How has Gehry’s architecture evolved in the IAC building?

IAC Building, Frank Ghery, NYC.

http://www.arcspace.com/camera/mayer/ica/ica.html

As we all know, Frank Ghery is on of those architects who makes the most out of experimenting with new technologies, models and 3d fabrication as well as 1:1 models of façade sections, and mockups. In this way, we are able to say that his buildings are in the edge of exploiting technology in order to explore new materials, new shapes and more complex structural solutions. Gehry is so into digital technologies that he owns a company called “Gehry Technologies”, http://www.gehrytechnologies.com/index.html, devoted to the production, solution and execution of Ghery’s projects, as well as anybody else’s.

The tilted position of the columns make of this building a breakthrough in the design of Ghery’s buildings. In the beginning Ghery’s proposals where only about the evolvement façade, this is a complete evolution since the internal structure responds to the external shape, the unusual shape of the skeleton was solved by the use of reinforced concrete. It became more than merely a scenic façade. What makes this building more interesting, is that all the formal part of the design, became a result of a number of plastic studies, many created directly through the help of technology, which evolved into a structural façade that would have been much more expensive and very hard to solve without the help of these technologies, making the geometry, very complex, every panel in the façade was resolved in a different size.

Artificial Trees Post-1.1

Dynamics & flux of the edios (εἶδος)

Many traditional boundaries are blurred through the information-technologies. Several notions like: space and time; the global and the local; the here and now; and national and international identities,... are constantly redefined through the complex, layered surface that emerges from the structure provided by telecommunications. The media technologies are producing this at such fast rate that we're almost unable to catch up with it. Media is obsessed with speed, to the point that barely ten years ago we were talking of Kilobytes, and now we're dealing with Terabytes. This speed, and blurred boundaries are developing also a contextualized consciousness about the form—form in the digital age.—

Plato wrote about how un-real are the forms that our eyes can see —the world of the changing physical objects—, because they are just a shadow of the idea(eidos)—which he described as the light of the truth... the world of unchanging ideas —. In the other hand Jean Baudrillard introduced the logic of the symbolic exchange; the simulation of the whole reality as a characteristic of the contemporary society—or maybe [the copy/paste culture], always emergent culture— this two ideas of the form have in common the comprehension that the human mind is always misunderstanding something about the relation between the container, the content, and obviously the symbol(ic) meaning of the objects. … also in architecture.

Exploring the idea of complex geometries in the digital age necessarily looks after this misunderstanding; this is just to blur the boundaries and think of the object, the shape, the content and the meaning as a unit that is in a constant flux inside, but always realizing that the architecture is for people, human beings which have needs; walk in order the move from one place to another; are affected by gravity and have two eyes palced infront of the face—the human is not a fly.—

Nevertheless, The first approach to a building must be the visual way; the skin of the buildings —sometimes misunderstood as a simply facade, the "exterior geometry of the building".— This can not be considered only as a fluid container of space and communicator of meanings. The skin as its name tells so, embraces the homeostatic function [of biological bodies] of controlling the vital interchanging links that carries dynamic energy systems throughout the building and with its environment, modifying the traditional conception of envelope into a-complex-and-living-organism. Even the idea of skin is as old as the conscience of its importance in bodies; it’s just recently that the easy access to advanced construction technology and powerful digital design methodologies allows the integration of complex geometries in building envelopes (skins).

A clear example of these notions can be seen in Toyo Ito's Sendai Mediatheque (2001). He thought of it as an extremely fluid space, in which the different levels of program may co-exist. For instance, the ground floor can be accessed from all sides, and its façade (skin), containing a double sheet of glass with computer-controlled openings to work exactly as a skin does to respond to the environment. Also, The first floor, composed of a children's library, periodicals, Internet stations and administrative offices, is divided by a simple membrane, a fluid translucent curtain (also an inside skin). Lightness and fluidity is a constant in the building, which Ito thought of it as a space without barriers that leaves plenty of room for the ephemeral, maybe a place for the virtual inhabitants of invisible cities.

[GO TO:Maite Bravo blog]
[GO TO:Javier Raya blog]
[GO TO:Luis Odiaga blog]

Variable Dynamic Spaces

Project: E-Motive House (2002)
Office: ONL (Rotterdam)
Client: ONL Research Work





ONL is an architectural office, based in Rotterdam-Holland(1990), created by Kas Oosterhuis and Ilona Lenard. Kas Oosterhuis works as a professor for Architectural Design and Design Methods at the Delft University of Technology and he is the director of the Hyperbody Research Group. Ilona Lenard is a certified actress and sculptor.
The office combines visionary design strategies with super knowledge of innovative mass customs production methods, allowing the construction of geometrically complex architecture.
The E-Motive House is a research project, experimenting on interacting spaces. Its form is a long movable space with two solid blocks on both ends. The space in between, changes its shape and content, depending on the weather and the movement of its inhabitants, therefore changing the geometry and developing its own emotion.
Its structure is a weaving loom, between hard and soft structure, consisting of wooden beams on one hand and long shaped inflatable chambers on the other. The interaction of these two structures is based on the game development program Virtools, and the reaction of this space will always be different as a result of complex consideration between various factors.
At the end the E-Motive House experience, gives to the inhabitants a feeling of a real time interaction, like learning to live in an environment with an own mind.

Book Refernce: ONL Hyperbody Logic

Free contributions about Digital Architecture

Answering to some suggestions made in the last class , the blog is open for free contributions (not subject to evaluation) about topics directly related with the use of digital technologies in architecture. In order to be properly organized and identified, they should be labeled (for now) just as Digital Architecture.

Instructions for Publication

_ Title
Be specific in naming your post - it should reveal how your subject is different than the others.
_Text
Size: 200-300 words
Integrate in the text some links to external sites relevant to your publication.
Keep the text appearance simple - use font type and size by default, to assure a certain style coherence among all the contributions.
In case you need, default font type is "VERDANA" and size is "NORMAL".
_Formatting Images
Format: “.jpg” or “.gif”
Size: adjust the largest size to 1200-1600 pixels.
Each post has 1 image, and it can be a single picture or a composition of several one, joined in a single file.
When posting, select “None” in format, and “Large” in size.
The image should then appear in the beginning of the post and, once it is published, it should enlarge when you click on it.
Don't forget write image credits and sources.
_Labels
Don't forget to add labels to your post.
For the assigments, they should be your group number (ie: G32) and the work assignment (ie: BA1: Complex Geometries). Please do not add new ones.

QUESTIONARY

Powered by Wufoo

BLOG ASSIGNMENT

Description
Specifically created to support the Seminar, the blog "iaac-digitalarchitecture.blogspot.com" is a virtual space that intends to gather the students and faculty around the topic of "Digital Technologies in Architecture". During this term, a research topic will be launched in each class with the purpose of challenging the student's groups to look for specific related information on the web, and illustrate it in a post submitted to the blog. As a result, the whole set of contributions will document multiple perspectives on the research topic, building and information depository that will expand the scope of the class discussions.

Instructions & Rules
• posts are group contributions representing a critical perspective of the research topic launched in the class;
• each publication must include 1 Image (in the beggining), followed by a Text (200-300 words) with Links to other sites.
• The overall size of the image should be around 1000 pixels / side. When inserting it in the post, select "None" in "Layout", and "Large Size" in "Image Size".
• all the posts must be submitted before the following class;
• groups cannot repeat topics; subjects must be different from the ones already posted;
• delayed submissions will receive a lower grade;

Recommendations
• Every topic can be analysed from different perspectives. Groups should choose a single point of view and use it to address the theme, describing your reflections/analysis using synthetic comments, critical links to other related sites, and an appealing image;
• The image may be made out of a set of pictures;
• Students are encouraged to post their contribution as soon as possible, to avoid having their theme used by others.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Research Topics

Complex Geometry
Launched: Oct. 8 / DueDate: Oct.19

(Re)Inventing Materiality

Launched: Oct. 22 / DueDate: Oct.2

_

Mass-Customization / Non-Standardization

Launched: Oct. 5 / DueDate: Oct.16

.

_

INTRODUCTION

Since the eighties, the dissemination of the computer started to affect the practice of architecture in many ways. From the automated production of drawings and virtual simulation to the more recent computer-based design techniques, the fascination with the power of the digital media lead architects to the exploration of alternative conceptual and material strategies. In a more advanced level, architects began to consider digital design processes that embraced variation and adaptation (i.e. parametric, generative, evolutionary…) while recurring to digital fabrication processes (CNC machines) to materialize them.Today, following the example of other areas, the integrated use of CAD/CAE/CAM processes are progressively employed in building industry, defying new production possibilities in architecture, at the conceptual, material and performative levels. Almost all buildings that are culturally relevant in contemporary architecture scene, involve in many stages of their development process, the use of advanced computational processes that are not exclusively committed to representation and communication tasks. Crossing different scales and programmatic requirements, buildings like the Walt Disney Concert Hall by Frank Gehry, the skyscraper Swiss Re by Norman Foster in London or the small Serpentine Pavillion by Alvaro Siza clearly illustrate this condition.

CONTENTS

In this context, the research Seminar in “Digital Technologies in Architecture: Principles and Applications.” (DTA) aims to produce a critical refl ection about the current state of digital technologies applications in architecture. Presenting and discussing a specific theme, each class session illustrates and analyses a set of key-concepts and principles to evaluate the actual impact of computation in the theory and practice of architecture.

The classes of the Seminar DTA are organized around the following topics:
• Introduction to Digital Technologies in Architecture;
• Convergence and Non-Linearity in the Digital Process;
• Digital Tectonics. (Re) Inventing Materiality;
• From Standardization to (Digital) Customization;
• Designing and Building the Virtual;
• Calculated Freedom: The Frank Gehry’s Process;
• Digital Technologies in Research and Education;
• New Processes; New Architecture?

Each class starts with the presentation of a theme in a lecture format, followed by the participation of the students in on-going discussion. The second part of the class is dedicated to support the development of the blog assigment and the final research paper.

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this course, students are expected to:
• frame the emergence of new architectural opportunities allowed by digital technologies within the history ofrepresentation processes, and the traditions of design and construction in architecture;
• be familiar with the main principles and taxonomies behind the new design, engineering and manufacturingtechnologies;
• formulate critical arguments when they evaluate or discuss computing applications in contemporary architecture,as well as future tendencies (technological, methodological, theoretical, productive…) in the field.

EVALUATION

Evaluation will be based on:
• student attendance and active participation in the class discussions;
• blog assignment (bi-weekly contributions)
• production of a research paper, delivered and presented to the class by the end of the term.

CALENDAR

The classes will take place at IAAC on Mondays (16-20pm), every 2 weeks. The scheduled days are the following:
• October, 8

_ Introduction + Lecture 01 + BA1 Presentation + RP Presentation
• October, 22

_ Lecture 02/03 + BA1 Discussion + BA2 Presentation
• November, 5

_ Lecture 04/05 + BA2 Discussion + BA3 Presentation + RP Discussion
• November, 19

_ Lecture 06/07 + BA3 Discussion + BA4 Presentation
• December, 3

_ Lecture 07/08 + BA4 Discussion + RP Discussion
• December, 17

_ Final Presentation

BA: Blog Assignment / RP: Research Paper

REFERENCES (Selection)

Abel, C. (2004)
_Architecture, Technology and Process, Architectural Press, Burlington MA.
Addis, B. (2007)
_Building: 3000 Years of Design, Engineering and Construction, Phaidon, London.
Addington, M., and Schodek, D. (2005)
_Smart Materials and Technologies. Elsevier, Oxford.
Beim, A. (2004)
_Tectonic Visions in Architecture. Kunstakademiets, Copenhagen.
Braham, W.W., and Hale, J.A. (2007)
_Rethinking Technology. A Reader in Architectural Theory, Routledge, London.
Callicot, N. (2001)
_Computer-Aided Manufacture in Architecture, Architectural Press, Oxford.
Chazdar, A., ed. (2006)
_Blurring the Lines, Wiley, West Sussex.
Eisenman, P. (1992)
_“Visions Unfolding: Architecture in the Age of Electronic Media.”, in DOMUS 734 (pp. 17-21).
Forester, T., ed. (1988)
_The Materials Revolution., MIT Press, Cambridge MA.
Forester, T. (1990)
_High-Tech Society, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
Kalay, Y. E. (2004)
_Architecture’s New Media. MIT Press, Cambridge MA.
Kolarevic, B., ed. (2003)
_Architecture in the Digital Age. Design and Manufacturing. Spon Press, New York.
Kolarevic, B., and Malkawi, A.M., ed. (2005)
_Performative Architecture. Beyond Instrumentality. Spon Press, New York.
Lally, S. and Young, J. (2007)
_Softspace. From a Representation of Form to a Simulation of Space, Routledge, London.
Leach, N., Turnbull, D. and Williams, C., Eds. (2002)
_Designing for a Digital World, Wiley-Academy, West Sussex UK.
Leach, N., Turnbull, D. and Williams, C., Eds. (2004)
_Digital Tectonics, Wiley-Academy, West Sussex UK.
Mitchell, W. J. (2001)
_“Roll Over Euclid: How Frank Gehry Designs and Builds.”, in J. Fiona Ragheb, ed., Frank Gehry, Architect. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York.
Mori, T., Ed. (2002)
_Immaterial / Ultramaterial, George Brazillier Inc., New York.
Levy, P. (2001)
_O que é o Virtual?, Quarteto Editora, Coimbra.
Pine, J. (1993)
_Mass Customization, Harvard Business School Press, Cambridge MA.
Schodek, D., Bechthold, M., Griggs, K., Kao, K., Steinberg, M. (2005)
_Digital Design and Manufacturing. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken NJ.
Terzidis, K. (2006)
_Algorithmic Architecture, Elsevier, Burlington MA.
Vitruvius (1960)
_The Ten Books of Architecture, Dover Publications, Mineola NY.