How we talk(ed) about it: Ways of speaking about computational architecture

Horvath, Anca-Simona

doi:10.1177/14780771211070006

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…In the context of architecture, generative models that learn from annotated datasets have considerable potential, and a lot of valuable and intriguing work has come out of using text prompts to generate imagery (Del Campo et al, 2022). 10 Discussing new connections between language and architecture in the context of new tools, as done, for example, in Markus and Cameron (2002), 11 or Horvath (2022a) 12 , Horvath (2022b) 13 , Horvath et. al (2021) 14 , takes new significance in this context.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Speculative hybrids: Investigating the generation of conceptual architectural forms through the use of 3D generative adversarial networks

Pouliou

Horvath

Palamas

2023

International Journal of Architectural Computing

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The process of architectural design aims at solving complex problems that have loosely defined formulations, no explicit basis for terminating the problem-solving activity, and where no ideal solution can be achieved. This means that design problems, as wicked problems, sit in a space between incompleteness and precision. Applying digital tools in general and artificial intelligence in particular to design problems will then mediate solution spaces between incompleteness and precision. In this paper, we present a study where we employed machine learning algorithms to generate conceptual architectural forms for site-specific regulations. We created an annotated dataset of single-family homes and used it to train a 3D Generative Adversarial Network that generated annotated point clouds complying with site constraints. Then, we presented the framework to 23 practitioners of architecture in an attempt to understand whether this framework could be a useful tool for early-stage design. We make a three-fold contribution: First, we share an annotated dataset of architecturally relevant 3D point clouds of single-family homes. Next, we present and share the code for a framework and the results from training the 3D generative neural network. Finally, we discuss machine learning and creative work, including how practitioners feel about the emergence of these tools as mediators between incompleteness and precision in architectural design.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Speculative hybrids: Investigating the generation of conceptual architectural forms through the use of 3D generative adversarial networks

Pouliou

Horvath

Palamas

2023

International Journal of Architectural Computing

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“…In a recent article, in Issue 2 or 2022, Horvath 1 analysed the words and expressions that we use in the field of Computational Design research, and how the expressions have changed in popularity and application over the decades. Reading the article made me reflect on some of the terminologies that have come into use that I have always found somewhat uncomfortable.…”

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confidence: 99%

Disruptions, analogies and reflections

Brown

2023

International Journal of Architectural Computing

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In a recent article, in Issue 2 or 2022, Horvath 1 analysed the words and expressions that we use in the field of Computational Design research, and how the expressions have changed in popularity and application over the decades. Reading the article made me reflect on some of the terminologies that have come into use that I have always found somewhat uncomfortable.Disruptive technologies is the term often used when talking about inventive digitally enabled innovations in Architecture and related disciplines. First coined by Christensen in an article by Bower and Christensen, 2 it was a term used to describe innovation that creates a new product or market that displaces established products or markets. 3 The disruptive quality is a secondary effect. It is the effect of the new innovative technology on similar, or parallel products or industries, that might have to change in response. But the word disruptive normally suggests that something is troublesome; it is a negative term. So it has always seemed to me to be strange to use a negative term to describe a technology that is innovative, its primary quality.I have always thought that if the world of business and industry is presented with a technological development that will improve or enhance, 'wouldn't transformative be more appropriate?' That is the more direct, primary effect of an innovative change. It might be a change that makes others think about how to adopt, or respond to, the change, but even then that is more a case of a provocative change rather than a disruptive one. So I have never used 'disruptive' in the way that many others have.Another term that has become accepted is analogue (analog). This has come to be the term applied to a physical delineation of a digital representation. In the old days, the physical model that was counterpart to the digital one was called a physical model to distinguish from the digital. But drawings, models and other models derived from digital data are now regularly referred to as analogues, though they rarely have a digitalcomputational engine driving an aspect of behaviour in the real world. The analogue wristwatch, for instance, looks like a conventional watch that operates via physical (springs and gears) means but has an active digitalcomputational engine driving its operation rather than those springs and gears.Three friends wrote a very interesting paper in 2006 (Martens, Mark and Chen 4 ), examining aspects of the digital-analogue discussion and do engage in deeper discussion of examples that do beyond the simple physical representation of a physical artefact. However, they do note that 'A digitally reproduced physical model processed through a 3D printer or CNC milling machine may express the same qualities of intention and material representation as a model produced by hand'. I wonder if it isn't actually the CNC machine that is the analogue element in this processit is a device emulating a conventional manually controlled milling/ CNC machine but with a computational-digital controlling mechanism rather than...

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“…This amounts to around 100.000 words. The purpose of building this dataset was to help gain a better understanding of the digitalization of architecture over 15 year time-span [8] . Further quantitative, qualitative or mixed method analysis can be carried out using the ComPara corpus by following specific topics or trends over time or by comparing the corpus to other sources.…”

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confidence: 99%