Towards an integrated design environment for architectural design

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Towards an integrated design environment for
architectural design

• Prof. Dr. Herman Neuckermans and Dr. Ann
  HendricxDept. of Architecture, Urban Design and
  Planning
• K.U.Leuven University, Belgium

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Overview

• CADLAB K.U.Leuven University
• about architectural design
• a conceptual system for CAAD
• Design methodology and CAAD
• CADLAB activities
• the IDEA research project
• core model starting points and desiderata
• methodology and presentation
• current research status

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CADLAB K.U.LeuvenFrom drafting tool to design
system

• Numerics and logic
• Characters
• Graphics
• Design

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Design gtlt Problem solving wicked
problems tame
problems Original known Ill-defined syst
ematic Problem definition optimisation
// problem solution step by step variable (s,
pd,ga,sp,es,d,i,f) rational irrational rationa
l uncertain
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Design

• Most important decisionsin early stages of
  design
• Not onebest design method

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Sketch Design

• Conceptual solution for
• Formal issues
• Layout
• Construction
• Equipment

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Conceptual system for CAADin the sketch design
phase

• Physical levels each can be entry point
• Grids hierarchical 10/30/60/90
• Tests in development gtlt post-design
  appraisal

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Conceptual system for CAADin the sketch design
phase
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CADLAB

• Didactics
• Conceptual model
• Object modelling for IDEA
• Case-based design
• Integrated testing daylight, sunshine,
  shading
• Documentation and visualisation of archeological
  sites

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CADLAB (2)

• Historical reconstruction of Leuven
• Thesis work 00-01 sunshading intelligent
  zoom / objects detailing2D/3D animation
  test visual keys for CBD

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The IDEA research project
Aim an Integrated Design Environment for
Architect designers. Research topics include

• A central building model
• Software tools using the central model
• A swift data management system

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The IDEA research project
digital model
evaluation tools
architect designer
building partners
architectural cases
modelling tools
integrated environment
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Product modelling
architect
Product modelling The use of computers to
represent the designers (or designers) evolving
idea of an artefact of design during the design
process (Galle 1998)
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Product modelling
ensuring the possibility of evolution and
modelling (complex) behaviour
model the communication between the model and
the surrounding tools
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The core object modelStarting points and
desiderata

• premises
• pursue qualitative architecture
• support the early design phases
• allow different design approaches
• respect the evolutionary nature of design
• ensure the core models neutral position
• case studies, test implementations
• methodological approach - MERODE

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Hogenheuvelcollege - LeuvenPaul Van Aerschot /
Poponcini Lootens
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The MERODE methodology Model-driven
Existence-dependency Relationship Object-oriented
Development

• conceptual modelling distinction between
  specification and implementation
• model driven development ? distinction between
  enterprise objects and functionality objects

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Resulting model
objects describing the partitioning parts of an
architectural project (basic behaviour included
in an objects methods)
objects describing all kinds of functionality
i.e. operations on and interactions between the
partitioning parts
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Stepwise development of the core object model
1. enterprise model
2. functionality model
user interface
enterprise objects and events
functionality layer
static relationships between the enterprise
objects
atomic events layer
methods layer
object-event table
elaborated class definitions attributes,
contraints, functions
implementation strategy for an OO environment
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MERODE and the conceptual framework
functio-nality submodel
enterprise submodel
integrated design environment
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Enterprise objects
project model
1. generic principle layer
instantiation
2. architectural aspects layer
instantiation
enterpise objects
3. specialisation or library layer
instantiation
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1. Generic principle layer
General principles, for instance
1. stair
CAAD ENTITY
2. banisters
ELEMENT
PROJECT
GRAPHICAL ENTITY
staircase
1 2 3 4 5
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2. Architectural aspects layer
CAAD ENTITY PHYSICAL ELEMENT, SPACE, USER
ACTIVITY, GRID and related objects
bathroom
night area
bedroom
day area
dining room
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2. Architectural aspects layer
unraveling physical elements to enhance their
capability of change
PHYSICAL ELEMENT
PHYSICAL ELEMENT
information independent from typological
information typological information
PHYSICAL ELEMENT TYPE
TYPE
typological information independent from
composition composition information
COMPOSITION
PHYSICAL ELEMENT COMPOSITION
composition information
kitchen wall
wall with overall thickness 30 cm
cavity wall 14/7/9
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3. Specialisation or library layer
Specialisations of objects defined in the generic
principle or architectural aspects
layer e.g. GRAPHICAL ENTITY PHYSICAL ELEMENT
TYPE
FOUNDATION
WALL
TERRAIN
ROOF
PLANAR ELEMENT
PRIMARY ELEMENT
PHYSICAL ELEMENT TYPE
SKELETON ELEMENT
SECONDARY ELEMENT
FLOOR
STAIRS
HVAC ELEMENT
OPENING ELEMENT
INTERIOR DESIGN ELEMENT
...
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Setting relationships ? Simplified E-R scheme
generic principle layer
architectural aspects layer
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A catalogue of object class definitions
1. enterprise model
2. functionality model
enterprise objects and events
user interface
functionality layer
static relationships between the enterprise
objects
atomic events layer
methods layer
object-event table
elaborated class definitions attributes,
constraints, functions
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A catalogue of object class definitions
relation with other object classes
attributes and constraints
object methods
...
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Hogenheuvelcollege case study
core objects and relationships in relational
database
entrance forms
tables
relation-ships
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Hogenheuvelcollege case study
modelling in several phases masterplan -
physical elements - spaces - user activities
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Hogenheuvelcollege case study
modelling in several phases masterplan -
physical elements - spaces - user activities
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Hogenheuvelcollege case study
modelling in several phases masterplan -
physical elements - spaces - user activities
building
floors
letter box corner
vertical circulation
rooms
subspaces
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The functionality model
1. enterprise model
2. functionality model
enterprise objects and events
user interface
functionality layer
static relationships between the enterprise
objects
atomic events layer
methods layer
object-event table
elaborated class definitions attributes,
contraints, functions
implementation strategy for an OO environment
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The functionality model
digital model
class definitions
evaluation tools
architect designer
building partners
architectural cases
modelling tools
integrated environment
enterprise model
functionality model
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Layering functionality
User Interface
complex workflows
Functionality Layer
input output services
tasks
higher functionality
consistent events
core object model
Atomic Event Layer
event broadcast
Methods Layer
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Class definitions of functionality objects

• Class TRANSFORM-ENTITY
• Attributes
• -- references to participating object types
• -- additional attributes
• Methods
• initiate_transform_entity (Input_graphical_entity
  GRAPHICAL-ENTITY) is ...
• check_validity is ...
• run is ...
• -- Different options
• if solitary graphical-entity perform transform
  operation on graphical-entity
• else define caad-entity and all connected
  caad-entities
• (via dependence-link, mandatory boundary-link)
• if physical-element perform operation on
  physical-element-type
• else perform operation on caad-entity
• The transform operation is conducted on the
  appropriate graphical-primitive, after which the
  geometry_topology attribute is set in accordance
  with the new situation. This setting triggers
  the VISUALIZE service.

class definition of Input output service
TRANSFORM-ENTITY
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Class definitions of functionality objects
Service Specification Diagram
Final state machine
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The IDEA research project

• Elaborated description of the enterprise objects
  and events

• Testing on actual design cases

• Example elaboration of the functionality model

• Development and prototype implementation of a
  geometrical modeller and the IDEA-l design tool
  for natural lighting

• Future elaboration and implementation of the
  functionality required for the IDEA-l design tool

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Current research activities at the CADLAB
core object model
architectural details- builder 2D-3D
Intelligent objects
digital model
modelling tools
evaluation tools
Idea-l daylighting tool
architectural cases
Dynamo architectural database on-line
sunshading
visual keys
building partners
architect designer
integrated environment
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Thank you for your attention!
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DESIGN METHODOLOGY CAADPART 1

• Design theory epistemology of design design
  activity design process
  programming structuring info coping with
  complexity sketch design generation of
  ideas selection of solutions

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DESIGN METHODOLOGY CAADPART 2

• Design methods a critical study notation
  methods
• decomposition patterns masterplanning mo
  rphological box brainstorming synectics

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DESIGN METHODOLOGY CAADPART 3

• History of HW / SW / CAAD
• HW SW for CAAD
• Modeling conceptual physical
• Application actual prospective