The Presentation Graphics of My 'INDUSTRIAL MUSEUM' project,July,2006.

Project Supervisor:

Konishi LAB(Utsunomiya University)DEPT.of Architecture and Civil Engineering.

Digital Architecture : In an Architectural Design the total scope of a project involves several steps :

Program,Schematic Design,Preliminary Design,Design Development,Working Drawings,Contract Document,Construction

(the red-marked 2nd,3rd and 4th steps involve visualization)Now a days 3D computer modeling is increasingly becoming a very useful tool in all of above 3 stages(Visualization).Let us flash-back the history behind it......... : Professional Architects in 1980's blamed architecture schools for not preparing new graduates for new technology,especially CAD.The trend has changed during 1990's.They did focus on Digital-Tech and posses more diverse and comprehensive computer knowledge.Now in Millenium decade fresh graduates bring outstanding skill in computer graphics than ever before and adopted cybernatic ideas into their Design concept.One thing noticable here that,these days there is no debate whether the computer technology(particular digital art media)is a positive or negative influence in the design process of architecture.That was an issue when AutoCAD was the only mode of adaptation of computer in Architecture.Infact digital techology has arrived within architecture profession at a slower pace than other fields.But surprizingly enough,it's running faster with architecture and accelerating our everyday motion in studio.New terminologies are coming up representing new streams of architecture,like Paper-less Architecture or Genetic Architecture.

Architects have begun to experiment very recently with the digital media that reaches beyond the purpose of mere presentation.The use of various mode include : Conceptualization,Synthesis and so on.A lot of new drawing techniques are even being used by architects.Such drawings often play an important role in the development of architectural ideas and new movements,and may be different from drawings that only document a building!For example Morphosis.Morphosis' practice is broadly diversified.They manifested their views on this very topic"We made no attempt to make our look digital,rather quite the oposite.The inherent workings of computer were very compatible and transitional to the operation methods we utilized..",which sounds like somebody else drives your architect soul to make your design 'looks like that'!There might be a lot of arguements whether it's a healthy practice in Architecture or not,but what ever the after-effect,lets get in to the stream!Cause it smells like a new book just be waited to be read-up!Let's see what's new inside.

Application of Local Manufacturing Technologies

to Architecture and Design:

The JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING-ENGINEERING(AIJ:No.5/February,2007)has just come to hand.It's a special issue with it's regular stream focussed on: 建築ものづくりのフロンティア.Pretty good number of Technical Research papers have taken place inside.The title you find at the top of my post is what my eyes stuck on, while having a glance upon the index last week.I'm not going with details of the paper,just talking about the inspiration of these kinda researh.

As you know 'Rhino-3D' specializes mainly in free-form NURBS modeling,architects and industrial designers get a lot of preveilege to visualize ideas by the grace of Rhino and these sort of virtual simulators.Again 'CAM' (computer aided manufacturing) made possible to construct the real object by its Rapid Prototyping function with 3D printer or Laser Cutter device.Along with advanced architecture schools,some fabulous architects of present time like Zaha Hadid Architects and Ghery partners are dedicated to adopt their Cybernatic Digital experties into Architectural design process.In most of the cases the typical design process is nothing but the application of shipbuilding and aircraft technology into Architecture.

The world famous Japanese motor company YAMAHA is also a prospective veteran in this field.This particular paper is about the construction process of an experimental 'Curved Surface Structural Unit'named 'Uni-Ring',where YAMAHA played a vital role(See in the picture above) to shape up the concept.

A few days ago I was reading a collection of some papers of PennArch,which are sort of similer in essence.They skillfully demonstrate how manufacturing methodologies are poised to transform building construction.Both of the Japanese Architects and American researches have came to the same conclusion that,we,the students of architecture at early millenium,have to look at the automobile,shipbuilding and aerospace industried to find out the way to the new horizon.People,who are dealing with so called mainstream architecture might say that it's a mere wastage of time,but I think,the architecture of near future is gonna talk about substance of architecture.Not about style,rather about the very methods and process that underlie making.The new age of architecture is just waiting in front of the door of our studio.We have to open the door.It's the time to re-evaluate and update the basic design and construction methods.I'm really fortunate that my generation is gonna constrain the building industry throughout its history,gonna start a new era where segregation of intelligence and information is the norm.

For the time being,we got a big task of learning about other Engineering streams.Let's wait and see what's possible in our age!

CHEERS !!!!

(UTOPIAN MANIFESTO/ ZOHA)