EXPLORING THE CONCEPT OF NOVATION

Configuration processing’ is a branch of knowledge that deals with the concepts andsoftware necessary for generation and processing of geometric configurations. ‘Formexalgebra’ and its programming language ‘Formian’ provide a convenient environment forconfiguration processing of all kinds. Architects and structural engineers working withstructural forms are among experts in many different disciplines that benefit fromconfiguration processing concepts and tools.The objective of the present work is to explore the capabilities of a particularconfiguration processing concept that is referred to as ‘novation’. The concept ofnovation is implemented as a ‘function’ in Formian. This function is an effectiveconfiguration processing tool. In particular, the function provides a powerful conceptualaid for creation of freeform configurations. In this paper, the emphasis is on the practical considerations and guidance forprocessing of forms, rather than involvement in details of the mathematical theory. Thepaper contains many examples providing an overall view of the capabilities of thenovation function.In using the concept of novation for processing of configurations, the following mainparameters are used for the control of the operation:(1) The overall guide for the formation of the configuration is provided byspecification of movements of points on or around a given configuration. The novationfunction will then cause the configuration to be shaped in ‘conformity’ (harmony) withthe specified movements (relocations). For example, the simple grid of Sketch (a),below, can be formed into the shape of Sketch (b) by specifying the relocations indicatedby the arrows.(2) There are a number of choices for the way in which conformity, in the context ofnovation, may be interpreted. This choice of the ‘interpretation of conformity’ is a keyparameter in creating the required shape. For example, a change of the style ofconformity for Sketch (b) will change the configuration of the grid into Sketch (c).