The Airshell Prototype
July 9, 2022
This paper by Alessandro Liuti, Sofia Colabella, and Alberto Pugnale, presents the construction of Airshell, a small timber gridshell prototype erected by employing a pneumatic formwork.
ALGORITHM-AIDED BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING
Connecting Algorithm-Aided Design and Object-Oriented Design
Harri Humppi
Tampere University of Technology
School of Architecture
Master’s Thesis 2015
New design methods have induced an undergoing transition from analog to digital design methods. This transition has started only some decades ago and the study affirms that there are still many significant reforms to come. New innovations can only arise when stabilized and standard processes are rethought and challenged by new ways of working.
On this basis, this study by Harri Humppi examines a new approach to Computer-Aided Design (CAD). In this study, this new approach is called Algorithm-Aided Building Information Modeling (AAB).
The starting point of the study is the awareness that AAB tools somehow bridge Algorithm-Aided Design (AAD) and Building Information Modeling (BIM), so this study started by investigating this relation. The study examines if AAB could reshape old digital design methods by offering a novel approach to CAD.
Currently, there are only a few studies that investigate AAB and most of them only focus on certain aspects related to AAB. The study argues that valid research results can only be achieved by forming a comprehensive image of the subjects that are related to AAB.
This study has three main approaches. Firstly, the study is closely linked to design research of CAD because it looks into AAB from various perspectives of CAD.
Secondly, the study is related to software research because it investigates many design approaches that should be taken into account, when AAB tools will be developed. Thirdly, the study uses practical design as learning method, so the study is related to researching approach called ‘Research by Design’.
The study is divided into three main parts that proceed from practice to theory. Part A focuses on design solutions that AAB tools can generate. Part B examines modeling, simulation and optimization methods and processes that are related to AAB. Part C investigates the theory of digital design that is seen as a starting point for the further development of AAB.
The main result of the study is that Algorithm-Aided Building Information Modeling (AAB) can connect Algorithm-Aided Design (AAD) to Object-Oriented Design (OOD). After all, the result is rather obvious but this connection opens many new possibilities to CAD. The connection will enable many design processes that haven’t been possible before.
