Topological and Parametric Temperatures in Architectural Academia

It seems that we can no longer think the future of digital technologies inarchitecture without rethinking the future of the profession. This paper arguesthat professional practice and architectural academia have developedtwo diverging stories about the present and future of the computerization indesign. Architectural practice is using computer technology to “modernize”the profession more than truly “revolutionize” it.While in academia many support this “modernizing” view, an increasing numberof universities are becoming test beds for new visions of design imagination.This ground-breaking fraction in academia is presenting a broader critique inwhich architectural materiality can be rethought in relation to generative formfinding,population thinking, and automated topological structures.In this paper we will argue that a plausible merging of the ideas from mainstream practice and pioneering academia can yield one of the most novelthemes for the future of architecture: Generative and parametric modelersthat contain specific topological intelligence could be fused to a worldwidenetwork of procurement of products and services in the construction industry.We differentiate in this paper two attempts to use topology and parametricin Academia. One the one hand there is a large group of architecturalstudios using these techniques for form finding. We argue that this exclusivelyform based academic endeavor is quickly leading us to an apparentaesthetic exhaustion. We argue that a second approach in which topologyand parametric is used to evaluate factors such as land cost, density, codes,regulations, structural parameters, acoustics, automated parking layouts,sunlight, heat evaluations are much more fundamental to resahep the heuristicteaching of architecture.We present and evaluate in this paper the functioning prototypes of moreadvanced topological and parametric models used in studios in academia.Architectural students use CAD/CAM to design different parameters creatingperformance centric vernacular proposals. The 3D design model turns into aresponsive mock-up model that becames an intelligent that can test multiplescenarios. The generative 3D model calculates for example the internal layoutof each apartment as different performace parameters are feed such asday light, minimum courtyard dimensions, design preferences for parking lot,minimum requirements for cross ventilation. The associative model allowsthe designer to consider many domains which are impossible to consider ina manual drawing process or a traditional CAD system. Each interior space,wall, interior space, and public spaces is treated differently based on the performancecriteria set in the parametric system. Since the architectural studentscode the parametric components the resulting desing are not traditionalbuildings but designs that responds to local conditions and material selection.The work produced is formally close to the design produced by offices suchOffice DA or Sou Fujimoto in which usually one material and detail is repeatedto solve a significant part of the design. We finally discuss the implicationof this type of design thinking into architectural academia and howthe recycling and improvment of this prototypes could develop a completelynew approach to architectural thinking in academia.

Volume Editors
Martha Thorne & Xavier Costa

ISBN
978-0-935502-83-1