Technology has increasingly become a key component of teaching and learning, particularly with th... more Technology has increasingly become a key component of teaching and learning, particularly with the rapid shift to delivery through online platforms as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020–2022, students who studied online often struggled to achieve key learning outcomes and receive lower marks than their on-campus peers, demonstrating reduced engagement in an online environment. A shared concern identified within the School of Architecture, Design, and Planning at the University of Sydney, was the ability to deliver a sense of physical experience to students who are studying online. This paper details our proposed solution to improve engagement in online tutorials through a "Hybrid Model" that: leverages rapidly advancing virtual reality technology; integrates the fundamental principles of gamification and incorporates experiential learning into the learning process. These three key areas are further supported by a recommended tutorial structure or time propo...
In this article we introduce a body of research on drawing in the extended field and discuss a re... more In this article we introduce a body of research on drawing in the extended field and discuss a recent outcome – Reef, an installation at the Tin Shed gallery, Sydney. The research agenda has evolved from architectural sketch drawing. The research extends the open, evocative capacity of drawing through experimental installation art works, deploying sculptural sketch objects, VR, AR and soundscapes. Reef is the second in a series exploring the landscape phenomena of seismic shock. It is a sketch of a section of seabed in Kaikōura, Aotearoa New Zealand.
The implementation of two pre-occupancy evaluation tools (P-OET) demonstrating the feasibility of... more The implementation of two pre-occupancy evaluation tools (P-OET) demonstrating the feasibility of using mixed reality are documented. The focus is on the early design stages, where relative merits of distinct options are being considered. For proof-of-concept, a simple architectural design context was used – the simulation of a typical commercial office environment. Four principles underpin the specification of a Virtual Reality (VR) prototype: (1) quasi-realistic graphics and low geometry models; (2) a multi-sensory approach (3) the capacity to evaluate changes in temporal context (4) evaluation via a task-based approach, combined with voice recordings and activity tracking. The second prototype uses Augmented Reality (AR) technology to compare design options where interactive virtual models appear on a conference table. Evaluation of the prototype applications is discussed: VR POET proved highly feasible and demonstrated the effectiveness of the four principles above; AR POET showed potential but is constrained by the functionality of available hardware.
Interstices: Journal of Architecture and Related Arts, 2022
This article reflects on creative practice employing multi-modal architectural drawing to sketch ... more This article reflects on creative practice employing multi-modal architectural drawing to sketch natural phenomena: expanded drawing. The work explores unfixed, intangible conditions within phenomena, conditions at the cusp of awareness, spatially felt as much as known by other means. Through multi-sensory drawing installations, phenomena such as oceanic immensity, seismic latency, and shapeshifting bushfires are sketched. The installations immerse participants within virtual, sculptural, and sonic sketches, intensifying phenomena’s abstract presence in a sympoiēsis of human and more-than-human dynamics. Three projects in the series are reflected upon as to their strategies for capturing unfixed conditions in expanded, hybrid sketches. Architectural drawing’s traditional openness, material dynamics, and capacity for imaginative projection, are shown to be intensified, through physical and digital sketch media, crossing unfixed drawing with unfixed phenomena.
Interstices: Journal of Architecture and Related Arts, 2022
This article reflects on creative practice employing multi-modal architectural drawing to sketch ... more This article reflects on creative practice employing multi-modal architectural drawing to sketch natural phenomena: expanded drawing. The work explores unfixed, intangible conditions within phenomena, conditions at the cusp of awareness, spatially felt as much as known by other means. Through multi-sensory drawing installations, phenomena such as oceanic immensity, seismic latency, and shapeshifting bushfires are sketched. The installations immerse participants within virtual, sculptural, and sonic sketches, intensifying phenomena’s abstract presence in a sympoiēsis of human and more-than-human dynamics. Three projects in the series are reflected upon as to their strategies for capturing unfixed conditions in expanded, hybrid sketches. Architectural drawing’s traditional openness, material dynamics, and capacity for imaginative projection, are shown to be intensified, through physical and digital sketch media, crossing unfixed drawing with unfixed phenomena.
Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 2018
ABSTRACT It has been demonstrated that kinetic sunscreens linked to intelligent building systems ... more ABSTRACT It has been demonstrated that kinetic sunscreens linked to intelligent building systems have the potential to improve the energy performance of large-scale public and commercial buildings. However, there has been minimal uptake, primarily due to the capital and maintenance costs. This study proposes that costs can be offset through adding value by repurposing the sunscreening system as a low-resolution media screen. To evaluate the feasibility of this hybrid environmental-media facade concept, physical prototypes has developed and calibrated to real-time simulation and control software; and two case studies were undertaken to assess the physical and economic feasibility. This article introduces the rationale for a hybrid façade, documents the prototypes and case studies, and outlines further work on control systems for a truly smart building façade.
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is one of the major construction material in Australia as well as o... more Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is one of the major construction material in Australia as well as other parts of the world. To increase its load carrying capacity, various internal and external methods of applying fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) can be found in the literature. In this article, carbon FRP (CFRP) is used externally on the tension side of LVL beams to enhance its flexural capacity. Two types of bonding arrangements are considered in this study, and the improvement in terms of ductility, stiffness and ultimate load carrying capacity against control beams are investigated. In addition, the experimental data is verified using two analytical models. One of the analytical models considers elastic-plastic behaviour of timber in compression while the other contemplates the non-linear behaviour. The advantages and accuracy of both models are assessed for the application in the design of a CFRP-LVL composite beam.
In recent years, carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) was found to be an effective technique to... more In recent years, carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) was found to be an effective technique to strengthen or retrofit timber beams. One of the timber sub-products, laminated veneer lumber (LVL), has two different surfaces (laminate and grain face) in the direction of its grain on which CFRP is usually applied in order to increase its flexural strength. To enhance the shear strength of an LVL, CFRP is applied in the direction perpendicular to the LVL grain. In this study, the application of CFRP on different surfaces and grain directions of an LVL is analysed experimentally and theoretically. For the theoretical interpretation, the values related to the parameters that incorporate the effect of surface and grain direction are proposed and verified. Moreover, maximum bond strength, fracture energy and bond stiffness are determined to assess the bond strength between these two materials.
Technology has increasingly become a key component of teaching and learning, particularly with th... more Technology has increasingly become a key component of teaching and learning, particularly with the rapid shift to delivery through online platforms as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020–2022, students who studied online often struggled to achieve key learning outcomes and receive lower marks than their on-campus peers, demonstrating reduced engagement in an online environment. A shared concern identified within the School of Architecture, Design, and Planning at the University of Sydney, was the ability to deliver a sense of physical experience to students who are studying online. This paper details our proposed solution to improve engagement in online tutorials through a "Hybrid Model" that: leverages rapidly advancing virtual reality technology; integrates the fundamental principles of gamification and incorporates experiential learning into the learning process. These three key areas are further supported by a recommended tutorial structure or time propo...
In this article we introduce a body of research on drawing in the extended field and discuss a re... more In this article we introduce a body of research on drawing in the extended field and discuss a recent outcome – Reef, an installation at the Tin Shed gallery, Sydney. The research agenda has evolved from architectural sketch drawing. The research extends the open, evocative capacity of drawing through experimental installation art works, deploying sculptural sketch objects, VR, AR and soundscapes. Reef is the second in a series exploring the landscape phenomena of seismic shock. It is a sketch of a section of seabed in Kaikōura, Aotearoa New Zealand.
The implementation of two pre-occupancy evaluation tools (P-OET) demonstrating the feasibility of... more The implementation of two pre-occupancy evaluation tools (P-OET) demonstrating the feasibility of using mixed reality are documented. The focus is on the early design stages, where relative merits of distinct options are being considered. For proof-of-concept, a simple architectural design context was used – the simulation of a typical commercial office environment. Four principles underpin the specification of a Virtual Reality (VR) prototype: (1) quasi-realistic graphics and low geometry models; (2) a multi-sensory approach (3) the capacity to evaluate changes in temporal context (4) evaluation via a task-based approach, combined with voice recordings and activity tracking. The second prototype uses Augmented Reality (AR) technology to compare design options where interactive virtual models appear on a conference table. Evaluation of the prototype applications is discussed: VR POET proved highly feasible and demonstrated the effectiveness of the four principles above; AR POET showed potential but is constrained by the functionality of available hardware.
Interstices: Journal of Architecture and Related Arts, 2022
This article reflects on creative practice employing multi-modal architectural drawing to sketch ... more This article reflects on creative practice employing multi-modal architectural drawing to sketch natural phenomena: expanded drawing. The work explores unfixed, intangible conditions within phenomena, conditions at the cusp of awareness, spatially felt as much as known by other means. Through multi-sensory drawing installations, phenomena such as oceanic immensity, seismic latency, and shapeshifting bushfires are sketched. The installations immerse participants within virtual, sculptural, and sonic sketches, intensifying phenomena’s abstract presence in a sympoiēsis of human and more-than-human dynamics. Three projects in the series are reflected upon as to their strategies for capturing unfixed conditions in expanded, hybrid sketches. Architectural drawing’s traditional openness, material dynamics, and capacity for imaginative projection, are shown to be intensified, through physical and digital sketch media, crossing unfixed drawing with unfixed phenomena.
Interstices: Journal of Architecture and Related Arts, 2022
This article reflects on creative practice employing multi-modal architectural drawing to sketch ... more This article reflects on creative practice employing multi-modal architectural drawing to sketch natural phenomena: expanded drawing. The work explores unfixed, intangible conditions within phenomena, conditions at the cusp of awareness, spatially felt as much as known by other means. Through multi-sensory drawing installations, phenomena such as oceanic immensity, seismic latency, and shapeshifting bushfires are sketched. The installations immerse participants within virtual, sculptural, and sonic sketches, intensifying phenomena’s abstract presence in a sympoiēsis of human and more-than-human dynamics. Three projects in the series are reflected upon as to their strategies for capturing unfixed conditions in expanded, hybrid sketches. Architectural drawing’s traditional openness, material dynamics, and capacity for imaginative projection, are shown to be intensified, through physical and digital sketch media, crossing unfixed drawing with unfixed phenomena.
Architectural Engineering and Design Management, 2018
ABSTRACT It has been demonstrated that kinetic sunscreens linked to intelligent building systems ... more ABSTRACT It has been demonstrated that kinetic sunscreens linked to intelligent building systems have the potential to improve the energy performance of large-scale public and commercial buildings. However, there has been minimal uptake, primarily due to the capital and maintenance costs. This study proposes that costs can be offset through adding value by repurposing the sunscreening system as a low-resolution media screen. To evaluate the feasibility of this hybrid environmental-media facade concept, physical prototypes has developed and calibrated to real-time simulation and control software; and two case studies were undertaken to assess the physical and economic feasibility. This article introduces the rationale for a hybrid façade, documents the prototypes and case studies, and outlines further work on control systems for a truly smart building façade.
Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is one of the major construction material in Australia as well as o... more Laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is one of the major construction material in Australia as well as other parts of the world. To increase its load carrying capacity, various internal and external methods of applying fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) can be found in the literature. In this article, carbon FRP (CFRP) is used externally on the tension side of LVL beams to enhance its flexural capacity. Two types of bonding arrangements are considered in this study, and the improvement in terms of ductility, stiffness and ultimate load carrying capacity against control beams are investigated. In addition, the experimental data is verified using two analytical models. One of the analytical models considers elastic-plastic behaviour of timber in compression while the other contemplates the non-linear behaviour. The advantages and accuracy of both models are assessed for the application in the design of a CFRP-LVL composite beam.
In recent years, carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) was found to be an effective technique to... more In recent years, carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) was found to be an effective technique to strengthen or retrofit timber beams. One of the timber sub-products, laminated veneer lumber (LVL), has two different surfaces (laminate and grain face) in the direction of its grain on which CFRP is usually applied in order to increase its flexural strength. To enhance the shear strength of an LVL, CFRP is applied in the direction perpendicular to the LVL grain. In this study, the application of CFRP on different surfaces and grain directions of an LVL is analysed experimentally and theoretically. For the theoretical interpretation, the values related to the parameters that incorporate the effect of surface and grain direction are proposed and verified. Moreover, maximum bond strength, fracture energy and bond stiffness are determined to assess the bond strength between these two materials.
This paper reports on a comparative study that evaluates two approaches to support the learning a... more This paper reports on a comparative study that evaluates two approaches to support the learning and use of algorithmic design in architecture, and extrapolates from this to consider applications for the algorithmic design of cities. The study explored two methods to reduce the barriers of using programming and potentially improve design performance. The first is the reuse of abstract algorithmic ‘patterns’. The second approach is the reuse of algorithmic solutions from specific design cases (case-based design). Reflecting on this research we outline how our findings discussed in relation to alternate thinking on the use of pattern, might inform a hybrid approach to the algorithmic design of cities.
There is significant potential for responsive sun screening systems to improve the energy perform... more There is significant potential for responsive sun screening systems to improve the energy performance of large scale public and commercial buildings. However there has been minimal uptake, primarily due to the capital and maintenance costs. We propose that these costs can be offset by providing added value in three ways. (1) Development of a finer grained control interface for occupants to enhance individual comfort, which has been shown to improve worker productivity. (2) With a high granularity of panels and a control system that enables individual movement of each panel, the system can be re-purposed as a low resolution media screen to foster social interactions in urban settings. (3) Enabling a new movement-aesthetic for architecture of indeterminate states that coalesce and shift during the daily and seasonal cycles, thus enlivening the public face of architecture. To evaluate the feasibility of such hybrid responsive facades we are developing physical prototypes calibrated to real time simulation and control software. A initial proof-of-concept design explores the optimal configuration and geometry of the kinetic panels to enable the granularity required for a range of graphic and textural information, along with development of the actuator. We document progress to date on this research into hybrid environmental-media façades’.
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