ARCH5221 Advanced Computational Design
Target Students MArch
Course Term 2
Course Type Required
This CORE course exposes students to an iterative approach for design problem solving with computation and automation tools. Students will gain exposure to computational design methods, applications, and hardware systems in the context of contemporary and future approaches to architectural design. The course has two key phases:
01_HISTORY, THEORY, AND LITERACY
Students will be exposed to the broader context of computing technology, development of computer aided design (CAD) tools, their use within design for contemporary and future practice. They will also gain computational literacy, with exposure to different types of computer languages for controlling and performing analysis on design geometry.
02_EXPLORATION, APPLICATION, AND TRANSLATION
Students will explore contemporary and novel methods for integrating computational design, digital tools, for digitization, design geometry manipulation, and synthesis. Using a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method, they will learn to iteratively solve explore, develop, and test design geometry problems that can be applied and integrated into architecture.
Each lesson will be framed with three types of language literacy and development skills: 1) human language; 2) high level computer language (scripting); 3) graphical (node-based) coding. We will explore the potential for all three to impact developable, repeatable, design geometry for architecture.
The topics in this course refer to issues in architectural design, theory, and practice methods underpinned by contemporary and emerging technologies with computational design, artificial intelligence, computer numerically controlled (CNC) fabrication, robotics, and others. The course will provide students with skills to understand complex forces that shape architectural design, critical methods, fabrication, and technologies to synthesize architectural design works. Using a design thinking approach, students will gain computational literacy and familiarity with technologies to articulate the relationship between design abstraction and physical translation, engage in an iterative approach toward design that navigates observation, analysis, ideation, prototyping, testing, and reflection with design tools.
