© Copyright 2015-2021. All Rights Reserved.

Tipping Point

Harvard Graduate School of Design
Team member: Zunheng Lai, Weishun Xu, Tim Zeitler
Critic: George Legendre

 

The paradox between generation and control has long been the debate of parametric design: how much of the design is generated by mechanism and how much is controlled by architects. In this project, we are particularly interested in how parametric design tool engages with dynamic site condition and program.

Three key aspects was investigated during our design process:

  • the paradox between autonomous parametric geometry and related urban context;
  • the process of giving tectonic interpretation of diagrid mathematics surface;
  • the afterthought of “stadium” being the perfect parametric program.

From the Colosseum, stadium has been quite a fixed type that has not changed much. Such nature gives a strong alibi in parametric design, for its gene has been consistent and easily described. The discussion thus shift from controlling the design from program, context and etc. to discovering interesting geometric characteristic from generated families.

Our program is a 40,000 seating football stadium located in the Old Oak Common, west of London metropolitan area.
The Old Oak Common area has been proposed to be developed into an active dense urban area with HS2 railway network connecting London to Birmingham and a ‘super-hub’ would be built with an interchange to the Great West Main Line and Crossrail.
We started our parametric modulation with what we called “seeds”. Written with mathematical equation in the program MathCAD, a “seed” is a pre-defined stadium-like geometric prototype.
Every seed has three components which represent roof, envelope and bowl of a stadium. Within each component, a set of parameters are given for editing. We first played with these sets of parameters and generate families with inherited geometric and spatial characteristics.
In an attempt to embed the stadium in the neighborhood which complex density conditions and varied programs, the final form is a half-buried geometry with extended podium to mitigate height and visibility with the surroundings.
The abstract mathematical definition and the physical tectonic readings are two different mediums that exist in different dimensions with distinct logics.
Working with physical models, we saw the tectonic translations of the same diagrid surface could be quite different, and this new layers of information had strong effects on the nature indexical surface.
Vertical: With uneven density changing with height, setting up vertical circulation is challenging because of the limited floor plates. A two-story double concourse at the podium level is devised as a solution to allow for maximized horizontal flows, re-distribution the majority of spectators with diverse programs such as retail and exhibition.
Horizontal: The revolving geometry is connected and broken down by external connections to urban conditions. An exterior concourse extension with landscape and over-sized steps is set up by the podium in order to complete the transition from nearby boulevards to the immediately visible seating area at the entrance.
Previous
Next