MH4001 Explorations in Architectural Form Syllabus:

MH4001 Explorations in Architectural Form Syllabus – Anna University PG Syllabus Regulation 2021

OBJECTIVES

 To inform about aspects, concepts and methods related to some contemporary architectural design processes.
 To enable use of contemporary processes in order to generate architectural form for specific design situations.

UNIT I DIAGRAMMING

Introduction to diagramming and its history. Traditional diagrams. Contemporary diagramming processes as tool to creative interpretation and design of architectural form. Simple exercises in diagramming.

UNIT II SHAPE GRAMMAR AND FRACTALS

Introduction to shape grammar and its applications. Introduction to Fractals. Examples from nature and built environment. Types of fractals. Fractal creation, generator and initiator, direction and proportion. Simple design exercises in shape grammar and fractals.

UNIT III EVOLUTIONARY ALGORITHMS

Introduction to evolutionary algorithms. Evolutionary art. Optimisation. Synthesis of topology, geometry and component properties of a structure using genetic algorithm. Simple design exercises based on evolutionary algorithm.

UNIT IV PARAMETRIC DESIGN

Introduction to parametric design. Concept of scripting. Simple design exercises in parametric design

TOTAL:45 PERIODS

COURSE OUTCOMES

CO1 Familiarity with some basic contemporary processes of architectural design.
CO2 Ability to explore architectural form through contemporary processes

REFERENCES

1. Mark Garcia, ‘The Diagrams of Architecture’, Wiley, 2010.
2. Jane Burry, Mark Burry, ‘The New Mathematics of Architecture’, Thames and Hudson, 2012.
3. Peter Szalapaj, ‘Contemporary Architecture and the Digital Design Process’, Architectural Press, 2005.
4. Bovill. C, ‘Fractal Geometry in Architecture and Design’, Birkhauser, Boston, 1996.
5. Stephen Todd and William Latham, ‘Evolutionary Art and Computers’, Academic Press, 1999.
6. Melanie Mitchell, ‘An Introduction to Genetic Algorithms’, MIT Press, 1998.