EXPLORATIVE ANALYSIS AND STRUCTURED SPECULATION: RETHINKING COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN AS AN APPROACH FOR ARCHITECTURAL FORM EXPLORATION

Abstract

This study examines the potential of computational thinking principles as an approach
in architectural form explorations. This study proposes an alternative perspective in
the computational design approach, which often emphasizes automation and
optimization in problem-solving processes. Current research and discussion in
computational design also tend to focus on algorithms as the main idea, overlooking
other computational thinking principles. Using House IV—designed by Peter
Eisenman—as a case, this study seeks to examine the possibilities of implementing
computational thinking principles in a speculative form-making process. House IV
was selected due to two main aspects related to its design process: 1) the involvement
of rules and procedures, and; 2) the focus on architectural formal exploration instead
of program. The processes consist of an analytical and a generative phase. Analytical
phases employ three computational thinking principles—decomposition, pattern
recognition, and generalization/abstraction—to deconstruct and identify the essential
parts and underlying set of rules from House IV. The generative phase utilizes
understanding from analysis – in the form of generalized rules – to build an algorithm
to
reconstruct variations of forms. This approach open possibilities for
exploration/speculation of new or unique formal iterations while keeping the
character and aesthetic quality of the House IV. Reflection on the processes highlights
the importance of explorative analysis and structured speculation in architectural
design methods. The findings show the importance of explorative aspect in the
analytical phase, along with traceability and explicitness in generative phase of
design process. This study proposes a more holistic implementation of computational
thinking principles in speculative form-making exploration. This study solely focuses
on architectural form exploration, without any consideration for other elements such
as space, context and program/function.