Ways to study and research urban, architectural and technical design

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Ways to study and researchurban, architectural
and technical design

• Prof.dr.ir. A.C.J.M. Eekhout
• Prof.dr.ir. T. M. de Jong
• Dr. D.J.M. van der Voordt

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Method and study

• Method originates from old Greek meta hodos
  (meta ?odos), the way along which or the way
  to.
• Thats why we gave our methodology book the name
  Ways to Study. Study encloses search, research,
  inquiry, investigation, examination and so on.

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Research, a special kind of study

• We do not use the popular but more limited word
  research, because it has a strictly empirical
  connotation. It concerns existing cases. It does
  not enclose all design related forms of study
  like design itself.

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Composition, an other kind of study

• Composers like Chopin, painters like Rembrandt
  and architects like Le Corbusier made studies
  as well they did not re-search, they searched by
  creation (leaving out at least one assumption
  supposed to be self-evident until then).

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Negating existing cases

• Inventors, composers try to find new examples,
  prototypes, negating existing cases, avoiding the
  clichés, the very well known examples tacitly
  supposed by their contemporaries.

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48 Authors from 1 faculty
There are more methods of design, study and
research than there are designers and scientists.
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Ways to Study and Researchurban, architectural
and technical design

• CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Naming and describing
• Design research and typology
• Evaluating
• Modelling
• Programming and optimising
• Technical Study 
• Design Study
• Study by design
• Epilogue

Empirical research
Study by design
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Introduction
CONTENTS Introduction A. Naming and describing B.
Design research and typology C. Evaluating D.
Modelling E. Programming and optimising F.
Technical study  G. Design Study H. Study by
design Epilogue

• Preface (Fokkema)
• Introduction (Jong Voordt)
• Languages (Dijkhuis)
• Criteria for scientific research, study and
  design (Jong, Voordt)

Science equals any collection of statements that
features a reliable relationship to reality, a
valid mutual relationship and a critical
potential with regard to other statements in the
same domain.
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Domains according to Van der Voordt
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Domains according De Jong
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Classical empirical research proposals

• problem statement (problem isolation)
• clear aim
• reference
• starting points
• hypothesis
• variables
• data
• method
• content
• publish

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Design related study orempirical research

• Research produces probabilities by causes
• Design produces possibilities by conditions

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Ways to Study and Researchurban, architectural
and technical design

• CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Naming and describing
• Design research and typology
• Evaluating
• Modelling
• Programming and optimising
• Technical Study 
• Design Study
• Study by design
• Epilogue

Empirical research
Study by design
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Probable futures
There are more and less probable futures
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Probability
s 68, 2s 95, 3s 99.7 chance
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Possible futures
Anything probable is per definition possible but
not everything possible is also probable. The
probable future could be predicted. The
improbable possibilities cannot be predicted. You
only can explore them by design.
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Possibility
Not every condition is a cause, but every cause
is a condition for something to happen
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Desirable futures
Ir. Drs. Mr.
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Obvious and impossible futures
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Problems and aims
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Undesired, improbable possibilities
Are they relevant as long as nobody wants them?
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Unexpected inventions
Yes
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Changing desires
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Field of problems and aims

• Problems probable, but not desirable futures
• Aims desirable, but not probable futures

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Design related study

• can not isolate problems from a coherent field of
  problems
• brings aims together in a field of aims, a
  concept
• has many references, not only written text but
  especially images forms, types, models,
  concepts, programmes
• has many starting points
• has designs as hypothesis stating This will
  work
• has many context variables (parameters)
• while the object still varies in your head
• has many ways to study (in a book with 10 000 key
  words)
• content grows drawing, calculating and writing
• publishes with the medium as a message

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How to limitate, concentrate

• give way to fascinations (motivated
  concentrations)
• choose a scale (frame and grain) before an object
• publish your portfolio evaluating it as field of
  abilities
• decide to improve or to extend them in your
  proposal
• publish images that fascinate you as a field of
  means
• look at them as a professional which concepts,
  types, models programmes could you harvest?
• make your assumptions about the future explicit
• imagine the impacts your study could have
• cash your dreams

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Make probable by causes Make possible by
conditions
Not every condition is a cause, but every cause
is a condition for something to happen
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Unravelling condition and cause
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Domains of future
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Domainsin design science
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Ways to Study and Researchurban, architectural
and technical design

• CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Naming and describing
• Design research and typology
• Evaluating
• Modelling
• Programming and optimising
• Technical Study 
• Design Study
• Study by design
• Epilogue

Empirical research
Study by design
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A. Naming anddescribing
CONTENTS Introduction A. Naming and describing B.
Design research and typology C. Evaluating D.
Modelling E. Programming and optimising F.
Technical study  G. Design Study H. Study by
design Epilogue

1. Naming components and concepts (Jong Rosemann)
2. Retrieval and reference (Jong Voordt)
3. Descriptive research (Lans Voordt)
4. Historical research (Macel)
5. Map study (Moens)
6. Casuistry resulting in laws (Hobma Schutte)

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B. Design researchand typology
CONTENTS Introduction A. Naming and describing B.
Design research and typology C. Evaluating D.
Modelling E. Programming and optimising F.
Technical study  G. Design Study H. Study by
design Epilogue

1. Design research (Jong Duin)
2. Designerly enquiry (Breen)
3. Typological Research (Jong Engel)
4. Concept and Type (Leupen)
5. Analysis of buildings (Molema)
6. Plan analysis (Meyer)
7. Design driven research (Breen)

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Plan analysis

• Plan analysis originates from both Latin and old
  Greek. Planum is Latin for surface or map.
  Analysis (ana lusis) means loosening up. In the
  same way precedent analysis means loosening up
  pre-cedents, preceding (historical) examples. So,
  it is a kind of re-search design research as
  Ways to Study names the intended kind of study.

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Precendents

• However, precedent is a juridical term to
  indicate avoidable cases.
• Laws are made to avoid bad cases, precedents.
• The Watergate case made President Nixon an
  avoidable case. Newspapers called him the
  Precedent of the United States.
• By such background it became part of contemporary
  everyday speech.

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Architectural precedents

• On the other hand, architectural precedents are
  analysed to learn designers possibilities, not to
  imitate them, but to combine well-known parts
  into their own new syntheses, wholes,
  conceptions, types, programmes, models,
  applicable in always unique other contexts.

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From analysis into synthesis

• It supposes such associations can help creating
  new syntheses. However, within that supposition
  there are more suppositions hided.
• For example it supposes designing as a way of
  outward thinking from parts into a whole
  (syn-theses, sun-?esis means putting together).

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Outward from part to whole

• Synthesis is not the opposite of analysis, it
  follows analysis being its ultimate aim. Both
  operations together (induction followed by
  deduction) are a method opposite to an inward
  holistic approach.

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Inward from whole to part

• The holistic approach articulates and details the
  whole into recognizable parts like a sculptor
  does with a piece of wood or stone, or an urban
  designer starting with an urban context to define
  the identity of a smaller location within that
  whole.

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C.Evaluating
CONTENTS Introduction A. Naming and describing B.
Design research and typology C. Evaluating D.
Modelling E. Programming and optimising F.
Technical study  G. Design Study H. Study by
design Epilogue

1. Ex post evaluation of buildings (Voordt Wegen)
2. Ex ante research (Hulsbergen Schaaf)
3. Ex ante performance evaluation of housing
   (Thomsen)
4. Evaluating prototypes
5. Comparing and evaluating drawings (De Jong)

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D. Modelling
CONTENTS Introduction A. Naming and describing B.
Design research and typology C. Evaluating D.
Modelling E. Programming and optimising F.
Technical study  G. Design Study H. Study by
design Epilogue

1. Modelling reality (Klaasen)
2. Verbal Models (Jong)
3. Mathematical Models (Jong Graaf)
4. Visualisation and architecture (Koutamanis)
5. The empirical cycle (Priemus)
6. Forecasting and Problem Spotting (Jong Priemus)

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Example Mathematical models

• De Jong en De Graaf
• Origins
• The mathematical model is no reality
• Mathematics is a language
• Numbering
• Counting
• Values and variables
• Combinatorics
• Taming the combinatorial explosion
• Program of a site
• The resolution of a medium
• The tolerance of production
• Nominal size systems

1. Geometry
2. Graphs
3. Probability
4. Linear Programming (LP)
5. Matrix calculation
6. The Simplex method
7. Functions
8. Fractals
9. Differentiation
10. Integration
11. Differential equations
12. Systems modelling

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A mathematical model
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E. Programming and optimising
CONTENTS Introduction A. Naming and describing B.
Design research and typology C. Evaluating D.
Modelling E. Programming and optimising F.
Technical study  G. Design Study H. Study by
design Epilogue

1. Urban Programming Research (Guyt Hulsbergen)
2. Programming of buildings (Voordt Wegen)
3. Programming Building Construction (Eekhout
   Cuperus)
4. Designing a city hall (Weeber Eldijk Kan)
5. Design by optimisation (Loon)
6. Optimisation of performance requirements (Houben)
7. The environmental maximisation method
   (Duijvestein)

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F.Technical study 
CONTENTS Introduction A. Naming and describing B.
Design research and typology C. Evaluating D.
Modelling E. Programming and optimising F.
Technical study  G. Design Study H. Study by
design Epilogue

1. Re-design and renovation (Verhoef)
2. Study of Building Services and Installations
   (Schalkoort)
3. Methodical design of load-bearing constructions
   (Kamerling)
4. Classification and combination (Cuperus)
5. Methodology and component development (Eekhout)
6. Industrial design methods (Jager)
7. Future ICT developments (Sariyildiz Stouffs
   Ciftcioglu Tuncer)

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G. Design study
CONTENTS Introduction A. Naming and describing B.
Design research and typology C. Evaluating D.
Modelling E. Programming and optimising F.
Technical study  G. Design Study H. Study by
design Epilogue

1. Creating space of thought (Hertzberger)
2. Perceiving and conceiving (Hertzberger)
3. Formation of the image (Jong Rosemann)
4. Experience, intuition and conception (Geuze
   Eldijk Kan)
5. Designing an office (Brouwer Eldijk Kan)
6. Designing a village (Heeling Eldijk Kan)
7. Urban design methods (Westrik)
8. Studying Design (Jong)

There are more design methods than designers.
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H. Study by design
CONTENTS Introduction A. Naming and describing B.
Design research and typology C. Evaluating D.
Modelling E. Programming and optimising F.
Technical study  G. Design Study H. Study by
design Epilogue

1. Types of study by design (Voordt, Jong)
2. Designing Naturalis in a changing context
   (Verheijen Eldijk Kan)
3. Designing a building for art and culture (Röling
   Eldijk Kan)
4. Contemplations for Copenhagen (Bergh)
5. Learning from The Bridge project (Breen)
6. Creating non-orthogonal architecture (Vollers)
7. Design in Strategy (Frieling)

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Ways to Study and Researchurban, architectural
and technical design

• CONTENTS
• Introduction
• Naming and describing
• Design research and typology
• Evaluating
• Modelling
• Programming and optimising
• Technical Study 
• Design Study
• Study by design
• Epilogue

Empirical research
Study by design
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Operational study proposals

• y(x)
• landscape( villa)
• villa( landscape)
• villa( landscape( water system))
• urbanity( liveliness, choice)
• ( liveliness, choice)( density, variety)

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Nested key words

• villa(landscape(water-system, history))
• villa(landscape(water-system(history)))
• villa(landscape((water-system, occupation)(history
  , spatial dispersion)))
• )( means a matrix

history spatial dispersion
water-system 1 2
occupation 3 4
useful as a list of contents of your report 1
water-system(history) 2 water-system(spatial
dispersion) 3 occupation(history) 4
occupation(spatial dispersion)
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Syntactic key words

• object y as a working (function, action, output,
  result, property) of
• subject x (independent variabele actor, input,
  condition, cause)
• y(x)
• object(subject)
• Suffering object(subject)
• impact(condition, cause)
• aim(means)
• The verb is replaced by brackets ()
• Form follows function. form(function)
• landscape(villa)
• villa(landscape)

See also index of Ways to Study
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Operations (functions) y f(x)

• intuitive f(x) associated with x
• conditional f(x) possible by x
• set-theoretical f(x) part of x, encloses x,
  without x ...
• logical f(x) if x, not x ...
• mathematical f(x) xx , x2...
• causal f(x) caused by x
• temporal f(x) preceded, followed by x
• spatial(formal) f(x) near to, contiguous to,
  surrounded by x ...
• structural f(x) connected with x, seperated
  from x ...
• combinations a box of boards connected by
  nailsbox(boards, nails)

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Valid, Reliable
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Propositions

• Science supposes Art
• Science equals any collection of statements that
  features a reliable relationship to reality, a
  valid mutual relationship and a critical
  potential with regard to other statements in the
  same domain.