ABSTRACT
This project explores the effectiveness of rule-based design in architecture in the modern era. What has changed over the past 50 years that could potentially make rule-based design a viable open again? and in what ways have advances in technology helped to create sustainable communities at the intersection of the individual and the institutional? The research project investigates this question through the vehicle of design research project at Tempelhof Airport, Berlin, whilst exploring the ways in which advances in digital and construction technologies have laid the foundations for a modern era reinvention of structuralism. |
RESEARCH TERRITORY
Structuralism becomes relevant when we consider the given research territory for this project. The research project involves the housing of over 8,000 refugees at Tempelhof Airfield, Berlin. As one of Europe’s largest accommodators of refugees. Between 2015-2016, Germany took in over 1.3 million refugees from war torn parts of the world such as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Turkey. According to a 2004 internal UNHCR report, the average length of stay at refugee camps worldwide is 17 years. A shocking number that forces us to reconsider the housing standards that are offered to people living in an imposed situation and sub-standard living conditions. |
Site Strategy
Since the number of refugees that would require housing at the Tempelhof site is an unknown variable, it is important that any system that is created should be able to respond to external pressures for growth. Shown below are some of the studies that were produced using computational methods comprising of a system that can grow over time as needed, that has a relationship between the heights of buildings and the distance to neighboring buildings to prevent overshadowing.
Since the number of refugees that would require housing at the Tempelhof site is an unknown variable, it is important that any system that is created should be able to respond to external pressures for growth. Shown below are some of the studies that were produced using computational methods comprising of a system that can grow over time as needed, that has a relationship between the heights of buildings and the distance to neighboring buildings to prevent overshadowing.
Structure & Infill This project employs a structure and Infill approach to housing that was first described by John Habraken in his seminal text, ‘Supports: An Alternative to Mass Housing’ in which he argues that we should abolish the practice of mass housing entirely and instead practice an approach to architecture that creates a clear separation between structure and infill. He argues that Mass Housing has become the preferred system of housing around the world to the extent that most people do not question its effectiveness, and that it is only made possible “if the individual inhabitant is not consulted about the manner in which his dwelling is realised. The influence which the individual, the layman, can bring to bear upon the process must be eliminated to make mass housing possible” John Habraken He makes the argument that for the first time in history, the role of the Architect has shifted from designing monumental buildings solely for the wealthy and the elite classes, to designing buildings to be used by the general public. And that whilst the shift in the role of the Architect has almost gone unnoticed, most Architects are still concerned with form, and do not know how to design buildings to be used by everyday people. |
The 'Urban Problematic'
The reading of ‘The Right to the City’ by Henri Lefebvre provided a much-needed critical framework for providing agency in architecture and urban planning. In the text, he explains that the city evolves through the interaction between individuals and small groups (near order) and more powerful institutional bodies (far order). The interplay between these two is projected on the ground plane and is a reflection of the values a society. My drawing is a conceptual representation of this relationship. The institutional far order system (the state) provides a support for the smaller, more chaotic near order systems. Shown adjacent is a conceptual drawings that was done to represent this relationship. |
Algorithmic Design
One of the aims of the project is to leverage the algorithmic design tools that we have available to us today. 50 years on from the structuralism of the 1970’s and the technological context has shifted. Advanced software and digital fabrication technologies have enabled us to create high strength, cost effective and energy efficient construction technologies, whilst advanced in digital technology can offer sophisticated new methodologies for structuralist architecture. The images below shows the logic of the building described algorithmically using ‘rule grammars’ within Grasshopper. As a result of this, we can see the evolution of the building ‘in motion’ and see how it has the potential to develop outwards in different ways given the rules that it must follow. We can also see how it is affected when the rules are changed, or what happens when the parts that are given to the algorithm are changed.
“a deterministic algorithm can be compared with a set of instructions (like Ikea assembly sheets or a cooking recipe) which puts ingredients or building elements into a relationship with one another through multiple sequential steps” Tom Valena
One of the aims of the project is to leverage the algorithmic design tools that we have available to us today. 50 years on from the structuralism of the 1970’s and the technological context has shifted. Advanced software and digital fabrication technologies have enabled us to create high strength, cost effective and energy efficient construction technologies, whilst advanced in digital technology can offer sophisticated new methodologies for structuralist architecture. The images below shows the logic of the building described algorithmically using ‘rule grammars’ within Grasshopper. As a result of this, we can see the evolution of the building ‘in motion’ and see how it has the potential to develop outwards in different ways given the rules that it must follow. We can also see how it is affected when the rules are changed, or what happens when the parts that are given to the algorithm are changed.
“a deterministic algorithm can be compared with a set of instructions (like Ikea assembly sheets or a cooking recipe) which puts ingredients or building elements into a relationship with one another through multiple sequential steps” Tom Valena
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Advanced BIM
The project provided a testing ground for the Advanced BIM module that encompasses Building Performance Analysis and Optimisation including:
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