Roller Coaster Construction
The essence of this reading was summarized in the sentence "processes are far less constraining than ideas, which are inherently linked to extant codes that operate critically or in alignment with preexisting etymologies." Alejandro Zaera-Polo describes a design process that, by exploring the construction and engineering process, can influence the form on the building greatly. By simulating the various ways to build a project and modeling them, inputting more and more integral information, a design can continue to enhance and refine throughout the process. Instead of a metaphorical or symbolic design goal driving design of a structure, we instead explore the manufacturing processes and construction method to directly inform the form. With the various technologies available to use today, we can take advantage of their prescriptive nature and begin to model buildings down to the very detail to enhance the final end-user experience.
In hearing Zaera-Polo describe this process, I couldn't help but think of the old adage "form follows function or function follows form". I think the function and methods of the construction process, in this instance, directly influenced the evolution of the final form. This is a valuable tool, however it perhaps can take away from the artistic and poetic nature to architectural design if not handled in delicate balance. Virtual modeling should work to help define the manufacturing simplicity but I believe there should always be a remnant of the original design intent.
The essence of this reading was summarized in the sentence "processes are far less constraining than ideas, which are inherently linked to extant codes that operate critically or in alignment with preexisting etymologies." Alejandro Zaera-Polo describes a design process that, by exploring the construction and engineering process, can influence the form on the building greatly. By simulating the various ways to build a project and modeling them, inputting more and more integral information, a design can continue to enhance and refine throughout the process. Instead of a metaphorical or symbolic design goal driving design of a structure, we instead explore the manufacturing processes and construction method to directly inform the form. With the various technologies available to use today, we can take advantage of their prescriptive nature and begin to model buildings down to the very detail to enhance the final end-user experience.
In hearing Zaera-Polo describe this process, I couldn't help but think of the old adage "form follows function or function follows form". I think the function and methods of the construction process, in this instance, directly influenced the evolution of the final form. This is a valuable tool, however it perhaps can take away from the artistic and poetic nature to architectural design if not handled in delicate balance. Virtual modeling should work to help define the manufacturing simplicity but I believe there should always be a remnant of the original design intent.
I almost want to have a discuss that focuses entirely on, "processes are far less constraining than ideas". We get so stuck, tied down, attached to the ideas we formulate, never really considering how much we limit and stifle anything that contradictions the imaginary designs in our heads. I'm only beginning to see this in studio, how difficult it is to remember that we are constantly designing and should be willing to change and rethink anything, every step of the way. If we took our ideas and tore them apart, really dissecting it and then taking those dissections in different directions we could do more of what we program our computers to do. Try out every possibility, exhaust and perfect our ideas through the processes.
ReplyDeleteThe ability to make decisions is a crucial skill. I see the ability to go through multiple processes and weigh multiple variables as the ability to make more informed decisions. We are not only constrained to making decisions about form, mass, and basic ordering principles. I see the manufacturing process as only one of the possibilities to further study and manipulate. If we diagnose natural processes in a similar manner, using the computer to calculate a host variables and situations (much like a crash test dummy) then architecture can not only being to respond to human movement and value, but begin to respond to ecological value as well.
ReplyDeleteThe work of Exploration Architecture is of note, combining modern material generative methods with mutual respect to where those materials will be placed.
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