AA Visiting School Beijing 2014

TITLE: SU(PE)RREAL

Director: Li-Qun Zhao

SuperReal is about the manipulation of the mass information in the Big Data Era. Due to the development of multi-media technologies, everyone has submerged in the data ocean. Data could be generated by anything surround us. Instead of generating forms and effects, the key of SuperReal is, how we can parameterize the information mapping, regardless visible or invisible, with visual communication. Various multi-media tools will be used in data collection, processing and presentation. The workshop will start with exercises of data mapping and visualization through parametric modelling tools.

Surreal emerges when we represent and reproduce the SuperReal data with multi-media medium, which promotes more interactive response between clients and users. We understand the representation of SuperReal is the project itself, meaning iterative feedback from statistical database to inspirational presentations will generate the design concepts. In this workshop, we will borrow the techniques and knowledge for film, animation and game industries, to produce the super-real surreal architecture in-between the virtual and the real space.

The context of our workshop will be based on the imagination of how people would use the Galaxy Soho in Beijing in 50 years from now on. As we know, the Galaxy Soho is a new icon among those most recognizable icons in the capital of China. All the icons are designed to play against the human scale as the way to respect humans. The application of the SuperReal & Surreal through multi-media tools is how to re-occupying the macro anti/pro-human iconic buildings with micro events in human scale inspired by the data mapping outputs that we produced in the early stage.

Some of the most prominent features, which the participants will be exposed to during AAVS Beijing include:
• Fabrication Facilities:
In addition to the laser cut machines, CNC machines and 3D printers in Tsinghua University, our industrial sponsors will also provide technical assistance to each student.

•Design Skills:
As same as before, AA VS Beijing offers participants opportunities to learn the advanced digital tools such as Rhinoceros, Maya, Digital Project, Grasshopper, Firefly, Python, and Processing. This year, we will also expose participants to some real-time interactive hardware devices such as Arduino and Kinect. One of the most famous Advanced Interactive Technology research group in China will provide extensive technical supports in data tracking, real-time feedback, and interactive environment, according to the agenda of “Su(pe)rReal”.

• Theories & Methodologies:
Lecture series and tutorials during AAVS Beijing are expected to equip participants with sound understanding of the relevant theories and methodologies related to the VS theme.

• Fabrication:
Participants are encouraged to use physical models in different scales as the medium to test their design ideas as well as to communicate the design propositions.

• Guest Lectures:
Lectures by guest scholars and leading practitioners will showcase both the frontier of applying digital design techniques and theories to the architectural practice in the region, and the methodological explode of the big data through multimedia instruments.