A multilingual grammar for 'The International Style', and its hybrid grammar

This paper describes the proposal and results of a multilingual shape grammar to describe the designs of three architects, precursors of the 'International Style'. A shape grammar is a generative process that allows the recreation of designs that follow a language. Grammars are useful mechanisms to describe patterns and generative processes that can be used for analysis or design exploration. Most grammars represent one language. This study focuses on three independent languages ​​within the same movement. The proposed grammar is parametric and allows the independent recreation of each independent design. Its difficult application can be linked to the difficult evaluation process. This research proposes a quantitative and a qualitative method of grammar evaluation, using respectively Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and user questionnaires. The results are then discussed and assessed using hybrids that fall in between languages ​​and help delineate parametric spaces

‘The International Style’ multilingual three-dimensional grammar and hybrid designs

The present paper describes a multilingual shape grammar to recreate the work of three designers that preconized the ‘International Style’. This is a top-down three-dimensional formulation. Whilst most grammars are monolingual and univocal, this work creates a multilingual formulation within the same artistic movement. Typically, a grammar describes a family of design solutions. These are helpful mechanisms to describe patterns that can be used for analysis or design exploration. This multilingual three-dimensional parametric grammar allows the independent recreation of original designs from three designers and hybrid solutions. Shape grammar's difficult application can be linked to its evaluation process. The original contribution of the study lies in the use of quantitative and qualitative methods for grammar evaluation, using Principal Components Analysis and user questionnaires. The PCA provides a pragmatic analysis, and the questionnaires an intuitive reading. Together they corroborate the results which are discussed using hybrids that assist in delineating parametric spaces

Pioneering Large-Scale Construction through 3D Printing: A Critical Review

The integration of 3D printing technology in the construction industry presents a change in thinking in the conception, design, and construction of large-scale structures. This paper provides a critical review of pioneering endeavors in utilizing 3D printing for large-scale construction projects. Drawing from extensive literature and discussions, we examine the multifaceted aspects of 3D printing, including materials, methods, case studies, structural performance, sustainability, challenges, and future directions. The review begins with an exploration of the materials and methods employed in 3D printing for construction, highlighting advancements in materials such as concrete, fiber, and composites. Case studies of notable projects, ranging from houses to architectural pavilions, are analyzed to elucidate design, construction processes, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved. Structural performance and engineering considerations are critically assessed, evaluating the mechanical properties, durability, and safety of 3D-printed components and structures. Sustainability emerges as a key theme, with discussions centering on the environmental benefits and challenges of 3D printing in construction, including waste reduction, energy efficiency, and life cycle assessments. The review concludes with an examination of the challenges and future directions of 3D printing in construction, identifying scalability, regulatory constraints, and technological advancements as areas requiring further attention and research. Through a comprehensive analysis of the literature, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of the transformative potential of 3D printing in pioneering large-scale construction projects. Insights gleaned from this review inform ongoing efforts to advance the field of 3D printing technology and its application to sustainable and innovative construction practices. Furthermore, the potential outcome of this research is to leverage the insights gained to develop an in-house 3D concrete printer. This endeavor aims to utilize the knowledge and understanding acquired to construct a bespoke 3D printer tailored to the specific needs and requirements of our organization, thereby enabling us to explore novel avenues in large-scale construction projects

A mass-customized housing shape grammar application – The Orange County Sustainability Decathlon experience

Prompted by an international competition, a multinational team developed a sustainable, affordable housing solution to be built in California. The Orange County Sustainability Decathlon proposed a platform to test the system's viability. The generative system created encompasses a design system, a structural strategy, and an infill/cladding process. The method chosen was a descriptive shape grammar, a system that uses a finite number of graphical rules, and parametric schemata to produce a family of solutions, based on an offsite volumetric pod. The grammar allows basic design rules each one targeted at the combination of adjacent spaces: a bathroom, a kitchen, an entrance space, a living area, a sleeping area and additional accommodation. The spatial variations allow for several parametric solutions. Once the spaces are associated, they are constructed using light structural framing systems. The experiment has proved to be operational and could be scaled up for commercial applications