Parametricism + Urbanism

Architecture and its styles have been ever changing through time, the basics of parametricism was first discovered in the 1990’s but however it had only come into effect with in the past several years with the advances in architecture and its parametric design systems. Parametricism has today become the new style architects use mostly in urbanism. This shift from modernism to parametricism was seen as a change from simple or orderly placing to complexity. It had evoked not only into the urban scale but also to smaller interior design concepts, from the understanding of the natural systems in nature to the application of these concepts into architecture.

Architecture and urbanism have been adapting to the needs of societal demands of the post-fordism era, through a continuous cycle of innovative adaptation.  However, architecture is called upon to organize and articulate the increased complexity of post-fordist society. This parametricism is possible through a series of highly defined parametric design techniques, which are animation, simulation and form finding, parametric modeling and scripting. However these techniques have brought in more complexity and kinetics to the designs and concepts. The style and form keeps changing with the manipulation of a single element in the system.

Parametricism may seem like the perfect solution for urban design and city planning, but it can only exist with endless advancements in computational geometry.  The techniques used for parametrics are nevertheless widely used and are in the stages of further development.

Regular variations of morphologies create a huge effect and help produce dominant urban effects and enables field alignment. Parametric Urbanism might include parametric rhythm, parametric figuration, and parametric sensitivity to realize its objective of rationality. Urbanism follows the concept of occupying and connecting. With parametricism it is able to simulate the settlement patterns and further understand the path networks.

Through parametrics one can understand how the change in a single element could affect the whole system and how these changes could be manipulated to further study their properties. Complex orders of chaotic patterns could be generated through this advanced technique of simulation.

The author uses the example of magnetic needle and polystyrene to explain the idea of urban landscape. The small pieces come together making up a complex urban settlement. In my opinion parametrics can best be applied into urban landscapes rather than interiors. As I believe when applied to urban scale it has a value and function to it, rather than when being applied to interior or small scale projects it is mostly for aesthetic purposes.

I am interested in understanding the pros and cons parametrics can bring about in the planning of a city, or how parametrics could affect the future of architecture. Could it lead or give way to a more self-sustainable or functional city rather than a city build for aesthetics purposes. In my opinion parametrics also helps to create a better navigation flow and build a socio economic infrastructure. However, I believe the advances in technology have made it possible to create infinite possibilities for architecture and urban planning through the digital simulation techniques.

Case Study: Yokohama Terminal FOA Architects / F. Moussavi, A. Zaera-Polo

Text: Parametricism – A New Global Style for Architecture and Urban Design - Patrik Schumacher, London 2008

Picture Source: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2009/05/25/complexcity/

Photographic essence about the network society and architecture.

The author defines the creative exploitation of the design systems employed as rules or guidelines of Parametricism, labelling it a style. In this way they are implying that animation, simulation, form finding, modeling based on a measurable factor (i.e. parameter) and scripting are elements that must be consistent in each parametric project. However, paradoxically the text outlines the guidelines as design techniques.

When design problems are encountered it is within the architect’s skill to find relationships in order to drive the proposal. This is before the aesthetic has even been discovered. The text confuses the reader regarding the nature of design and the nature of aesthetic, the latter being applicable to the notion of style, as opposed to the tools that Schumacher insists comprise it.

Schumacher states that Parametrism is the avant-guard style that follows Modernism. It maybe the case if one considers Modernism also as an approach to design. Le Corbusier said that, “The architect (…) realizes an order which is a pure creation of his spirit (…) he determines the various movements of our heart and our understanding (…) we experience the sense of beauty.” This notion expresses the ephemeral journey that is explored in the design to arrive at an elegant solution, which is common in both Modernism and Parametricism.

On the other hand regarding Modernism, the guidelines of Modernist International Style are focused on vertical and horizontal lines, free plans, and pilotis. On that note the guidelines expressed in the text about parametrics are not set in stone principles regarding an aesthetic, or archetypal prototype. However the application of Parametricism in the urban fabric creates very distinct, morphological characteristics. Parametricist urbanism accentuates the correlations between multiple systems, such as fabric modulation, street systems, and systems of open spaces. Thus the instrumental process of relativity and organization of spaces, lends itself effectively into the urban and macro framework as an aesthetic.

The author imposes his ideas on the reader. This is demonstrated in his use of negative and positive heuristics, which is a paradox in itself because to be heuristic is to be exploratory, to push outside of the limits. The relevance of parametric modeling is instrumental in the process of changing and observing possibilities in a design scheme. Schumacher is overlooking the actual potential of parametricism to aid in the process of creating new paradigms.

Furthermore the complex information and systematic nature of problem solving involved in parametricism relates to the premise of Manuel De Landa’s studies on the network society. It’s characteristics relate to the multidimensionality and reliance of technology that the network society is based on, creating a systematic density. Architects study the dynamics, constraints and possibilities of an element, finding lines of inquiry that are points of connection, in an attempt to propose an interactive solution in our society’s structure. A possible research inquiry of interest to find the lines of interaction between density and spatial notions of poverty, in a rhyzo-manner so as to establish the root idea and notions of multiplicity.”

To conclude where relational logic provides a systematic framework of theories and ideas, digital logic analyses and explores parameters for both conceptual and design processes, from previously inputed information. Thus informing the relevance of parametricism as a design development tool.

Reference Image: http://technoccult.net/

Case Study : Blur Building Swiss Expo 2002 by DILLER SCOFIDIO + RENFRO

Reading Text : A Thousand Plateaus by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari

“Architecture as special effect” is the phrase that I felt in Blur Building. It is an Experience Architecture. There is no roof, no wall, only lightweight tensegrity structure. We actually cannot measure the real size of architecture because all 35,000 nozzles which are controlled due to the parameter of climate and weather generate the “mist and fog”. Each individual nozzle are controlled by senor of wind climate which effect water pressure to nozzle. Water works as primary material and particles that envelope architecture acts as movable and kinetic façade so called “Responsive Architecture”. In term of Topological Thinking, we can see the transformation from water into the mist and mist into the air, there are number of  changes in the process of material properties.

Rhizome has big impact on parametric and digital architecture. It’s non-linear system which there is no beginning or ending. The input and output can enter from anywhere anytime. It is “the notion of network”. There will be no center called “Decentralization” which is a web of interconnected network.

The rhizome, of course, is their well-known image of a decentered system of points that can connect in any order and without hierarchy, a term drawn from botany that names a network of stems, like the strawberry plant, that grows horizontally and discontinuously by sending out runners. The logic of the rhizome is opposed to that of the tree, which is a hierarchical structure centered around a fixed root, a structure that grows continuously and vertically

My present interests is in the field of algorithmic architecture and generative design that has focused on agent-based models and the methodologies that focus on investigations spatial, structural and material organization in architecture and urbanism. I strongly believed that good architecture can embrace an intimate engagement between social and material interaction that concern in material performance and material life cycle.

In future research, I will use generative design process that can approach to environmental design by using multi-agent systems which capable of self-organizing into an emergent intelligence because it has the potential of the systems to negotiate between a complex set of desires and parameters in the generation of architecture.

Finally, my research line will explore more in algorithmic design methodologies and  non-linear algorithmic design methodologies in developing complex systems and how these non-linear systems interact and operate within geometry in response to a set of architectural criteria.

Image of Radiolaria from Christan Toche, Radiolaria Project, eCAADe 07 Conference Proceedings, Frankfurt, Germany

Text _ Parametricism – A New Global Style for Architecture and Urban Design, Patrik Schumacher

How brave one can be to proclaim a new dominant and single style in architecture nowadays? Even though Patrik Schumacher defines the style as design research program, going far away from what we usually consider under this term, it can be argued that this declaration is too strong.

The author is writing the text from the position of certainty, which does not leave much room for  questions. But still, his writing has launched plenty of doubts in reader’s mind. One of the first doubts is whether it is convincing enough to verify this proclamation with a need to organize complex post-fordist society. If the main characteristics of this society are diversity of life-styles and desire for customization, does this immediately call upon various research programs rather than believing one can respond to everything. The author claims that Parametricism does not only consist of a new set of techniques, but is complimented by widely shared design problems and similar ways of approaching them. Without these new techniques and tools Parametricism wouldn’t be able to fulfill all 5 agendas specified in the text hence they have enormous significance for the development of the aforementioned design approach. On the other hand,  style defined through these agendas and in correlation with Frei Otto’s work on natural structures assists in deciphering the logic behind the appearance and computational skills. At the same time, their purpose could be understood as emphasizing advantages of new techniques, and not as an argument for the annunciation of the style. Additionally, could these explanations be (mis)understood as an attempt to justify parametric design.

I am not convinced that architecture that belongs to some other “style” couldn’t be able to answer all demands of customization. I believe that Parametricism has its own aesthetic recognizability, despite all ideas and logics that stand behind this recognizability. Upon this, I wonder does parametric design appears as customization at all.

This idea of emerging need for customized design relates to the topic I am personally interested in. Further research could go back to the moment in history where everything was handmade, and as such, customized, and make a comparison with the moment of thrill when mass production was achieved. In reference to this idea, the recognition arises that now we are in a very different historical moment. We presently desire to combine both, and to have customized production, which would lead to greater understanding of the process of making and simultaneously help us, as individuals, achieve greater control of it.

Image _ http://urban.arch.virginia.edu/arch544/startpage.html