Paradigm shift in architecture: BIM & parametric design

Paradigm shift in architecture: BIM & parametric design content include:

1- The articles- Paradigm shift in architecture

2 – Paradigm shift definition

3 – Paradigm shift – Building information modeling BIM

4- Paradigm shift – Parametric design

References

Paradigm shift in architecture: BIM & parametric design is the first article of a series. These examine the effect of the paradigm on the way architects work, and its effect on the firm’s business. Also, define the major characteristics of a paradigm when it happens in a certain timeline in the architecture field and practice. The study starts from ancient architecture to date modern architecture.

To start with, we need to define a paradigm shift. It’s “an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking about or doing something is replaced by a new and different way” ¹. Thomas Kuhn brought into the scientific lexicon the term paradigm shift. It’s the fundamental change in the basic concepts and experimental practices of a scientific discipline ².

Practitioners, researchers, and academics always discuss paradigm shift in architecture from different perspectives. Here, I will discuss the main points of every study and research in this article.

Paradigm shift in architecture: BIM & parametric design.

Building Information modelling

Dennis Shelden ³, believes that BIM (see figure 1) used in firms does not represent a change in software or required skills, but it needs a paradigm shift. He discusses in his report the consultancy firm’s concerns about the cost/benefit and risk impact of using BIM modeling software. They consider various major points to decide whether to use BIM software or not, including but not limited to:

• What people inside the firm will be affected by the shift to using this software? And will the available workforce make and accept this transformation?
• How does using BIM affect company liability, and will the company take extra work with additional compensation? Does the existing company policy support the use of building information modeling software?
• How does the software affect the firm’s ethos? Can the company design leadership drive the BIM products to the company values?

In the body of the discussion, he explores various ambitions. The unexplored aspects, which are the software effect and role in the pre-design phase activities. Such as programming, reporting, studying, and so on.

Several points arise here that contradict the report and its body of content. First,  engineering software companies invented BIM software for several reasons.  Firms use the conventional way of managing the firm’s architectural design process. Specifically, when the firm finalizes a design, they store it in an AutoCAD file. They build specifications mainly using Master format or the previous project document by altering some parts.  The spec writer, a quantity surveyor or architect, coordinates all the drawings and their internal material notes for the ongoing specification writing. This activity takes several days to finalize and check.

When the client approves the project design and its specification, the firm proceeds to the bill of quantities. The quantity surveyor starts a separate activity. that includes coordinating the drawings when calculating quantities. And to check the drawings specification in the prepared documents to fill in the BOQ. The activity also requires coordination with the construction team. This process consumes a lot of the firm’s valuable time and staff. Organizations and professional bodies’ concern for this issue led to the invention of building information modeling, which provides many advantages.

The software connects all the drawings and specifications and the quantity surveying process together. Therefore, the BIM user can generate specifications, quantities, and the latest modified drawings within the platform. In addition, BIM provides another advantage. The client and contractor get involved and have access to project files in the final tendering phase.

Second, BIM software does not represent a major transformation in practice. Firms use AutoCAD, MicroStation, Archicad, and other software’s similar in functions. Firms still preferred one of these software’s in professional practice, the AutoCAD software. Practically, the firms could connect latter to various locations in the world by the Xref facility. Surely, that to ease architectural drawings preparation for the complete design phase.  At the same time, firms use MicroStation for infrastructure work, and many firms in the world prefer it. Each software is created for a specific reason, either to enhance quality or efficiency.

As per our definition, using building information modeling does not represent a major or fundamental change in architecture work or thinking. I consider the software as just a tool to facilitate the architectural work. Moreover, increase its quality and efficiency, and reduce design and design management time. These have a great impact on the cost/benefit of firm operations. Finally, the software does not have any impact in any way or means on the architectural design process.

Paradigm shift in architecture: BIM & parametric design.

Parametric design

Victor Gane ⁴ a researcher who submitted his thesis to MIT to fulfill a master’s degree in architecture, researched a paradigm shift through introducing parametric design. In addition, he discusses the concept of parametric design not only in architecture but also in art and structural design to simplify the idea of parametric design as a paradigm shift.

He elaborates that the concept represents an old concept. Furthermore, ancient Egyptians used grids to guide their work of relief carving and sculpture to arrive at the desired proportion and proper composition of figures.

So he defines a parameter as any factor that defines a system and limits and determines its performance. These factors are either measurable, such as temperature, pressure, and distance. Likewise, these could be nonfigurative measures like emotion (happiness, sadness). Victor elaborates that there are two types of parameters: implicit and explicit.

Implicit parameters give the architect the freedom to create (as he says Innovative architecture) like the work of Mies Van De Rohe. Because Mies ignores several aspects of the building, he obtains optimum freedom to create architecture. Here he means that Mies through the open plan system ignores many functional relationships, in his building form its simplicity it’s to express the optimum beauty of bone and skin. It is simply for the architect to have an internal belief of what the function and form of the building should be by laying out his own rules for the design.

One can illustrate the idea in art as setting rules to express an idea like Paul Klee’s series of cells gradually decreasing in size but increasing in color intensity to express tension in some of his paintings.

Explicit parameters are the most used in practice for their physical existence like scale, proportion, form, and shape. For example, the old Greek column orders are the easiest and simplest to mention that set rules for designing temple columns in Greece and were the base for western architecture to develop. These rules were modified to produce the Tuscan, and composite column orders in roman architecture.

Victor goes beyond illustrating parameters to express parametric thinking through the work of Gerry in the architectural design process (see figure 3). Whereas the latter depends on physical modeling and developing these models gradually to test some parameters. That includes acoustic and cladding layers effect to give the final desired form of the building. Not only that he proceeds to illustrate the parametric design here in the structural engineer testing of the structural parameters to gain a certain physical form with its optimum stability and strength.

Through deep thinking and analyses of the introduction of parametric design as a paradigm shift, we could find many catches and contradictions.

Parametric design as paradigm shift catches and contradictions.

• In the example produced by victor about the explicit parameters (Greek column orders), the architect or the engineer is still in the conventional way of design considering mass and façade proportions. In many cases, in practice, architects do rely on their senses to design forms without relying on any proportion system, but the concept of all building forms should be in an acceptable aesthetic appearance.
• The columns example is still restricted to the structural stability and strength requirements; therefore, the columns have different sizes in various locations specifically in the base. The concept of stability and strength in structural design is still to date mandatory factor regardless software is used in design or by trial and error like before.
• The example of the Disney concert hall may be a good example of a paradigm shift in doing the design but many architects in practice start the design process by laying out a 3d design for the building regardless of the use of CATIA or other software’s or even hand sketching.
• The building subject of the discussion (Disney concert hall) is a very good project type to show the differences from other firms because the function does not require returning to mandatory human activity requirements. The concert hall in all cases is an open plan function and human movement is not restricted to any path. The architect mentioned in his example has already designed residential buildings which came out differently that follow the conventional function requirements of relationships that relate directly to human movement and comfort.
• Structural design is not restricted to certain layouts or arrangements. Any powerful structural engineer could design any structure concrete or steel or even timber in any form. But this will go beyond the budget for design and construction costs.   

Certainly, architects in the world are not restricting themselves to any functional layouts or forms when designing various types of projects. In fact, some firms have developed their functional layout of individual spaces like living rooms, bedrooms, and even bathrooms that provide maximum comfort for users as their role in introducing innovation in architecture.

BIM software is just a tool and an assistant to solve coordination and management problems. Parametric design is used in many ways not only using developed software’s as the idea is not new in professional practice.

References

1. Merriam-webster.com. (2022). Merriam-Webster Dictionary. [online] Available at: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paradigm%20shift#:~:text=Definition%20of%20paradigm%20shift&text=%3A%20an%20important%20change%20that%20happens.
2. Wikipedia Contributors (2019). Paradigm shift. [online] Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradigm_shift.
3. Sheldon, D. (2009). Information Modelling as a Paradigm Shift. [online] USA: Wily company. Available at: https://www.architecturaldesigns.com/.
4. Gane, V. (2004). Parametric Design – a Paradigm Shift?