It's hard to start writing about architecture parametric and its design since there are very different ways of seeing it and a fierce debate between different points of view in architectural practice or urbanism, which is our application case.
The concept of parametric design and regenerative expands much more when we look at the new software and advanced digital design techniques that are coming to the market and that will possibly be our future work tools.
This procedure, which may sound distant to us and which shows a complexity in his practice and for years he has been being practiced, but, now, and as we will see later, thanks to new instruments is beginning to democratize.
It is making the leap from the big law firms architecture (Frank Gehry or the study of Zaha Hadid Architects, are highly experienced in working with parametric design projects ) to studies that are interested in incorporating new generative technologies without an excessive economic investment.
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In its simplest definition from a perspective architecture, the parametric architecture of a building is creates a set of parameters or variables and a set of restrictions based on data initials entered into a software to produce versatility in the results (for example, a form geometry of a cube) that can be modified by changing the variables (Also called design generative – Generative Design according to who looks at it).
If we vary the edges at will, we will have hundreds of designs, but, without a doubt, the way to obtain these new geometries is far from the traditional work that we do in front of the computer:
When transferred to the field of architecture, design or urbanism, the project we practice becomes a process (introduction of parameters and restrictions) that enables the solution of the project in hundreds of versatile designs and meeting a wide range of objectives .
The following conceptual map frames the process by which which one arrives at the parametric architecture approach (Enlarge image here, opens a new window)
And this… How does it affect the traditional way of carry out architecture or urbanism projects? Before, projects were executed as a rigid object, where We introduce project data and it meets the objective (Example, efficient building) produces a design, which, in addition, it is not very flexible with results without certainties. Now with the parametric architecture, projects are transformed in a process , are instantly modifiable and produce a flexible design with results verified.
The parametric modeling systems work mainly in a system based on the propagation of information , in which it is calculated the known to the unknown with a data flow model, and a constraint system , which solves a set of constraints.
Parametric design needs data to analyze, and the more that are introduced, the better the result. So Big Data and other ways of obtaining information are essential and will work together to obtain results optimized, but... What would that workflow look like? information?
The process involves four general activities: definition of initial conditions, the preparation of the parametric procedure (specific utility), the execution of the procedure and finally, the selection and interpretation of results, in addition to the set of parameters considered. An example:
From here, we can start designing all kinds of buildings or practice parametric urban planning with more complex and versatile geometric designs that will be manipulated by algorithms in an effort to obtain not only an objective, but we can have hundreds of designs, with hundreds of variables that will also play multiple needs and in a single click.
Although some design program already exists on the market parametric referring to the theme of the Flexible BIM, CAD drawing, Rhino , VisualARQ , Grasshopper or add-ons like Viz Pro , which converts SkechUp in a modeling software parametric . Simpler programs are appearing use and that they want to reach the general public.
To clarify how it works on projects, let's see two tools that this year have given a lot to talk about…
The machine learning , the intelligence artificial (See reference article) and the generative design are beginning to take shape to architecture as we know it.
A new tool coming out this year aimed at parametric architecture is the Finch. Made by the Swedish construction company BOX Bygg architecture studio Wallgren Arkitekter, whose main ability will be that the same plane is can adapt to different scenarios and locations automatic.
We could say that we create “responsive” layouts similar to when a website adapts to different types of screen. The designs can be modified, adapted and obtain the maximum potential of a space and in a fast way.
According to the creators… “Finch is a generator of plans based on a set of architectural rules for ensure that the space functions properly satisfactory» .
Although the subject of urban planning is very complex, soon we will see urban planning software parametric at consistent prices and that we will provide a much easier daily work.
From the Sidewalk Labs studio, they have been working on a new software tool to generate urban designs optimized.
They have created a new computational tool that analyzes a wide range of data to automatically create thousands of urban designs from a base design.
This generative design tool can do two things that planning applications cannot do.
From this article on the Sidewalk Labs website we can understand how far this new resource can go without will certainly provide many advantages in the design of cities.
Another example in urban infrastructures... Why build a single vehicle parking layout? With the generative design we can have thousands of options that we can replicate in different locations:
We've searched for some PDF help documents that can be of interest to begin to understand the concept of parameterize and its aspects:
What software to use to practice parametric modeling? Although here we could get lost, there are two portals where we can practice, they have a discussion forum and also we will find interesting bookstores:
Regarding training, we have seen that some schools professional has sporadically launched a course on introduction. There is a master's degree in English (quite expensive) from parametric design in architecture by the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (Check here).
It should be noted that this is not a new technique technology and that we have also left many things behind in the inkwell, but it is true that many professionals predict that this year, parametric design will enter with great force in the field of architecture and urbanism.
And if anyone doubts it, in the United States they have already begun to start-ups designed with this technology appear (Example Higharc), whose objective is to provide housing projects to measure, with complete automation in the creation of the design (2D and 3D) and at very affordable prices in the market.
