algorithmic design

Increasing the environmental awareness of contemporary designers and planners has increased their layers of awareness of the environmental factors involved in the design process. In the way that the contemporary developments of the design-oriented disciplines in the field of architecture show several reactions in the majority of fields of productive theory, whose generation is often based on the nature and perspective within the discipline. Reflecting and adapting such a view in the theoretical content of the building sector means that the basis for the need for environmental design in its various aspects has been created.Because environmental design, according to environmental perception, seeks to synchronize the capacities of the environment and the design process.The current research want to achieve a conceptual framework for the application of building information modeling technology in the path of achieving responsive environmental design.Based on this, the main goal of this research is to investigate the capabilities of building information modeling technology, in order to increase the definability of the design process and the designer's control over multiple environmental factors, in the framework of the generative theory (as its theoretical foundations).The method of obtaining new concepts is to use library resources in the framework of thematic analysis and in a qualitative way.The result of this research shows the high capability of BIM technology in the comprehensive use of artificial intelligence by the environmental designer in the design process. The important application of this research is to achieve a conceptual framework for creating the intellectual structure of designers and environmental planners in this multifaceted and complex field

Digital fabrication and computational geometry are two emerging approaches in architecture that have increasingly interacted with each other. Computational geometry plays  a crucial role in the evolution of the design process by providing powerful tools for generating complex forms and optimizing structures. On the other hand, digital fabrication, through the use of advanced technologies, enables the physical realization of these forms with high accuracy and speed. The complexity of the interaction between these two areas and their immense potential reveals the necessity of conducting comprehensive research in this field. This research has been carried out to examine the relationship between digital construction and computational geometry in architectural design and evaluate the challenges, possibilities and opportunities resulting from this synergy. By reviewing the existing literature and adopting a descriptive-analytical approach, this study investigates various case examples with distinct geometric features and digital fabrication methods, exploring the synergy between these two approaches in architectural design. The research findings show that the optimal synergy of computational geometry and digital fabrication leads to a design-by-fabrication process that can create architectures with diverse geometric complexity, manufacturability, customization, and cost reduction.

Problem statement: Self-organizing particles in nature have long inspired structural form-findings. These forms shaped to transfer forces efficiently use minimal materials and are light-weight. Physical models have been used to explore these self-organizing particles and served as a basis for design and calculation. However, making, measuring, and scaling these models is tedious and hard, especially for complex geometries such as tree-like structures. Nowadays, computer simulations can apply nature’s logic to create digital models. These models simulate form-finding and scaling faster and easier.Research

The purpose of this research is to present a digital tool derived from algorithmic design for the digital form finding of branching structures based on the physical testing of a wet thread model.Research

This research was first formed through the study of available resources and scientific articles in this field, and then the results were used to design digital tools using computational methods.

Algorithmic design based on the wet thread model simplifies the optimal design of tree-like structures. It optimizes both the design outcome and the design process. Physical form-finding often faces difficulties in converting models into construction plans. By digitizing this process, the measurement of the final form becomes faster and easier. This enhances the constructability of these forms.

Architecture is a dialectic and discursive space that carries the heritage of knowledge, culture, art, and expressive language and expresses dominant historical discourses. Landmark historic buildings are manifestations of current traditions and culture and represent the foundation of their creation. One of the most significant elements of Persian architecture is hidden and visible geometry in landmark historic buildings. As a form of sacred nature, geometry plays a fundamental role both in the creation of building structures and in the design of Iranian-Islamic architectural decorations. Considering the development and growth of technology in design tools, and the transformation of the way of thinking in digital design processes, it is necessary to examine the modes of representing traditions in general and re-creating geometry in particular from the perspective of structure and form. In this research, we are looking for the answer to how we can rely on traditionalist views, in the architectural design of today’s buildings, by applying computational and algorithmic design methods to represent the history and interact with tradition. And is it possible to give an identity to modern buildings by approaching to recreate the geometric motifs of Iranian-Islamic architecture based on digital design methods? In this regard, using the library method and analyzing significant examples of architecture with the approach of recreating the geometric motifs of the traditional art model, an effort is made to benefit from the views of traditionalists on the current geometry of Iranian-Islamic architecture. According to the research, the geometrical structure of the geometric motifs of Iranian-Islamic art and architecture, with the reliance of Muslim artist-mathematician, on Euclidean and Pythagorean geometry and scientific foundations, is a complete and harmonic coordination of form and meaning. Parametric and algorithmic design, with aesthetic features like the concepts of coordination of part and whole, proliferation, complexity, rhythm, and developed and evolved forms, is very compatible with the aesthetics of Iranian-Islamic geometric motifs based on the emphasis on the concepts of plurality in unity, complexity, repetition and systematic transformed geometric forms. The abstract nature and the formal and aesthetic features of the geometric motifs of Iranian-Islamic art and architecture are a rich and developable foundation and structure. And its recognition, analysis, development, and re-creation, which were difficult and complex tasks in the past, are now facilitated by the aid of new technology and tools to produce forms with algorithmic thinking and computer design.

Traditionally, because of the very influential role of light to create sacred space in buildings and make it comfortable for occupants visually and thermally, designing an opening as light catcher to control and modify the amount of light, has been a crucial issue. Palekane (also called Mashrabiya or Shanasheel) is the Persian term given to an Islamic type of oriel window made with wood latticework, located on the second storey of a building or higher, often adorned with stained glass. This component of traditional Islamic architecture with an openable wooden screen gives shade and protection from the hot summer sun while allowing the cool air from the street to flow through. Palekane also provides protection and shade for the ground floor windows that are flat and usually unprotected. Moreover, throughout history, geometric patterns had an important role in historic Islamic architecture of Iran. Today we have exclusive ability to understand ornamental styles of the past, to recreate new performative styles. Altering geometric patterns for latticework is always very effective on its overall lighting and shading performance. This provides a significant amount of light entering the room without causing it to be annoying. Through algorithmic development of Islamic geometry, the advantages of golden-ages of Iranian architecture can be brought out from dark side of history to modern digital architecture. Nowadays, digital technology such as the advances in computer software, opens up possibilities to the emergence of performance-oriented architectural design. In this approach, the focus of all decisions is on demand of requirements and on required performance in use. According to what architect and theoretician Rivka Oxman defined, performance-oriented design can be considered as a process of formation that is driven by a desired performance. Performance-oriented models of design, utilize digital technologies that support the generation of form resulting from design performance. In addition, based on Branko Kolarevic’s description in the book “Performative Architecture: Beyond Instrumentality”, about the inadequacy of existing analytical CAD software in conceptual design, and the development of software that can provide dynamic processes of formation based on specific performance objectives, performance can be defined as a formation technique or a generative process the variants of which are parametrically defined by the problem conditions, site, program, etc.In performance-oriented design the object is generated by simulating its environmental (or structural) performance. The final form is the exact result of desired performance, or behaviour, of a design object. In this article, based on performance-oriented design approach and through an algorithmic development, some geometric patterns of latticework shade are generated in Grasshopper (the generative modelling plugin of Rhino) based on Hankin & Lee’s method. Usage of this method, makes it possible to control the porosity and penetration of latticework by altering contact angles (θ) in star shape Islamic pattern as the main parameter. Then the specific shape of Palekane (applied in Abyane, Iran), is modelled in Ecotect (as daylight simulation software) for a hypothetical building to analyse the amount of solar radiation and shading on each face of building and manipulate Cellular Method for Optimal Shading to evaluate the effect of geometric pattern of each latticework shade. Cellular Method for Optimal Shading is an innovative approach developed by architect Dr. Eran Kaftan at the University of Arizona in 2001. This method offers calculating an optimal shading form, accounting for both needs of summer solar protection and winter solar gain. As a result, it provides better thermal comfort and maximum annual energy conservation in cooling and heating. Ecotect can generate Mapping of Shading Importance for any location in the world, any opening configurations, and any preferred period (such as year, season, month, etc.). The mapping indicates, for these particular settings, the optimal form of shading appliances (such as shading device, overhang, etc.). Consequently, setting appropriate relation between contact angles (θ) as main param�- eter for base geometric pattern of latticework and resultant value of Peak Incident (w/m2) and Shading Importance (Obstruction/Penetration) on each cell, leads to the calculated performative shading pattern which usually have unique and interesting geometry. Such forms are not only enriching the building façade with motifs of Islamic architecture, but also correspond the best to specific environmental conditions in hot areas. Finally, the topic is exemplified with design of specific Palekane on west wall of a hypothetical building in Tehran.