Semester 2 2017 Studio 15

Machining Aesthetics Studio

Paul Loh, David Leggett & Daniel Prohasky
Studio 15

'Technology is the answer - but what was the question?'
Cedric Price

Studio Outline:

Studio 15 continues to question the future of making. This semester, we will examine digital fabrication and assembly of architectural envelope through its construction, manufacturing procedure and assembly protocols. Before we speculate, we will explore making at 1:1 scale through technology. We are interested in the perpetual ability of machine as system to generate iterative material output from which as architects, we can abstract and interpret as architectural envelopes; cladding, door, window, wall and roof. We invite you to radically re-imagine the fundamental language of architectural components.

This semester, we ask: How can technology facilitate social and climatic interaction of architectural envelope? Studio 15 will design an envelope to re-clad an existing building to explore social, cultural and its economic functionality. Working in teams, students will design an architectural intervention that has potential to be environmentally and socially responsive. Successful projects will develop strategies to deal with dynamic changes of events through material and/or technological media as well as articulating the relationship between ground and envelope.

Studio Leaders

PAUL LOH studied architecture at the University of Melbourne, the University of East London and the Architectural Association, UK. He is a registered Architect in the UK with over 15 year of experience in Australia, Malaysia and the UK. He is a founding partner of LLDS / Power to Make. Paul’s drawings and art objects have also being exhibited and represented at the Royal Academy, London as well as the London Design Festival and Frieze Art Fair, London. Paul has extensive research and expertise in digital design, craft and fabrication. He has taught at the Architectural Association and University of East London. Paul is Lecturer in Digital Architecture Design at the University of Melbourne and PhD Candidate at SIAL, RMIT.

DAVID LEGGETT is a registered architect in Victoria and in the UK. He studied architecture at the University of East London and the University of Westminster. He worked with Edward Cullinan Architects as Director for a period of over 10 years before establishing LLDS / Power to Make in 2011. His built projects have been widely published internationally. David has expertise in construction detailing, fabrication and assembly.

DANIEL PROHASKY is a PhD candidate in Aerospace Engineering/Architecture at SIAL RMIT – investigating the multimodal sensory fusion of the thermal environment, our thermoregulatory system and how we perceive our thermal state. Parallel focus in: advancements in construction technologies, digital fabrication, physical environmental sensing and experimentation, parametric algorithm development in: structures, thermal, daylighting simulations.

Learning Outcomes:

The studio is divided in two phases. The studio will commence with a series of intensive tooling workshops on Arduino and electronics. Phase 1 brief is to design a machine that fabricates or digitally assembles architecture. We will explore through precedent study as well as digital input and output procedures to design and make a machine (quasi or actual) that has potential to fabricate or assemble architectural components (parts or whole). This research will start to formulate your understanding building envelope in dealing with social, cultural and environmental concerns. By mid-semester, design teams will present their proposals of a prototypical cladding system.

In Phase 2, we will put your machine and/or digital assembly to the test. Working in teams, students will design a new facade envelop for The Nicholas Building on the corner of Swanston and Flinders Lane. Successful envelope designs will demonstrate environmental and social responsiveness using your fabricated parts or assembly methodology.

Physical models, axonometric drawings, plans, elevations and sections together with rendered images will be key deliverables. Each student will also submit their individual journal documenting and reflecting their design process. This studio requires students to be able to use Rhino and have a basic understanding of Grasshopper. Teamwork is compulsory and collaborative design will form part of studio assessment.

Reading and Reference:

Readings for our first day seminar is available on the studio blog site: http://powertomake.tumblr.com

Reading 2: Reichel, A.: 2011, Technology as system: towards an autopoietic theory of technology, Int. J. Innovation and Sustainable Development, Vol. 5, pp 105-118, Nos. 2/3

ST1/15 Monday 5:15pm - 8:15pm, MSD Room 448
ST2/15 Thursday 5:15pm - 8:15pm, MSD Room 448

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