A PROPOSAL FOR MORPHOLOGICAL OPERATORS TO ASSIST ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

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A PROPOSAL FOR MORPHOLOGICAL OPERATORS TO ASSIST
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
J-P Wetzel, Pr J-C. Bignon, Dr S.
Belblidia MAP-CRAI Team UMR-MAP CNRS-Culture
N694 Architecture School of Nancy,
France Architecture School of Strasbourg, France
8th International Conference on Design Decision
Support Systems in Architecture and Urban
Planning / 4-7 July 2006
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Outline
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• Introduction the context of our work
• Morpho-semantic operators in architecture
• Morpho-semantic operators seen throughout a few
  examples
• Interpretation and definition of a model
• Conclusion

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Introduction

• Since the early 80s,CAD tools have provided new
  means for architectural representation.
• 2D replaced by 3D software.
• New tools for complex geometry.

CAD 2D software (autodesk autocad)
3D modeler software (3dsmax discreet)
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Introduction

• For Ph. Boudon's postulation
• The process of conception is a diachronical one
  that implies a progressive transformation of what
  a project is 5
• Hypothesis
• the shape production process can rely on the
  application of semantic operators on seed
  elements to transform them in target shapes.

Picture, Thomas Mayer Representing the
deformation by Frank O Gehry
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Morpho-semantic operators in architecture
Ellen Do et Al. Study

• Study of a collection of drawings of a bungalow
  project by the architect Neimann,
• Classification of the elements
• Identification of the variations between each
  sketch.
• Identification of simple transformations
• rotation,
• Translation,
• symmetry
• Result mainly based on geometric operators

The joining of all drawings appeared on a
relation map. 10 page 6
Array of transformations 6 page 10
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Morpho-semantic operators in architecture
Dominique Raynaud Study

• Study about architectural conception 8
• An empirical analysis of a series of 162
  architectural projects.
• Definition of 20 different schemes
• contain, turn, go up, radiate, cover, go through,
  open, begin, cut, descend, wave , unite, enclose,
  go out, link, repeat, end, surround, diminish,
  cross, battle, grow up

An example of representation of the undulation
scheme on two projects 8 page 89
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Morpho-semantic operators in architecture
Carlos Barrios study

• Development of a parametric model
• ? allows to generate complex forms,
• Experimentation on a column of the side-nave of
  the Sagrada Familia (Antonio Gaudi),
• Definition of shape operators such as twist"
  and "intersection.
• Use of combinations of operators,
• ? generate complex forms,

An evolution 10 page 5
Parametric variations 10 page 6
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Morpho-semantic operators in architecture

• These morpho-semantic operators ? geometric
  functions of a modeler
• ? architectural sense.
• We define a morpho-semantic operator as
• A morphological transformation of an
  object(s)with a symbolic representation.

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Morpho-semantic operators throughout a few
examples
Objective

• Precising the notion of morpho-semantic
  operators.
• Defining some parameters of these operations.
• Restricting the corpus to the  non standard .
  architecture
• Working with archives of sketches or model
  pictures
• Sorting these documents in a chronological order
• Knowing the architect main ideas is not
  necessary.

Method
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Morpho-semantic operators throughout a few
examples
Frank Gehry
Nationale Nederlanden Building, Praha

• This building illustrates the use of new forms in
  architecture.
• The key concept in this project ? to symbolise
  Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire dancing.
• First spacialization ? geometrical primitives ?
  functional needs.
• Morpho-semantic operations used
• blend, press, stretch, smooth, etc.

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Morpho-semantic operators throughout a few
examples
Santiago CALATRAVA
Turning torso building

• S. Calatrava often registers motion in his
  projects(Example TGV station in Lyon)
• The morphology of this building ? a turning
  torso.
• This idea has been translated by the  twist 
  operator.
• The  Bulge  operator used more locally.

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Interpretation and definition of a model
Operators classes
The lobster and the slug by Francis DK Ching

• First strategy represented by a slug
• Morphological transformation but not topological
• Example of operators such as twist, stretch or
  pinch.
• Transformation through metamorphosis
• Second strategy represented by a lobster
• creating forms through adjustement and
  combination
• made of unitary forms that we are going to add,
  juxtapose, superimpose.
• transformation by composition

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Interpretation and definition of a model
Unary operators

• The unary operators
• translation, rotation, symmetry,
• Scaling,
• all the similarities.
• Transformations at a higher level, ? in modelers
  deformations, or modifiers
• Modify the morphology of the various objects,
• Carry a symbolical meaning.

Unary operators
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Interpretation and definition of a model
Binary operators

• Binary operators link several objects
• Tranformations
• superposition,
• juxtaposition
• other alignment operations
• The composition operators
• Boolean operations (union, intersection,
  subtraction)
• fusion, a variant of union
• machining effects by applying a movement to the
  subtracted object.

Subtraction operator
Machining effect example
Fusion operator
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Interpretation and definition of a model
Examples of relationship between idea and
operator

• The fold operator like an expression of an
  idea
• The origami uses folding to create any form
• Folding ? an expression in a building,
• example Customs of Hohenhems by architect Drexel

Origami hippocampus
Customs of Hohenhems (Austria) by R. Drexel
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Interpretation and definition of a model
An example of parameter definition

• The fold operator parameters
• the solid to be folded
• the reference plan
• the folding angle
• the range defined as a distance to the reference
  plan

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Interpretation and definition of a model
Example of morphological transformation process

• Simulation of the modeling process of Calatravas
   Turning Torso 

Calatravas building  Turning Torso 
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Interpretation and definition of a model
Modeling of Calatravas building  Turning
Torso 

• A comparative approach
• First method ? polygonal modelling
• Second method ? use of operators

First method
Second method
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Conclusion

• We have attempted to
• Demonstrate the pertinence of morpho-semantic
  operators,
• Define their role of in the process of creating
  forms.
• Evaluate the impact of some operators and
  parameters on the resulting shapes.
• Future work
• Identify and classify more operators,
• Enlarge the analysis corpus,
• Explore HCI to define the use of operators.
• Design an intuitive 3D modeling tool to explore
  new morphological expressions.

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A PROPOSAL FOR MORPHOLOGICAL OPERATORS TO ASSIST
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Thank you very much for your attention www.crai.a
rchi.fr wetzel_at_crai.archi.fr
Authors J-P Wetzel, Pr J-C. Bignon, Dr S.
Belblidia MAP-CRAI Team UMR-MAP CNRS-Culture
N694 Architecture School of Nancy,
France Architecture School of Strasbourg, France
8th International Conference on Design Decision
Support Systems in Architecture and Urban
Planning / 4-7 July 2006