Paradigm shift in architecture: BIM & parametric design

The articles- Paradigm shift in architecture

Paradigm shift definition

Paradigm shift – Building information modeling BIM

Paradigm shift – Parametric design

References

The paradigm shift in architecture is a series of articles that examine the effect of the paradigm on the way architects work, and its effect on firm business, and 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 have discussed paradigm shift in architecture from different perspectives. Here I will discuss the main points of every study and research in this article.

Paradigm shift- Building information modeling BIM

Dennis Shelden ³, believes that BIM (see figure 1) used in firms is not a change in software or required skills, but it needs a paradigm shift. He discusses in his small 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 in using this software and will the available workforce make and accept this transformation?
• How does using BIM 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 company design leadership drive the BIM products to the company values?

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

Several points rise here that contradicts the report and its body of content. First, BIM software was invented for several reasons. In a conventional way of managing the firm architectural design process when the design is finalized, it is stored in an AutoCAD file. The specification is built mainly using Master format or previous project document and to alter some parts of it. The spec writer whether he is a quantity surveyor or architect coordinates all the drawings and their internal material notes one by one to 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 in calculating quantities and to check its specification in the prepared documents to fill in the BOQ which requires also coordination with the construction team. This process consumes a lot of the firm valuable time and staff. Organizations and professional bodies’ concern for this issue led to the invention of building information modeling that has many advantages.

The software connects all the drawings and specifications and the quantity surveying process altogether. The BIM user is capable of generating specifications, quantities, and the latest modified drawings within the platform. Another advantage is that the client and the contractor could be involved and have access to the project’s files when the tendering phase is due.

Second, BIM software is not a major transformation in practice. Firms use AutoCAD, MicroStation, ArchiCAD, and other software’s that are similar in functions. One of these software’s is still preferred in professional practice AutoCAD software. The latter could be connected to various locations in the world by the Xref facility in preparing the architectural drawings for the complete design phase. MicroStation is used for infrastructure work, and it’s preferred by many firms in the world. Each software is created for a specific reason either to enhance quality or efficiency.

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

Parametric design

Victor Gane ⁴ a researcher who submitted his thesis to MIT for fulfilling a master’s degree in architecture researched a paradigm shift where parametric design was introduced. He discusses the concept of parametric design not only in architecture but in art and structure design to simplify the idea of parametric design as a paradigm shift.

The concept as he elaborates is that it is an old concept. 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, a parameter is any factor that defines a system and limits and determines its performance. These factors either are measurable like temperature, pressure, and distance. Or 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.

• 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.   

Architects in the world are not restricting themselves to any functional layouts or forms when designing various types of projects. 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?