Shape Computation Lab

Hermes

 


Title:

Hermes: A Computational Tool for Proportional Studies in Design

Authors:

Hyoung-June Park, Athanassios Economou and Panos Papalambros

Editors:

Bob Martens and Andre Brown

Conference:

Learning from the Past a Foundation for the Future: Proceedings of the International Conference on Computer-Aided Architecture Design Futures (CAADFutures)

Series:

CAADFutures 2005

Pages:

99-108

Publisher:

Kluwer Academic Publishers: Vienna, Austria

Publication date:

June 2005

ID:

cf2005_2_33_220

Keywords:

Proportion, Means, Design automation, Genetic algorithms, Design optimization, Andrea Palladio

Abstract:

The absence of computational tools for the application of proportional theory in analysis and synthesis in design has been a persistent problem in the field of formal composition in architectural design. Analysis of existing designs still requires an enormous amount of patience and persistence from the researcher to undertake with pencil and paper. Synthesis of new designs with proportional qualities is even more elusive because of the mathematical sophistication it demands from the designers. And both activities require a command of this body of knowledge that very few architects nowadays possess. This work presents a computational tool as a tool for proportional studies based on the theory of means. The analysis component of the application evaluates existing designs and provides statistical measures about the proportional structure of the design. The synthesis component of the application generates new designs from known ones with additional prescribed proportional properties. In both cases design optimization methodologies are employed. The analysis component is written in Autolisp and runs within AutoCAD. The synthesis component is written using the Genetic Algorithm Toolbox of Matlab and an Autolisp application within AutoCAD.

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