3D Visualization in Design Education

It has been said that “The beginning of architecture is empty space.” (Mitchell 1990) This statement typifies a design education philosophy in which the concepts of space and form are separated and defined respectively as the negative and positive of the physical world, a world where solid objects exist and void-the mere absence of substance-is a surrounding atmospheric emptiness. Since the beginning of the nineteenth century, however, there has been an alternative concept of space as a continuum: that there is a continuously modified surface between the pressures of form and space in which the shape of the space in our lungs is directly connected to the shape of the space within which we exist. (Porter 1979). The nature of the task of representing architecture alters to reflect the state of architectural understanding at each period of time. The construction of architectural space and form represents a fundamental achievement of humans in their environment and has always involved effort and materials requiring careful planning, preparation, and forethought. In architecture there is a necessary conversion to that which is habitable, experiential, and functional from an abstraction in an entirely different medium. It is often an imperfect procedure that centers on the translation rather than the actual design. Design of the built environment is an art of distinctions within the continuum of space, for example: between solid and void, interior and exterior, light and dark, or warm and cold. It is concerned with the physical organization and articulation of space. The amount and shape of the void contained and generated by the building create the fabric and substance of the built environment. Architecture as a design discipline, therefore, can be considered as a creative expression of the coexistence of form and space on a human scale. As Frank Ching writes in Architecture: Form, Space, and Order, “These elements of form and space are the critical means of architecture. While the utilitarian concerns of function and use can be relatively short lived, and symbolic interpretations can vary from age to age, these primary elements of form and space comprise timeless and fundamental vocabulary of the architectural designer.” (1979

Computing in Design - Enabling, Capturing and Sharing Ideas: ACADIA Conference Proceedings

The papers collected in this volume reflect not only the conference theme of enabling, capturing, and sharing design ideas, but also the ACADIAis fifteen-year-old spirit of sharing new ideas about the application and integration of computing technology in architectural education and practice. In the fifteen years of its existence, ACADIA has not only encouraged new research, but has also motivated classroom use of new approaches that incorporate digital media directly into the design process. This educational mission is particularly important as architectural computing spreads from school's design studios into architectural offices, as students whom we train move into the work place and share their knowledge of the new design technologies. The papers in this volume clearly show that the capturing, enabling, and sharing of ideas are enhanced by the use of computers in design, not just in documentation and production, but more importantly from the very origination of the idea. The long sought synergy between the “digital” and the “traditional” is slowly, but increasingly happening in design studios and offices. Thousands of students and architects are exploring design ideas using digital technology, i.e., CAD is more or less in everyone's hands

Architectural Design Studio: Digital and Traditional

The nature of the task of representing architecture alters to reflect the state of architecture at each period of time. In simulating architecture, the necessary conversion from that which is inhabitable, experiential, functional, and at times, indescribable to an abstraction in an entirely different media is often an imperfect procedure that centers on its translation rather than the actual design. The objective in visualizing any architectural design is to achieve a situational awareness that allows for meaningful criticism of the design. Computer-aided three-dimensional (3D) visualization technology has made available new representation techniques. Surpassing the traditional means of graphic illustration and scaled models, this technology has been primarily developed to decrease the amount of abstraction between architecture and its documentation. The general objective of this paper is to present a study carried out over the last six years in which the progress of students in a traditional studio was compared to the progress of similar students in a digital studio. We have assessed the effects of the tools over the six-year period (24 different projects) by evaluating solution-generation in trial-and-error process and learning problem-solving strategies based on the Cognitive Flexibility Theory paradigm. Students using the digital studio were found to generate more and various solutions consistently

Design Knowledge, Environmental Complexity in Nonorthogonal Space

Mechanization and industrialization of society has resulted in most people spending the greater part of their lives in enclosed environments. Optimal design of indoor artificial climates is therefore of increasing importance. Wherever artificial climates are created for human occupation, the aim is that the environment be designed so that individuals are in thermal comfort. Current design methodologies for radiant panel heating systems do not adequately account for the complexities of human thermal comfort, because they monitor air temperature alone and do not account for thermal neutrality in complex enclosures. Thermal comfort for a person is defined as that condition of mind which expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment. Thermal comfort is dependent on Mean Radiant Temperature and Operative Temperature among other factors. In designing artificial climates for human occupancy the interaction of the human with the heated surfaces as well the surface-to-surface heat exchange must be accounted for. Early work in the area provided an elaborate and difficult method for calculating radiant heat exchange for simplistic and orthogonal enclosures. A new improved method developed by the authors for designing radiant panel heating systems based on human thermal comfort and mean radiant temperature is presented. Through automation and elaboration this method overcomes the limitations of the early work. The design procedure accounts for human thermal comfort in nonorthogonal as well as orthogonal spaces based on mean radiant temperature prediction. The limitation of simplistic orthogonal geometries has been overcome with the introduction of the MRT-Correction method and inclined surface-to-person shape factor methodology. The new design method increases the accuracy of calculation and prediction of human thermal comfort and will allow designers to simulate complex enclosures utilizing the latest design knowledge of radiant heat exchange to increase human thermal comfor

Spatial Presence: an Explication from an Architectural Point of View

This paper provides the theoretical foundation for understanding the concept of spatial presence. This is important for improving architectural visualization tools so as to capture the experiential aspects of space. The paper is organized into three sections. The first section explicates the concept of spatial presence by identifying various conceptualizations of spatial presence in the literature and performing a meaning analysis. It then proceeds to examine mechanisms underlying the formation of spatial presence. The paper concludes by offering initial guidelines for improving the nature of digital tools to enhance the feeling of spatial presence.

Evaluating Workflow and Modeling Strategies of Pen Computing in the Beginning Architectural Design Studio

This paper investigates the impact of Tablet PCs on the workflow in an undergraduate design studio. We examined how well the students adapted the Tablet PC into their day-to-day design work and evaluated the appropriateness of the Tablet PC as a common digital tool used in an architectural design studio. This research involved observation of student behaviour during the semester and the conducting of a survey measuring various aspects of the studentsi use of the computers. A more specific goal was to compare the effectiveness of the pen versus the mouse as input devices for a three-dimensional modelling task in terms of both task time and strategies. Our assumption was that a change in input mode would affect the strategies and the performance. The results of a within-subjects, repeated-measures experiment carried out to elicit differences in input devices are discussed

Capturing Affect in Architectural Visualization - a Case for integrating 3-dimensional visualization and psychophysiology

Envisioning architectural experience afforded by a building under design has been difficult due to two reasons. One is simulating the space in full scale, eliminating the need to take a mental leap commonly required of abstract smaller scale representations. Second challenge is in fully capturing the affective experience, which is often subtle in nature. This paper suggests that 3-dimensional visualization - particularly immersive virtual reality can overcome the first challenge. In addition, psychophysiological measures such as facial electromyography (EMG) and electrodermal activity (EDA) can be used to capture the affective component of the architectural experience. We suggest that by taking advantage of these technologies together, one can better simulate and empirically understand the nature of architectural experience

A Framework for an Integrated Computer-Aided Architectural Design Decision Support System

This paper presents the'ICAAD.DSS'conceptual model, which provides a framework for an integrated computer-aided architectural design (CAAD) decision support system. The model is based on a unified approach to computing in architecture which in turn is based on a holistic view of the architectural design process. The proposed model shifts the focus from product to process, and views the design problem as a goal-oriented, problem solving activity that allows a design team to identify strategies and methodologies in the search for design solutions. This paper introduces a new environment for the use and integration of computers in the architectural design proces

Implications of Representation-Presentation Distinction in Developing a Presentation Environment for CAAD

Computer mediated environments are increasingly used for design communication to bridge the gap between geographically and temporally separated stakeholders. We look at the design process, its communication through computer mediated environments, and stress the need to recognize the subtle distinction between representation and presentation in this process. Building on representation-presentation distinction, the case for a multi-modal design presentation environment is made and the challenges involved in developing such an environment are discussed. We conclude by demonstrating a prototype of such a presentation environment

Multimodal virtual reality environment for architectural design (re)representation

The diversity of representations and the complexity of capturing and communicating the design process and its rationale present a challenge to architects. This paper proposes a multimodal virtual reality environment (MVE) aimed at utilizing the inherent advantages of distinct media, as opposed to a stand-alone virtual reality environment. Virtual reality is seen here as one of the tools in the larger milieu of interactive multimedia tools available to architects. The theoretical framework underlying its development explores the role of digital tools in the design process, their adaptability to existing workflow and issues of representation and perception, especially how design ideas are represented, evaluated and manipulated in the mind. The development of MVE followed a cycle of design, usability studies by a focus group and redesign