MODULE1

DIAGRAMMING DESIGN
PRECDENTS

BRIEF

The precedent work I was selected for is Kengo Kuma's TAO. This is a temple of Taoism worshipping the god of Taoism, Kikoku-shi, located in the mountain of Shinpudistanced 70 km away south of Taipei.

PRECEDENT ANALYSIS

TAO is a domed wooden structure, it has no columns and beams, and no roof frame to ensure rigidity only through joists and roof panels. A special design architecture was achieved by warping the edge of the roof pulled up from the ground. The design of such a hipped roof allows people to enter from one side of the eaves. Tao's design interprets the traditional Chinese roof, the temple is surrounded by nature, and its design philosophy is to create a harmonious connection with the environment through organic and balanced forms.

MODELLING PROCESS

I first used the provided elevation drawings and imported them into Rhino at 1:1 scale. Find the beams and joists and traced them separately. And rotate them from the plane to elevation and rearrange them according to the radian of the structure. Then when beam and joists are modeled and separated into two layers. A frame is inlaid by beams on top and joists on the bottom. According to the shape of the roof, I traced the highest ridge and lowest depression of the eaves and made the roof in Rhino with loft command. Trace the frame of the interior structure via the given plan view. By observing the election, the height and position of the objects in the interior can be calculated. Scale 1D can be used to adjust object height. Finally, they were assembled to complete the TAO model.

ANALYSIS - CIRCULATION

Approach and Entrance

The approach to the building is the first layer of circulation. The formal type approach of TAO is the frontal approach because the rock with incense marks the main entrance of the pavilion. There are two oblique approaches in TAO. The entrances here create a more dynamic composition for the TAO. The middle of the pavilion is the main people gathering area, people may pray and meditate here.

Configuration of Path

Paths are relative to the spaces they link to. Usually, people go from downhill to uphill to see the rock right in front of the pavilion. Then they enter through the main entrance and pray or perform rituals in front of the statue and finally exit through the two side entrance. Some people may stay in the space, they do not necessarily stop in one area but move around in the building. TAO is surrounded by trees and people may also move in the woods.

Speed Circulation

Due to the special design of TAO's regular continuous surface rising at the corners, it presents a structure with high middle and low surroundings. Therefore, the speed of people's activities will change accordingly. Because the pavilion is built on a hill, people go up the mountain relatively slowly. When people see the rock in front of the building, they will speed up and stop for a while, and then enter the pavilion. However, due to the design of the eaves, people walking in the middle pass through The speed will be faster than the person passing on both sides. They may need to bend over to get through. Due to limited indoor space, they may quickly leave the side door after offering incense and prayers. The surrounding of the building is relatively open, so the movement speed is less affected。

ANALYSIS - THRESHOLD

Sunlight and Shadow

Analyzing the light and shadow of the sun during the day reveals that the sheltered areas are concentrated at the main entrance of the pavilion and the center of the interior. People may prefer to stay in cool, shaded places. Shaded places have fewer distractions and are more conducive to people to focus on the fellowship with the gods, creating a quiet and easy to calm down environment.

Sacredness Thresholds

TAO's special structural design, which ensures rigidity only through joists and roof panels, and the warping of the roof edge pulled up from the ground, differentiates it from other religious buildings. Its unique Taoist roof creates a specific sacred space for believers. The sense of sacredness in the center of the whole space is stronger, which is realized by the spire structure that shrinks and meets upwards in the middle. It gradually increases from top to bottom to achieve the division between the sacred thresholds.

Sacredness Thresholds

Surrounded by nature, TAO aims to create a harmonious connection with the environment through organic and balanced forms. Surrounded by trees this emphasizes the nature-architecture-nature tenet. The surrounding environment creates a quiet atmosphere for the temple and an easier environment for those who are self-cultivating to enter a meditative state. The southeasterly wind in summer brings warm and humid air and precipitation to the area, and the northwesterly wind in winter makes the cold wind blow towards the pivilion. The roof is designed to cope with the special weather. The planes on both sides that slope down to the ground face the air vents to make the room too cold or too humid. The roof is also designed to provide shade for people.

REFLECTION

Overall, I am very satisfied with the work I have produced for module 1. In the process of making the model, I have mastered more rhino instructions and become more proficient in using the software. The most interesting part of this module is the chart making. Regarding the thinking and understanding of circulation and threshold, I have spent a lot of time studying the structure of pivot and thinking about the impact of such a special structure on human activities. Considering the purpose of Tao's design is to create a harmonious connection with the environment through organic and balanced forms, I deepened my research on the relationship between nature and architecture. I learned more about how wooden structures are built, and Tao's unique eaves structure inspired me to explore more religious buildings. I really like this architectural structure with its unique charm, and I am also very interested in diagram making. I find it very useful in helping us better understand architecture as a whole. I believe that I will use charts to help me learn new knowledge in the future study.