︎ Program is Algorithm ︎

Date: 2021.03 - 2021.06

Type: Design Studio / Group

Team with: Sepideh Sarpishegi

Supervisor: Greg Lynn

Teaching Assistants:
Bence Pap /  Maja Ozvaldic /
Kaiho Yu / Martin Murero

︎ Conceptual Statement

It is typical to loosely define shapes based on areas and position them in terms of adjacencies so that architecture is thought in terms of room plans. Instead of defining activities with areas, for example in square meters and clear height requirements, we will define activities as duration of movement, for example how slowly someone moves for a duration of time defining a location. The organization plan is defined by functions arranged adjacent to one another with paths through and between them. Instead of paths connecting functions, for example with circulation, we will quantify different durations of movement (duration is the distance travelled over time as a method of defining space rather than as static dimensions) by defining agents with modulating velocity.

program is NOT areas and adjacencies; program is an algorithm. 
*from Studio Lynn 2021S studio Brief*

︎ Intro Statement with AR

1. Mixed-use building could be “mixed-experience” on the behavior level rather than just programs stacked together.
2. Programs are clustered by similar gathering patterns. The program border will be defined by agents simulation.
3. Circulation nodes (Voids) are naturally ventilated. Air moves horizontally inside the building.

︎ Voids Concept (Circulation & AIR)

“Voids” are designed to replace conventional central circulation cores. They are placed on the outer side of the massing, connecting multiple slabs, working as circulation nodes and ventilation nodes simultaneously.

︎ Program is Algorithm "Gathering pattern"

To achieve “mixed-experience” on behaviour level, programs are abstracted into algorithms by considering circulation, duration, speed and interaction. Targets are settled where agents need to stop.

Programs are clustered by similar gathering patterns, including crowded gather, static gather, interactive gather, separate and flowing. Targets of programs with similar patterns will be mixed for the setup of simulations.

︎ Border Syntax: Gather/Separate

We build up border syntax for all the programs to manage the crowd by considering their gathering pattern and privacy, including solid wall for hotel, glazing wall for conference, Bookshelves for library, manipulation of slab terrain for other programs that require visual openness.

︎ Mixed Program_Agent Simulation - Borders - 3D Space

Here we generated circulation patterns for each floor based on the same algorithm. Since the entrance location and density of flow from each void are varied on each level, different types of programs and location of targets are differentiated to adjust to voids.

Borders - Based on the simulation, we marked program borders, also holes on the slab where visual connection to the lower slab could happen.

3D Space - Finally 3d versions of spatial arrangement are generated based on the border syntax.

︎ Verification of Plan with Agents and CFD

Here is the detailed plan on Level 4 which contains exhibition, shopping, dining, conference and hotel. Same algorithm is running on the detailed plan as the verification to our crowd management strategies. The CFD simulation shows how air is guided by the voids. Air moves horizontally and the form of voids are optimized to guide air directions. Air moves faster where gathering events happen.