UGLY PARAMETRIC

PALIMPSEST

Digital architecture

Ugly Parametric design:

This project is an attempt to understand to what extent basic or repetitive processes in the design process can be executed by AI- thus aiding the design.

The project looks at a typical residential design process and substitutes inputs from grasshopper where qualitative thinking is not necessary. The name ‘ugly design’ stems from the idea that any process based on Vaastu/ bylaws which is essential part of work does not necessarily include qualitative design thinking and hence can be automated- the ugly part before designing.

The process is divied into 4 parts:

- The exterior - Stage 3 interior

- Stage 1 interior

- Stage 2 interior

Stage 1:

Fixed or pre-determined layout options for user to choose from Organisation principles based on Vaastu grid

For a fixed built boundary- sizes of spaces remain fixed and do not change with variation of boundary dimensions

Can shuffle between this pool of outcomes with a slider

Fixed spatial dimentions- irrespective of boundary dimensions

Organisation with vaasthu grid

Selection from pre-determined set of layout options for each space

ORGANISATION:

Attempt to follow a Vaasthu grid- base constraint for organisation

Stage 2:

REMOVE the TYPICAL FIXED LAYOUT MAXIMUM FREEDOM- No constraints of an outcome pool- greatest variation in each space The code can create outcomes beyond manually explored set

FINAL ORGANISATION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETE BEFORE VARIATION

The two problems with generative design was discussed-

1. It needs a sample set of data for easier automation

2. It generates a large set of results which then need to be filtered as needed.

But the attempt is to understand if the process of designing a house- by a set of 6 architectscan be analysed to come up with quantitative interpretations for zoning and layout making which will streamline computer based results without a large pre-fed sample data set.

For given road width r and height h and site dimensions (regular) l*w Setback determined from bylaws

Exterior:

BYLAWS:

Analyse the bylaws to create 3 sliders which can give the offsets from site boundary, with a known height of building and road size Create the basic site outline

Stage 3:

Introduction of GRIDS ; Creates anchor points as a list from which required one can be chosen as per parameter

Introduction of CONDITIONED LOOPS:

Output from DCR generator

Application of additive process to residential layout

Steps

1. Placement of shower

Can verify a condition for a list of values and select necessary outputs

ADDITIVE DESIGN :

2. WC- Possibility of rotation

A loop which can fix the location of preceeding spaces and break it down to create anchor points for the next space Internal layout of spaces can be changed once the layout or organisation is fixed by the additive process