Parallel systems and architectural form

This paper describes the work of students in Unit 6 of the Diploma school at the UEL during 1995-99. The unit in
association with the MSc has been investigating parallel systems with the aid of computers in order to explore the idea
of emergent form as a way of generating designs. The first part of the paper intention is to clarify motivation and the
conceptional stance of the unit. Here we will define the terminology important for the ideas. We will also sketch out to
pedagogical as well as architectural aims of the course.
The main body of this paper will discuss five student projects representing a variety of parallel systems which are used
by the students to tackle set design tasks. The projects covered are:
• Sean Macmillan Generating housing as a vernacular infill algorithm taking account and micro environmental
concerns
• Michel Mesut redensification using Japanese models of space and urbanism
• Riko Sibbe Emergent patterns of use from multi mapped urban fields and hill climbing agents
• Claudia Schmid Agents with vision deforming & folding surfaces to provide programmatic enclosures
• Pablo Miranda Parallel models of spatial organisation – accessibility indices and isovists

Citation:
Coates, P. and Thum, R. (2000) 'Parallel systems and architectural form' Proceedings of the Greenwich 2000 Symposium: Digital Creativity International Conference, January 2000, London: University of Greenwich..