Tall Building Tutorials 1 Nov 2013

	1st November '13, and the MArch students have another presentation day, showing the progress of their designs. This is the third week of the 'initial design stage' and every group now have some sort of design, although there is a lot of evolution to do!    Matt Humphreys from 6th year joined as a tutor helper - he knows Singapore very well - having an A-grade scheme from last year and having worked in Singapore all summer.
	The Rotterdam group have got off to a flying start. This design is maturing interestingly - we can begin to talk functions, cores, spaces, structure. Each part of the 3D matrix seems to address different directions and part of the site appropriately    The scheme epitomises the idea that we are now calling the studio - the 风光 Feng Guang TB studio - this means Wind and Light! (adapting the old idea of Feng Shui, Wind and Water)
	The Singapore ZCC group have merged as a group and have a design of interlocking ellipses, with a deep daylight wells down the centre, and some vertical atria cut into the ellipse body.   We are still having a discussion about the role of PODIA.... are they a very 1980s thing that results in empty retail units, and unused roof decks? Or should we open up the ground plane as Prof Edward Ng suggests, and allow the building to float on legs?
	Phil has brought in about 24 books from his library for the Masters to peruse during the day, and sometimes he is able to dive in and find an example that exactly fits the conversation.
	The Singapore SH group have come up with a new design during the week that resembles 5 interlocking ellipses with connecting bridges and light-wells down each centre.
	Phil finds some links in one of his books which will enhance the discussion about the 5-ellipse scheme.
	The Singapore HK group are just two students but they manage to make new models every week. This one is also a 'pulled-apart' 3D matrix of tall elements, rather than a single tall building. They have decided to have no podium, allowing light and air to flush through at ground plane.
	At this early stage of the design, it's hard to identify main vertical transportation routes, but this will evolve - the spirit of the design seems right.
	Phil rounds off the tutorial days with some good advice on design.