ARCH 655 - Project 01

Project 01 - Confluence Park

March 18, 2024

Project 01 | Professor: Dr. Wei Yan

Alberto Ibarra (M.ARCH Student)

Texas A&M University

01 - Description

Figure 1| Confluence Park. (Source: Lake|Flato, 2018).

    Confluence Park 

    Architects: Lake|Flato + Matsys Design

    Location: San Antonio, TX

    Date of Completion: 2018

    Typology: Park, Pavilion

        

    The project is situated in San Antonio, Texas and is designed as an educational park focusing on the critical role of water in the regional ecosystem. The central pavilion is composed of 22 concrete freeform forms that collectively make a network of vaults.

Figure 2| Roof Plan. (Source: Lake|Flato, 2018).

    Complemented by an education center, the design of the form was inspired by the way many plants in the South Texas region direct rainwater to their root systems. Each petal is cast-in-place concrete fabricated with fiberglass composite molds.

Figure 3| Geometry Design. (Source: Projects by Matsys, 2018)

 

02 - Generative AI

Generative AI, specifically Chat GPT 4, was utilized as an innovative tool to generate design ideas in the process of looking to modify the existing design of the Confluence Park. This approach facilitated the exploration of a wide range of solutions and served as an efficient way of visualizing ideas.

The process began with introducing the Confluence Park to the AI chatbot:

Figure 4| Screenshot 01. (Source: ChatGPT 4, 2024).

Attempt 1: The design visualization process began by asking the AI chatbot to: add a triangular pattern to the structure + provide an image of the Confluence Park.

Figure 5| Confluence Park Pavilion. (Source: Lake|Flato, 2018).

This prompt resulted in the creation of the following visualization:

Figure 6| Result 01. (Source: ChatGPT 4, 2024).

Attempt 2: The design visualization process continued by asking the AI chatbot to: add an intricate skin pattern + providing an image of the Confluence Park. 

Figure 7| Confluence Park Pavilion. (Source: Lake|Flato, 2018).

This prompt resulted in the creation of the following visualization:

Figure 8| Result 02. (Source: ChatGPT 4, 2024).

Attempt 3: The design visualization process continued by asking the AI chatbot to: add a hexagonal pattern to concrete surface + providing an image of the Confluence Park. 

Figure 9| Confluence Park Pavilion Interior. (Source: Lake|Flato, 2018).

This prompt resulted in the creation of the following visualization:

Figure 10| Result 03. (Source: ChatGPT 4, 2024).

Attempt 4: The design visualization process continued by asking the AI chatbot to: retain the original geometry of the concrete structure but add a triangular pattern that creates perforations on the surface + providing an image of the Confluence Park. 

Figure 11| Confluence Park Pavilion Interior. (Source: Lake|Flato, 2018).

This prompt resulted in the creation of the following visualization:

Figure 12| Result 04. (Source: ChatGPT 4, 2024).

This fourth attempt yielded a resulting image that most closely aligned with the desired design direction. Therefore, this iteration was selected for further visualization to obtain greater clarity and detail of the pattern utilized in this iteration. I asked the AI chatbot: what pattern was used to create this.
This prompt provided the following information:

Figure 13| Result 05. (Source: ChatGPT 4, 2024).

[The pavilion's concrete structure has been artistically altered with a pattern inspired by Voronoi diagrams, adding perforations that allow for an engaging light and shadow interplay.]

03 - Parametric Design

2D Geometry 
I began the modeling process by creating the linework for the pentagon shape of the top geometry of the individual mass of the design. 

Figure 14| 2D Geometry Curves

Next I continued to create 2D outlines of the pedal shape of the mass including the circular base, cross sectional curve, and the curvature of the top. This process facilitated the extraction of controls for scale, pedal geometry, height, and curvature of the pedals.

Figure 15| 2D  Base Geometry Curves

3D Base Surface

After creating the 2D outlines I utilized the Sweep2 command to create the modular surface of the Confluence Park.

Figure 16| Sweep2 & Result

Then due to the complexity of the arrangement on the original flowers of the Confluence Park, I used the 'Polar Array' to duplicate the base flower in the correct manner. First I duplicated the flower into a group of four flowers and replicated the 'Polar Array' to create the group of 16 flowers.

Figure 17| Polar Array & Result

Of the group of 16 flowers, the original park only consists of 8 flowers therefore I utilized the 'Series' node to remove the unnecessary flowers. With the use of the lists and 'Cull List' I was able to remove a series of pedals from the group of flowers in order to replicate the design of the Confluence Park.

Figure 18| Cull List & Result

Pattern Design

To recreate a pattern similar to the design visualized by the AI, I utilized the 'Surface Morph' node to create a base surface where I could modify the Voronoi pattern to create a more organic and fluid pattern.

Figure 18| Voronoi Pattern Design with Interpolate Curve

Figure 19| Voronoi Pattern Design Result

The resulting pattern can also be modified according to its scale and pattern density.

Figure 20| Voronoi Pattern Design with Surface Morph

Figure 21| Surface Morph & Pattern Integration

In the end, the resulting geometry created was made with a few customizable controls.

Figure 22| Resulting User Controls

3D Final Design 

Figure 23| Rhino Render of  'Baked' Model

Script

Figure 24| Final Script

04 - Analysis

Analysis
For the analysis of the project, I did a 'Curvature Analysis' on the surface of the pedals and added a gradient color on for visual representation.

Figure 25| Curvature Analysis & Gradient

Figure 26| Curvature Analysis Result

05 - Renders

Figure 27| Beach Render 01

Figure 28| Beach Render 02

Figure 29| Interior Render

Figure 30| Beach Render 03

Figure 31| Beach Render 04

06 - Project Movie

07 - References

1. Materials Systems Inc. (2024). Confluence Park. Retrieved from https://www.matsys.design/confluence-park
2. ArchDaily. (2018). Confluence Park\ Lake|Flato Architects. Retrieved from https://www.archdaily.com/896460/confluence-park-lake-flato-architects
3. Lake|Flato Architects. (2018). Eco-Conservation: Confluence Park. Retrieved from https://www.lakeflato.com/eco-conservation/confluence-park/?project=open
4. OpenAI. (2023). Conversation with ChatGPT 4.
5. https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13425-confluence-park-by-lakeflato-matsys-and-rialto-studio#Video