Inspired by Eisenman: ArchiDNA, a creative shape generative system

Doo Young Kwon and Ellen Yi-Luen Do Design Machine Group

Department of Architecture, University of Washington

Form making is an important and creative act in design. Architects often draw shapes to find design solutions and solve problems. Shape Grammar systems provide automatic shape generation following designer defined rules. Research in Shape Grammar has focused on analyzing existing designs and generating new design patterns (Stiny 1972, Flemming 1990). In this paper, we describe our creative multi-user shape-generative system called ArchiDNA.

We built ArchiDNA for designers to specify design style and form generating rules to produce automatically spatial configurations. ArchiDNA is inspired by Peter Eisenman’s design of Biocentrum (Eisenman 1999), an example of form generation from abstract design concepts (Figure 1). Eisenman developed the building form with the concepts of DNA (Figure 2). A DNA chain is composed of four initial shapes A, T, C, and G (2 interlocking pairs) (Figure 3). Observing Eisenman’s design (Figure 4), we found that his principles of form generation are (1): replication of the source forms, (2) rotation of the generative form, (3) rescaling of the generative form to fit the width of the selected form.

Figure.1 Biocentrum (Eisenman 1986)

Figure 2. DNA Structure Figure 3. A, T, C, G Figure 4. 2D Diagram produced by Eisenman

In our ArchiDNA system, we define the form generating with five elements (S, L, G, B, I). S is a set of shape rules of the form [A → B] that specifies how a shape A can be transformed to create B. S are three parametric rules: Rule 1 (move), Rule 2 (rotate) and Rule 3 (scale). L labels the first edge. G is a set of parameters that assign values to transformation rules - the width and angle of each shape. B is the base shape to which the rule and source shapes apply to start a computation. I is an initial shape to act as a source for replication and as the base shape for orientation.

gfdf (g)

g1

g2

g 3

Figure 5. Rule 1: Move Figure 6. Rule 2: Rotate Figure 7. Rule 3: Scale

(S, L, G, I, B)

S = {Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 3} L = {•}

G={g1, g2, g3} I={Initial shape} B={base shape}

Figure 8. I: Initial Shape Figure 9. B: Base Shape

ArchiDNA generates interesting shapes. Designers start with a DNA source form and click on several of them to indicate the sequence of reproduction. For example, if we only select shape G, then each time when we click on the edge of a shape from M, ArchiDNA will make a copy of G for every edge of the base shape, rotate it so that the new shape become perpendicular to the edge, and scale it so that the base line of G fits the width of the selected base edge (Figure 9, 10). If for example, we selected A-G-C-T in a sequence, then the same production procedure applies to the initial shapes – duplicate, rotate & scale A, then do the same for G, C and T (Figure 11). Designers can start with any type of initial shapes, and select any one shape to generate interesting configurations (Figure 12, 13).

Figure 10. Derivation 1 produced by ArchiDNA

Figure 11. Derivation 2 produced by ArchiDNA

Figure 12. Variation 1 produced by ArchiDNA

Figure 13. Variation 2 produced by ArchiDNA

Figure 14. ArchiDNA Interface Figure 15. ArchiDNA 3D Model

in VRML Viewer, Cortona Figure 16. ArchiDNA 3D Model

in Modeling System, FormZ

ArchiDNA has an easy-to-use interface (Figure 14). Designers can draw initial shapes and then select any shape to apply the parametric shape generations. All newly generated shapes can be selected as base shape to apply shape generation as well. This interesting play of DNA replication creates fascinating shapes. ArchiDNA also has a massing module to automatically assign heights. Any shapes with an area larger than a set threshold would be assigned the platform height and those less than another threshold would become high-rise buildings. In this manner, ArchiDNA not only generates interesting 2D shapes but also extends to 3D massing and can translate the result into a 3D VRML format for the web (Figure 15) or CAD systems (Figure 16). ArchiDNA is implemented in Java and server–client technology. Designers from remote places can participate in synchronous form generating collaboration across the net. Designers can also use color assignments to shapes filter out interesting emergent shapes that follow certain rhythms or patterns.

References

G. Stiny and J. Gips, “Shape Grammars and the Generative Specification of Painting and Sculpture,” in C. V. Freiman, ed., Information Processing 71 (North Holland, Amsterdam, 1972), pp. 1460-1465

U. Flemming, “Syntactic Structures in Architecture” in M. McCullough, W. J. Mitchell, and P. Purcell, eds., The Electronic Design Studio (The MIT Press, Cambridge, 1990), pp. 31-47

Peter Eisenman, Diagram Diaries (Universe Publishing, 1999), pp. 188-189

Inspired by Eisenman: ArchiDNA

A creative shape generative system

Form making is an important and creative act in design.

Architects often draw shapes to find design solutions

and solve problems. Shape Grammar systems provide

automatic shape generation following designer defined

rules. Research in Shape Grammar has focused on

analyzing existing designs and generating new design

patterns (Stiny 1972, Flemming 1990). In this paper, we

describe our creative multi-user shape-generative

system called ArchiDNA.

We built ArchiDNA for designers to specify design style

and form generating rules to produce automatically

spatial configurations. ArchiDNA is inspired by Peter

Eisenman s design of Biocentrum (Eisenman 1999), an

example of form generation from abstract design

concepts (Figure 1). Eisenman developed the building

form with the concepts of DNA (Figure 2). A DNA chain is

composed of four initial shapes A, T, C, and G (2

interlocking pairs) (Figure 3). Observing Eisenman s

design (Figure 4), we found his principles of form

generation are (1): replication of the source forms, (2)

rotation of the generative form, (3) rescaling of the

generative form to fit the width of the selected form.

ArchiDNA has an easy-to-use interface (Figure 11).

Designer can draw initial shapes and then select any

shape to apply the parametric shape generations. All

newly generated shapes can be selected as base shape

to apply shape generation as well. This interesting play

of DNA replication creates fascinating shapes. ArchiDNA

also has a massing module to automatically assign

heights. Any shapes with an area larger than a set

threshold would be assigned the platform height and

those less than another threshold would become high-

rise buildings. In this manner, ArchiDNA not only

generates interesting 2D shapes but also extends to 3D

massing and can translate the result into a 3D VRML

format for the web (Figure 12) or CAD systems (Figure

13). ArchiDNA is implemented in Java and server-client

technology. Designers from remote places can

participate in synchronous form generating

collaboration across the net. Designers can also use

color assignments to shapes filter out interesting

emergent shapes that follow certain rhythms or patterns.

Doo Young Kwon Ellen Yi-Luen Doand Design Machine Group University of Washington

In our ArchiDNA system, we define the form generating

with five elements (S, L, G, B, I). S is a set of shape rules

of the form [A B] that specifies how a shape A can be

transformed to create B. S are three parametric rules:

Rule 1 (move), Rule 2 (rotate) and Rule 3 (scale) (Figure

5, 6, 7). L labels the first edge. G is a set of parameters

that assign values to transformation rules - the width

and angle of each shape. B is the base shape to which

the rule and source shapes apply to start a computation.

I is an initial shape to act as a source for replication and

as the base shape for orientation.

ArchiDNA generates interesting shapes. Designers start

with a DNA source form and click on several of them to

indicate the sequence of reproduction. For example, if

we only select shape G, then each time when we click on

the edge of a shape from M, ArchiDNA will make a copy

of G for every edge of the base shape, rotate it so that

the new shape become perpendicular to the edge, and

scale it so that the base line of G fits the width of the

selected base edge (Figure 8). If for example, we

selected A-G-C-T in a sequence, then the same

production procedure applies to the initial shapes -

duplicate, rotate & scale A, then do the same for G, C and

T (Figure 9). Designers can start with any type of initial

shapes, and select any one shape to generate interesting

configurations (Figure 10).

Shape Making Algorithm

+

Figure 4. 2D and 3D Diagram (produced by Eisenman)

Figure.1 Biocentrum

(Eisenman 1986)Figure 2. DNA Structure

GG

GGCC TT AA

AA CC TT

Figure 3. A, T, C, G

References

G. Stiny and J. Gips, Shape Grammars and the Generative

Specification of Painting and Sculpture, in C. V. Freiman, ed.,

Information Processing 71 (North Holland, Amsterdam, 1972),

pp. 1460-1465

U. Flemming, Syntactic Structures in Architecture in M.

McCullough, W. J. Mitchell, and P. Purcell, eds., The Electronic

Design Studio (The MIT Press, Cambridge, 1990), pp. 31-47

Peter Eisenman, Diagram Diaries (Universe Publishing, 1999),

pp. 188-189

Figure 11. ArchiDNA Interface in Web Browser

Figure 12. ArchiDNA 3D Model in VRML Viewer, Cortona

Figure 13. ArchiDNA 3D Model in Modeling System, FormZ

Figure 5. Rule 1: Move Figure 6. Rule 2: Rotate Figure 7. Rule 3: Scale

Figure 8. Derivation 1

produced by ArchiDNA

Figure 9. Derivation 2

produced by ArchiDNA

(S, L, G, B, I)

S = {Rule 1, Rule 2, Rule 3}

L = { }

G={g1, g2, g3}

B={Base shape}

I={Initial shape}

B

I

g1g3

g2

B

B

I I

B

B: Base Shape

I: Initial Shape

B: Base Shape

I: Initial Shape +

B

I I

B: Base Shape

I: Initial Shapes + I: Initial Shape + IIII

B: Base Shape

I: Initial Shapes +

B

+ II

BFigure 10. Derivation 3

produced by ArchiDNA

http://dmg.caup.washington.edu/

System Interface

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