Arch 880X [3-0-3]
Design Computing: Computational Design

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of three-dimensional modeling, rendering and animation.

A series of lectures emphasizing the role of algorithmic thinking in design production. Shape grammars, a powerful formal system for the description and generation of designs is presented in detail. Shape grammars have been developed to generate a variety of architectural languages including Palladian Villas, Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie Houses, Queen Ann houses, Christopher Wren churches, Giuseppe Terragni apartments, Ricardo Legoretta housing schemes, and many others. And still other grammars are currently developed to generate designs from scratch.

This class emphasizes the systematic generation of sets of designs (languages of designs) from scratch and focuses in the representation of these designs in 3-dimensional digital design worlds.

Part 1: Introduction to generative systems: Pictorial and discursive representations of form, Generative systems in languages, architecture, painting, music

Part 2: Algebras of Design Uij, Shapes, Shape operations and relations, Shape transformations, Shape rules, Parametric rule schemata

Part 3: Shape grammars: Spatial transformations and shape rules, Spatial relations and shape rules. Additions and subtraction rules. Labels. Weights.

Part 4: Applications: The Palladian Grammar, The language of the prairie: Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie houses, Alvaro Siza?s Malagueira Housing Scheme, Kindergarten grammars, G-Edit

Part 5: Epilogue: Artificial Intelligence in Design. Algorithmic aesthetics, Design Machines. The class relies on Internet technologies for effective communication, presentation, and exchange of ideas during the course. Outlines of the lectures are posted on the website of the class along with announcements, project assignments, and other relevant material.