self formation in nature, art and architecture

SELF FORMATION IN NATURE, ART AND ARCHITECTURE
VOL.01 STATEMENT OF INTENT AND ITINERARY
2014 -2015 BRANNER TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP APPLICANT
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY
Statement of Intent
SELF FORMATION IN NATURE, ART AND ARCHITECTURE
Self formation
Self-formation is a process that an object or phenomenon is transformed by
itself to adapt its shape or character from the external forces. The transition
when the nature changes or is changed by the natural impacts such as weathering, erosion, sedimentation, earthquake or volcano effect, can be also called
as a self-formation. Not only the natural phenomenon, but also arts and architecture can be also self-formed, which means that the form of arts and architecture is produced unintentionally from the natural phenomenon including gravity
or user’s change, although the designer did not purpose the outcome. Interestingly, the external factors and the system how Nature or man-made structure
has influenced on is very similar and its impact brings similar results on both,
even though the intent, scale, life and material of form from Nature and artificial
constructions are totally different each other. So, from the Branner Traveling
Fellowship, I would like to explore the all the results of self-formation in both
Nature, arts and architecture, and understand its process, reasons, controlling
factors and external forces. Through these adventures, I would be able to learn
the new methodology how design can affect and be affected in the environment.
Self formation through natural force
First of all, to learn the self-formation of design in architecture, I believe that I
should understand the natural environment, because Nature is a foundation of
all formation in the world and can inspire the design process. For example, in
Le Maire channel at the Antarctic[1], the iceberg had been weathered through
thousand years of erosion and sedimentation, and became colonnades of col[1] Iceberg column at Antarctic
Source - http://vi.sualize.us/
umn shape of iceberg. These natural ice columns show how a structural column
support the mass and how the gravity force impact through the vertical connection, which teach the fundamental structure system in architecture. In addition,
a basalt rock mountain[2] that had been formed in a short time by the sudden
volcano eruption, consists of numerous hexagonal shapes of volume, which indicates the most stable structure, honeycomb frame. This brings to the idea that
different period of processing in material can be utilized for a different pattern
and design in arts. So, exploring these nature environments would inspire the
[2] Basalt rock mountain at Armenia
Source - http://lolscream.com/
[3] Reference - http://www.wikipedia.org/
way that architecture can be formed and self-formation methods.
Self formation in Art
There are also art movements that emphasized the accidental result of art
forms, which is not created by author’s purpose. The “Arte Povera” movement
that was originated throughout Italy in 1960s, shows artists’ exploration in a
range of unconventional processes and non-traditional ‘everyday’ materials. [3]
Statement of Intent
[6] Frei Otto’s Gravity Simulation, Source - Tensile Structure Book
So, artists uses other controlling factors to let the art be formed as it is influenced. For instance, Japanese artist Tokujin Yoshioka is one of artists who is
affected by the “Arte Povera”. His project, “Natural Crystal Chair, 2008”[4] was
made by the natural crystal that keeps naturally growing, and the result form
after icing crystal became his art. He said, “The relationship between natural
power and human beings is a very important theme in my creation. I would be
pleased if Crystalized Project became an opportunity to increase awareness of
the essence of nature; its beauty, strength, and the fearful side with its astounding power, and for us to come back to the concept of living within this nature;
the Earth.”[5] By experiencing these art works during the travel, I am sure that I
can acquire knowledge and understanding of self-formation process in different
scale from macro to micro.
Self formation to Architecture
[4] Natural Crystal Chair, 2008
Source - Tokujin Yoshioka Webpage
[5] Quote - http://www.tate.org.uk/
In addition, there are precedents that some architects already utilized the
self-formation process into design. In 1950s, Frei Otto and Felix Candela have
experimented the building mass formation by the gravity force, the simulation
result represented the basic form of buildings, that means the gravity force
itself could create a shape of building, but architects expressed the outcome
as an architecture using tensile and membrane structures.[6] As visiting there
structural buildings, I would see both how the natural forces impact and create
on the form of building and, on the other hand, how the building can overcome
the external forces. These days, the range of utilizing self-formation has broadened through many current architects. For example, the temporal exhibition,
“The blur building”, that was designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro Architects
in 2011 created building’s perimeter by a fog mass resulting from natural and
[7] The Blur Building
Source - Diller Scofidio + Renfro Webpage
manmade forces.[7] The atmosphere of the building was self-formed and constantly changed. Also, “The Pole Dance”, winning project of MoMA PS1 Young
Architect Program in 2010 by SO-IL, offered several poles on grids connected
by bungee cords whose elasticity causes the poles to gently sway, which creates
a steady ripple throughout the space.[8] So, as a user moves the pole, the space
volume is also changed. These precedents show and teach how to coordinate
anonymous’ factors to the architecture design. By traveling these Nature, arts
and architecture that are transformed or created as a natural phenomenon, I
[8] PS1 Young Architect Program 2010
Source - http://moma.org/
believe to figure out what is the relationship between controlling factors and
external forces, how the scale of form changes material, and how the natural
system can be operated in architecture.
Itinerary
PREPARATION & ANALYSIS METHODOLOGIES
Before travel
1. Preliminary studies in thesis preparation 2014 fall semester
- Preparation of travel and update itinerary
1.1. Precedent studies
1.2. Simulation in physical & digital environment
1.3. Update reference and redefine Itinerary
On going Gravity digital Simulation
During travel
1.4. Contact artists and keep tracking the schedule of exhibition
2. Collecting and Analyzing data in 2015 travel year
- Speculate the real world with scale, external factor & forces
2.1 Abstract drawing and sketch, and record video and sound (If necessary)
2.2 Collect and categorize data (If necessary)
- by material, external factor and fundamental forces
2.3 Update factor Charts and brief self report every month
2.4 Visit the living classroom “the HOOKE PARK” directed by Frei Otto
2.5. Interview artists in Japan (Tokujin Yashioka and Cyoko Tamai)
On going Factor Chart
After travel
2.6 Collect materials on site (If possible)
3. Expecting future research & design works in 2015 thesis semester
- How to apply the knowledge and data into design process
3.1 Reorganize data collections
3.2 Apply the collected date into different scale, material and external forces
- As a cross pollination of data collection
3.3 Experiment and simulate physical model and data
3.4 Digital design model simulation through Kangaroo & Grasshopper
(Computational modeling tool for physic)
3.5 Install simulation models through comparison of precedent references
3.6 Publish travel thesis broacher or book
Itinerary
SELF FORMATION SITE SELECTION STRATEGIES
1. Natural process as self formation
Nature
- How to impact the natural forces to natural-scape
1.1. Water Erosion
1.2. Chemical Reaction
1.3. Volcano Eruption
1.4. Human Intervention
1.5 Friction Force
1.6 Wave Force
Art
2. Generative form finding process as self formation
- How to utilize the different minerals and forces in the art process
2.1 Crystallizing
2.2 Air movements
2.3 Piling
2.4 Sagging
2.5 Concentrating
Architecture
3. Early studies of fundamental forces
- Speculating the use of forces in early human history
3.1 Gravity
3.2 Tension
3.3 Compression
4. Contemporary use of external factors in design process
- Diverse usages of external factors in design such as fire and air pressure
3.1 Air pressure and pneumatics
3.2 Gravity
3.3 Lateral force
3.4 Tensegrity
3.5 Fire and bubble
Itinerary
Self Formation through WATER & EROSION
Natural environment keeps changing and adopting as time goes, and this self-forming process can inspire the architecture as well. There are essential adaptation process in nature such as erosion, weathering and sedimentation.
Although same external process is affected, each site is changed differently according to its location, scale, temperature and duration.
Source - http://flickr.com/oldmantravels
Source - http://flickr.com/fabienshab
Name
City
Antelope Canyon
Name
Arizona
Cedar ceremonial park
City
Utah
Country
USA
Country
USA
Material
Stone
Material
Stone
Force
Erosion, Sedimentation
Name
Horseshoe Bend
Force
Sedimentation, Weathering
Name
Etretat Cliffs
Source - http://flickr.com/fabienshab
City
Arizona
Source - http://flickr.com/Moyanbrenn
City
Etretat
Country
USA
Country
France
Material
Stone
Material
Stone
Force
Erosion, Weathering
Force
Wave Erosion, Weathering
Itinerary
Self Formation through MINERAL & CHEMICAL REACTION
Nature is also changed by the chemical reaction. High concentrate of sodium mineral has impacted on the desert,
which changes to vast prairie at Uyuni desert in Bolivia. The mountain Pamukkale got a lot of bathtubs due to the
chemical reaction of carbonate minerals. Rainbow mountain in China has been colored because of the numerous
mineral deposits for a long time.
Source - http://flickr.com/richardsilver
Name
City
Uyuni Desert
Source - http://flickr.com/ladymarianna
Name
Potosi Departments
City
Pamukkale
Denizli Province
Country
Bolivia
Country
Turkey
Material
Sodium Mineral
Material
Carbonate Minerals, Hot Springs
Force
Sedimentary deposited by water
Name
Carrera Lake
Force
Mineral Sedimentation
Name
Rainbow mountain
Source - http://flickr.com/jkaseller
City
Zhangye
Source - http://flickr.com/smush12
City
Patagonia
Country
China
Country
Chile
Material
Red Sandstone, Mineral Deposit
Material
Marvel Stone, Mineral Water
Force
Tectonic Plate force, Sedimentation
Force
Erosion, Weathering
Itinerary
Self Formation through VOLCANO & HUMAN INTERVENTION
There are sometimes unexpected scene in nature because of humam intervention. Accident explosion by military
test had created huge hole on rock forest, which became a hidden beach in Mexico. Efficient water supply system of
agriculture made colorful circle shape of crops on ground. Or, significant volcano eruption also suddenly transforms
the land, for example, all the byproducts from volcano cover the whole mountain like basalt columns.
Source - http://flickr.com/stefanogambassi
Source - http://flickr.com/ineurosis
Name
Hidden Beach
Name
City
Marieta Island
City
Crop Circles
Nevada
Country
Mexico
Country
USA
Material
Rock
Material
Crops
Force
Accident Explosion by Military Test
Name
Basalt Columns
Force
Flattening of a crop
Name
Cappadocia Mountain
Source - http://hugefloods.com/
City
Los Organos
Source - http://flickr.com/rose
City
Nevsehir Province
Country
Peru
Country
Turkey
Material
Basalt stone
Material
Stone
Force
Volcano eruption
Force
Volcano eruption
Itinerary
Self Formation through BOOLEAN SUBTRACTION
The solid form is manipulated by many different ways. The Gothic and Baroque era vault system has shown a fundamental form base on power which has similar spatial trait in natural phenomenon such as rainbow bridge in Grand
Canyon National Park and Glacial Columns in Le Maire channel at the Antarctic. Many different material size and joint
system allow diverse of shape in space and atmosphere.
All images source - ‘Volume’, 2012 by Brandon Clifford
La Trompe De Chateau de Blois
Capilla de los Reyes
Hagia Sophia
-
-
-
Blois
Valencia
Istanbul
Country
France
Spain
Turkey
Material
Stone
Stone
Stone
Gravity
Gravity
Gravity
Man-made structure
Man-made structure
Man-made structure
Name
Architect
City
Force
Natural/ Man-made
Itinerary
Self Formation through COLLECTIVE RIB
Compare to the boolean vault, the rib vault is the most essential way of self form making. The minimal element is
naturally bended and leaning each other to create high ceiling space. The gravity, tension and compression work together to keep the space volume.
Name
Architect
City
Abbor’s Chapel
Musee De Cluny
Country
France
Material
Stone
Force
Natural & Man-made
Name
Architect
City
Gravity
Man-made structure
La Sagrada Familia
Antoni Gaudi
Barcelona
Country
Spain
Material
Stone
Force
Natural & Man-made
Name
Architect
City
Gravity
Simulation of Man-made structure
Basilica Vierzehnheiligen
Bavaria
Country
Germany
Material
Stone
Force
Natural & Man-made
Gravity
Man-made structure
All images source - ‘Volume’, 2012 by Brandon Clifford
Itinerary
Self Formation through PNEUMATIC
The idea of air pressure as a form making in architecture has been one of the very few fundamental innovations
in building technology during the last 100 years. This type of form making has been developed with inner back up
structure. It started from wood frame simulation and now it is widely used with steel frame work. The Eden project
by Grimshaw Architects is an advanced model of this works. In addition, Kunsthaus by Peter Cook introduced rigid
glass type of pneumatic forms.
Name
Architect
City
Eden Project
Grimshaw Architects
St Blazey, Cornwall
Country
United Kingdom
Material
ETFE(GAS+Steel frame)
Force
Natural & Man-made
Name
Architect
City
Pneumatics
Simulation of Man-made structure
Serpentine Pavilion
Smiljan Radic
London
Country
United Kingdom
Material
Transparent Concrete
Force
Natural & Man-made
Name
Architect
City
Pneumatics
Simulation of Man-made structure
Peter cook, Colin Fournier
Graz
Austria
Material
Glass
Natural & Man-made
Source - http://flickr.com/andreanatt
The kunsthaus Graz
Country
Force
Source - http://flickr.com/giuliasilvia
Pneumatics
Simulation of Man-made structure
Source - http://archdaily.com/petercook
Itinerary
Self Formation through CONVERTED GRAVITY
The Gravity is a fundamental force in architecture. Frei Otto and Felix Candela have conducted diverse experiment s
and simulations with the gravity force as a form finding process. The controlled holding points and gravity is a perfect
combination for building’s self formation with a thin structure in rigid format. The elegance curvature becomes originated from natural force.
Name
Architect
City
Oceanográfico Valencia
Felix Candela
Valencia
Country
Spain
Material
Concrete
Force
Natural & Man-made
Name
Architect
City
Tension, Gravity
Simulation of Man-made structure
Restaurante Los Manantiales
Felix Candela
Xochimilco
Country
Mexico
Material
Concrete
Force
Natural & Man-made
Name
Architect
City
Tension, Gravity
Simulation of Man-made structure
Heinz Isler
Zuchwil
Switzerland
Material
Concrete
Natural & Man-made
Source - http://flickr.com/stefanogambassi
Gartencenter Wyss Zuchwil
Country
Force
Source - http://flickr.com/stefanogambassi
Tension, Gravity
Simulation of Man-made structure
Source - http://flickr.com/wyssgarten
Itinerary
Self Formation through RIGID & TENSION
In this section, the forms are originated from capturing the moment with rigid structure. Pier Luigi Nerbi is the one
of seminal person to develop the self formation with concrete as a notion of structuralism. The St. Mary’s Cathedral
in San Francisco represents the movement of the form with rigid object instead of the use of tension fabric and cable.
Name
Architect
City
St. Mary’s Cathedral
Pier Luigi Nervi
San Francisco
Country
USA
Material
Concrete
Force
Natural & Man-made
Name
Architect
City
Tension, Gravity
Simulation of Man-made structure
TWA Flight Center
Eero Saarinen
New York
Country
USA
Material
Concrete
Force
Natural & Man-made
Name
Architect
City
Tension, Gravity
Simulation of Man-made structure
Felix Candela
Mexico City
Mexico
Material
Concrete
Natural & Man-made
Source - http://archdaily.com/fwaterminal
Our Lady of Miraculous Medals
Country
Force
Photograph in hand
Tension, Gravity
Simulation of Man-made structure
Source - http://flickr.com/ximo
Itinerary
Self Formation through SOFT & TENSION
In terms of tension forms, many artists and architects have used as one of design methods, Bodo Rasch and Frei
Otto are early users of this system with tension cable and stretched fabric. In last decade, the methodology has been
widely re-introduced through an advanced level with different material. As one of seminal example is SO-IL’s Kukje
Gallery in Korea which uses aluminum mesh surface, like knit fabric on the facade of the gallery through same logic.
The Centre Pompidou-Metz by Shigeru Ban, also used the system with wooden knit back-up structure and high performance coated fabric on the top by capturing the moment of tension form.
Name
Architect
City
Stuttgart university campus at vaihingen
Bodo Rasch
Vaihingen
Country
Germany
Material
Tension Wire Cable, Stretched Fabric
Force
Natural & Man-made
Name
Tension, Compression, Gravity
Simulation of Man-made structure
Kuk-je Gallery
Architect
SO-IL
City
Seoul
Country
Korea
Material
Concrete Backup Volume, Alumium mesh
Force
Natural & Man-made
Name
Architect
City
Tension, Gravity
Simulation of Man-made structure
Shigeru Ban
Metz
France
Material
Wooden neat frame, Coated fabric
Natural & Man-made
Source - http://flickr.com/sjlee
The Centre Pompidou-Metz
Country
Force
Source - http://flickr.com/materialisegroup
Tension, Compression, Gravity
Simulation of Man-made structure
Source - http://flickr.com/materialisegroup
Itinerary
Self Formation through VARIOUS MATERIALS
There are many attempts that architects try to apply other materials or experiments into the architecture. Peter
Zumthor fired the tree trunks that have covered the interior space from the concrete chunk. After all trees are burned,
the hole inside concrete became an inside space. The interior wall of Prada store Beverly hills is made by the leftover
of Polyurethane after the ballons, that used to be filled in the silicon mat, got blown out.
Name
Architect
City
Bruder Klaus Field Chapel
Peter Zumthor
Mechernich
Country
Germany
Material
Concrete, Tree Trunks
Force
Natural & Man-made
Name
Architect
City
Fire Burned
Natural of Man-made structure
Serpentine Sakler Gallery
Zaha Hadid
London
Country
United Kingdom
Material
Glass Fiber
Force
Natural & Man-made
Name
Architect
City
Tension
Simulation of Man-made structure
OMA
Los Angeles
USA
Material
Polyurethane, silicon mat
Natural & Man-made
Source - http://archdaily.com/
Prada Store Beverly Hiills
Country
Force
Source - http://archdaily.com/
Bubble Pressure
Natural of Man-made structure
Source - ‘El Croques, OMA’ by El Croques
Itinerary
CONVERSATION with Artists about Self Formation
As one of research tools, the interview with artists, who use the self-formation methodology in their design process,
can be a great research background. One artist is Tokujin Yoshioka. His work is a ramification of natural process
such as crystallizing the mineral, forming the fog in space in many different ways. Cyoko Tamai is an another artist.
Her interest and focus are the relationship between the concentration of water and ink in traditional Calligraphy. In
the process, her paintings show different outcome because of different ratio of ink and water. As a different jean-re,
researching such work processes and ethics can be one of answer of question “Self formation”.
Artist
Tokujin Yoshioka
City
Tokyo
Country
Japan
Material
Crystal
Force
Freezing
Artist
Cyoko Tamai
City
Tokyo
Country
Japan
Material
Dip Pen, Fiber
Force
Infusing
Source - http://www.tokujin.com/
Source - http://flickr.com/robertsaba
Itinerary
HOOKE PARK in AA School as real education of Self Formation
Frei Otto, who is a seminal person in development of the notion of self formation, has led the architecture program,
DESIGN & BUILD in AA. The HOOKE PARK is the living class room for experiment of self formation and real building
construction process. Visiting the Hooke Park and engaging the environment will provide more sensible idea for my
future research and works.
EXHIBITION about Self Formation
As the statement of intent mentioned, the Arte Povera has analogous background of self formation. Kunstmuseum
in Liechtenstein and Tate modern in London are important places to research works of the Atre Povera. During the
travel fellowship period, visiting of the seminal projects will be part of research works.
Name
Architect
City
Country
Name
Architect
City
Country
The Hooke Park
Frei Otto
Hooke
United Kingdom
Source - http://flickr.com/jmarch
Kunstmuseum Liechtenstein
Christian Kerez
Vaduz
Liechtenstein
Source - http://archdaily.com/
Jan
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Nevada
Utha
Maxico
Belize
New York
North America
Fab
Ground Fare- 700
Air Fare - 1200
Lodge - 2700
Food - 1400
Mar
Apr
Ground Fare - 700
Air Fare - 2200
Lodge - 2300
Food - 1400
Chile
Peru
Bolivia
Brazil
May
South America
Jun
Jul
Ground Fare - 1200
Air Fare - 1500
Lodge - 3600
Food - 2400
Exploring MAP for Self-Formation Process in Nature, Art & Architecture
Sep
Oct
Nov
Ground Fare- 700
Air Fare - 1800
Lodge - 2400
Food - 1300
Korea
Japan
China
Asia
Dec
Nature
Air Fare - 1300
Lodge - 800
Food - 500
Architecture
Art
Even though preliminary itinerary is organized by theme, the final travel plan will
likely weave to create a logistically coherent route base on geographical proximity.
Aug
Ground Fare - 800
Air Fare - 1200
Lodge - 1800
Food - 1100
United Kingdom
France
Spain
Portugal
Austria
Germany
Italia
Switzerland
Czech
Turkey
Armenia
Linchtenstein
Europe
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Finding Form : Towards an architecture of the minimal, Frei Otto, Bodo Rasch , Axel Menges, c1995
Material Design : Informing architecture by materiality, Schröpfer, Thomas., Basel : Birkhäuser, c2011
ETFE [electronic resource] :Technology and design, LeCuyer, Annette W., Basel ; Boston : Birkhäuser, 2008
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volume- Bringing Surface into Question, brandon clifford, matter design 2013
Arte povera : the great awakening, Kunstmuseum Basel, Hatje Cantz, 2012
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