Parasitic plants

There are many kinds of parasites in this world. Parasitic plants or bugs or even microscopic ones. The ones we are going to focus on are parasitic plants. Even in plants, there are many kinds of parasites. Ones that are harmless or harmful towards other plants or parasites that could benefit us or look pretty. Here are a few examples that I have looked up on:

Image Reference: http://collectingfood.blogspot.com/

 Honey Mushroom: A mushroom that usually grows on the ground at the base of the tree, occasionally it can be found growing at the tree trunk or stem. Although the honey mushroom is considered as dangerous due to the fact that it kills all the hosts it grows on, in the kitchen most people considers it as a delicious food.

Image Reference: http://gardeninggarden.com/tag/tallest-plants/

Rafflesia: Most people would think this is just the biggest flower in the world. Actually this plant is also considered as a parasite. Despite having a nice look, it has a very strong odor coming from the spiky area of the flower. The Rafflesia can grow to approximately 90cm and weight about 11kg. Rafflesia grows at the base of a tree as their host but they do not kill their host. The Rafflesia can only grow in rainforests from countries Philippine, Malaya, Indonesia, Borneo and Sumatra.

Image Reference: http://www.sybout.com/parasites_fungi.htm

Mistletoe: If none of you knew, mistletoe is actually one type of parasite, but just partially a parasite. Yes, the mistletoe that you all watch in cartoons, where standing under one during Christmas Eve means a couple has to kiss each other. As a parasite, the mistletoe grows on trees, by doing that they absorb nutrients from their host. The fruit of the mistletoe is often targeted by birds and is eaten by them.

Image Reference: http://www.waldeneffect.org/archives/2009/02/

 Dodder: If you can't tell which is the parasite, for your information it is the orange colour vine. The reason it is orange in colour it's because this parasite has no green pigment at all, in other words it can't do photosynthesis on it's own due to the fact that it can't produce sugars. That's why they twine around a preferred plant and than suck the nutrients out of them till their host die. The dodder can be a really picky parasite, it chooses the "tastier" plants as its host.


So this was one of the few parasitic plants that I was interested in and have slightly checked up on, In the end I decided to do something that is similar to the dodder and a bit of the honey mushrooms but mainly focusing on dodder. I will show two images which slightly resembles dodder and honey mushrooms.

Dodder

I slightly raised the number of supposedly vines into something that is more structural. But I did not plan to remove the original purpose of a dodder which is to suck up nutrients from the host but in this case, create some blockage and block some sunlight and at the same time views. I further planed that I will turn this upside down, using it as support of the building in the future as a dodder is a vine and it supports the host for a while as well.

In this case, it's pretty obvious how did the honey mushrooms helped. But on the other hand, the only thing it did was give an idea how to line those boxes up. Nevertheless, further explorations is required. This arrangement might be good but it might not be the result of the best arrangement.










In conclusion, shall it be "DESIGN"? or "FUNCTIONALITY"? The beauty of the dodder? or the functionality of the dodder? the beauty of the honey mushrooms? or the functionality of the mushrooms?

Site and parasite

This site is probably one of the most challenging site we have ever had. It is the story bridge, given the fact that we are required to building on or around or under the bridge, it has become quite flexible but yet challenging. The point is, how are we going to build a building ON or hanging UNDER or sticking BESIDE the bridge? With the theme of "parasite".

Interesting is it not?

Given that we had done our site analysis, it was a site that was filled with tons of pedestrians before due to the floating bridge and the surroundings. Sadly, these has changed. The reason is because the floating bridge was damaged during the flood a while ago. But still, Story Bridge was still as busy as ever, than it came to my mind instead of having it under Story Bridge, would it not be a better idea if we had it not under, but hanging underneath? Or may be on? Or perhaps beside?

Here is a few example images of people imagining or making concepts of those ideas and "parasite":

Image Source: http://s639.photobucket.com/albums/uu111/JusticeAyye/?action=view&current=hensley-bridge.jpg&mediafilter=images

Image Source: http://www.architecture-view.com/2010/10/21/italian-highway-reuse-for-parasitic-city/

Image Source: http://www.dsgnwrld.com/prefab-parasite-by-lara-calder-architect-11166/parasite-prefab-lara-calder-architect-3/

Given that few ideas, I thought instead of just using one side, why not build on and beside and till under? But is was not possible due to our limitations. Hence I decided that I would build on and beside. Not to mention, our design has to be incorporated with our previous folie design. The concept I generated was something like this:

It may not look nice yet because it is just a concept, my plan is to explore this shape. Having multiple partitions around the area and than connect it with escalators covered with tinted glass, allowing full view of the city and the surroundings and at the same time being a parasite by hanging onto the bridge as life support.

Thinking about life support makes me think of parasitic plants. They basically hang onto each other for life, if the parasitic plant does not have a support it will not live.

Image Source: http://www.bio.tu-darmstadt.de/forschen/forschen_1/kaldenhoff/index.de.jsp

Also at the same time while researching about parasites, I came across a few parasites that actually were quite scary such as the "Jewel Wasp" and the "Cymothoa Exigua". The Cymothoa Exigua is a parasite that attaches itself to the tongue of the fish, replacing it. Although it replaces the tongue of the fish, it does not give any harm to it.

Image Source: http://blog.refractal.org/2009/09/17/my-other-tounge-is-a-cymothoa-exigua/

The next idea should be about incorporating the folie design(which I posted on in my previous posts) into this concept. But my plan is to develop this concept a bit further before I actually incorporate it.

Ninja Arithmetic

First things first, ninja arithmetic is actually arithmetic for buildings. Basically how people plus, minus, multiply and divide objects to make it look like an actual building. An example I will reference for you would be this.
 
image reference: http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?cat=58

This is the KAUST Breakwater Beacon at Saudi Arabia by HOK. This might be how the world sees a project and how did the architect did it although it might not be the same. But I think it is actually quite interesting.

This is actually a blog that was introduced by our tutorial group's tutor, which is really interesting, this blogs gives out quiet a lot of inspiration and also ideas. One of my favorite part is the ninja arithmetic, if sort of gives me the idea: "if you are brain dead or out of inspirations, this is the way to do it, they way of the ninja!"

Of course they not only share the good things, they also share critics, such as Hodolphin Parks. This building definitely is a weird one, very literal without any meaning.



image reference:  http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?cat=58

Indeed, it is a pencil sharpener minus a horse multiply tons of cash to build it. If you have no seen it, they even designed the eyes of the horse with light. This is actually a building proposed for Dubai and they will most likely build it.

After viewing more ninja arithmetic, I decided that I might use this technique to design my next assignment. Giving myself a chance to take up a new way of doing things, of course not ditching my previous ways. Who knows this would help me improve our working style? Nevertheless, exploring more ideas is always needed. But the main point for me in this ninja arithmetic is it's too fun, you could probably make anything out of anything. Even something like this is possible:




Image Reference: http://architecture.myninjaplease.com/?cat=58&paged=5

It's a donut plus lego, the solution is Science Centre and Aquarium in Hamburg's Hafencity. Anyone interested in seeing more ninja arithmetic, please visit http://www.architecture.myninjaplease.com and search under the "archjutsu > ninja arithmetic" section, have fun! Oh, by the way, this I made this just for fun but I will share it as well.

Week 3 Folie Design Idea?

Folie Design

This folie design thing was something really new to me. I did not have any idea until a few images was being shown on the lecture slides. The lecturer also mentioned that a folie is a structure that activates the space. It should be made for people there to use, depending what is it designed for. But than even after looking at it, it did not really come to me. There was no sparks at all, hence I went home and took a browse over the net. I came over a few images that was quite interesting, but they were all about "playing" type of experience and also curves. This was one of the images that I was interested of.

Than I started out with something organic. I thought of it due to the fact that it comes with so many shapes and the possibilities is so wide, though it might take a while but in the end it came down to the roots. It kind of looked like a hand for a while and thought: "hey, isn't the hand organic as well? It's simple and functional as well, for itself and it can also be functional for other people." Since children love to run around and play with anything, this would be something that is best for them to run around. Furthermore, it can be used to a standing or seating area for people who needs a shade to read or chit chat. With a couple of explorations I decided that I will stick with this shape where it's tilted towards the thumb, giving sun light and shade at the same
time.





















After a few drawings, I decided to experiment with a physical model and digital model. But for the physical model, it was made just to give me an imagination of how would it look like if it were to be made. It looked decent to be honest. I imagined it would look great an function well. Thinking that it can serve many kind of purpose, age and also at any time! Moving on to the digital model, it was not as good as I thought it was.







It was really over sized, it might look fine there, that is just because it was re-sized to fit people in. Hence I had to take it back and make another few experiments. This time, instead of drawings I used my own hand to experiment until I get something that looks tall enough and yet elegant enough as I like elegant things. This was what i came out with.

This is actually a similar thing to the previous one. The only difference is the fingers requires more curve and the thumb is straight up instead of lying down. But i do not intent to create a hand that is that high up, I am still going for a flat hand to create shape. It was never made to look exactly like a hand. The digital model of this experiment was quite a success. The dimensions fit in properly and the high was sweet.










The weird thing is, why did it have a rounded edge in the end while the rest of the model has a square and edged end which I originally planed for kids to climb onto it. I never intended to change the shape anyways cause it is essential for sitting where people like to lean their back on something. The round edge actually was made out of an imaginary join by the hand connecting to the wrist, it can create different kinds of shapes as well during different times of the day. Which really interests me.



But still, a lot of things came into my mind. Should it be made with patterns on the skin? What kind of material should it be made of? Exactly what kind of experience am I giving out and what am I inviting? Materials sure play an important role in this... Hence I will be running a few more experiments on this, which materials can create the most "fun" type of feeling yet soothing?

Week One Walk Shop

WEEK ONE WALK SHOP

This is one interesting week. For the first actual tutorial, we were asked to do this exercise or you can call it "journey" to the Story Bridge while recording the experiences. Though Story Bridge is near the city, despite being one of the sites that is damaged by the flood, it still looks at strong as usual.



We began our journey from QUT botanical garden, where we walk down the "hard edge" path. Although filled by grass and trees, there are still walking path made for pedestrians to walk on. Not to mention, near the entrance there was a sculpture that might be able to be considered as a "follie" which we will be doing as our first assignment.

This journey was a long walk but pleasant. To be able to walk through the city and capture it's different part makes it interesting. There was the river side, botanical garden and the Story Bridge. The greens comes and go so as the concrete feelings. As you walk you get into a green area but in a few minutes you end up in an environment where tall buildings stand. This was part of the experience that this walk gave me. These are a few drawings that was sketched out during the journey.

This final sketch is a drawing on the site. I will show the real picture of the site for a better understanding for people who might read this blog.

This site currently is closed hence we were not able to go in to do a more detailed site analysis and such. But on the other hand, I thought it might actually be advantage compared to being a disadvantage which it also is. This site is quite windy due to the fact that it is by the river side. Also it was not as noisy as I imagined it would be. The site was relatively cooling as well and I would assume that bellow the Story Bridge where our site will be will be especially cooling which is really good. Due to the fact that the site has more greens and it is lower in a way. Although the sun can be stunningly hot during the afternoon, but this site is quite well balanced due to the mountain by the side which blocks out half of the sun for almost the whole day. I think it is an awesome site to design a follie for a play ground or park which enables "play" in it and at the same time activates the space.

Anyways, I will have a few more pictures up showing a few pictures that I took during the journey that can represent a few elements of the city.

One of the flower I took while we were passing by the Botanical Garden

This was taken from the Story Bridge, the view of the city

Representation of tall buildings in Brisbane and a Sun Shine country