2009 UWA Advanced Computing

Large Aquarium

2009-09-30T03:05:00.000-07:00

I'm not really sure what to say about this one, and I'm not even really sure how I feel about it. But I do think that it adds to the debate that we may have gone a little too far...

Accessed from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7deClndzQw on 29the September 2009

Google is doing it too...

2009-09-30T03:01:00.000-07:00

Accessed on the 29the September 2009 from :

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/google-climate-change-tools-for-cop15.html

New layers for Google earth that show projected climate change events... global warming etc.
Presented by Al Gore :)

Games

2009-09-30T02:43:00.000-07:00

I've tried to use this blog for posting things that aren't directly related to the process part of my topic.
They are however very relevant to my topic, investigation and producing a building with lowered energy use, but are often varied and ... anyway...

I came across this game the other day, fun to play if you'd like to use up some time, called "Build a lot 4". Basically it's a more graphic and slighted varied version of the 'Sim-City' games, where you build infrastructure etc for a place or city.

The interesting thing about the latest version of 'Build A lot' (build lots of things, and build on lots of land..very clever) is that it contains several sustainable initiatives.

Wind farms can be built for power not coal plants, and solar panels for power and satilits dishes for TV can be applied to the houses, and it goes on...

I'm not saying that this is in any way adding anything substantial to the debate/cause, but I do think that it is another example of how these things are penetrating through to the mainstream.

See any of the links below for references/ download :
http://www.retro64.com/build-a-lot_4:_power_source_game.asp
http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/6011/build-a-lot-4-power-source/index.html
http://www.retro64.com/build-a-lot_4:_power_source_game.asp
http://jayisgames.com/archives/2009/08/build_a_lot_4_power_source.php

All above links were accessed on the 30th September 2009

A review from http://www.retro64.com/build-a-lot_4:_power_source_game.asp:
"The fourth version of the legendary Build-a-lot series of games is here, and this time the focus is on green energy! Help out the townsfolk by making solar towers and wind farms to produce clean power. But we wouldn't want to skimp on the essentials, of course. That's why you can also add tennis courts, swimming pools, and exclusive boutiques. It's the best Build-a-lot yet!"
Accessed 30th September 2009

Quick case studies:

2009-09-16T05:13:00.001-07:00

Freiburg Housing :

“Freiburg, a historic town in South-Western Germany, has been leading environmental policy and practice for over two decades in Europe, and its two urban extensions Vauban and Rieselfeld have generated great interest.”

Again simply put, this small housing development, over its projected life span, will produce more energy than it consumes.

The biggest and hardest question to answer, and one I’m not sure if I’ll get to is....

Do these calculations include the energy cost (or requirement) of construction?

Or do they simply ‘RUN’ on lower energy levels?

News article : Is this the greenest city in the world? http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/23/freiburg.germany.greenest.city Accessed 16 September 2009 . Accessed September 16 2009

A Video Overview of the developments : http://showcase.hcaacademy.co.uk/case-study/ecotowns-freiburg-germany.html . Accessed September 16 2009

A full run down on the project : http://www.cafebabel.com/eng/article/3093/eco-housing-renaissance-put-less-carbon-in-the-air.html . Accessed September 16 2009

Quick case studies:

2009-09-16T04:56:00.000-07:00

Masdar initiative and the Masdar City..

Some times I feel a bit silly putting some things up as most have been around publicly for some time.
But these are directly relevant to my work so I may as well.
So I’m not sure if you have come across these but :

This is a massive project over in the middle east.. really the scale is just un-imaginable. I have seen real scale models of the project and its just hard to comprehend the density, initiative and infrastructure that goes into something like this..

But it very much appear to be going ahead, and I’m sure that there are some very serious contracts that stipulate that it musty be built to certain speciation’s and essentially stand up to the claims that have been made...

i.e that it will be the world first carbon neutral city and that it will, in a nut shell, produce more energy than it consumes...

(Something that if you think about, is just a VERY cool/exciting/amazing idea)

Its definitely worth a look if you have the spare time..

I have only posted a small amount of information here, so more links are below:

The Home page : www.masdar.ae/ accessed 16 september 2009

Foster news announcement : www.fosterandpartners.com/News/291/Default.aspx accessed 16 September 2009

Press release as they “break ground” : http://www.anzses.org/files/Masdar.pdf accessed 16 September 2009

An Australian Business Review article from 2008 : http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,24676764-25658,00.html accessed on 16 September 2009

LAVA wins completion : http://www.e-architect.co.uk/dubai/masdar_design_competition.htm accessed 16 September 2009

Really, just Google or you tube it and remember that this is actually being built at scale and through to completion.

Meeting with Green Star Council

2009-09-16T03:40:00.000-07:00

I have been able to set up a meeting with the Western Australia representative for the Green Star Council.

They are the people that 'Award' projects based on there compliance with the Green star Rating tools.

The tools are quite complex and the amount of Information available on the web site is really just overwhelming so I’m hoping that a face to face chat about the systems and my project will cut down a lot of research time.

Correspondence is below ...

Good afternoon Nadji,

I am a fifth year architecture student at the UWA and I am currently researching the impact and benefits of the Green Building Council, and particularly its rating tools.

I am wondering if I am able to meet with you or discuss my topic and to gain some information regarding the tools, how they work and the process behind them.

We have only been given a very short time frame to produce our research, ten days, and so any time or information that you are able to give me will be greatly appreciated.

I will be able to clarify more the topics I am looking into when we talk again but I thought that it would be best to simply get in contact first.

Thank you,

Michael Thorley

Hi Michael,

Thank you for your interest in our work.

May I suggest that you use our website in the first place which offers a wealth of information regarding the things that you are after. If you have any further questions, please feel free to give me a call or otherwise I could offer to meet with you for half an hour this Thursday at 3.30pm in the city.

Regards,
Nadja Kampfhenkel

Nadja Kampfhenkel WA State Manager Green Building Council AustraliaNadja.Kampfhenkel@gbca.org.au
Postal: PO Box 3087 Joondalup, WA 6027 Direct Office Fax Mobile 0437 761 731 http://www.gbca.org.au
For a faster response, please use the direct line.
Please consider the environment before printing this email.

Hi again Nadja,

Thanks for the quick response. I have spent some time on your website but due to the depth of information think it would be also great to sit down for a chat.

At this point in time, Thursday at 3:30 in the city is excellent, but I will have to check with one of my lectures there may be a clash for me.

This said, I am 90% sure that I will be able to come in and I will send you an email first thing tomorrow morning to re-confirm.

Its great that you are able to give me some of your time, and I’ll talk to you again tomorrow.

Thanks

Reference :

http://www.gbca.org.au/contact-us.asp . Accessed 13 September 2009.

Ellen Brook.

2009-09-15T17:47:00.000-07:00

Although I haven’t as yet called ecotect architects, I did take the time to drive up to Ellen brook and a look at the sustainable projects ‘on show’.

It was very interesting because generally the homes looked very much like the standard project homes on offer.

Why on earth is this good?

Because it means that housing that inherently reduces it energy use and the energy use of the final occupant can be implemented within standard development guidelines, and building envelopes.

So the addition of energy conscious design envelopes (essentially what my project is hoping to create) should add another layer of increased efficiency on to housing that fills it.

Images taken Sunday 13 september 2009

Data Book :

2009-09-15T17:30:00.000-07:00

Data from boomtown 2050..by Richard Weller...

“BOOMTOWN 2050 is a timely and authoritative account of the numerous questions facing Perth’s residents at the intersection of environmental affordance, urban form and public policy, and offers international audiences a compelling image of the use of design as a form of urban research. It should be required reading for students of the city worldwide”

...and its big... 447 pages big

Reference stuff :

Published 2009, University of Western Australia press.

Crawley Western Australia.

Found in the UWA Law Libray Reserve

Code : edfmn 307.1216099411 2009 Boo

Project site wins award.

2009-09-15T17:15:00.000-07:00

Announced over the weekend were the UDIAWA (Urban Design Institute of W A) Awards.

Awarded for the work that has already taken place at the site. I.e. The conversion and subdivision of the old movie theatre into aprox 36 single residential lots. The awards also recognise the landscaping and environmental aspects of the subdivision.

An exert from the media release:
New kids on the block, the Town of Claremont, took out the Rising Star Award for their Lakeway Drivein Redevelopment.

The Rising Star is awarded to a developer that has never entered the Awards for Excellence previously.

“Lakeway is positioned in a prime location overlooking Lake Claremont on a site steeped in local
history,” Ms Goostrey said.

“The Town of Claremont has done a fantastic job in retaining 30% of the site for public open space andmaintaining its natural features,” Ms Goostrey said.

Reference :

http://www.udiawa.com.au/Uploads/File/PDF/Press%20Releases/2009/UDIA%20Awards%20for%20Excellence%202009%20winners%20-%20September%2009.pdf . Accessed on 16 September 2009,

The full list of award winning projects is as follows:

• President’s Award: Mirvac for The Point, Mandurah

• Judge’s Award: LWP Property Group for Contempo at Ellenbrook

• Rising Star: Town of Claremont for Lakeway Drive-in Redevelopment

• Affordable Development: Satterley Property Group for Brighton Estate

• Environmental Excellence: Stockland for Islands

• High Density Development: Mirvac for The Point, Mandurah

• Urban Renewal: Condor Developments for Condor Tower

• Medium Density Development: Pride Land Holdings for La Dolce Vita

• Urban Water Excellence: National Lifestyle Villages for Bridgewater Lifestyle Village• Sustainable Urban Development: LandCorp for Januburu Six Seasons

• Residential Development Under 250 Lots: Town of Claremont for Lakeway Drive-inRedevelopment

• Residential Development Over 250 Lots: Stockland for Newhaven• Masterplanned Development: Mirvac for The Point, Mandurah

Feed back !!

2009-09-14T23:52:00.000-07:00

I recived feedback from my research proposition on Monday night and generally was given some encouraging comments.

The comments will help define the topic and scope of the work that i have been doing which will then give the final output/ submission more clarity.With only 19 days to finish I think that I’ll have to increse the amount of work that I am doing and also begin to defin and design the final submission.

Blender

2009-09-10T01:41:00.001-07:00

I came across this as I am looking at using bender for some of my studio work and thought that although it is not directly relevant to my current research ... it is still fun.

Unlike Hans Rosling

2009-09-09T20:47:00.000-07:00

Usefull as a tutorial, but crazy boring....

Ecotect Architects

2009-09-09T20:39:00.001-07:00

This is great.

Its not really my thing, but I do think that there is a huge need and market for this sort of architecture, and in some cases it should be mandatory... (As a side note I believe that the UAE declared about a year ago that all new building must qualify with the American green building rating system)

Anyway they are called ‘Ecotect Architects’ and they are based in Swanbourne and although it doesn't appear as they have had much success lately, the awards list is impressive. So I’ll call them tomorrow.

2005 HIA Green Smart Awards, Building of the Year.
2005 HIA Green Smart Awards, Energy Efficiency Award.
2005 RAIA Architecture Award, Ecologically Sustainable Development Award.
2002 Winner, Banksia Environmental Award.
2002 RAIA Energy Conservation Award, Commendation.
1999 RAIA Energy Conservation Award, Award of Merit.
1996 WA Energy Efficiency Awards, Commercial Buildings.
1996 RAIA Energy Conservation Award: Commendation.
1995 HIA Design Awards, Individually Designed Home of the Year.
1995 HIA Design Awards, Individually Designed Home of the Year.
1995 HIA Design Awards, Albany Golden Key Award.
1994 RAIA Energy Conservation Award, Award of Merit.
1993 National Energy Awards, Buildings.

http://www.ecotect-architects.com/

Road Trip - Master Planned Developments

2009-09-09T20:20:00.000-07:00

I have decided that I will be spending some time on the weekend to go and see what's going on in Ellenbrook. (I can’t believe I just said that).

When browsing through the last edition of the architecture awards I notice that the "DHW Ellenbrook Demonstration Sustainable Housing Initiative" have been completed, and as such there are at least three nationally recognised sustainable houses there.

I have also notice that there are often a large number of display homes and centres in the weekend paper for Ellenbrook so I hoping that the trip will be a good, and very direct comparison between the different housing options...

"Lot 5191 - 5195 Dunrobin Drive, Ellenbrook
5 x "affordable sustainable" houses designed by 3 different architects for the Department of Housing & Works. All houses feature passive solar design, showcasing various alternative technologies including insulated blockwork, reverse brick veneer, polished concrete floors for thermal mass, "Econodek" insulated roof panels, grey water systems, and water-wise landscaping"

Hans Rosling and His Data Set

2009-09-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

If you have had a look at TED.com before then I think it would have been hard not to come across Hans Rosling and his 'AMAZING' new way to represent data.

His first Talk ... ( http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_shows_the_best_stats_you_ve_ever_seen.html )
some time ago is just great because he bumbles around for a while but then "approaches the data with the excitement of a weekend sports commentator", and its very eye opening.

His site, that he mentions during the takes, allows the public to not only look at and understand that data that has already been created, but to also create personal presentations using you own data...

http://www.gapminder.org/

I cant work out how to embed the talks, so you will just have to google' it or go to ted to check it out....

More Research Stuff - Home Project Notes: Part 1

2009-09-04T21:48:00.000-07:00

I would recommend that everyone takes the time to watch this movie... Its very good : http://www.youtube.com/homeproject

I have taken some notes about how the ice caps are melting and the population is growing and how all the polar bears are dying etc etc etc, but I thought I would just post some screen shot and small captions of text that went along with the images..

A kind of pictorial review with a small amount of context....
(The text captions are directly from the movie, so they are all a bit emotive)

Listen to me please. YOU, are like me. A homo-sapien. A wise human.

LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THIS extraordinary story, which is yours, and decide what you want to do with it.

The cycle is never broken. There is always the same quantity of water on earth. All the successive species on earth have drunk the same water.... The astonishing matter that is water.

The is engine of life is linkage. Everything is linked and nothing is self sufficient... Sharing is everything

The Earth counts time in billions of years. It took 4 billion years to make trees....

The result is that it takes 100 litres of water to produce one kilogram of potatoes. 4000 litters for one kilo of rice, and 13000 for one kilo of beef, not to mention the oil guzzled in the transportation process.

We know that the end of cheep oil is imminent, but we refuse to believe it.

Research Stuff - More Site modeling

2009-09-04T21:33:00.000-07:00

I had to spend some time adding additional information into the site model that i had created.

Basically it was the addition of the individual lots into the larger model. A lot of these lot have a varied surface, and as such i had to go it one by one and alter the points on each of the 36 lots...

Once the site was modeled i spent some time understanding and working out to location of the site and adding an appropriate sun.. again it is configured to W.A, and Perth with north oriented correctly.

I also added the current development guideline envelopes that will be under investigation for the rest of the semester. (the extruded white boxes)

A bit of a pain, but I'm quite sure it had to be done..

Final Tower Images

2009-09-04T21:22:00.001-07:00

I spent more time on this than I would have liked, but playing around with lighting and the different anges and view points can be really fun...

"vray rt' is out now... a system that automaticly creates a semi rendered output in a specifed 3dsmax viewport and I think that the abilty to navigate, model and create 3d objects within the computer with apropratie lighting etc will enable an architecture that is more aware and understanding of the light patterns and/or effects it creates.. If your keen to understand what I'm talking about a bit more, just look up 'vray rt' on youTube.
Anyway...

The top view is very mis-leading and it is diffecult to see what is the inside or the outside of the object, or what is the top and what is the bottom...It might be nice to stl print this some time...

A detail of the surface lattice, looking from the base towards the top.

Click on images for a larger view, and render times..

tutorial #7 ... foster and stuff

2009-09-04T21:12:00.000-07:00

Step 1 Making thew Helix

Cleaning up the line work in rhino

And then after a bit of playing around, a number of copy/references final models are made..

Images from left to right (line work, surface modifier, edit-able poly, the combined blue structure and glass system, referenced structure system, referenced glass system)

I also added a sun system, colaborated for Perth with the an appropriate north point.

And enabled / set up for vray rendering.

GOOGLE BUT GREEN (well black)

2009-08-29T01:16:00.000-07:00

Basically it’s the Google search engine but due to the dark screen uses less energy to create the page than the standard Google white background ...
Information and screen shots from the page are below :

"How is Blackle saving energy?
Blackle was created by Heap Media to remind us all of the need to take small steps in our everyday lives to save energy. Blackle searches are powered by Google Custom Search.
Blackle saves energy because the screen is predominantly black. "Image displayed is primarily a function of the user's color settings and desktop graphics, as well as the color and size of open application windows; a given monitor requires more power to display a white (or light) screen than a black (or dark) screen." Roberson et al, 2002
In January 2007 a blog post titled Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year proposed the theory that a black version of the Google search engine would save a fair bit of energy due to the popularity of the search engine. Since then there has been skepticism about the significance of the energy savings that can be achieved and the cost in terms of readability of black web pages.
We believe that there is value in the concept because even if the energy savings are small, they all add up. Secondly we feel that seeing Blackle every time we load our web browser reminds us that we need to keep taking small steps to save energy.
How can you help?
We encourage you to set Blackle as your home page. This way every time you load your Internet browser you will save a little bit of energy. Remember every bit counts! You will also be reminded about the need to save energy each time you see the Blackle page load.
Help us spread the word about Blackle by telling your friends and family to set it as their home page. If you have a blog then give us a mention. Or put the following text in your email signature: "Blackle.com - Saving energy one search at a time".
Have a look at our energy saving tips page for ideas on steps you can take to save energy or you can follow Blackle on Twitter and we will keep you updated with simple energy saving tips.
There are a lot of great web sites about saving energy and being more environmentally friendly. They are full of great tips covering the little things that we can all do to make a difference today. Try Blackling "energy saving tips" or visit one of the many great blogs dedicated to environmental awareness. "

Research Proposal : The after effects

2009-08-29T00:50:00.000-07:00

I had been searching for a research topic right up to the day before the final submission.

I had thought that it would have something to do with parametric modelling or surface/form creation i.e. some of the previous work/posts that I have done.

But I realised that I didn’t start my architectural studies hoping to learn code, algorithms or heavy math. And I thought that having taught myself this much so far, I would be able to continue this learning process on my own (outside of the university structures and pressures).

I also realised that without question, one weakness of mine is the understanding of sustainable practices, and as yet I have not had a unit or the time to focus on this increasingly important topic.

As such, my topic turned to 'using the computer for good', and its ability to analyse data to produce ratings and readings regarding the different components and elements of a building.i.e. the amount of sun light entering a room, the cost of heating a space or the ecological cost of a building...

This is now my topic and posts from now on will reflect this.

Today I am planning to watch a video entitled HOME.

My understanding is that it will provide a large amount of quantifiable information about the energy use, living standards and impact our (‘humanities’) current lifestyle is having on the planet.

It’s general background information and I am planning on taking notes and screen shots throughout the movie for latter posts.

Previous Work : 3d prints

2009-08-18T18:09:00.001-07:00

A render of the models that I am about to print. The result of some playing around in 3ds max. Another test with regards to the structural capabilities of the printer.

These models and the ones in the previous post have been sealed using 'super glue' rather than the wax or epoxy that has been suggested/ previously used.

The glue does give off a reaction with the models (burny eyes if you’re not carefully)
But the result is a WHITE model that is much more stable (and less little to break when handled) than the other options.

The total cost was aprox $80 for the 4 models

Previous Work : 3d prints

2009-08-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

These were printed earlier in the year as experiment with the thickness and stability of the models. The Sphere represents a triumph over the earlier failed attempted to produce something similar.

Previous work : laser cutting

2009-08-18T18:03:00.000-07:00

Although my laser cut vase was a slight failure, in the way that the cut pieces didn’t fit together without glue, I have produced a 1-500 site model for my studio project.

The cut drawings where produced in auto-cad after days of preparing the site drawings, and where assembled into 5 sheets.

Each of these 900x600 sheets contained a ‘cut’ and an ‘etch’ layer that where plotted from auto-cad from the same page layout. With a border surrounding both drawings, cutt1-etch1, cutt2-etch2 etc , an overlay could be produced by the technicians in the lab.

Previous Work : 3d prints

2009-08-18T17:58:00.000-07:00

My first experiment with an object that was latticed and had a top and a bottom, the bottom broke when I tried to move it from the printer to the depower box, as I didn't properly understand the process.

The latticed theatre object.

Previous Work : 3d prints

2009-08-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

There is a machine that is full of wax.

It takes some time for the machine to warm up and melt the wax but once it is finished the models are simply diped into the pool of wax, removed and then left to 'set'.

Previous Work : 3d prints

2009-08-18T17:43:00.001-07:00

Previous Work : 3d prints

2009-08-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

3d prints:
These prints where done over the past few years for an external project. The architects wanted where experimenting with forms for a water side theatre down south. The models where not specifically design tools, but because very useful to explain the building to the client, and latter to the sub contractors. The latticed model was latter given to the structural engineers.

Turorial 2

2009-08-18T17:34:00.000-07:00

Tutorial 2: The vase was broken down into a singular element and using the contour and section tools this mock up was produced. The resulting model did not 'work' because the vase was designed using 3mm card and the final output was 1.8mm card.

Kinetic sculpture at the BMW Museum

2009-08-02T23:23:00.001-07:00

This seemed interesting because it appears that the lights (or points) are simply being adjusted to making up a number of different surfaces.
Much like the way the rhino and max can produce point cloud that can be manipulated to form surfaces.

Studio Greg Lynn and Robotic Architecture

2009-07-28T18:23:00.000-07:00

Task 1 - Final Vase draft

2009-07-27T20:33:00.000-07:00

Images of vase draft.

Also in image is a 10cm x 10cm cube for scale referencing.

Task 1 - Vase Process images

2009-07-27T20:13:00.000-07:00

Images are in reverse order.