LEISURE ECOLOGIES, Advanced Research Design Studio,
Cornell University, AAP
Spring 2008, Department of Architecture
Studio Instructors: Dana Čupková, Kevin Pratt; Digital Support: Kyle Steinfeld
The purpose of this studio was to develop and refine a holistic methodology of adaptive component design in attempt to create an architecture that is tightly bound to the specificity of dynamic local ecologies while at the same time recognizing that contemporary means of production require a degree of repetitive process and material uniformity to achieve economic viability. Fundamentally, this is a biomimetic methodology, in that it seeks to exploit the malleability of flexible component assemblies that are tuned to the conditions that obtain at a definite set of points in both space and time. This studio focused on the production of an Eco-Hotel through variable material component systems which address and adapt to specific ecological conditions. The methodology of design was based on a mode of working that merges the capabilities of parametric digital technologies (Generative Components) with environmental data sets simulated through both linear (Weather Tool, Ecotect) and non linear (Envi-Met) dynamic data modeling for the purpose of defining new sustainable material form. The specific definition of context as a functional ecology was a key step in designing both components and their range of variation. This process required climatic, ecological and cultural analyses, as well as computational modeling and was critical to the design of adaptive component assemblies. We recursively used the analysis and performative testing to create a dynamic feedback within the design process. A tropical island of Fiji and the Vanua Levu Ecological Resort was an ideal test bed for this design method, as it exhibits both strong climatic variation and a unique cultural and ecological context. .
Spring 2008, Department of Architecture
Studio Instructors: Dana Čupková, Kevin Pratt; Digital Support: Kyle Steinfeld
The purpose of this studio was to develop and refine a holistic methodology of adaptive component design in attempt to create an architecture that is tightly bound to the specificity of dynamic local ecologies while at the same time recognizing that contemporary means of production require a degree of repetitive process and material uniformity to achieve economic viability. Fundamentally, this is a biomimetic methodology, in that it seeks to exploit the malleability of flexible component assemblies that are tuned to the conditions that obtain at a definite set of points in both space and time. This studio focused on the production of an Eco-Hotel through variable material component systems which address and adapt to specific ecological conditions. The methodology of design was based on a mode of working that merges the capabilities of parametric digital technologies (Generative Components) with environmental data sets simulated through both linear (Weather Tool, Ecotect) and non linear (Envi-Met) dynamic data modeling for the purpose of defining new sustainable material form. The specific definition of context as a functional ecology was a key step in designing both components and their range of variation. This process required climatic, ecological and cultural analyses, as well as computational modeling and was critical to the design of adaptive component assemblies. We recursively used the analysis and performative testing to create a dynamic feedback within the design process. A tropical island of Fiji and the Vanua Levu Ecological Resort was an ideal test bed for this design method, as it exhibits both strong climatic variation and a unique cultural and ecological context. .