Parametric Models and Algorithmic Thinking in Architectural Education

Abstract

Part of our research and teaching agenda at the School of Architecture of the Technical University of Crete focuses on algorithmic design with parametric models, its methodological characteristics and the study of applied and theoretical work that defined this architectural design thinking. Our work challenges architectural design processes, through the systematic study of parametric models. This paper presents three projects from the undergraduate elective course "Special Topics in Architectural Design", which took place during the spring semester of 2017, that investigated parametric models for a given architectural problem, inspired, to some extent, by precedents in 20th century architecture where students traced algorithmic design thinking. Although students understood well the concept and function of parametric models and in many cases applied them successfully for their design objectives, several of them did not fully assimilate some critical aspects of computation. This allowed us to determine areas of improvement and points of complete reevaluation in our educational strategy approach.