Interactive geometric design of architectural freeform hulls with embedded fabrication information

Abstract

As a possible solution to the quandary of seeing two natural parts of the architectural process-free design and successive rationalization-in the hands of two separate professions when it comes to freeform architecture, this paper proposes the incorporation of respective geometric information into architectural design tools. An exemplary prototypical software is introduced, empowering an architect to interactively design and edit architectural freeform shapes represented as regular quad meshes with planar faces. The sustained planarity of faces is an integral part of the design process, thus considerably decreasing the need for elaborate post processing towards feasibility.