Compared with the previous theme of "Airport Membranes," this year's theme was much more flexible. A total of 321 entries were received, far exceeding our expectations. We wonder if the large number of entries was due to the manageable theme or just coincidental. Since the theme lent itself to diverse interpretation, we were prepared to receive a wide range of ideas that would make the examination and judgment difficult for us. Contrary to our expectations, however, the entries did not range widely in concept. It is anyone's guess whether the trend of the submitted ideas represents youthful sentiment for "peace of mind" amid today's rapidly changing social environment.
"Another Island," the second-place winner submitted by Designers Sumitani and Matsuzaki, used the setting of a reclaimed island made from waste, a dismal byproduct of modern society, and utilized the membrane's function to create a large "island of light." This island floats by utilizing the energy of methane gas produced by the reclaimed land. Their idea presents a pro-social application of membranes. The third place went to "Air-Fishnet Plaza" submitted by Designer Yoo. It proposes three-dimensional membrane surfaces for the intertwined permeation of underwater and water surface to express a pleasant time at the waterside.
The level of computer graphics has advanced remarkably in recent years, and the examples used in the design presentations were impressive. One thing that bothers me is that written explanations were used to describe the details of ideas in many cases. I would rather see illustrations that visually explain ideas.
Despite the large number of applications received this year, I did not find any outstanding work that drew my attention. The entries can be divided into several types. The most common type used the deformation and motion of membranes that result from the effects of the wind, waves, tides, and weights of human operators. In this idea category, membranes were used as a sort of "pontoon" on the water. Some ideas centered on the light permeability and reflectivity of membranes, sound produced by air passing through membranes, and shapes such as air bubbles, jelly fish and lotus flowers.
In the idea of Ms.Sumitani and Mr. Matsuzaki that won the second prize, land reclaimed from waste is encapsulated in a membrane, perhaps mimicking the images depicted in the artwork of Christo. The concept of binding helium gas with strands of light was new. The idea ingeniously turned a landscape that traditionally offers a negative image into a positive objet d'art on a large scale. I evaluated this design highly. In the third-place idea submitted by Mr. Yoo, air-filled tubes are woven into a fabric-like structure and placed on a sea. Although there were many entries based on similar concepts, Mr. Yoo's idea was most convincing.
In general, it is regrettable that the theme "Shoreline Membranes" was interpreted as "a fun time" and many ideas simply expressed "leisure" using advanced computer graphics.
The theme "Shoreline Membranes" probably evoked the imagination quite easily, since many applications were received this year. However, my general impression is that applicants spent much of their energy on recreating their envisioned images. For instance, some ideas were too farfetched, both in the materials used and in the concept, thus lacking realism. Many entries would have been better if more concrete images or ideas had been incorporated.
Mr. Shibuya's idea of umbrellas made of special membranes that change color according to the level of air pollution was one of the most beautiful pieces of work submitted this year, and won an award. If the umbrella frames had been expressed in detail, the design would have had more convincing power. Another award-winning entry submitted by Mr. Henriza and three others showed a membrane in beautiful water that controls the wave position. It is an interesting idea, but a more effective image could have been created on the water surface to make it more attractive.
I was surprised to see so many entries this year, and I suspect that the theme was received favorably. The level of graphical expressions created by CAD has advanced considerably. There were many graphically excellent pieces that could be used on posters * that is, when ideas are not taken into consideration. The general trend I noticed is that many ideas were centered on mollusks. A combination of water and membranes often leads to an idea of body fluid and skin. I suspect this association resulted in many mollusk-based ideas. Among them, award winners added unique viewpoints or different facets to their interpretations of the theme.
I was disappointed that nobody proposed the use of the membrane's easy setup and light weight to respond to timely needs resulting from regional disputes and disasters that are occurring around the world today. I think what is important in the field of architecture is to pick a topic from events that are presently taking place and reported throughout the world, then connect people's awareness of such problems with functional structures. Since shoreline and membranes in this year's theme both carry a poetic aspect, it is necessary to propose a sharp vision that pierces through current social problems. I regret that I found no such idea in this year's entries.
Various shapes we see around us, such as plants, animals, insects, fish, and shells, are not whimsically designed by nature. The living things that have strange appearances have taken those peculiar shapes because of the aerodynamic features and functionality that those shapes offer. The process of evolution and genetics explain why living things are shaped as they are.
A membrane structure is imbued with such an organic aspect, and it is very flexible in shape. Therefore, in addition to the waves, wind and flotation associated with a shoreline, it is also possible to incorporate factors that have affected the evolution of aquatic plants, such as surface tension and buoyancy.
Many of the submitted ideas effectively used these features, and it was very educational for me to serve on the panel of judges. In addition to regarding membranes as fields of tension, many ideas expressively associated membranes with nature's shape designing ability.
In the past, dynamics and physics, which have commanding power over structures, were thought to be on the opposite side of biology. Today, there is no clear border between them, as evidenced by the use of the term "biophysics." Physics can explain why certain living things take unusual shapes. Membranes also have characteristics that encompass both of these scientific domains.
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