In architectural design, explorations using digital modeling and rendering tools do not stop at p... more In architectural design, explorations using digital modeling and rendering tools do not stop at producing 3D geometries and representations. We need to interrogate the spatial implications of the functions these tools provide. One of the questions we need to ask is, is it possible to foreground architectural concepts "within" the mechanisms of these tools? This study focuses on one single function in 3D VIZ camera movement. The objective is to examine the spatial implications of this function in the computerized architectural space of Diamond Museum. Camera movement is studied in six variables: distance, point of view, camera angle, framing, duration and travel speed and sequencing. Further, the architectural concept of flatness will be understood through the movies generated within the space of Diamond Museum.
In this project, our goal is to teach children both recycling and geometry through an integrated ... more In this project, our goal is to teach children both recycling and geometry through an integrated process, by constructing deltahedra from recycled plastic bottles. We demonstrate that the two-bottle modules can potentially represent all possible 2-manifold meshes. Moreover, for structural stability, we use triangular faces. All possible deltahedra; i.e., polyhedra whose faces are all equilateral triangles, can be constructed by assembling these two-bottle modular units. And, since we want the process to be as “easy and safe” as possible for children, we avoid cutting the bottles, and join them using common schoolroom materials: tape, rubber bands, etc.
Architectural Thinking in Phenomenology The Thermal Bath Vals by Peter Zumthor
Time Architecture, 2008
Thermal Bath Vals, Graubunden, Switzerland, designed by Peter Zumthor will be analyzed in order t... more Thermal Bath Vals, Graubunden, Switzerland, designed by Peter Zumthor will be analyzed in order to seek an understanding of the relationship between the concept of phenomenology and the process of architectural design. The assumptions of this article ...
This paper examines how camera movement interprets architectural space and describes a navigation... more This paper examines how camera movement interprets architectural space and describes a navigation system that is designed to facilitate real time path planning and control of camera movement. The navigation system also allows people to save and retrieve walkthrough paths and thus enables different interpretations of the space by different observers to coexist in the same space. With case studies, we demonstrate that whether a space appears intelligible or unintelligible may be manipulated in the way how the space is interpreted through camera movement.
When I started writing this work, my housemate was pregnant. I witnessed changes in her body dail... more When I started writing this work, my housemate was pregnant. I witnessed changes in her body daily with the growing baby and her experiences of happiness, pain, and most of all, hope. Now, the baby is nearly one year old, and my work is complete. The metaphorical relationship between carrying a baby and working on a dissertation is not a novel one because truth does not need to be rendered in novelty. However, a pregnancy fails to encapsulate the entire process of my work, which was not only a labor of an individual but also a project of intense collaboration. Unlike the delivery of a baby, it was an extended process of delivery. Very fortunately, I delivered my "baby" at Georgia Tech with the help of many individuals. Regardless of my pushing, screaming, or exhaustion, they were always by my side. Therefore, I am very much in debt to these people: My advisor, mentor and friend, Dr. John Peponis, for his rigor and passion. It was he who strongly encouraged that I pursue the topic of Hejduk while I was instinctively compelled by the deep sadness felt in Hejduk's work. I deeply appreciate his openness, insight, encouragement, and engagement in my work. Two images of John that stand out in my mind the most are the logical John, arguing a theory, and the passionate one, strumming the guitar strings, always influencing the mode of my work. Dr. Ken Knoespel, for his fascination in crossing the boundary between the eastern and western cultures, and for this encouragement and insight, which led me to think beyond the limit of my work. Dr. Sonit Bafna, for his accurate criticism and precise advice. He helped me in activities ranging from those as specific as tightening a computer projector connection to those as abstract as tightening an argument. Dr. David Shapiro, for his warmth and welcome to the area of studying Hejduk's work. His stories always provided a vivid image of the person whose world I was trying to enter. His encouragement and inspiration guided me until the final step in the defense of this dissertation. Dr. Sohpia Psarra, for her constructive comments, her energy, and her sharp comments in pushing this dissertation forward. Dr. Aarati Karnekar, for her inspiration through her own work, which became the direct reason for my choosing the interdisciplinary study of architecture. Dr. Athanassios Economou for his humor, friendship and his enthusiasm in my work. Jane Chisholm, for the proofreading and editing of my dissertation and her support and encouragement as a friend. Lord Aeck Sargent Architect, Inc. for their financial support, which that I have depended on throughout my doctoral studies, and for the practicing opportunities in the real world of architecture, which have been valuable experience to me. I'd also like to thank several people who were not directly involved in my dissertation but whose help was indispensable. They are Professor Douglas C. Allen, Dr. Ronald Lewcock, my qualifying paper and comprehensive minor committee: Professor Charles Eastman and Dr. Athanassios Economou, who helped me build a foundation in computational design, which not only benefited my current study but also, more importantly, will benefit me in future research; Dr. Elizabeth Dowling for her engaging me in the world of teaching architecture; Dr. Jean Wineman, for her help, especially in the first few years after I arrived at Tech, and for the intern architect job that she helped me find at Lord Aeck Sargent Architects in Atlanta. I am also obliged to the following people who provided me with valuable information with which to complete my dissertation. They are David Shapiro (Hejduk's friend and colleague for twenty years), Robert Shubert (Associate Curator, Prints and Drawings Collection, Centre Canadien d'Architecture), Kim Shkapich (editor of the majority of Hejduk's v publications), Reneta Hejduk (Hejduk's daughter, who teaches architecture at Arizona State University), Ulrich Franzen (the former president of the Architectural League and the organizer of Hejduk's Diamond Exhibition in 1956), and Steven Hillyer (Director of the Architecture Archives Center at the Cooper Union). Many friends have also helped in different stages of the dissertation, but their friendship has always been extremely valuable to me. In particularly, I'd like to thank Peng Jiang and Ghang Lee for their patience and help, Hazem Ziada and Saleem Mokbel for their humor and dependability, Yi Lo and Tristan Al-Haddad for their guidance on 3D animation and movie editing, and Dr. Frances Hsu, Ranah Hammash and Hans Verheij for their support. Yinwu Huang for supporting me from a tremendous geographic distance. Yan Yang, Beisi Jia, Lan Wang, and Wei Tang, for their inspiration, tenacity, and assistance despite their busy schedules. I shall also thank Gerardo Odivilas for standing by me in the past months, taking on some of the burdens that I have been carrying and making my life happier and easier. Most of all, my deepest thanks go to my parents for their continuous love, support, and sacrifices by allowing and encouraging me pursue my dreams. I strongly feel their trust and faith although they and I are on opposite sides of the globe.
This paper intends to formulate a teaser rather than an investigation to address a complex situat... more This paper intends to formulate a teaser rather than an investigation to address a complex situation. The objective is to present conflicts rather than to find solutions.
In symbolic systems, meaning arises as patterns of relationships and elements mutually engage and... more In symbolic systems, meaning arises as patterns of relationships and elements mutually engage and define themselves. As Hillier and Hanson (1984) have pointed out, in some symbolic systems, such as built space, relational properties are far more important to the construction of meaning than any provisionally crystallised elements. Therein lies an important distinction between built space, as a morphic language, from language proper. The theory of space syntax has shown how generic social and cultural functions do indeed arise from the relational properties of built space. This does not preclude the possibility that the emergence of provisionally crystallised formal elements may have a role in the constitution, reproduction and activation of syntactic patterns, or that architectural meaning does depend upon the presence of crystallised elements. The relationship between elements and relationships is open to further exploration. Through a limited analysis of some works by John Hejduk,...
Enquiry The ARCC Journal for Architectural Research
Plastics present a vast and pressing issue in modern society. Currently recycling efforts fall da... more Plastics present a vast and pressing issue in modern society. Currently recycling efforts fall dangerously short of dealing with even a small percent of the millions of tons of plastic waste produced yearly across the globe. This article investigates resistance toward plastic recycling in three areas from both a contemporary and a historical context, highlighting the magnitude of the problem and the insufficient nature of current solutions. The three primary areas covered are the plastics problem from (1) a design perspective, (2) a material science perspective, and (3) a systems perspective. Solutions are proposed that emphasize a synergistic collaboration across disciplines and research modes. Ultimately, the conclusions point to a need for stronger engagement at the level of people (both consumers and decision makers) and reintegrating reused and recycled plastics into everyday life to build a solid foundation for success.
In symbolic systems, meaning arises as patterns of relationships and elements mutually engage and... more In symbolic systems, meaning arises as patterns of relationships and elements mutually engage and define themselves. As Hillier and Hanson (1984) have pointed out, in some symbolic systems, such as built space, relational properties are far more important to the construction of meaning than any provisionally crystallised elements. Therein lies an important distinction between built space, as a morphic language, from language proper. The theory of space syntax has shown how generic social and cultural functions do ...
Four distinct plastics recycling projects created by middle school students emerged from a one-we... more Four distinct plastics recycling projects created by middle school students emerged from a one-week long plastics recycling activity incorporated within a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) residential summer camp at a research-intensive university. The plastics recycling activity was a projectbased learning (PBL) activity facilitated by STEM experts in geometry, architecture, and materials science. Specific instruction involving mathematics and science concepts was provided to emphasize contentspecific knowledge related to plastics recycling. A rubric was applied and used to determine evidence of learning manifested in participants' final presentations. Participants' final presentations demonstrated mixed results in terms of student learning outcomes, but indicated that campers demonstrated a clear sense of social environmental awareness and responsibility toward recycling plastics.
A studio project is conducted to design a walkthrough space from music pieces. In this project, t... more A studio project is conducted to design a walkthrough space from music pieces. In this project, the translation from non-visual artwork into visual forms is interrogated. Diagrams are used as the mediator in the translation process.
In architectural design, explorations using digital modeling and rendering tools do not stop at p... more In architectural design, explorations using digital modeling and rendering tools do not stop at producing 3D geometries and representations. We need to interrogate the spatial implications of the functions these tools provide. One of the questions we need to ask is, is it possible to foreground architectural concepts "within" the mechanisms of these tools? This study focuses on one single function in 3D VIZ camera movement. The objective is to examine the spatial implications of this function in the computerized architectural space of Diamond Museum. Camera movement is studied in six variables: distance, point of view, camera angle, framing, duration and travel speed and sequencing. Further, the architectural concept of flatness will be understood through the movies generated within the space of Diamond Museum.
In this project, our goal is to teach children both recycling and geometry through an integrated ... more In this project, our goal is to teach children both recycling and geometry through an integrated process, by constructing deltahedra from recycled plastic bottles. We demonstrate that the two-bottle modules can potentially represent all possible 2-manifold meshes. Moreover, for structural stability, we use triangular faces. All possible deltahedra; i.e., polyhedra whose faces are all equilateral triangles, can be constructed by assembling these two-bottle modular units. And, since we want the process to be as “easy and safe” as possible for children, we avoid cutting the bottles, and join them using common schoolroom materials: tape, rubber bands, etc.
Architectural Thinking in Phenomenology The Thermal Bath Vals by Peter Zumthor
Time Architecture, 2008
Thermal Bath Vals, Graubunden, Switzerland, designed by Peter Zumthor will be analyzed in order t... more Thermal Bath Vals, Graubunden, Switzerland, designed by Peter Zumthor will be analyzed in order to seek an understanding of the relationship between the concept of phenomenology and the process of architectural design. The assumptions of this article ...
This paper examines how camera movement interprets architectural space and describes a navigation... more This paper examines how camera movement interprets architectural space and describes a navigation system that is designed to facilitate real time path planning and control of camera movement. The navigation system also allows people to save and retrieve walkthrough paths and thus enables different interpretations of the space by different observers to coexist in the same space. With case studies, we demonstrate that whether a space appears intelligible or unintelligible may be manipulated in the way how the space is interpreted through camera movement.
When I started writing this work, my housemate was pregnant. I witnessed changes in her body dail... more When I started writing this work, my housemate was pregnant. I witnessed changes in her body daily with the growing baby and her experiences of happiness, pain, and most of all, hope. Now, the baby is nearly one year old, and my work is complete. The metaphorical relationship between carrying a baby and working on a dissertation is not a novel one because truth does not need to be rendered in novelty. However, a pregnancy fails to encapsulate the entire process of my work, which was not only a labor of an individual but also a project of intense collaboration. Unlike the delivery of a baby, it was an extended process of delivery. Very fortunately, I delivered my "baby" at Georgia Tech with the help of many individuals. Regardless of my pushing, screaming, or exhaustion, they were always by my side. Therefore, I am very much in debt to these people: My advisor, mentor and friend, Dr. John Peponis, for his rigor and passion. It was he who strongly encouraged that I pursue the topic of Hejduk while I was instinctively compelled by the deep sadness felt in Hejduk's work. I deeply appreciate his openness, insight, encouragement, and engagement in my work. Two images of John that stand out in my mind the most are the logical John, arguing a theory, and the passionate one, strumming the guitar strings, always influencing the mode of my work. Dr. Ken Knoespel, for his fascination in crossing the boundary between the eastern and western cultures, and for this encouragement and insight, which led me to think beyond the limit of my work. Dr. Sonit Bafna, for his accurate criticism and precise advice. He helped me in activities ranging from those as specific as tightening a computer projector connection to those as abstract as tightening an argument. Dr. David Shapiro, for his warmth and welcome to the area of studying Hejduk's work. His stories always provided a vivid image of the person whose world I was trying to enter. His encouragement and inspiration guided me until the final step in the defense of this dissertation. Dr. Sohpia Psarra, for her constructive comments, her energy, and her sharp comments in pushing this dissertation forward. Dr. Aarati Karnekar, for her inspiration through her own work, which became the direct reason for my choosing the interdisciplinary study of architecture. Dr. Athanassios Economou for his humor, friendship and his enthusiasm in my work. Jane Chisholm, for the proofreading and editing of my dissertation and her support and encouragement as a friend. Lord Aeck Sargent Architect, Inc. for their financial support, which that I have depended on throughout my doctoral studies, and for the practicing opportunities in the real world of architecture, which have been valuable experience to me. I'd also like to thank several people who were not directly involved in my dissertation but whose help was indispensable. They are Professor Douglas C. Allen, Dr. Ronald Lewcock, my qualifying paper and comprehensive minor committee: Professor Charles Eastman and Dr. Athanassios Economou, who helped me build a foundation in computational design, which not only benefited my current study but also, more importantly, will benefit me in future research; Dr. Elizabeth Dowling for her engaging me in the world of teaching architecture; Dr. Jean Wineman, for her help, especially in the first few years after I arrived at Tech, and for the intern architect job that she helped me find at Lord Aeck Sargent Architects in Atlanta. I am also obliged to the following people who provided me with valuable information with which to complete my dissertation. They are David Shapiro (Hejduk's friend and colleague for twenty years), Robert Shubert (Associate Curator, Prints and Drawings Collection, Centre Canadien d'Architecture), Kim Shkapich (editor of the majority of Hejduk's v publications), Reneta Hejduk (Hejduk's daughter, who teaches architecture at Arizona State University), Ulrich Franzen (the former president of the Architectural League and the organizer of Hejduk's Diamond Exhibition in 1956), and Steven Hillyer (Director of the Architecture Archives Center at the Cooper Union). Many friends have also helped in different stages of the dissertation, but their friendship has always been extremely valuable to me. In particularly, I'd like to thank Peng Jiang and Ghang Lee for their patience and help, Hazem Ziada and Saleem Mokbel for their humor and dependability, Yi Lo and Tristan Al-Haddad for their guidance on 3D animation and movie editing, and Dr. Frances Hsu, Ranah Hammash and Hans Verheij for their support. Yinwu Huang for supporting me from a tremendous geographic distance. Yan Yang, Beisi Jia, Lan Wang, and Wei Tang, for their inspiration, tenacity, and assistance despite their busy schedules. I shall also thank Gerardo Odivilas for standing by me in the past months, taking on some of the burdens that I have been carrying and making my life happier and easier. Most of all, my deepest thanks go to my parents for their continuous love, support, and sacrifices by allowing and encouraging me pursue my dreams. I strongly feel their trust and faith although they and I are on opposite sides of the globe.
This paper intends to formulate a teaser rather than an investigation to address a complex situat... more This paper intends to formulate a teaser rather than an investigation to address a complex situation. The objective is to present conflicts rather than to find solutions.
In symbolic systems, meaning arises as patterns of relationships and elements mutually engage and... more In symbolic systems, meaning arises as patterns of relationships and elements mutually engage and define themselves. As Hillier and Hanson (1984) have pointed out, in some symbolic systems, such as built space, relational properties are far more important to the construction of meaning than any provisionally crystallised elements. Therein lies an important distinction between built space, as a morphic language, from language proper. The theory of space syntax has shown how generic social and cultural functions do indeed arise from the relational properties of built space. This does not preclude the possibility that the emergence of provisionally crystallised formal elements may have a role in the constitution, reproduction and activation of syntactic patterns, or that architectural meaning does depend upon the presence of crystallised elements. The relationship between elements and relationships is open to further exploration. Through a limited analysis of some works by John Hejduk,...
Enquiry The ARCC Journal for Architectural Research
Plastics present a vast and pressing issue in modern society. Currently recycling efforts fall da... more Plastics present a vast and pressing issue in modern society. Currently recycling efforts fall dangerously short of dealing with even a small percent of the millions of tons of plastic waste produced yearly across the globe. This article investigates resistance toward plastic recycling in three areas from both a contemporary and a historical context, highlighting the magnitude of the problem and the insufficient nature of current solutions. The three primary areas covered are the plastics problem from (1) a design perspective, (2) a material science perspective, and (3) a systems perspective. Solutions are proposed that emphasize a synergistic collaboration across disciplines and research modes. Ultimately, the conclusions point to a need for stronger engagement at the level of people (both consumers and decision makers) and reintegrating reused and recycled plastics into everyday life to build a solid foundation for success.
In symbolic systems, meaning arises as patterns of relationships and elements mutually engage and... more In symbolic systems, meaning arises as patterns of relationships and elements mutually engage and define themselves. As Hillier and Hanson (1984) have pointed out, in some symbolic systems, such as built space, relational properties are far more important to the construction of meaning than any provisionally crystallised elements. Therein lies an important distinction between built space, as a morphic language, from language proper. The theory of space syntax has shown how generic social and cultural functions do ...
Four distinct plastics recycling projects created by middle school students emerged from a one-we... more Four distinct plastics recycling projects created by middle school students emerged from a one-week long plastics recycling activity incorporated within a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) residential summer camp at a research-intensive university. The plastics recycling activity was a projectbased learning (PBL) activity facilitated by STEM experts in geometry, architecture, and materials science. Specific instruction involving mathematics and science concepts was provided to emphasize contentspecific knowledge related to plastics recycling. A rubric was applied and used to determine evidence of learning manifested in participants' final presentations. Participants' final presentations demonstrated mixed results in terms of student learning outcomes, but indicated that campers demonstrated a clear sense of social environmental awareness and responsibility toward recycling plastics.
A studio project is conducted to design a walkthrough space from music pieces. In this project, t... more A studio project is conducted to design a walkthrough space from music pieces. In this project, the translation from non-visual artwork into visual forms is interrogated. Diagrams are used as the mediator in the translation process.
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