Plausibility in the planning process—reason and confidence in the computer-aided design and planning of buildings (original) (raw)
2004, Automation in Construction
Architecture is more than form. It must be more than form. It can be spectacular, it can be revolutionary, but it should also be comprehensible, reasoned and plausible and this should be reflected in its form. This very nature of architecture makes it different from other design disciplines. However, it is these central aspects that are not supported by current computer-aided planning systems. The development of digital models concentrates on the purely formal aspects. Architecture does not just concern the external appearance, it also involves finding solutions for the organizational and technical realization of a building. The function, suitability, economic and ecological aspects, construction and implementation are important factors in the design and execution of a building. For architects at least, they should remain uppermost in the design considerations. Leaving aside the few exceptional buildings whose characteristic is defined by the building's form, it is obvious that the majority of buildings are determined by other factors. During the concept design, fundamental decisions are made that influence the rest of the design, without the architect having objectively considered a variety of relevant planning information. A large amount of potentially influential information cannot be considered, remains neglected or simply ignored. The paper describes research in progress into the design of planning systems which provide the architect and designer with such information during the conceptual development of a building, so that the chosen solution is plausible, reasoned and understandable. The design of such a planning system is oriented around the possibilities of information technology with regard to architectural demands and constraints. In contrast to currently available systems, the proposed system will include concepts which provide the architect with relevant information during the design phase. Architectural and urban planning issues are here as important as technical, ecological or economic factors.