Percepts & parameters, a prospective approach of architectural materiality

Abstract

From perceived realities weaving fictions, or figments feeding computer-generated geometries, a projective attitude in architecture is based on a virtualizing stance. Whether analogically imagined, whether computer simulated, these projections come true from successive translations from one language to another. Sketches, models, photomontages are classical techniques in the process of conception which computer aided designs intrinsically modified. Raising new paradigms in terms of information treatment, this research aims to explore the potentialities of such hybridizations through the measuring of subtle worlds. In the 1960s object-oriented programming (OOP) introduced the fundamental concept of encapsulation. A nodular black box, encapsulation is a syntactical concealed implementation through objects interacting together as building blocks. Broadening this concept to any sort of significant support, this experiment is a work-in-progress which aims to demonstrate how the shift from creative semantics to formalized syntaxes results in singularities. Identifying invariants or puncturing data sets from unexpected analogic territories such as lexical fields, fictions or matter convulsions, a group of students of Master at the Architecture School of Lyon, France, was observed to collect material for this investigation. For all intents and purposes, the goal is to extract advanced operational possibilities starting by implementing percepts as analogic fluxes into parametric geometries. In this pedagogical context, the investigations of the MAP-Aria-laboratory for architectural modeling-leads and observes the potentialities of such a prospective approach using digital and parametric OOP-like tools as crucial keys of control. We expect these tools to deliver singular ranges of aesthetics possibilities targeting unforeseen and innovative architectural materialities.