Form Operation Theory Of The In-between Realm As Architectural Interface

Recently, there is a new phenomenon in the field of architectural form, namely “inner and outer surfaces” from the National Theatre and the National Stadium. However, compared with the flourishing in practice, the modernist architecture thought, “space as an architectural nature”, leads to slow progress of the theoretical research of architectural form, which is far behind than currently the booming development of the creation of architectural form. Specifically, the existing formal theories only involved inner surface or outer surface, not only “form follows function” suggested by Modernists but also “function follows form” suggested by Historicists, are unable to systematically interpretate the formation mechanism and design method of “inner and outer surfaces”.Based on this question, the author attempts to learn from Periphery Theory, in order to recognize the role of “inner and outer surfaces” in architectural system, and thus create its design methodology. The so-called periphery means the intermediary body at the edge of system can defence the system and exchange something with environment. Thus, the periphery has two main characteristics: 1) as a whole, it is the border of system; 2) as the intermediary body, it has a certain "thickness", including inner surface, outer surface and a transition region between them. Inspired by the Periphery Theory, the architecture is regarded as the ternary system including ‘outside space, inside space and in-between realm’. The in-between realm is the architecture interface, which includes inner surface、outer surface and the part between them. The biggest advantage of this theorical assumption is that the seperated inner and outer surfaces are intergrated into the in-between realm, which helps to overcome the deficiencies of the existing formal theory. The in-betwenn realm as architectural interface opens the new perspective for form design. Therefore, solving the problem of shaping the in-between realm is successful to solve the combination problem of theory and practice about ‘inner and outer surfaces’.In fact, the in-between realm is the key concept in the critique of modernist surface architecture from Aldo van Eeyck’s “configurative discipline”, also the research body from Robert Venturi’s “complex architectural form”. However, the uncertainty of the in-between realm’s function and type leads to the exsiting shaping methods useless, which is regarded certain type and certain function as logical fulcrum. So the research purpose is that understanding the uncertainty of in-between realm and reconstructing its forming methods through the relevant principles of Periphery Theory.Specifically, the research includes epistemology and methodology on the shaping problem of in-between realm. Chapter I, II involve the epistemology research of shaping the in-between realm based on Periphery Theory, which mainly include the theorical assumption of in-between realm as architectural interface and research trends of its form operation. Chapter III involves the methodology research of shaping the in-between realm based on Periphery Theory, which mainly include the weakness analysis of towards existing form theories and the rebuilt principle of form operation; Chapter IV, V, VI involve the specific methods research of shaping in-between realm, which mainly include three methods of form opertation based on operating principle and its empirical research.The 1st conclusion of research is the interface prototype based on the view of Periphery Theory, which is the new epistemology about form generation of architectural interface. The system discussed by Periphery Theory is tenary system which is composed of “environment — periphery — internal system”. Thus, Periphery as intermedia between environment and internal system has some thickness interface which is different from the zero-thickness border of binary system. Analogous to the periphery, the in-between realm as architectural interface has some “thickness” interface in ternary architecture system composed of “outside space — the in-between realm—inside space”, of which prototype must constitutes inner surface, outer surface and the field between them. Compared with surface, this interface prototype can respond flexibly to the contradiction of inside and outside, which solves not only external problems, but also solves the internal problems.The 2nd conclusion of research is formula I and II(table) of operating principle about in-between realm, which is the new methodology about form generation of architectural interface. Analogous to the transitional mechanism of periphery, the in-between realm could coordinate the spatial relationship between inside and outside, namely, by modifying its interface adapt to the dynamic changes of the relations between inner and outer spaces. In turn, this revelation implies a new principle of form operation: an interfacial type of in-between realm follows a relationship between inside space and outside space. The advantage of operating principle is that the dichotomy of relationship and in-between realm benefits complex ternary logic turned into binary logic of two-phase iterative. Specially, the 1st relationship logic between inside and outside which focuses on interpretation of the inner and outer dynamic balance principle of spatial relations; the 2nd form logic from the relationship to the entity which focuses on obtaining the interfacial type of in-between realm based on the relationship between inside and outside space. The theoretical significance of operating principle is that the interfacial type of in-between realm is not only the explicit entity, but also reflects the implicit relationship between inside and outside space.(the following table) R: relationship of inside and outside space; O: outside space; I: inside space; E: envelope f(x): map functionThe 3rd conclusion of research is that “poché、decomposition and stripe”as operating methods of interfacial type of in-between realm, which are the new methods about form generation of architectural interface. Three methods follow the deduction path "from principle to type to method ".Phases 1:the deduction from principle to type, namely three kinds of spatial relationships( "opposition, continuous and transparent")as operating motivation respectively input into the operating principle to obtain three interfacial types of in-between realm, namely type 1: the thick wall with clear outline which expressing opposite relationship; type 2: the gallery with blanking corner which expressing continuous relationship; type 3: the interval with shades opening which expressing transparent relationship.Phases 2: the deduction from construction to method, namely three interfacial types as operating target compared with the form of interfacial prototype of in-between realm to obtain three operating methods.Compared with previous studies, these findings have the following number of innovative ideas:1) In architecture, “the entity supplies for convenience and the void supplies for appliance”, which used to suggesting the dialectical relationship between form and space. However, the form principle is not bound by the stereotypes of “the entity supplies for convenience”, but also stresses that “the entity supplies for appliance”, namely the relationship between inside and outside is adjusted by the interfacial form of in-between realm. This new understanding helps to change the subordinate position of "form" in functionalism and historism theories and enhance the "initiative" of form design;2) “In-between realm as architectural interface” emphasizes a certain "thickness" interface, which is not a single interface of exterior mass, nor a single interface of interior space, but a duality interface. This new perspective helps to change the old perspective that surface of intergrated form and function as architectural interface, and provided the theorial evidence that illustrates the complexity and contradiction in contemporary architectural form;3) "Relationship → type → evaluation → method" is a complete logic about method study, which not only set a clear operational motivation(the spatial relationship between inside and outside) and operational objectives(interface types of in-between realm) for method, but also aesthetic evaluation criteria. To some extent, this overall study helps to alleviate the separated state of l formal aesthetics and formal design, to enhance "humanistic quality" of the design of architectural form.