parametr iz ing a metaphor: adapt ive controlby justin warner

a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the reuirements for the degree ofmaster of architectureatuniversity of south floridamay 2012under the supervision ofbob macleod

acknowledgementi would like to extend my gratitude and ap-preciation to the individuals who have dedi-cated their time and efforts spent towards my education. i am grateful for the exper-tise, guidance, and encouragement of my com-mittee chair, bob macleod. his enthusiasm and thoughtful feedback has provided a strong role for my work and me throughout the year.

many thanks go to the friendships that have emerged from my four years in architecture school, with their support and encouragement.

and without the support of my family, none of this would be possible. my parents roger and jocelyn warner, i thank them for their never ending patience, care, and love. they have in-stilled confidence in me will continue to be an important part of my life. to them i dedi-cate this thesis.

table of contents

abstractthesis format

abstractthesis format

parametric exercises

experimental design

site assessment

theoretical argument

abstract 1this thesis focuses on how parametric systems can be used as a tool to introduce diversity, adaptability, and responsiveness to the overall design process. the parametric model is dependent on a set of variable con-trollers where each active parameter causes an overall change to the system’s performance. using a rule-based approach to architecture allows the designer to test a range of possible applications within a controlled design environment. this process is known as generative design, producing multiple variations of the model. parametric systems can be applied to architectural design in order to achieve a more responsive and adaptive system. models can be tuned toward specific environmental pressures and tested toward particular performance values.

as an investigation in the parametric process, datasets target specific variables in site and program. the site is located in chicago in printer’s row. the site current-ly houses the la salle train station, a hub for intracity commuters. my proposal introduces a new transit sta-tion that will serve as a transportation hub, connecting various nodes and circulation arteries. as a parametric model, the system the station maintains its ability to change throughout the design process allowing for in-dividual components to provide a constant and immedi-ate feedback. the model highlights certain relationships over others allowing for specific local changes to impact the model’s scale and behavior. the underlying rules and principles of the systems can then produce a structural order and material organization of high complexity, ef-ficiency, and beauty.

thesis format 2this section organizes and outlines the focus and argument of my research. the objective of my thesis is to develop a methodology that integrates parametric modelling with conventional design techniques. this is achieved through different exercises that define and reveal the fundamental characteristics of parametric design. my thesis is struc-tured to examine two primary components: an architecture of essence, and an architecture of form.

chapter i outlines the format and objectives of my re-search, as well as the following chapters that define and document my thesis.

chapter ii provides a basis for my theoretical argument. this chapter introduces and justifies the use of paramet-ric systems as a design tool. it is explained that there can exist not only an architecture of form, but also an architecture of essence. the integration of these to no-tions then become the foundation for my thesis, leading to a series of exercises in parametric design.

chapter iii introduces the chosen site and program for my thesis. this section examines the urban context of chica-go, the local context of the printer’s row district, and the la salle street station.

chapter iv concludes my thesis in presenting an experi-mental design that integrates both the architecture of essence and form. the objective of this chapter is to test my argument.

theoret ical argument 3this section provides a basis for my theoretical argument. this chapter in-troduces and justifies the use of para-metric systems as a design tool. it is explained that there can exist not only an architecture of form, but also an architecture of essence. the integra-tion of these to notions then become the foundation for my thesis, leading to a series of exercises in parametric design.

parametr ic ism i the following attempts to discover the re-ality and influence of the digital design process in architec-ture. the intention is to define the concepts of parametric design and evaluate its relationship with the human experi-ence in architecture. digital technologies have significantly influenced architectural design from digital drafting tech-niques to the incorporation of parametric design tools, such as processing and scripting. patrik schumacher, a partner at zaha hadid architects, wrote an article parametricism: a new global style for architecture and urban design that refers to parametric design as the new style of architecture. schumacher states that ‘parametricism is establishing hegemony within avant-garde architectural practice today due to its creative exploitation of parametric design systems to articulate in-creasingly complex social processes and institutions.’ it pro-vides a potential for variation, adaptation, and complexity, reflected in his methodological rulings:

negative principles

avoid rigid forms (squares, triangles and circles) avoid simple repetition (lack of variety) avoid collage of isolated, unrelated elements (lack of order) avoid rigid functional stereotypes avoid segregative functional zoning

positive principles

all forms must be parametrically malleable (soft) all systems must be differentiated gradually (gradients) and interdependent (correlations) all functions are parametric activity scenarios all activities communicate with each other

despite parametricism’s ability to articulate systematic com-plexities, there still remains an absence of the personal ex-perience through which archi¬tecture is understood. schumacher speaks of parametricism’s aim for visual amplification: ‘aes-thetically, it is the elegance of ordered complexity and the sense of seamless fluidity, akin to natural systems that con-stitute the hallmark of parametricism.’

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archi tecture of form i i this can be defined as the architec-ture of form, that which aims to capture the viewer’s atten-tion and approval through its fluent language of expression. the buildings of our time may arouse our curiosity with their daring or inventiveness, but they give us little sense of the meaning of our world or our own existence.architecture is con-fronted with questions of human existence in space and time, expressing and relating man’s being in the world. architec-ture deeply engages the metaphysical questions of self and the worldly, interiority and exteriority, time and duration, life and death.

archi tecture of essence i i i it should be argued that expe-riential imperatives are of the same importance as ¬visual and rational imperatives which have limited parametric design as an architectural medium. architect juhani pallasmaa believes that this leads to the deficiency of ‘vital human existential questions that enable us to relate to our built environment and that provide meaning to that environment.’ this can be de-fined as the architecture of essence: that which perceives the metaphysical and existential problem of being human, trying to reinforce man’s foothold on earth.

juhani explains phenomenology as the study of essences where architecture has the potential to put existence into the expe-rience. phenomenology analyzes basic human sensory responses. it acknowledges the state of being fully conscious of, or aware of, the individual experience, becoming an important means of examining architecture. it opposes the standard for defining architecture by analysis of the physical proportion and prop-erties of the building. rather phenomenology looks at archi-tecture from within the conscious experiencing of it, through architectural experience as a metaphor for human existence. phenomenological conditions are able to influence the basic emotions associated with the images a building creates. a phe-nomenological approach is crucial to the thesis argument be-cause it allows for the recognition of collective similarities, identities, and differences in the continuum of our experience.

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humanizing parametr ic design iv based on these criti-cal examinations, the following chapters of my thesis include parametric exercises to familiarize myself in scripting, and a design experiment to test the integration of the human experi-ence in parametric design. the la salle train station has been selected as a representation of the human journey.

this thesis concludes with a continuing design for a new tran-sit station derived from experimental processes. the exercises illustrate the integration between parametric and phenomenal imperatives. the design and experiments conclude that through critical examination of the human experience through phenom-enology, we can apply and reconnect our human existence within a parametric world.

parametr ic exercises 4this section organizes and outlines the focus and argument of my research. the objective of my thesis is to develop a methodology that integrates parametric modelling with conventional design tech-niques. this is achieved through differ-ent exercises that define and reveal the fundamental characteristics of paramet-ric design. my thesis is structured to examine two primary components: an archi-tecture of essence, and an architecture of form.

exercisei call it a machine this series of computer illustrations examine paramet-rics as a generative process. the program was developed by tokoloten taking simple parameters such as input lines, direction-ality, pressure and speed to develop el-laborate graphics. based upon these rules, an infinite number of iterations can be produced, each with a different outcome.

prior to my thesis, i used these graphics as a way to produce architectural space both in plan and section through a series of trace overlays. the graphics display

machined drawing overlays analyzed for spatial studies in plan and section

napkinsketches:journaling serves as the medium between the hand-made and computer-generated. each illustrates or takes note of spe-cific qualities only produced by hand-drawn process. this becomes an important method for produc-tion, as a humanistic quality.

exerciseii pneumatic morphologies as a structural and aesthetic system, this particular exercise begins to de-velops a two-party system that is able to adapt to local context and performative standards. the experiment rep-resents a tool to create modular structure systems that can adapt to different scales and context spaces, becom-ing a method for developing generative design strategies for architectural design and digital fabrication

exerciseiii geometric tesselation a facade study using grasshopper to popu-late an irregular surface. using the box morph component in grasshopper, each geometry is translated to fit within that box.

exerciseiv rheotomic surfaces this ex-ercise investigates the application of continuous minimal surfaces in the de-sign of shell structures. It presents different formal outcomes derived from a computational algorithm which gener-ates surfaces derived from a parametric system. different shell morphologies are tested in the parametric system. Distinct formal outcomes are selected according to possible shell structures. Through use of this parametric algo-rithm and relevant methods, a total of five shell typologies are developed and presented.

exercisev structural bias parametric design and freeform surface modeling tools allow the creation of complex geometries that challenge construction methods. this exercise explores the flexibility of a parametric system developed from a single typol-ogy by examining the x-y cross sections.

exercisevi triply periodic minimal surface minimal surfaces are defined as surfaces with zero mean curvature, characterized as surfaces of minimal surface area for given boundary conditions.through tesselating the geometry, porosity can be achieved. this allows for a multiplicity of space generated by each unit leading to a higher degree of visual connections. these quali-ties are noticed in the system from the spatial unit itself.

la salle street stationw congress parkwaychicago. il 60605

la salle street stationw congress parkwaychicago. il 60605

si te assessment 5this section introduces the chosen site and program for my thesis. this section examines the urban context of chicago, the local context of the printer’s row district, and the la salle street station.

photographic analysis: patterning

site forces directly contributed to the design outcome of the transit hub. spe-cifically, existing circulation patterns both at the district and urban scale provided a foundation for the parametric system. public transportation, taxi, bus, subway, train, parking, pedestrian path, bike lanes, contributed to the individual datasets to be input into the parametric system. each circulation pattern provided its own scale and directionality, generating its own heirarchy of pathways. this set up a system for ordering and ruling the individual circu-lation systems based on vertical layering. in stratifying the layers, a clarity can be read from the architecture.

program became a secondary driver from the existing context. located in the financial district of chicago, the existing station provided mostly for the commuter. connecting directly to the chicago stock exchange and one financial building, the la salle street station only serves as a transition space with no supplemental program. neighboring buildings to the north include commercial high-rises, to the west mid-rise condominums and small businesses, to the east apartment buildings.

site forces in analyzing the site and its surrounding conditions, serveral points need to be addressed:the city threshold ar-riving into the station, the spatial jour-ney as a departure or arrival, transit and connecting opportunities, and programmatic improvements.

flowlines in relation to existing context this is an exercise in studying the existing site conditions. by producing a series of studies that react to program and density, circulation and direction, i can begin to evaluate a new program and its response to place. three elements begin to rule each iteration: circle diamter, attractor [retrac-tor] points, and flowlines. diameters of the circles represent the size and heirarchy within the transit hub. the dots influence the movement and placement of both the circles and flowlines, reacting in a way similar to magnetic fields. flowlines react to the circles producing specific circulation patterns within the site. from here, i can begin to separate programmatic space in relation to its existing site conditions.

point-line attraction fieldlining some of my first explorations in grasshopper seek to drive program and space through predetermined circulation patterns. from previ-ous exercises, i developed these paths based on site-drive forces that interact with buildings, roads, sidewalks. processing agents mimic real-life movement through and around the site. the following grasshopper definitions begin to animate this move-ment, using the paths as vectors. the definition is as follows:

input curves as designated paths to drive overall form (1) divide curves into sege-ments with preset lengths (2) set multiple attractor points, forces, and threshold distances (3) curves evaluated at divided points (4) manipulation of curves are de-pendent on distance and forces of attractor points (5) results in a shift [push or pull] of the original line

generative form derived from predetermined vectors

spatial formation forming and reforming input curves as designated paths to drive overall form (1) divide curves into segements with preset lengths (2) extraction of points specified from step prior (3) input points and sort into lists representing x,y,z cooridi-nates (4) input base list as maximum x,y,z as well as inverting lists for minimum x,y,z (5) maximum and minimum x,y,z cooridi-nates used to plot points through addition and subtraction (6) line components pair maximum x to minimum x, maximum y to minimum y, and maximum z to minimum z (7) resulting curves are evaluated along division points and simplified to remove duplicates (8) me-taball component is used to prouduce metaball isocurves at speci-fied point locations on x,y,z axis. end results in section curves evaluated along x,y,z axis (9)

the output of the first definition is dependent upon the output of the latter. the first definition generates a new set of vectors based on attractor points. the second produces a solid, ruled by the curves of the first.

spatial formation forming and reforming input curves as designated paths to drive overall form (1) di-vide curves into segements with preset lengths (2) extraction of points specified from step prior (3) input points and sort into lists representing x,y,z cooridinates (4) input base list as maximum x,y,z as well as inverting lists for minimum x,y,z (5) maximum and minimum x,y,z cooridinates used to plot points through addition and subtraction (6) line components pair maximum x to minimum x, maximum y to minimum y, and maximum z to minimum z (7) resulting curves are evaluated along division points and sim-plified to remove duplicates (8) metaball component is used to prouduce metaball isocurves at specified point locations on x,y,z axis. end results in sec-tion curves evaluated along x,y,z axis (9)

fieldlining with attractors track analysis

a provocative study of imag-ery using quick renders to de-scribe the essence of motion and translation

exper imental design 6this section concludes my thesis in pre-senting an experimental design that in-tegrates both the architecture of es-sence and form. the objective of this chapter is to test my argument.

transit station arrival/departure view from south tracks

chicago stock exchange west facade facing south

west entrance and passenger drop-off facing north

b.b

c.c

a.a

fourth floor platforms view into main concourse

second floor pedestrian pathways to individual platforms

interior envelope structure becomes an in-tegral part of the design, influencing the overall form of the transit station. in-dividual components merge together to cre-ate a holistic piece rather than singular systems. this becomes a way to transition the building similar to the circulation paths occuring within. the envelope joins the ground plan and roof through telescop-ing columns within one another. this gives the illusion to an interconnected network between floor and ceiling.

exterior eas facade bus and taxi pick-up/drop-off

second floor main atrium space

second floor seating area