Discrete vs. Discretized Growth

Discrete computational growth simulations, such as Cellular Automata of Diffusion Limited Aggregation, appear often to be difficult to use for architectural design as their geometric outcomes tend to be difficult to control. On the contrary, free-form growth simulations such as Differential Growth or cell-based growth algorithms produce highly complex geometries that are difficult to construct at a larger scale.

This paper by Christoph Klemmt, Igor Pantic, Andrei Gheorghe and Adam Sebestyen, therefore, propose a methodology of discretized free-form Cellular Growth algorithms in order to utilize the emerging qualities of growth simulations for a feasible architectural design. The methodology has been tested within the framework of a workshop and resulted in the efficient construction of a large physical prototype.