Parametric urban design: An interactive sketching system for shaping neighborhoods

Abstract

In this paper we show the structure of an urban design parametric system. The system is dynamic and builds an interactive relation with the designer updating the layout and related data at each input change. The responsiveness of the system allows the designer to gain awareness on the qualitative consequences of each design move by comparing a design state with a set of urban indicators and density measures which are automatically calculated along with the geometrical updates.

A strategy toward applying parametric vocabulary to urban spaces and their impact on design flexibility in the urban environment

“…Users' direct interactions with their urban surroundings determine how people perceive an urban place and its capacity for change. When there is enough room for movement and walking, the likelihood of such engagement rises [3]. The comprehensive framework of urban identity is the cities with their buildings, streets, and public spaces in them, and everything that gives the environment its distinctive character from places that have a special mental image that is entrenched in people"s memory and makes them able to easily identify them [4].…”

“…This approach also offers tremendous potential for modifying designs and producing a number of different planning solutions in any given location [3], as illustrated in fig. 4.…”

Proceedings of the 37th International Conference on Education and Research in Computer Aided Architectural Design in Europe (eCAADe) & 23rd Conference of the Iberoamerican Society Digital Graphics [Volume 1]

“…Most notably, shape grammars have formed the basis for such work by Beirão, Duarte, Gil, Stouffs and others in the context of the City Induction project. This body of work on parametric urban design encompasses three areas of investigation, formulation, generation and evaluation, and focuses in part on flexibility and variation (Beirão & Duarte 2005), GIS and spatial analysis (Gil & Duarte 2008, Beirão et al 2008, urban patterns and grammars (Beirão et al 2009(Beirão et al , 2010, and tool development (Beirão et al 2011(Beirão et al , 2012. Shape grammars are also the basis for Paio & Turkienicz' (2010 analyses of historical Portuguese cities.…”

Parametric Urban Design from Concept to Practice

“…Most notably, shape grammars have formed the basis for such work by Beirão, Duarte, Gil, Stouffs and others in the context of the City Induction project. This body of work on parametric urban design encompasses three areas of investigation, formulation, generation and evaluation, and focuses in part on flexibility and variation (Beirão & Duarte 2005), GIS and spatial analysis (Gil & Duarte 2008, Beirão et al 2008, urban patterns and grammars (Beirão et al 2009(Beirão et al , 2010, and tool development (Beirão et al 2011(Beirão et al , 2012. Shape grammars are also the basis for Paio & Turkienicz' (2010, 2011) analyses of historical Portuguese cities.…”