Monday, October 31, 2005

Design Procedure & Management

Should ideas come through a fix process, through a formal analytical format?
I found
something interesting today.
There is a simple definition on project:-
Anything consisting activities that has a start and an end is a
project.
When there is a project, there involve, cost, time and quality control. Therefore it requires management.
It is very important to understand and to form a procedure in architectural management.
Learning is always through a scientific way of thoughts.
At the initial stage, we should be empowered with an analytical method of thinking then we evolve our own way of thinking, our own way of creating form and space. It is about methodology. How you think actually affects the result, the product. The design product actually reflects the methodology as well.
Simple example: - "the paper architecture". When paper is used to create models, the form and space created shall be emphasizing on planes, space cutting, formation of space are through organization of planes. Then we uses lines, dots to create a system, a language, tending to communicate, to tell, to convey messages, to reflect cultures, even towards simpler construction method, to have lower cost consumption, to gain esthetic purposes. Design complexity is reduced through methodology. "Paper architecture" is a methodology that can form international standards like what Mies had done. Paper modeling is actually a way to generate space and ideas as well.
However, is there possibility of "computerizing your method of thinking".
I do agree that sketching makes faster process and design progress. But people are developing so fast in the pace of technology that we are now more dependant on computers and software’s.
Every student now have to learn 3dmax, vectorworks, archicad or bentley microsoft station, sketchup or any 3d programs for 3d computer generating purposes. Or at least China's student is being trained in such process.
Revit, another powerful software that actually generates 3d, 2d, in a platform incorporating with schedules, facts and figures as well~!
Is it difficult for people to change their mind into computerizing design process?
In conclusion, 2 ways I experienced of designing a building, through 2d/3d sketching, through paper modeling, there should be another one evolving which is 3d revit or archicad fully computer generated design. Computerized design method shall make complex form and space yet backup with facts and figures as well.
I think you architects better learn something in computers before you are being evaporated. And of course, people who are equipped with various abilities shall survive easily. Happy learning!

Minimalism

One of the defination from found in google:-"(art movement) Minimal Art emerged as a movement in the 1950s and continued through the Sixties and Seventies. It is a term used to describe paintings and sculpture that thrive on simplicity in both content and form, and seek to remove any sign of personal expressivity. The aim of Minimalism is to allow the viewer to experience the work more intensely without the distractions of composition, theme and so on." more to read...
Minimalism: A Selective Bibliography
"Mies van der Rohe's famous dictum 'less is more' Tadao Ando Luis Barrag‡n Peter Zumthor Francois Chaslin Alberto Campo Baeza AG Fronzoni Claudio Silvestrin John Pawson Michael Gabellini Franco Bertoni " further readings...
Minimalism from wikipedia:-
"The term "minimalist" can also refer to anything which is spare, stripped to its essentials, or providing only the outline of structure, independent of the particular art movement, and "minimalism" the tendency to reduce to fundamentals. It is sometimes applied to groups or individuals practicing asceticism and the reduction of physical possessions and needs to a minimum." more to read...

Image taken from http://www.archspace.com

A house owned by the family of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

In case you're wondering where this hotel is, it isn't a hotel at all.
It is a house!
It's owned by the family of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,
the former president of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu-Dhabi.
more to go..
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

Friday, October 28, 2005

Sexy Archipet

An Architect friend voted :" Does that mean that if I stop telling people I'm a doctor then my luck might improve?"

Setting my multi-million paper model on fire

Thanks to Calvin and phototechniques I can now set my paper model on fire! Though not realistic enough, yet still on fire la...

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

Amazing Resort Concept

The following images are realling some amazing renderings I would like to share. The design idea though is too idealistic.What I like is the place it created with the semi circular island with shared beach internally and sea view on another side. It looks something similar to one of COX architects' project though.


Conceptual Image
Site View
Location Image
View 1
View 2
View 3
View 4
View 5
View 6
View 7

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Architecture RingHub



3dmax faster rendering

click here for chinese version in faster rendering in 3dmax setting and tips.

For my personal 3dmax recipe settings are listed as follow:-
After setting up the lights (omni/daylight/free target directional light/spot light)
adjust environment and effects setting to have better rendering.

Omni light setting
The below setting is for daylight out door effect, for indoor object under sport light, just change the setting of the shadow params.

Omni Settings:-
General Parameters:-
-uncheck shadows if only intend to create light effect
-attenuation setting does affect anything in omni
-use shadow map to faster render
Intensity/Color/Attenuation:-
-Decay setting affects alot (set up accordingly)
Advanced Effects:-
-Contrast 40
-Soften Diff. Edge :30
-Check Diffuse & Specular (must)
-Projector Map setting to create shadow for trees/ window
Shadow Parameters:-
-change color to grey instead of black
-lower density <0.3>
Shadow Map Params:-
-Bias setting to 0 to have shadow starts from edge
-Size to 300 (setting for shadow dots)
-Sample Range to 15 largest (setting for shadow dots)
-check absolute Map Bias & 2sided shadows

Environment and Effects Setting
Common Parameters
Backgournd
- Environment Map
-Global lighting
Exposure Control
-change physical scale to 10000 for daylight effect

Material setting :-
so many things to remember and learn, however basic settings are:-
the diffuse, which means the color of the object
the light effect, which includes the shadows parameters
the surface texture,
the opacity

How to use bitmap/mask to control opasity
-use opasity with shapes intended in black and white color
-white color block light which shapes the form
-black color allows light through which shapes the void

Anisotropic
for glass usage to control reflection width
Specular Highlight:-
-specular level 90~108
-glossiness:1~8
-anisotropy:50~77
Opasity :7~15

Camera:-
very simple, just use target one, 45 degree up

Please comment if possible.

Monday, October 17, 2005

Stage 3

The techniques: photoshop layering; lighting and material assignment in 3dmax.