Mathematics of Space

MATHEMATICS OF SPACE
GUEST–EDITED BY GEORGE L LEGENDRE

Over the last 15 years, contemporary architecture has been profoundly altered by the advent of computation and information technology. The ubiquitous dissemination of design software and numerical fabrication machinery have re–actualised the traditional role of geometry in architecture and opened it up to the wondrous possibilities afforded by topology, non–Euclidean geometry, parametric surface design and other areas of mathematics. From the technical aspects of scripting code to the biomorphic paradigms of form and its associations with genetics, the impact of computation on the discipline has been widely documented. What is less clear, and has largely escaped scrutiny so far, is the role mathematics itself has played in this revolution. Hence the time has come for designers, computational designers and engineers to tease the mathematics out of their respective works, not to merely show how it is done – a hard and futile challenge for the audience – but to reflect on the roots of the process and the way it shapes practices and intellectual agendas, while helping define new directions. This issue of AD asks: Where do we stand today? What is up with mathematics in design? Who is doing the most interesting work? The impact of mathematics on contemporary creativity is effectively explored on its own terms.

Contributors include: Mark Burry, Bernard Cache, Philippe Morel, Antoine Picon, Dennis Shelden, Fabien Scheurer and Michael Weinstock.

5. Editorial
Helen Castle

6. About the Guest–Editor
George L. Legendre

8. Introduction
The Mathematics of Sensible Things
George L. Legendre

18. Mathematics and the Sensible World: Representing, Constructing, Simulating
Amy Dahan–Dalmedico

28. Architecture and Mathematics: Between Hubris and Restraint
Antoine Picon

36. Continuity and Rupture
Dennis R. Shelden and Andrew J. Witt

44. IJP Explained: Parametric Mathematics in Practice
George L. Legendre

54. A Sense of Purpose Mathematic s and Performance in Environmental Design
Martha Tsigkari, Adam Davis and Francis Aish, Specialist Modeling Group, Foster + Partners

58. Long Form and Algorithm
Daniel Bosia

66. Intuitive Material Distributions
Panagiotis Michalatos and Sawako Kaijima, Adams Kara Taylor (AKT)

70. Lost in Parameter Space?
Fabian Scheuren and Hanne Straling

80. Cetemetry Working Beyond Effect
Mark Burry

90. Desagues and Leibniz: In the Black Box A Mathematical Model of the Leibnizian Monad
Bernard Cache

100. Pasta by Design
George L. Legendre

102. The Metabolism of the City: The Mathematics of Networks and Urban Surfaces
Michael Weinstock

108. Rising Masses, Singapore
Max Kahlen

112. The Hinging Tower
Ana María Flor Ortiz and Rodia Valladares Sánchez, Rising Masses Studio, Harvard Graduate School of Design

118. Implicit Fields MOCAPE Shenzhen PRC
George L. Legendre and Max Kahlen

122. Sense and Sensibilia
Philippe Morel

130. Counterpoint
Less Answers More Questions
Will McLean  

George L Legendre is a London–based architect and educator. He graduated from Harvard Graduate School of Design. He is the founder of the London–based office IJP Corporation. In 2007, the influential UK weekly Building Design elected the 3–year–old office as one of the top 5 practices in Britain led by principals under the age of 40.