THE CONCEPT OF FOLDING FORM

Bosnia,Free-state,Lebbeus Woods,Undated

      When we talk about "digital design" most of people will only focus on three-dimensional, but how about two-dimensional? Is it still digital design? Or it is only an image not a design? By using computer's help, the designer can break through the exist form of space which designed by straight line mainly for thousands of years, in place of it is organic form body which is designed by free form and line. And it is more directly and efficiently modifying, pull and drag, or construct the models on the computer screen(real time), it also shortens the process of designing form and making decisions. Except organic free form, the relation between time and space is another important issue in digital projects. By using the function of animation morphing in the software, designers can easily destroy the only corresponding relation between time and space, and then proceed to find out and to discuss the possibility of "form follow time".

   "Soft, complex" and "free, flexible" of the free form design projects are the first impressions for people. The volume of space is not a solidity building block anymore, the sense of "pure geometry" has been replaced by "twist", "dissolve", and "movement" spatial volumes. The new type of design has come.

   If we observe and explain contemporary architecture from the digital angle, we can find there are two main concepts inside ; De-formation and In-formation. De-formation is through computer drawing programme quickly shaped non-line form and combine CAM skill produce 3D computer images or physical models. It also can apply to physical architecture constructions. In-formation is trying to put the latest media and information concepts in the architectural design. In-formation architecture is towards to comprehensive interactive development, it is emphasis on communication and interaction with the environment, in other words what could be called "Hi-tech organic"  architecture.

   "The fold" represents another choice of Cartesian coordinate system, in the process of "fold", the graphic and background have been changed. In other words, the real space in three-dimensional "fold" is not related to visual space in two-dimension anymore.

   The concept of folding has been discussed for a long time in lots of areas, like architecture, mathematics and physics. In traditional architectural concept, the "fold" had been thought of as a neutral Cartesian coordinate. But nowadays architects changed this concept to "animate form" or "organic form", this is based on calculating media and it also finds another answer in "time and space". We can think "fold" is an action or a movement, and in some architect's case they think of it as deconstruction, like Daniel Libeskind and Lebbeus Woods. In the 1980s a new tendency was born ; deconstruction, which was also called "new modern architecture" in its beginning. It was meant to replace post modern architecture. A very significant difference of this style is that it started rather from an intellectual movement than from a significant building marking it's beginning. The new slogan was "form follows fantasy" similar to the tradition formula pronounced by Sullivian "form follows function".            J' @ F²s

La Habana Vieja,The Wall,1995,Lebbeus Woods

Significance

design driven by nature, nature inspired design

設計,提供的是一種新的觀念,一種新的生活形態

在盒子內的形隨機能,或是機能隨形的思考

都脫離不了環境,與習慣行為模式

呼吸的空間與能量的累積

融入生活之中

美學,生活科學,人文素養

這應該才是設計的核心價值

TREND

Digital Architecture

   When digital architecture this strong power of trend comes, some people think about future and face to past. Could we solve the problems of living and society that the architects concern for last century? If the architects are satisfied with their art works, do people like to live in the houses which covered by pc and internet? Some architects say “ architecture is a liberated form” so the “free form” appears, some architects say “architecture is a container of information” so the “digital wall” appears…  Compare to the traditional architecture the digital architecture use computers or digital systems to help create or design even build, and the digital one use the different types of space environments, the key points are apply and combine the information of design, it is totally different than the traditional one. Every era has different technology, now digital and information are the peculiarities, apparently the changes are not the form of the architecture but is the thoughts and process of design. 

   "Internet architecture" and "virtual architecture" are parts of digital architecture, the first one is about the definition of space become blurred because of the internet space , there are two kinds of spaces exist at the same time but one is real and the other is cyber so we have to redefine the meaning of space . The second one is about the skill of Virtual Reality , it makes walls not only walls but also a visual experience and a information media . When Bilboa Guggenheim Museum finished in 1997 the definition of digital architecture is only "free form" but now digital architecture includes "internet architecture" and "virtual architecture" two more , these 3 concepts rich the variety meanings of spaces . One character of digital architecture is "information architecture" its concept is based on human and use media to connect information , it offer a place for people to communication , space will become a "container of information" For example the books in libraries can use the digital skills to change the real spaces to virtual informative spaces and it can save a lot of spaces where put shelves and books . Another example is museums before it is a place for collect and exhibit but now we can link the internet and use the virtual guide visiting in a virtual space it just like you are in the museum noting different , and its function not collect and exhibit but it is a place for people to change information or social and educational services . We can realize these differences by seeing Bilbao Guggenheim Museum in Spain (by Frank.O.Gehry in 1997) and Experience Music Project (EMP) in Seattle (by Frank.O.Gehry in 2000) .

   Since 1990 the digital technology made the forms and the spaces of architectures changed to curved lines or surfaces, so architectures became soft and spaces became changeable. I believe after few years we will not describe this kind of architecture as “digital architecture” because it is “Architecture”.                     J' @ F²s

      

    

This is trend...