AR1B024 - Introduction to Computational Design

This course aims to introduce the uses of computational design methods within an integrated workflow. It is a hands-on design course in which the students develop skills by working on a design assignment. The course introduces the students to a series of practical workshops each of which focuses on a specific application such as gathering environmental data, developing spatial designs, implementing performance analyses and digital fabrication. They are then asked to integrate all of these applications within a comprehensive workflow to design, analyze, prototype and present a small scale architectural product.

The course content is composed of the following topics:

• Introduction to Computational Design (Computational Spatial Geometry, Algorithmic Design, Visual Programming).
• Data and Information Models (Spatial Data Acquisition, Database and Information Models).
• Performance Based Computational Design (Using algorithms for Performance Analysis, Design Iterations towards Rationalization).
• Digital Materiality (CAD/CAM, Physical Computation).