BIM Implementation in parametric building modeling

TITLE PAGE

DISSERTATION TITLE: BIM Implementation in Parametric Building Modeling

CONSULTANT: Dee Dlamini

AUTHOR: Oriana Fenesan

DATE/SIGNATURE: 30.10.2014

STUDENT IDENTITY NUMBER: 179740

NUMBER OF COPIES: 1

NUMBER OF PAGES (2400 characters per page): 27

All rights reserved – no part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of the author.

NOTE: This dissertation was completed as part of a Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management degree course- no responsibility is taken for any advice, instruction or conclusion given within!

BIM Implementation in Parametric Building Modeling Oriana Fenesan Submitted for VIA University College Aarhus Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management 2014

COPYRIGHT Attention is drawn to the fact that copyright of this paper rests with its author. A copy of this thesis has been supplied on condition that anyone who consults it is understood to recognize that its copyright rests with the author and they must not copy it or use material from it except as permitted by law or with the consent of the author.

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Signature of Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Oriana Fenesan

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Abstract In the industry a new type of specialist role is emerging. The main task of the Building Information Modeling specialist is focused on the control, development and sharing of geometric information within the design team in order to develop a design solution. In the past the models produced by studios have been designed with 2d graphic programs and defined by the capacity of computers, but now a new breed of architecture is on the rise - computer generated architecture, also known as parametric architecture.

The dissertation research was focused on the problem of implementing Building Information Modelling (henceforth referred to as BIM) in the part of the field known as Parametric Design or Generative Architecture. It wished to tackle the problems that arise when trying to implement BIM in a very specific part of technology, why it is considered difficult and what are the main issues ( and their immediate solutions) that can be seen in the architectural office. Its relevance to the building sector is obvious when looking at the direction that a normal office is heading towards: an integrated model for all professions involved in construction. In order to do this, an analysis was made of a more detailed problem and a look was taken at a specific part, which is still considered avant-garde in the profession.

This was done by answering the following research question: “Is BIM implementation in Parametric Design the best way forward in this branch of architecture? “, with the aid of several secondary research questions such as: “What are the main challenges that the user faces?’’, “Are offices dealing with Parametric Architecture implementing BIM?”, “What would be the best solutions to avoid user frustrations when dealing with these two parts of architecture? “.

KEYWORDS: Building Information Modeling, Parametric Architecture, Generative Design, BIM Implementation, BIM in Parametric Architecture

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Table of Contents INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................. 1 00. A brief timeline ............................................................................................................................ 2 1.

Building Information Modeling .................................................................................................. 4 1.2 BIM types ................................................................................................................................. 5 1.2.1 Hollywood BIM ................................................................................................................. 5 1.2.2 Lonely BIM ........................................................................................................................ 5 1.2.3 Social BIM ......................................................................................................................... 6 1.2.4. Intimate BIM .................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 BIM Benefits in the design process.......................................................................................... 6

2. Computational Thinking and Parametric Architecture .................................................................. 7 2.1 Relevance to architecture ........................................................................................................ 7 2.2 Algorithmic Form ..................................................................................................................... 8 3. Main Issues regarding Implementation / Intuitive collaboration ................................................. 9 3.1 The approach ......................................................................................................................... 10 3.2 The Language ......................................................................................................................... 11 3.2.1 DXF, ISO, EXPRESS, IFC and CIS/2.................................................................................... 11 3.3 Closing the Gap ...................................................................................................................... 12 3.3.1 Creative use of “Soft-data” – Petabyte........................................................................... 13 3.4 Parametric Thinking- case study 1 ......................................................................................... 15 3.5 Parametric BIM ...................................................................................................................... 19 3.5.1 Building intentionally ...................................................................................................... 21 3.5.2 BIM and Algorithmic Form Finding – case study 2 ......................................................... 22 4.Material Computation- new uses for information in design, case study 3 .................................. 26 5. Conclusions .................................................................................................................................. 28 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................... 29 APPENDIX 1 – Helical form script.................................................................................................... 31 APPENDIX 2 – Diagrid mesh script ................................................................................................... 32 APPENDIX 3 - Interview ................................................................................................................... 38

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Front Cover -Curtesy of www.skyscrapercity.com FIGURE 1 CAD TIMELINE (PETERS, 2013), P7 ............................................................................................ 2 FIGURE 2 OMA RESEARCH AND INNOVATION PARAMETRIC CELL, STUDY FOR PHOTOTROPIC TOWER, 2008 ....... 15 FIGURE 3 RECURSIVE HELICAL FORM 1 – ORIANA FENESAN 2014 . EROARE! MARCAJ ÎN DOCUMENT NEDEFINIT.16 FIGURE 4 RECURSIVE HELICAL FORM 2- ORIANA FENESAN 2014 .. EROARE! MARCAJ ÎN DOCUMENT NEDEFINIT.17 FIGURE 5 DIAGRID MESH - CURTESY OF HTTP://HUGOLOUREIRO.WORDPRESS.COM/ ...................................... 18 FIGURE 6 4TH SEMESTER MULTISTORY APARTMENT COMPLEX –ORIANA FENESAN......................................... 18 FIGURE 7 DYNAMO INTERFACE - CURTESY OF HTTP://DYNAMOBIM.ORG ....................................................... 21 FIGURE 8 REVIT PARAMETRIC INTERFACE - CURTESY OF HTTP://WWW.CADALYST.COM/ .................................. 22 FIGURE 9 PARAMETRIC STACKING IN REVIT - CURTESY OF HTTP://WWW.CADALYST.COM/ ............................... 23 FIGURE 10 PARAMETRIC FORM FINDING IN REVIT - CURTESY OF HTTP://WWW.CADALYST.COM/ ...................... 25 FIGURE 11 PARAMETRIC FORM FINDING, DETAILED- CURTESY OF - HTTP://WWW.CADALYST.COM/ ................... 25 FIGURE 12 ICD/ITKE RESEARCH PAVILION- CURTESY OF WWW.ACHIMMENGES.NET .......................................... 26 Back Cover - Curtesy of Project Cyprus E-Scape Team A. Vanezi, A.Charitou, Y. Haddad, J. Harb, A. Virlan

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Glossary

Parameter - characteristic, feature, or measurable factor that can help in defining a particular system IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) - platform neutral, open file format specification that is not controlled by a single vendor or group of vendors

Recursive - relating to or involving a program or routine of which a part requires the application of the whole, so that its explicit interpretation requires in general many successive executions.

Iteration - the repetition of a sequence of computer instructions a specified number of times or until a condition is met Massing - in architecture refers to the general shape and size Stacking - basic computer science data structure and can be defined in an abstract, implementation-free manner Parametric Object - object that allows parameters to dictate its attributes 2D - Two dimension 3D -Three dimension AEC - Architecture, engineer, construction BIM -Building information modeling CAD - Computer aided design

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Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

INTRODUCTION In support of the Architectural Technology and Construction Management education’s 7th semester this paper will take a look at the implementation of two different building philosophies, namely BIM and Parametric/Computational Design. It aims to show the progress, implementation, difficulties and future of these concepts in the building industry.

Although not new to the field, these two philosophies have peaked in recent years and have proven themselves as a new focus area for many specialists in the field.

Due to necessary improvements to areas such as time and cost, a lot of people are looking for new ways to improve their workflow and quality of the end product in order to save money. This paper however will be looking at the ways BIM and Parametric design affect and work in the design phase of projects.

This paper wishes to tackle the problems that arise when trying to implement BIM in a very specific part of technology, why it is considered difficult and what are the main issues ( and their immediate solutions) that can be seen in the architectural office. Its relevance to the building sector is obvious when looking at the direction that a normal office is heading towards: an integrated model for all professions involved in construction. This paper wishes to analyze a more detailed problem and look at a specific part, which is still considered avant-garde in the profession.

This will be done by answering the following research question: “Is BIM implementation in Parametric Design the best way forward in this branch of architecture? “With the aid of several secondary research questions such as: “What are the main challenges that the user faces?’’, “Are offices dealing with Parametric Architecture implementing BIM?”, “What would be the best solutions to avoid user frustrations when dealing with these two parts of architecture? “.

The methods used will be a combination of both primary and secondary empirical data (via a personal study made in 3ds MAX and Revit, interviews and projects made by other experts in the field, as well as participation in BIM conferences or workshops) that will be compiled in regards to the actual theories and programs used in the work-place, while comparing to BIM guides as well as Parametric Architecture programs.

To be able to answer the research questions will require both personal experience as well as the experience of others, compared to the theory of the work itself. This shall be done by comparing personal problems with the problems that the average user faces when trying to merge the two branches of technology stated above, and how this affects the project itself and if this result matches the theory that BIM is the best way forward in architecture in general and a good way for interdisciplinary collaboration in architecture.

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Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

00. A brief timeline Since the late 80’s and 90’s the office space and workflow has seen a shift towards inter-compatibility and data exchange through the various professions involved in the design of a project. For the first time, the design of the shape was not the concern of most architects but a set of principles that were encoded into a sequence of parametric equations capable of generating by varying values of parameters to create a design.

“Instead of working on a compositions, the designers would construct a parametric, computational system of formal production, create on-screen controls that affect its outcomes, and then select forms that emerge from the operation of the system” (Peters, 2013, pp. 50-51). The parametric associations themselves create a different way of regarding shape and form in architecture, changing the way we see the process – from stable to variable, from singular design to multiplicity. This is a continuous and changing process and that is exactly what makes it capable of understanding and generating modern architecture.

On the opposite Figure 1 CAD timeline (Peters, 2013), p7 side of the spectrum the Computer Aided Design (CAD) timeline can be broken down into specific design eras: the 2D era, the Building Information Modeling (BIM) era and finally the design computation era (Fig.1.1 CAD timeline). Although here they are recognized as self-standing, in reality they overlap into the actual architectural practice.

Since the early 80s, the process of 2D drafting was well established into the office space, and thus multiple 2D drawings were drawn out to represent a structure. The skill of 2D drafting was easy to implement in the office space without much training making it accessible for adoption.

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Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

It might come off as a surprise, but in actuality the BIM idea started out before the 2D drafting era of the 1980s. The main objective was to overcome 2D limitations in general and how they defined the process of creating a building. The idea was to create a platform in which a single 3D model was capable of incorporating drawings – and then being able to extract them – and still be perceived as derived data. It is actually more mathematical and logical way to approach the integration of computation in the design phase. Most often critiqued is the fact that it is easy to create the obvious with BIM but it is harder to develop new concepts that do not follow the normal behavior of the program. BIM in itself is more of a technology, a methodology but it should not be considered a type of philosophy when thinking in design, and should not limit the design process itself.

The design computation era – introduced as a distinction between generative description of a building (a script) and the resulting generated model. The designer role is now shifted from the building itself to creating a script that will model and execute the finished prototype. Any change in the script generated would also have implications in the final product opening up a vast array of possibilities and alternatives to the design. Its main purpose is to overcome the limitations that BIM has – manual model building and building semantics. These two currents overlap, some applications being used to generate BIM models, resulting in what some might call “Parametric BIM”.

During the first part of the design computation era, a number of related geometric concepts were also introduced: first, the use of the parameter space of curves and surfaces as a modelling context; second, providing the user with full access to transformation operations (shearing, scaling, rotation, translation); and third, the use of multiple model spaces so that the same design could be represented in multiple configurations- for example, unfolded (for fabrication) and the folded ( in situ).

(Peters, 2013, pp. 44-45).

The full force of the generative parametric model could be best described by the quest to have the best model. When a simple light geometric and normalized model can show more information, why build a BIM model? What would bring the most to the table when regarding practicality and at what stage of the design process would the information actually be viable?

The first tools of computational design – GC and Rhino Grasshopper- were basically “thinking” a graph representing the building that was indeed the user interface.

This was considered to be an easy way for novice users to get accustomed with the construction of a simple associative model. Although the approach was appropriate for basic usage, its shortcomings soon became evident: a graph has its limitation, and node-

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Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

based design became oversimplified in regards to the real-world complexity of a model. A more detailed approach was necessary, namely algebra.

The whole benefit of programming is the absolute control of the script. Different styles use different approaches or different coding languages but they are all mainly characterized by flow-control. The usage of loops (for iteration) and “if” statements (for conditionals) are a characteristic of this type of control as seen in languages such as “Processing” or “Python”.

It is then best to define what the model, in it of itself, is. Is it a graph, a virtual model of geometry, the script itself, a spreadsheet? In regards to BIM it is seen as a database, where the drawings are live reports that exist in the model space. But the most important is that the process reflects a way of thinking about the solution and the tools used are not the focus.

1. Building Information Modeling

BIM is the new trend in all things architecture if we look at publications, blogs or anything else available. But what is it really? Most will think BIM and think of software, but BIM is not a software in it of itself but a means to an end, a philosophy of work ethic in the building industry. Going past the limitations of 2D software, BIM allows for a much smoother collaboration between all sides of the building industry and increases workflow, integration, and also project quality while reducing project time-span. While traditional project drafting techniques are prone to error and thus waste time and money for companies due to inefficient transitions between different professions, BIM tries to overcome such setbacks by integrating them in the same timeline.

Although it has been around for decades as a concept, a well-rounded fully accepted definition has yet to be agreed upon in the architectural and construction industries. As an example we can look at M.A. Mortenson Company’s view of BIM as “an intelligent simulation of architecture”, that must have six key characteristics:    

 

Digital Spatial (3D) Measurable (quantifiable, dimension-able and query-able) Comprehensive( encapsulating and communicating design intent, building performance, constructability and include sequential and financial aspect of means and methods) Accessible( to the entire AEC/Owner team through an interoperable and intuitive interface Durable (usable through all phases of a facility’s life) (Eastman, et al., 2008, p. 32) 4

Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

If we take in consideration their definition, a lot of projects do not meet the mark and can be considered to be called true BIM. The one thing that really does separate BIM from traditional 2D drafting techniques is its ability to use Parametric Objects. These allow the user to fully control the model in all its instances throughout the building process. Changes to these Parametric Objects are automatically updated throughout the project and its layers.

1.2 BIM types After taking a look at what BIM brings to the table, it would be wise to actually see its limitations. Most offices are reluctant to fully implement it as they do not feel that either they or their team is ready for such a leap in technology. This means that implementing this philosophy is sometimes skewed in the wrong direction and it appears inefficient for the wrong reasons: not because it is unable to fulfill the needs of the user, but because the user is not working with it the way he should have. We then get different types of BIM implementation, with various degrees of correctness.

1.2.1 Hollywood BIM We first take a look at the most impractical and common case, where people feel that they have used BIM but in all actuality they have not even scratched the surface of anything that it could do for them.

Companies that use what we now call Hollywood BIM, are mostly doing it for the wrong reasons. Either because it is a trend that they feel it is necessary to adapt to, or because they really don’t know how to use it.

This type is characterized along the lines of having programs that are recognized as being capable of producing BIM type data but not using them, or using the software solely for presentation reasons, such as creating nice renderings after drawing everything in other software or not taking advantage of some of the main features, like the autoupdate of all data in the project.

1.2.2 Lonely BIM The next step is BIM implementation in the office-space. Unfortunately, some companies hit a road block caused by external factors when trying to implement this type of modelling. They are hit with resistance from collaborators and partners that maybe do not wish or cannot afford to switch to the same software or ideologies. Data and metadata is then lost along the transfer process. Most of the times, when data is extracted from a BIM capable software and then transferred and translated to a different platform, it is unable to return to its original source.

This in turn means that most of the design is done half-way, and Lonely BIM can be defined as a unilateral implementation of the concept in only one or a few workspaces that contribute to the project itself.

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Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

1.2.3 Social BIM Further in the collaboration process is what we call Social BIM. This allows a collaborative workflow between architects, engineers and construction design managers or subcontractors to share information and data about a given project. This is closer to the idea of true BIM, but sometimes one or more of the parts involved do not disclose full data on the given project.

Although the collaboration exists, it is still not perfectly integrated. Most companies that do reach some level of BIM implementation are at this stage. It allows for the architects to design, engineers to calculate and managers to make estimations at the same time and then construction documentation are not so error-prone as normal collaborative means tend to make them.

1.2.4. Intimate BIM The last version is the true form of BIM implementation. Intimate BIM is characterized by full disclosure of information and data between the AEC professions and changes and agreements can be traced in the project itself from beginning to end. Mostly this type of integration can be seen in large companies that need it to be able to communicate between sectors and professions even in their own company and are somewhat forced to make sure that things come together seamlessly.

1.3 BIM Benefits in the design process As this paper is concerned with BIM implementation in Parametric and Computational Architecture, the focus will be on the Design phase rather than on the Construction or Maintenance phases of a given project. It is interesting to see how BIM actually affects the workflow and design of a specific building, and then we can put this in relation to parametric and computational architecture, as BIM is a way of doing things rather than a type of architecture.

To quote the “BIM Handbook: A guide to Building Information Modeling for Owners, Managers, Designers, Engineers, and Contractors” (Eastman, et al., 2008) there are in their vision seven major advantages to the design process if BIM is implemented early on. They are as follows:       

Earlier and more accurate visualization of a design Automatic Low-Level corrections when changes are made to a design Generate accurate and consistent 2D drawings at any stage of the design Earlier collaboration of multiple design disciplines Easy check against the design intent Extract cost estimates during the design stage Improve Energy Efficiency and Sustainability 6

Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

Most of these are not new to any of us interested in BIM implementation or the new trends in architecture, as they have actually been the main concern for a number of years when computerization was introduced in the workspace through traditional CAD drafting software.

It is then safe to say that BIM is the silver-lining that many were waiting for in their design offices so that they could achieve better results without having to necessarily increase work-load or the work-pool.

2. Computational Thinking and Parametric Architecture Before discussing Parametric Architecture, we must first take a look at what is Computational design thinking all about. The main process of architecture today as far as computers are concerned is computerization. A model is created from something already conceptualized in the human brain, which is then entered in a computer and digitalized, played with, and stored on the system. The main issue with this type of an approach is that the designer does not take advantage of the full computational power of the computer he or she has.

2.1 Relevance to architecture

“To understand computation, and its relevance for architectural design, one must understand the distinction between computation and computerization” (Ahlquist & Menges, 2011, p. 10). In the simplest terms, it is a matter of deduction versus compilation of information, it either creates and adds to the information or it only exists as a container for the information initially imputed by the user. So what does actually differ? The mindset and approach. It becomes evident that it is not a lack of particular skills or knowledge but how we see architecture in general. A CAD approach is based on objects as symbols and representations, and that is the strategy it will employ when designing. It is not able to generate new information by itself. On the other end of the specter, the computational approach to architecture looks at the initial information as a skeleton of sorts, in the form of a code, which it can then use to derive abstract data to generate values and actions. The processing of information is done mathematically, or to be more exact, algorithmically. “The idea of the algorithm can be traced back to the work of the Norwegian mathematician Axel Thue, who invented a rewriting program operating on strings of signs in 1914” (Salomaa, 1985, p. 131).If we take a close look at his work, we can then define an algorithm as a set of procedures that rely on a specific number of constraints that will be used to solve a problem through a succession of operations.

“Termed automated design there was a holistic vision of programs which could process 7

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complex design briefs into specific architectural solutions.” (Howard, 1998, pp. 19-38). It raised the question if a computer should mimic human thought processes.

Initially, there were simple programs such as Sketchpad, GRASP and LOKAT that came out in the 60’s and were created with the “system-based” approach in mind.

Sketchpad, developed at MIT, was able to apply the idea of constraints that could be used to test how geometries reacted to each other in the system they were created in.

This program was essential in defining parametrics, associativity and rule-based generation.

“In relation to design, computation is the processing of information and interactions between elements which constitute a specific environment, the pivotal word being interactions.” (Ahlquist & Menges, 2011, pp. 10-16) 2.2 Algorithmic Form

An algorithm is basically the procedure of addressing a problem with a clear set of steps as guidance. It is based upon generalization, induction, abstraction and structured logic. It uses patterns that tend to repeat themselves, as can be seen in nature, universal principles, modules and inductive links. “What makes algorithmic logic so problematic for architects is that they have maintained and ethos of artistic sensibility and intuitive playfulness in their practice” (Ahlquist & Menges, 2011, pp. 10-16). The architect sees this mathematical way of thinking as restrictive and unintuitive and as such is reluctant to use it. As a practice, architecture at present relies on the concept of a “star”, a designer architect that can and will be congratulated for the design of a building. To hand over the design process seems inhumane to some. But algorithms should be regarded as a way of exploring, to take a leap into the unknown and to venture out in the world, be it natural or artificial. To create an algorithmic form one must communicate the computation into the computer itself, via a specific language. The usage of a scripting language will then allow the designer to transcend from the usage of a mouse, and go behind the scenes and avoid all limitations of the programs they are using to create spaces.” The evolutionary algorithm forms the core of any evolutionary system… [T]here are four main EAs in use today: the genetic algorithm, genetic programming, evolutionary strategies and evolutionary programming.” (Bentley & Corne, 2002, p. 123).

But, of course, as soon as we start talking about creativity in a field where computers are taking over, it opens a true Pandora’s Box, that will spill out disbelief and controversy. Most still believe that true creativity cannot be, in any case, made automatic, but thankfully some are willing to try, and thus progress can be made in the way we see and interact with our techniques of creation.

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Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

3. Main Issues regarding Implementation / Intuitive collaboration When looking at Building Information Modeling we are involuntarily talking about parametric in technical terms. When working in inherently BIM programs we model a mock-up of the house with the aid of parametric objects- by adjusting them or modeling them. The objects themselves are considered as intelligent entities and as such behave according to the property values of all exposed parameters.

No matter how we approach BIM or implement it in the office space, it is still behaving like a scripted object and thus all the generated information works fully attached to the parameters it is based upon. Whereas in generic CAD systems one might model manually the geometric detail, using internal algorithms and embedded information makes BIM limited by software in the direction of modeling. We could say that the designer models the skeletal system while the program makes the entity alive, giving it flesh and skin.

On the other side of the specter, parametric modeling systems allow the user to develop a particular template for a project that can be regarded as a gathering of geometric entities. No matter the software the main functions are always the same: mathematic formulas, constraints, calculations and controls allow the user to rig the model freely through input data. (Burry & Burry, 2010) give a very well argued and overarching overview of the mathematical influences that architecture has accumulated, illustrated with a large selection of projects, while also showing different methods used such as cellular automata, control theory and evolutionary shape optimization. These allow the user to control the design via a logical script a wide variety of objects.

When put into perspective, BIM relies heavily on parametric thinking although it uses it only to an object-level, making the end-product behave like an assembly of semiindependent objects. Parametric design, on the other hand, creates a project that behaves more like a single assembly, with full control over all the assembled parts.

If we take all these into consideration, we notice the underlying similitudes between the two concepts using basically the same technology to create versions of the same utopian vision of what a project or design should be. It then raises the question of the application of the two, and why they are used and behave so differently.

Both trends tend to have communities that center around them and will wholeheartedly swear by one or another, rarely indulging in the combination of both.

Most design studios seeing the usage as their own personal “style” or “architectural language” that defines their company. And both communities have solid arguments to support the usage of the respective concept.

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Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

3.1 The approach

BIM tends to have a Top-Down approach to projects as opposed to the BottomUp approach of parametric design. BIM design is rigged as a main element or an overall view that gets magnified during the design process. The general design of the project is outlined, and as it progresses it is detailed deeper and deeper, adding layers upon layers of information in time. This is done by the modeling of objects that gather information that is embedded inside the property values of the specific entity. Although the main model is 3D based, it also constitutes the 2D necessary information that is still mainly required around the world for obtaining building permits. Some of the main advantages of this approach (structured model, embedded information, and construction documentations) are not available as such in parametric modeling, but in turn the latter gives superior control over free-form geometry and design. This seems to be preferred by the contemporary design of freeform curved architectural design, its flexibility and capability being mostly related to the generic platform used to create parametric design, such as Rhino, MicroStation and CATIA for Grasshoper, Generative Components and Digital Project respectively. Integrated scripting is also provided with visual programming and data-flow modeling, major selling points in favor of the systems used that are still in their infancy in BIM implementations.

Parametric design, although it has its advantages, is still not fully functional for what is necessary to build the project, so many designers do move the parametric model into BIM software at some point in the design process, usually around the time when the design is almost finalized and it is mostly an irreversible process. The main disadvantage of using BIM in the first stages of a project is exactly its static nature and the fact that a lot of general information has to be embedded even when maybe the basic design is still not yet agreed upon, so the idea of moving from one software to another is understandable. When thinking of how BIM actually works, it becomes obvious that the information requirement is rather chaotically required in the process, and the input vs output is lacking in several communication languages that are required in some projects.

The current BIM applications work through a series of data, project-related information that is embedded into the model but the output is limited to traditional representations of information such as 3D views, drawings and rarely some tables. Contrastingly, the very idea of data-flow modeling or visual programing (parametric design) relies on diagram representation, acting as a main interface to manage the projects, the created entities and the relationships between them.

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Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

3.2 The Language

The main difference between the semantics created is the way both concepts approach the object being used. While parametric design is in general focused on geometry and is tied to other external tools that can evaluate the performance criteria since the focus is mostly put on the design, BIM on the other hand relies on pre-defined semantic structures- objects or entities.

When looking at Parametric design, the fact that the focus is relentlessly put on the design options make it, in all actuality, not so different from traditional CAD systems.

It is basically just geometry placed on layers. The extent to which it depends on external analysis tools make the resulting geometry void of many types of information that a traditional BIM-style design would have at the same level of design maturity. But it is the way that the information passes that makes the difference between applications.

3.2.1 DXF, ISO, EXPRESS, IFC and CIS/2

If we look at the power computer programs have, we realize that it is impossible for one single computer application to support all the tasks of production and design.

This means that data needs to be exchanged between different software and different platforms. The need for a specific language meant that not all data was being transferred in the same way between the applications. Interoperability is a very important part of choosing the platforms and partners that will be associated with a project.

Traditionally, the language used was DXF, meaning that the data being transferred between applications is only geometry. DXF was originally introduced in December 1982 as part of AutoCAD 1.0, it was supposed to correctly display the native DWG format of AutoCAD into other Autodesk applications. According to their own specifications, “in the DXF™ format, the definition of objects differs from entities: objects have no graphical representation and entities do. For example, dictionaries are objects, and not entities. Entities are also referred to as graphical objects while objects are referred to as non-graphical objects.” (Autodesk, 2007). But this format was soon outdated and replaced during the late 80’s by the growing usage of data models, that supported a different type of data transfer – product and object models between different industries, led by the ISO-STEP standards. Most of these data models use the same programing language, namely the EXPRESS, which is a data modeling language that allows the inclusion of SQL objects and XML text implementations in the transferred package.

The main languages used for transferring product data are the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) – for planning, design, construction and management and 11

Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

CIMSteel Integration Standard Version 2 (CIS/2) – for structural steel and fabrication.

Both of these are based on the EXPRESS and allow multiple types of data to be transferred without loss between the platforms they are intended for.

Unfortunately, there is yet a fully functional transfer language that can be used across all platforms. Both IFC and CIS/2 can be redundant, describing the same object in different ways which leads to confusion or an over stuffy format file. The NBIMS – National BIM Standards- is trying to implement a common language in the US but the results are not yet obvious.

The IFC is actually a way of communicating a large set of data that represents the entirety of the building information. Scripted in ISO-STEP EXPRESS it also takes on the languages inherent concepts and restrictions. It was designed as what some call a “frame-work” model, meaning that it was intended to provide a broad general view of the object definitions that could be used as a frame in other platforms for a more detailed outcome. It relies heavily on the other party’s ability to build from a base language. It is capable of covering all the necessary domains for BIM implementation, from geometry to relations, from properties to meta-proprieties that are all designed to represent a rich and vast information database. The IFC format is sub-devised in many classes, and as of now no omissions are known.

These being said, the Autodesk community is actually trying in to challenge the way we think of interoperability by centering their whole design process around their headliner Revit program, that has spin-off programs (with version 2013 fully integrated in the core program if desired by the user) for all the different professions such as Revit Architecture, MEP, and so on.

3.3 Closing the Gap As times have it, there is a distinction between the two approaches of BIM and Parametric Design and what they can do for the design industry. To remediate the gap between these two ways of thinking about architecture, one might think of a complementary usage of the two. While the BIM model itself can still be the skeleton of the analyses that will be made for the project as it is, it might be a good idea to look at how the model itself is created. One of the approaches seen in the architectural communities thus far is to analyze the languages used by both, and transform them into something richer in semantics that both can read. This would actually translate into having parametric modeling software be able to transfer data via IFC format to then be able to be integrated in BIM capable platforms. Another way to approach this would be changing the way BIM platforms work with objects : if they would be designed more to accommodate certain rules and restraints and then be steered into the right position rather than manual modeling and positioning into the program that would significantly

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increase the likeability that the connection between the two would be inherently stronger.

(Mirtschin, 2011) Gives a good example on how a parametric model can be used to generate IFC format files that can be then transferred to a BIM capable platform. He mainly focuses on how Grasshopper models can be structurally analyzed, and he does this by generating IFC compatible geometry to improve the collaboration between parametric and BIM. But unfortunately, some parts are lost due to limitations that current BIM platforms are facing. Even when the language is readable and perfectly attuned to the IFC format, BIM modelers cannot translate all geometrical possibilities.

But even though a lot of programs are trying to work around this by creating add-ons or different built in types of objects, scripting possibilities or languages, it is still missing in one key aspect: overall control. There is yet a way to create one parameter that can change the way all the objects derived from it are generated.

3.3.1 Creative use of “Soft-data” – Petabyte

[..] Software lent itself to experimentation with notions such as fluidity and dynamics.

While formally radical, this work often disregarded programmatic aspects, political and social concerns, systems of representation, material properties and construction techniques; now much of it seems aesthetically indulgent and too narrowly focused. In the meantime, the architecture, engineering and construction industry was rapidly (and separately) developing software that would streamline the construction process […] within a single, automatically updated 3-D database: the building information model.

(Garber, 2009, p.23) That being said, the model itself is mostly used in the same ways inside the design space. The best use, however, of all programs is for things that it was not designed for, that prove the full capabilities of the platform. Normally there is a rift between software used for design and software used for production but in recent years this gap is closing down. On the one hand there is a tendency to lean towards scripted design methodologies – like genetically biological based models (morphogenesis), on the other there are advances in the more strict, specialist software that allows the user to run simulations on structural capabilities, environmental analyses, and a parameterization of material properties, prefabrication or types of constraints needed for assembly. These two directions help evolve the use of software in the early stages of design. Even so, many still feel that BIM is too rigid for these stages and that using such packages would influence their creativity by constraints. Thus, many still use other non-integrated more intuitive platforms and switch to BIM later on.

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As can be seen in (Anderson, 2008, p. 106-123), Chris Anderson looks at the model of the Google phenomenon and argues that the way we see models of any kind today is overrated : the massive amounts of data that we see today (in his words the “petabyte”) combined with mathematics are far more powerfull than any tool we have had before. In other fields of research a model is simply a visual tool for the research process of hypothesis- test- confirm/disprove- repeat but when combined with a massive amount of data it surmounts to something new and exciting. When applying these new philosophies on data to BIM we open up a new world of possibilities. Dealing with massive amounts of data means that architecture can have more types of information, increasing the way we can use it and how creative we get to be.” We can incorporate data from many sources, including aesthetics and the sociocultural, political and historical dimensions because massive data is the new meaning” (Garber, 2009, p. 25).

We then see a shift in roles, the architect becoming a strategist. This also implies that creative scripting can now be used for every stage of the process, the model being able to retain information from minute details such as weather patterns in the building area to larger scale details such as timing of erection. However, this does not necessarily mean that the future is one platform fully integrated but rather that we need to think of a way to profit from the use of scripting protocols that would allow us to have a better interoperability without the loss of metadata upon transfer. A good way to showcase how this type of scripting information combined with massive amounts of data cand transform the building process would be to look at the OMA Research and Innovation Parametric Cell, a study made for the Photoropic Tower (2008).

Its design is based on recursive fractals and how they fragment in nature combined with a digital “growth” pattern that allows the building to take shape. The design was constrained on two faces and the aformentioned growth was allowed to use it’s own parametric thinking to align and distribute sctructural members in a varied but algorithmic way. The project also employed massive amounts of site data to create the openings, assigning working spaces with higher priority when coming to daylight, the main orientation of the building was also determined by a solar study, and the views were also assigned depending on the various values of the view foci.

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Figure 2 OMA Research and Innovation Parametric Cell, Study for Phototropic Tower, 2008

3.4 Parametric Thinking- case study 1

As a user, the first thing that comes to mind when looking at new projects that employ the parametric algorithms to create shapes that are free-flowing and natural, is “how did they do that”. What most architects or designers say when confronted with the idea of doing a parametric design if they are not already passionate or trying it out for themselves out of curiosity, is the fact that they don’t know scripting. The idea of writing a program to create a shape for them, and let it run wild within the parameters given, frightens them.

This paper will also take a look at a first time user’s ability to script an architectural shape without prior advanced coding language. For this study, MAXScript will be used as an add-on to the 3ds Max main utility. By creating a simple shape, say a recursive helical form, we can see how easy it would be to create the outer frame for something like a skyscraper. The next part will be more of an explanation on the process used to obtain the result.

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Recursive Helical Form

After opening 3ds Max, we create an empty scene via the button ribbon (similar to that of Revit) and choose MAXScript and then New Script from the top menu. A base algorithm is then imputed in the opened window. After saving the script, we choose the Tools option and run the Evaluate All command. The figure resulting, as can be seen below, is a helical form. The script used is created with embedded information. A variable

Figure 3 Recursive Helical Form 1 – Oriana Fenesan 2014

that we called Level stores the level of torsion. This will also be used to limit how much of a recursion we have in the model. At the beginning of each iteration, we add 1 to the variable, until it will become maxed out with the predefined maximum that we have imputed, in this case 100 levels. The initial form is then created, in our case a box of 200 by 200 with a height of 70. The recursive function is then stated – createChild and defined. It accepts to arguments ( arg ), the first being the original that it must copy, and the second being the parameter that will allow us to stop the recursion when we want it to stop, in our case, before it reaches level 70.What is actually happening is not so complicated. The box that was defined is copied, then scaled down by 5%, rotated by 3.5 degrees, and then placed on the initial box. This repeats until it reaches the value we have set for it. (For full Script see Appendix 1)

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Figure 4 Recursive Helical Form 2- Oriana Fenesan 2014

Simple Diagrid Mesh

The next step would be to go into something a little more advanced. For this reason, we will look at a Diagrid Mesh and how it can be fully parameterized for the user . For this we will use the same MAXScript add-on. This type of more complex coding, is a bit harder to explain step by step. The general idea is that we create a flat mesh that will be then subdivided by a grid. This will allow us to create something similar to a topography design on the mesh that we will later parameterize and control via our user interface, or code. A mesh in 3dsMax is basically two lists, one that contains vertices information and the other the faces. The key to doing this type of more flexible and adjustable architecture is to be able to understand how the program processes and stores the information available for what we create. This is one of the main problems that most users face, as it is sometimes difficult to understand and communicate with the program if a pre-existing programming background is not available. Unfortunately, even this script proved rather challenging, and although tweaked, revised and recoded, the research went to a stop after this point.

This more complex type of modeling is unfortunately the limit that this paper will look into, as further research is above existing programing capabilities of the researcher.

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Figure 5 Diagrid Mesh - Curtesy of http://hugoloureiro.wordpress.com/

User frustrations

Although the point of this subchapter was to be able to create a true parametric BIM model from zero, albeit a simple one. Due to personal limitation, it will conclude at just a more complicated parametric shape though not nearly close to what the used environment is capable of. The idea was to be able to create at least some type of data to be extracted from zero from a shape scripted from the bottom. With these in mind, as stated before, this exercise was more of a test on how somebody without prior computational thinking and coding background would tackle creating a virtual entity . By pushing the limits of what is expected of us, we can reach progress. That being said, the biggest frustration by far as an unexperienced user, is the lack of Figure 6 4Th Semester Multistory Apartment Complex –Oriana complete information or self-teaching Fenesan books that can be easily picked up, as this method of modelling is not that well emphasized in the learning sector. The closest thing that was managed by this researcher in form of parametric study of shape, was a shading 18

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and decoration device, devised for the 4th semester of the Constructing Architecture education, namely a multistory apartment building, that was done in collaboration with 3 other classmates: Janis Kristians Kalnins, Queenie H.Q. Wu, and Aleksas Urbis. The creation of the shape however, is done by the researcher.

For this part of the research, an interview was made with a seasoned architect from an international company to see his frustrations with the implementation of BIM and Parametric Design workspace (Appendix 3). In his opinion : “[…] the main thing that holds us back from using it in the office space is the lack of interoperability and the fact that, so far at least, it’s just not that user friendly. We do work with a different type of program than you, but Archicad is quite powerful on its own. We still have difficulties with partners when we ask them for the Archicad format, imagine if we would switch again to something totally different. As for design yes, it might be interesting to one day try it, but the engineer would not know what to do with that type of model, so how would that help us in the long run?”

3.5 Parametric BIM

“BIM is an approach to building design that’s characterized by the creation and use of coordinated, internally consistent computable information about a building project.”

(AutoDesk, 2010) When thinking of the original Computer Aided Design Systems, most of the editing was rather grueling and difficult. It was what we would call today “dumb graphics”- a visual representation void of any type of information except the fact that it exists in and axis-coordinated system. This was the basis of documentations made, just plain 2D graphics extracted from the program. As time went on, and progress was made in all fields that could benefit from the aid of a computer, a new breed of models came to be, entities that could be formed into a specific element- a window, a wall, etc. But this was still heavily based on a graphic representation. The next step was parametric modeling. When thinking of the two together we get the idea of combining the two ideologies. Looking at programs such as AutoDesk’s Revit, we can see that basically the models and objects are constrained by numbers or values imputed by the user- the definition of a parameter.

But is this type of program really a parametric way of modeling? The essence of any design that is worthy of being called parametric is its ability to be embedded with relationships. The way we rig these relationships is what actually generates the model, and thus making it behave like a customizable entity. The usage of parameters allows the user to define the relationships better and is seen as a natural and intuitive way of communicating to the computer what the object is, and how it should be considered and 19

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thought about. “ Just as a spreadsheet is a tool for thinking about numbers or a word processor is a tool for thinking about words” (AutoDesk, 2010)- such is a parameter for architectural design. Unfortunately not all BIM solutions can be regarded as parametric, so a distinction has to be made.

There are a few surefire ways to determine if a modeler is really parametrical. For this example we will be looking through the perspective of Autodesk’s Revit vs. other general drafting programs. Some of the requirements are as follows: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Is the user necessary to the coordination of changes?

When moving a drawing element, say a section, does it update automatically?

Does the model rely on “smart” objects?

How is the creation of drawings defined – usage of terms such as extracted or generated prevail?

In the first place, when thinking of Parametric BIM the user is not necessary when thinking about how the drawings change on different levels. For example, if it is necessary to manually select what elements need to be changed when changing a linked element, which is not a real parametric design. In Revit, for example, a wall linked to the ones above and below when changing its position, dimension or other defining characteristics will automatically adjust the other linked elements. The idea of associative elements is one of the main characteristics of a parametric modeler.

Then we take in consideration the integration of graphic annotations, another defining characteristic. In simple drafting programs, annotations such as a section key and their movements on a plan do not affect linked drawings. In parametric modeling moving the section key would affect the geometry and structure of the section drawing automatically. This helps the data exchange and connection between elements. In simple geometry-based products, these annotations are merely text, or would in the best case update only on the specific instance that is being updated. The example used, a section view and a section key are not linked in simple geometry-based programs, but in a parametric modeler are always in-sync with each other.

Thirdly, we take on the idea of objects. Object based modelers are common in today’s programs, but it is the way these objects are rigged and react that allows us to differentiate between the two. Although most programs use objects from the simplest- a geometric model with maybe a name tag or ID, to the over complicated fully modeled objects that have integrated in their data everything from manufacturing to erection dates. But the true distinction is the fact that in a true parametric building model an object is more than that, it is an instance in a place, which evolves with the design in all the places it can be found, and adapts to its surroundings – like the host it is placed on.

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This is the true strength of a parametric model: recording, presenting and managing the relationships between elements no matter where they occur in the project.

Lastly, we look at the way the drawings are actually produced. Some modelers have built-in commands that will re-generate drawings from changes made to the model in the model space. But if the process is unidirectional, relying on what can be basically considered a test-run of the model at a specific time, they are useless. The main advantage of the new parametric modelers is the fact that a seamless ability to coordinate and manage information from all sides of the project is available. The whole project is thus synchronized.

We then reach the main underlying question most people have - why is parametric modelling important to BIM? The people who do use BIM do so for its ability to coordinate and provide reliable information. The integration of parametric design and BIM means that the information in the deliverables is exactly that-reliable. There are no information conflicts, the drawings are always updated properly, the geometry is right according to the formulas imputed. Unfortunately, other CAD programs that were repurposed for BIM are not fully functional.

3.5.1 Building intentionally

Programs that were designed with the idea of BIM in mind are able to deliver the necessary type of information by design because they use a parametric modeler, this is the natural way the software thinks and operates. A lot of simple CAD platforms or object-based CAD platforms will output visually similar products as a purposely built parametric modeler, but if the model is not coordinated, reliable and internally consistent it cannot be taken into consideration as true Parametric BIM. “A parametric building model combines a design model (geometry and data) with a behavioral model (change management). The entire building Figure 7 Dynamo interface - Curtesy of http://dynamobim.org model [‌] is an integrated database, where everything is parametric and everything is interconnected.â€? (AutoDesk, 2010)

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The fact that some CAD systems store bits of information does not make them inherently parametric. If they require additional tools to keep the information given by the user in sync and thus assure the coordination of the objects, then it wastes time, effort and money for the parties involved in the creation of said model. The more third party add-on checkers and coordinators are added, the likelihood of inconsistency throughout the project increases.

Using parametric design has more to do with going back to the roots of the design by looking at what the designer actually intended to do with the model. It should simplify the creation process and also with the integration of parametric relations to do a more thorough examination of the project, thus creating a superior work-flow. By toggling views, creating what-if scenarios and visualizations that can be turned off and on as needed, the process is no longer inhibited by time and space restraints, as they can be done simultaneously on the same model. Much of the data needed will be automatically stored as the project advances and then allows the user to create a simple visual-based analysis of both progress and other possibilities. It allows the user to complete analyses earlier in the design stage, providing immediate feedback. Parametric BIM allows the designer to both play with shapes and create the necessary documentation to obtain a building permit at the same time.

As of 2014 Revit became a fully parametric BIM platform with the release of Dynamo, a new spin-off, still in Beta testing, that allows the user to see the programing with a drag and drop linking system similar to Grasshopper’s interface. It allows multiple design choices to be linked visually, such as analytical nodes to structural elements.

3.5.2 BIM and Algorithmic Form Finding – case study 2

While many cityscapes are still dominated by boxy towers, new advances in both construction technology and design technology are showing us a more versatile way to shape our surrounding environment. The old imposing structures are getting new neighbors that owe their existence to an algorithmic design approach.

The exploration of these new possibilities relies

Figure 8 Revit Parametric Interface - Curtesy of http://www.cadalyst.com/

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heavily on parametric BIM. Because of its capabilities of creating coordinated, consistent and computable information about the models design it allows for better decisionmaking in the design and building process, high-quality construction documentation, performance and impact predictions, cost-estimations, planning but also the management of the building once it is built.

As a platform for the creation of such models can be seen in Autodesk’s Revit Building, which can be used quite early in the process to allow conceptual form-finding as well as algorithmic design based on user input parameters.

Normally, a formula-based parameter is integrated in an information entity. In Revit Building these entities are known as Parametric Components (also referred to as families) that offer an open system, defined graphically. These Parametric Components allow the structure to be designed and modeled in a more free-form way without limiting the BIM capabilities of the model. These families are powerful because they use the integrated “parametric change engine� of the Revit platform, which allows the changes made to a family to be propagated into the full project without interference. The main point being that the functionality of these Parametric Components (families) is the parameter itself. The use of basic mathematics allow the user to communicate in the programing language through a simple interface- one of the simplest example being the relation between say, a windows height and width.

Figure 9 Parametric Stacking in Revit - Curtesy of http://www.cadalyst.com/

The scope of these formulas is unlimited when thinking of more complex forms, as they can be used for massing studies. Unlike typical BIM models, these massing 23

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models are not as complex and are used more like a sketch, something made for a quick client meeting, or why not, something that can be exported for quick visualizations of integration in the existing context or infrastructure of the building site .

A good way to show the true power of this type of modeling is a simple demonstration. For example a simple Blend (as shown in the figures above) is the basis for an example model.

The figure is made by using an algebra formula that allows the rotation between shapes at the top and bottom of the mass. This orientation is relative to the height of each mass and is driven by an integer coefficient that drives the formulas that determine this rotation. In this model the instances of the shape are stacked on top of each other to create main structure. The distance between these shapes is controlled by a parameter that places them at a floor-to-floor height, creating a tower in which each integer coefficient is actually a level number that allows the orientation and rotation of the instance to be seamlessly integrated.

This simple style of form-design allows the user to create intricate forms that react to each-other while still being able to retain specific BIM –type information. As a fully integrated parametric design it allows the shapes to be free and easily customizable, but does not need the normal quantity of information seen in a typical BIM model at this stage of the design, making it easier for the concept of Information Modeling to be used in the earliest stages of any project, a simple fact that allows the people who find this concept unusable for sketching making parametric models easier even for nonexperienced programmers.

Another good example of the power of these Components is the platform’s basic Curtain Wall function.

This example is a component for a pleated curtain wall. The same idea of using a mass to create an element is employed here to create a void that will eventually give the shape of the model. For this a Cylindrical Sweep is used that will be the so-called frame. It is created by snapping to the vertical edges of the void. By adjusting various parameters in the voided shape we are able to change the height, width, pleat or other measures in the Curtain Wall.

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Unlike the previous example, this type of usage is typical in an ongoing BIM model. It is modeled as a Curtain Panel Family and can be imported into the project as needed or reused with any curtain wall system. The system is not one single entity but more a cohesive model based on unique instances of the same panel.

Figure 10 Parametric Form Finding in Revit - Curtesy of http://www.cadalyst.com/

Figure 11 Parametric Form finding, detailed- Curtesy of - http://www.cadalyst.com/

The instance (like the one highlighted in red in the figure above) is modeled as a void in order to create a contour. Because of its visibility type in the program the blend is not visible here, but it still works as a frame on which the curtain panel is modeled on as far as geometry is concerned. It is then associated with its own parameters so that variables can be adjusted after integration in the panel system. After these steps, the next is to model a layer that will be recognized by the program as glass, in our case, on top of the void shape created. The edges of the shape and their vertexes are then used as a base for the creation of mullions. This complete shape is now a fully parametric BIM object as it reacts to its environment but can also provide us with information that we have previously created it with, such as heights, widths, depths, m2 of glass used, type and number of mullions, etc. that are in actuality just basic shapes.

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4. Material Computation- new uses for information in design, case

study 3

Figure 12 ICD/ITKE Research Pavilion- Curtesy of www.achimmenges.net

In one’s philosophy one thinks of form or design as primarily conceptual or cerebral, something to be generated as a pure thought in isolation from the messy world of matter and energy. Once conceived, a design can be given physical form by simply imposing it on a material substratum, which is taken to be homogeneous, obedient and receptive to the wishes of the designer‌ (DeLanda, 2001, p. 132)

So in other terms, there is a new outlook where the material itself is a driving force for design, playing on the idea of morphogenetic architecture. The way the material reacts, its innate characteristics and capacities are what define the physical body of architecture, so then why should it not play a decisive role in how it is created?

This type of information is not only limited to integration in computational design, but it is a driving force in itself. The properties it has should be understood not as constraints as to how the design might go forward, but as a driver for thinking and exploring the form. Although commonly used for processing existing materials, it can also open up a world of possibilities for exploring and creating new ones. Even if the most interesting seems to be developing new materials, the computation of existing ones, such as say the most common material -wood, is inherently a wellspring of new and exciting design opportunities.

Wood might seem as an old-fashioned choice, but not just for ecological incentive it is still an interesting subject to integrate into computational design, it is also because of the intricate behaviors and structure that it seems fitting. It is exactly these two characteristics of wood that have made it a difficult design type in the past, but as technology progresses a new appreciation for this material has come to light. The first step is to look at the structure of wood per se. All trees are of vascular design and

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perennial plants produce a tissue that appears through both linear and width growth.

The arrangement of the cells in this way makes for an axial design in the grains direction.

The anisotropic characteristics of wood resulting from the distribution and orientation of cells can be understood as orientation dependent, variable strength and stiffness, interesting proprieties that more homogeneous and isotropic materials simply cannot offer. (Menges, 2012) When comparing it to materials such as metal, we see that wood has its own truly specific system of existence, with a simple forming process and high load-bearing capacity. Based on observations on how materials react to torsion, tension and load, it is ten evident how they can be better played with in the computational platform.

Aligning the material’s microscopic structure with the system’s macroscopic morphology, the computational process allows exploring layer configurations of multiple elements. In the resultant lightweight system all elements are arranged in response to the reciprocal relation between material behavior and acting forces, leading to a versatile and distinctive, yet straightforward to fabricate, material gestalt.

(Menges, 2012, pp. 43-62) The idea of embedding the physical properties of a material into the architectural design itself is not new but rather difficult to achieve. As such not many examples are known of say bending-active architecture are known. Most designs in architecture start out as a spatial sketch or a scheme that is then digitally re-created as a virtual information model. In computational design on the other hand it is not the way that objects look geometrically but the way they behave that gives the shape of the structure.

If we allow the material itself to dictate the direction of the design to some extent, we can then take full advantage of its proprieties and use them as parameters and constraints that allow us to generate a different type of space altogether – a space that is thought of in terms of fabrication and design as a synchronized entity rather than a design with a production result.

Although we talk of it in design terms, it has actually a greater impact on how we think about architecture in general and what we allow it to do, specifically how we allow shapes to exist in space.” Different to other form-finding processes for form –active structures, the multiplicity of system-defining parameters and their extended variable ranges ensure a truly open, exploratory design of computational form generation” (Menges, 2012, pp. 43-62).

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5. Conclusions “We pursue the parametric design paradigm all the way, penetrating into all corners of the discipline. Systematic, adaptive variation, continuous differentiation (rather than mere variety), and dynamic, parametric figuration concerns all design tasks from urbanism to the level of tectonic detail, interior furnishings and the world of products.”

(Schumacher, 2008) After looking at all the data available about the new progresses in architecture, we see the shift towards ingenuity now more than ever. It is notable that Architecture has now evolved from using its own means and resources to a branching entity that tries to assimilate everything it can in order to improve itself. “Is BIM implementation in Parametric Design the best way forward in this branch of architecture?” was the driving force for this paper, and a personal interest for the researcher. However, after taking a look at what both philosophies bring to the table and how they are actually seen and used, it is a difficult question to answer.

If we take into perspective the fact that in reality BIM itself is still in its infancy in the office space, then the idea of progress for it should still be kept at a conceptual level.

As of now, not many companies implement true BIM, as it is still seen more of a concept to be taught to students and an architectural “utopia” so to say, where everything works and everyone can work on it at the same time, without clashes or data loss.

In terms of construction, parametricism has more or less existed since the inventions such as a standardized brick size, even though it was not computer automated, it can still be considered a parameter that we use when designing a building, since it is what gives the design several constraints. However there are still limitations: the methodology is not yet confirmed and agreed upon; even if tests can be made to predict performance, we are still unable to give the program enough parameters to fully dictate the design without interference, as designing is still a trial and error type of work.

That being said, it is still a great advantage and would benefit the process through its fluidity and ease of design of complex, biometric and generative spaces and geometries, which BIM platforms are lacking.

“Yet there should be no illusions: the possibilities for such a scenario are almost already foreclosed, and it will certainly not come to pass with anything short of a colossal, sustained and collective act of human will. It is we, the engineers of human environment and activity, who bear the burden to ensure a properly human pleading in this struggle for our fate” (Ahlquist & Menges, 2011, pp. 10-16)

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Bibliography BOOKS Ahlquist, S. & Menges, A., 2011. Computational Desing Thinking. In: West Sussex, UK: Wiley and Sons, Inc., pp. 10-16.

Anderson, C., 2008. The End of Theory: The Data Deluge Makes the Scientific Method Obsolete.

In: s.l.:Wired, pp. 106-29.

Bentley, P. & Corne, D., 2002. Creative evolutionary systems. In: the University of Michigan: Morgan Kaufmann, p. 78.

Burry, J. & Burry, M., 2010. The New Mathematics Of Architecture. In: The New Mathematics of Architecture. London: Thames and Hudson., p. 23.

DeLanda, M., 2001. Philosophies of Design: The Case of Modelling Software. In: Actar (Barcelona): Verb Proocessing, p. 132.

Eastman, C., Teicholz, P., Sacks, R. & Liston, K., 2008. BIM Handbook - A guide to information modeling for Owners, Managers, Designer, Engineers, and Contractors. Hoboken, New Jersey, US: Jhon Wiley & Sons, Inc..

Garber, R., 2009. Closing the Gap- Information Models in Contemporary Design Practice. In: London: Wiley, p. 23.

Howard, R., 1998. Computing in Construction. In: Oxford: Reed Elsevier, pp. 19-38.

Menges, A., 2012. Material Computation : Higher Integration in Morphogenetic Design. In: West Sussex, UK: Wiley and Sons, Inc., pp. 34-63.

Mirtschin, J., 2011. Engaging Generative BIM Workflows. Collaborative Design of Lightweight Structures. In: Sidney (Australia): LSAA, p. 8.

Peters, B. P. &. T., 2013. Inside smartgeometry - expanding the arhchitectural posibilities of computational design. West Sussex, UK: Wiley- Architectural Design.

Salomaa, A., 1985. Computation and Automata. In: Cambridge, UK: Cambridge Univeristy Press, p. 131.

Schumacher, P., 2008. Parametricism as Style - Parametricist Manifesto. London, Presented and discussed at the Dark Side Club1 , 11th Architecture Biennale, Venice 2008.

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Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

WEBSITES Autodesk, 2007. AutoDesk AutoCad. [Online] Available at: http://images.autodesk.com/adsk/files/acad_dxf0.pdf [Accessed 18 October 2014].

AutoDesk, 2010. AutoDesk. [Online] Available at: www.autodesk.com/bim [Accessed 18 October 2014].

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Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

APPENDIX 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Helical form script 1. resetMaxFile #noPrompt 2. level=1 3. parentBox = box width:200 lenght:200 height:20 4. fn createChild arg currentLevel = 5. ( 6. if currentLevel < 70 then 7. ( 8. child = copy arg 9. child.width = (arg.width)*0.95 10. child.lenght = (arg.lenght)*0.95 11. child.height = (arg.height)*0.95 12. child.pos.z = arg.pos.z + arg.height 13. rot = eulerangles 0 0 3.5 14. rotate child rot 15. currentLevel = currentLevel + 1 16. child.parent = arg 17. createChild currentLevel 18. ) 19. ) 20. createChild parentBox level

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Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

APPENDIX 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Diagrid mesh script plugin simpleObject diagridmesh_plugin_def name:"DiagridMesh" classID:#(0x43771d8e,0x561950f2) category:"Scripted Primitives" ( parameters main rollout:params ( u type:#integer ui:u_spinner default:5 v type:#integer ui:v_spinner default:5 meshLength type:#worlduntis ui:meshLength_spinner default:50 meshWidth type:#worlduntis ui:meshWidth_spinner default:50 rotated type:#boolean ui:rotated_checkbox default:false ) rollout params "Parameters" ( spinner u_spinner "U:" type:#integer range:[1,10000,10] spinner v_spinner "V:" type:#integer range:[1,10000,10] spinner meshLength_spinner "Lenght" type:#worlduntis range:[1,10000,10000,0] spinner meshWidth_spinner "Width" type:#worlduntis range:[-10000,10000,0] checkbox rotated_checkbox "Rotated" checked:rotated )

on buildMesh do 32

Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

( vertices = #() faces = #() nc = u nr = v*2

case of( (rotated == true) : (unitLength = meshWidth/ nr; unitWidth = meshLength/ nc) (rotated == false) : (unitLength = meshLength/nr; unitWidth = meshWidth/ nc) )

--Create Vertices for i = 0 to nr by 1 do ( case of( (mod i 2 != 0) : (hoffset = 0.5; deduct = 1) (mod i 2 == 0) : (hoffset = 0.0; deduct = 0) ) for j = 0 to (nc - deduct) by 1 do ( vx = (j + hoffset)*unitWidth vy = i*unitLength case of( (rotated == true) : append vertices [vy, vx, 0] (rotated == false) : append vertices [vx, vy, 0] ) 33

Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

) )

Create first set of triangles. for i = 1 to nr by 2 do ( for j = 1 to nc by 1 do ( v1 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + j v2 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + j + 1 v2 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + j + (nc + 1) append faces [v1, v2, v3]

if (j < nc) then ( v1 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + j + (nc + 1) v2 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + j + 1 v3 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + j + (nc + 2) append faces [v1, v2, v3] ) ) )

Create second set of triangles. for i = 3 to (nr+1) by 2 do ( for j = 1 to nc by 1 do 34

Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

( v1 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + j + 1 v2 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + j v3 = (i - 3)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 3)/2) + j + (nc + 1) append faces [v1, v2, v3]

if (j < nc) then ( v1 = (i - 3)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 3)/2) + j + (nc + 1) v2 = (i - 3)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 3)/2) + j + 1 + (nc + 1) v3 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + j + 1 append faces [v1, v2, v3] ) ) )

Create left and right triangular edges for i = 1 to nr by 2 do ( v1 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + 1 v2 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + 1 + (nc + 1) v3 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + 1 append faces [v1, v2, v3]

v1 = (i + 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i + 1)/2) + nc + 1 v2 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + nc + (nc + 1) v3 = (i - 1)*(nc + 1) - ((i - 1)/2) + nc + 1 35

Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

append faces [v1, v2, v3] )

Create the mesh setMesh mesh verts:vertices faces:faces )

Respond to user interaction events tool create ( on mousePoint click do ( case click of ( 1: nodeTM.translation = gridPoint 2: #stop ) )

on mouseMove click do ( case click of ( 2: (meshWidth = gridDist.x; meshLength = gridDist.y) 3: #stop ) ) 36

Fenesan Oriana Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management VIA University College

) )

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