Among the best-known applications of geometric design is that of the gridshell. From Frei Otto’s 1975 Multihalle Mannheim to Foster and Partners’ Great Court Roof, the gridshell has provided an effective method for communicating complex geometries. In practice, gridshells are interpretations of shell structures realised through a structural lattice of beams. The implications of gridshell construction have reduced weight substantially while retaining structural behaviour and allowed great flexibility in construction methodology. Geometry has been an interesting application of computational design in the recent decades. While form-finding and mathematically defined geometries are not new in architecture, the speed and ease with which we can now generate solutions is truly transformative. While the final forms can be comparatively sober in the context of this studio, I find great value in the empirical principles governing geometric design. As geometric design focuses on attaining the ideal form, it should theoretically prove advantageous in producing an efficient design with optimal performance. While realistically performance can depend heavily upon material consistency and connection quality, we should at least be able to replicate the operating principles of a given design. One other advantage of geometric design is the ease of reproducing complex forms. As the structure is constructed of simple components, it should increase the ease with which we realise our design.
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B.1. Research Field
Part B. CRITERIA DESIGN
Selected field: Geometry.
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