minimum of 3. Components may contain a single repeated element or 2 complementary or antagonistic materials. Consider terms such as flex, opening, density, extension in your project development.

Operations

the material instrument will be interrogated through:

stage 1

light
air movement
imposed load

stage 2

digital translation
dynamics, soft bodies, rigid bodies

stage 3

repetition: self similarity
iterative deformation: gradual change

environmental responsiveness 2

light
air movement
imposed load

Timetable

construct material instruments, conduct environmental testing and record/layout table presentation for seminar discussion
19/02 10.00 - 13.00

attend digital translation class 1
19/02 14.00 - 17.00

develop digital models for interim tutorial discussion
22/02 10.00 - 12.00

present finished stage 1 digital models and experimental data for review
26/02 10.00

attend digital translation class 2
26/02 14.00 - 17.00

develop digital models for interim tutorial discussion
01/03 10.00 - 12.00

final public review of all material with invited guests tba
05/03 10.00

Reading list
Corporate Fields: New Office Environments by the AA DRL Ed B Steele
Techniques and Technologies in Morphogenetic Design (Architectural Design) Ed M Hensel
more to follow.

images from Dae Song Lee
AA dip4 06

This is absolutely essential.

I met Wes Jones with his then partner Paul Holt in, I think, 1990 - I was still a diploma student, they were charming and erudite. I had admired the set of architects brought together in Pamphlet Architecture 5, Denari, HHPJ, KK - you can look up the issue, get the full info - what I need to let you know is that I felt/feel Mr Jones was/is the most acutely perceptive and intellectually engaging member of that set of machinophilic designers which were such a relief for me and many others from either the confused grid kids or the achingly self conscious post lit-crit fashionistas - always remember, my friends, Mark Wigley is a Kiwi - and ponder what that may mean to early decon theory... anyhow, for your delectation, I offer a snippet from the old JPA site - sadly they have since embraced flash - and I hope some kind soul gently nudges them toward web2 sometime soon - HOWEVER this is IMHO still some of the smartest material you are likely to find - so, if you give it a bit of time, it can only be good for you. I am a real fan of this practice - go see.

"...Design, or at least critical design, which is architecture's entry in the culture-fashion stakes, is also dependent on the logic and imprimatur of the new. In design's case its identity-and value, which, in the signature design realm is the same thing-is entirely bound up in being seen as the next big thing. Rather than strive towards the epitome of any tradition or established practice, the best design is expected only to break new ground, where it may remain safe from critique as long as it can avoid attributions of ancestry...."

from jpa old site