Architecture Degree Programme at “Ion Mincu” University of Architecture and Urban Planning

The Faculty of Architecture / Architecture (English taught)
4th Year, sem 1, 2023-2024

SFA-117E | Parametric Architecture

Optional Course | Hours/Week: 2C | ECTS Credits: 2

SFA-117E E Parametric Architecture.pdf
Department:
Study of Form and Ambience
Course Leader:
conf.dr.arh. Ionuț Anton
Teaching Staff:
asist.dr.arh. Daniela Anton
Teaching language:

English

Learning outcomes:

1. Knowledge and understanding
• Demonstrate an understanding and knowledge of current digital tools, systems and technologies used in parametric design
• Demonstration of critical thinking and knowledge of contemporary architectural theories, practices and speeches related to parametric design
• Ability to relate the theoretical concepts and design objectives with digital design tools
1. Explanation and interpretation
• Identification, analysis and evaluation of significant contemporary projects in the field of innovation in the parametric design environment
• Synthesis and evaluation of the complex intricacies specific to the design theme including the theme, site and objectives conditions and their transposition in parametric design conditions
• Using extensive analytical problem solving skills and analytical skills to develop a design algorithm
3. Instrumental - applicative
• Valorisation of knowledge in parametric design to develop a competent architectural project and script corresponding to this project
• Ability to use a combination of digital technologies to document and present the project
• Issuing judgments and evaluating their own projects in relation to contemporary projects under the influence of digital arts
4. Attitude
• Ability to communicate with a multitude of individuals, including team members, external consultants, tutors, external critics and interested observers.
• Critical evaluation of its own activities in the field of parametric design and digital manufacturing

Content:

Courses / lectures
1. Introduction to parametric design
Architecture as a system of rules
Algorithms in architecture
Design using algorithms
2. Digital manufacturing techniques
Digital manufacturing tools
Digital craft
Variability and differentiation

Seminar
3. Introduction to Rhino and Grasshopper
User Interface
Modeling in Rhino
Visuals scripting components in Grasshopper
Mathematical operations
Geometric operations with points and lines
4. Visual Scripting in Grasshopper
Intervals
Lists
Series
Translatation, rotation, scaling, orientation operations
Conditions
Surface operations
Divisions
Annotation
Parameters
5. Visually advanced Scripting in Grasshopper
Surface subdivision strategies
Geometry for fabrication

Project
6. Launch project themes
Discussions on possible approaches
Team formation
7. Developing the first ideas
Documentary discussions and first ideas
8. Intermediate criticism
Evaluating the first ideas and architectural possibilities
9. Making Ideas
Discussion of detail
10. Critical final project
Final project evaluation and discussions

Teaching Method:

The discipline will take the form of a series of courses followed by seminars and a last part of the project development.
Courses will take the form of a lecture followed by conversation and debates.
Seminars will take the form of lectures, explanations and exercises followed by experiments and case studies.
The development of the project will take the form of a continuous dialogue that sets the basis for the elaboration of a project and a parametric script complemented by two crits, one partial and one final with the project's exposition.
The projects will be drafted into groups of students that will be self-organized between the participants.
Projects will be developed as a research of design methods using algorithms. The results will be documented and published as project research.
Students will have the choice of the current key themes of contemporary digital architecture, capable of developing an algorithm or exploring a particular formal digital search method.
Students will have to develop during the course a series of guided exercises that will have both fixed birefs and student developed briefs.

Assessment:

When determining the final grade, consideration shall be given to:
- Presence at the course activities (lectures, seminars, project) - 20% - at least 50% of the presece at the scheduled meetings. Elimination Criterion.
- Developing seminar briefs - 20%
- Project evaluation for final criticism - 60%

The evaluation will take place in three stages: a first stage consisting of the development of briefs handed at key meetings. In the case of the seminar hours, it will take the form of work topics for each seminar that will be used as a support for the seminar activities.
A second evaluation stage will be based on the individual evolution during the course.
A third evaluation stage will be done in the type of project final critique based on the individual and group exposure of the project intentions.

The evaluation of the briefs at key meetings will be done with a score represented in percent after the following criteria:
- Demonstration of the skills to solve the problems proposed by briefs through digital design tools

The evaluation of the individual evolution during the course will be done with a score represented in percent after the following criteria:
- This presence is active at scheduled meetings
- Active participation in seminar and project sessions, discussion with tutors and the ability to explain the outcome of the project in relation to their own intentions and project theme
- Demonstrate a consistent development of knowledge and abilities in relation to parametric design

The evaluation of the project to the final critique will be done with a score represented in percent by the following criteria:
- Preparation of the necessary documents in order to be able to convey the intention of the project both to the normal corrections and to the final delivery
- The ability to express and understand demonstrations during project presentations that include explanations and verbal descriptions based on project results.
- Demonstration of the abilities to design parametric and to be consistent in the design approach
- Demonstrating the abilities to use the techniques and design tools presented
- Demonstrate familiarity with the strategies, concepts and analytical tools used in the course and the ability to synthesize them in a given specific project theme.
Each score will be given a score (0-100%), the final score being the weighted average of these scores.

Minimum requirements for Note 5 (or how to note 5):
Eliminatory criterion: Present at 50% of the scheduled meetings.
The note will be obtained from the summaries of the assessments resulting from:
- Achieving themes for 50% of the scheduled meetings
- Participating in a group and developing and teaching a project demonstrating the individual competences developed in the parametric design and meeting 50% of the project evaluation score.

Requirements for note 10 (or how to assign note 10):
- Elimination criterion: Present at 50% of the scheduled meetings.
- Meeting 100% of the evaluation score.

Bibliography:

1. Benjamin Aranda și Chris Lasch, Pamphlet Architecture 27: Tooling, 1 ed. (Princeton Architectural Press, 2005).
2. Cecil Balmond, Informal (Prestel, 2007).
3. Janine M. Benyus, Biomimicry (Morrow, 1997).
4. “Janine Benyus: Biomimicry in action | Video on TED.com,” f.a., http://www.ted.com/talks/janine_benyus_biomimicry_in_action.html.
5. Peter S. Brandon și Tuba Kocatürk, Virtual Futures for Design, Construction and Procurement (Wiley-Blackwell, 2008).
6. Eduard Bru et al., Metapolis Dictionary of Advanced Architecture: City, Technology and Society in the Information Age (Actar, 2003).
7. Gregory J. Chaitin, “Leibniz, Complexity & Incompleteness,” 2008, http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~chaitin/apa.html.
8. Manuel DeLanda, A thousand years of nonlinear history (Zone Books, 1997).
9. Gilles Deleuze și Félix Guattari, A thousand plateaus (Continuum International Publishing Group, 2004).
10. Albert Ferre, Irene Hwang, și Michael Kubo, Verb Conditioning: The Designs of New Atmospheres, Effects and Experiencies (Actar, 2005).
11. Albert Ferre, Michael Kubo, și Ramon Prat, Verb Natures (Actar, 2002).
12. John Frazer, An Evolutionary Architecture (London: Architectural Association Publications, Themes VII, 1995), http://www.aaschool.ac.uk/publications/ea/intro.html.
13. Michael Hensel, Achim Menges, și Michael Weinstock, Emergence: Morphogenetic Design Strategies (John Wiley & Sons, 2004).
14. Michael Hensel, Achim Menges, și Michael Weinstock, Techniques and Technologies in Morphogenetic Design (John Wiley & Sons, 2006).
15. Michael Hensel și Achim Menges, Versatility and Vicissitude: Performance in Morpho Ecological Design (John Wiley & Sons, 2008).
16. Michael Hensel, Achim Menges, și Christopher Hight, Space Reader: Heterogeneous Space in Architecture (John Wiley & Sons, 2009).
17. Christopher Hight și Chris Perry, Collective Intelligence in Design: New Forms of Distributed Practice and Design (John Wiley & Sons, 2006).
18. John Henry Holland, Hidden order (Perseus Books, 1996).
19. Steven Johnson, Emergence (Simon & Schuster, 2002).
20. Branko Kolarevic, Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing, 1 ed. (Taylor & Francis, 2005).
21. Branko Kolarevic și Kevin Klinger, Manufacturing Material Effects: Rethinking Design and Making in Architecture, 1 ed. (Routledge, 2008).
22. Neil Leach, Designing for a Digital World (Academy Press, 2002).
23. Neil Leach et al., Digital tectonics (Wiley-Academy, 2004).
24. Neil Leach, Digital Cities AD: Architectural Design (John Wiley & Sons, 2009).
25. Greg Lynn, Animate form (Princeton Architectural Press, 1999).
26. Tomoko Sakamoto, Albert Ferre, și Michael Kubo, From Control to Design: Parametric/Algorithmic Architecture (Actar, 2008).
27. Nanako Umemoto și Jesse Reiser, Atlas of Novel Tectonics (Princeton Architectural Press, 2006).
28. Kostas Terzidis, Algorithmic Architecture (Architectural Press, 2006).

Notes:

connection link for course on 05.10.2021
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83592956555?pwd=VS9JZXM0Umcxejg4Nmp1Nm52M2ZTZz09
Meeting ID: 835 9295 6555
Passcode: SNn5BM