Parametricism

Parametricism

Phaeno Science Center (Zaha Hadid Architects, 2000-2005)
Years active	1998–present
Influences	Neo-futurism

Parametricismis a style within contemporaryavant-garde architecture,promoted as a successor toModernandPostmodern architecture.The term was coined in 2008 byPatrik Schumacher,an architectural partner ofZaha Hadid(1950–2016).Parametricism has its origin inparametric design,which is based on the constraints in aparametric equation.Parametricism relies on programs, algorithms, and computers to manipulate equations for design purposes.

Aspects of parametricism have been used inurban design,architectural design,interior designandfurniture design.Proponents of parametricism have declared that one of the defining features is that "Parametricism implies that all elements of the design become parametrically variable and mutually adaptive."According to Schumacher, parametricism is anautopoiesis,or a self-referential system, in which all the elements are interlinked and an outside influence that changes one alters all the others. "

Parametricism rejects both homogenization (serial repetition) and pure difference (agglomeration of unrelated elements) in favor ofdifferentiationandcorrelationas key compositional values. The aim is to build up more spatialcomplexitywhile maintaining legibility, i.e. to intensify relations between spaces (or elements of a composition) and to adapt to contexts in ways that establish legible connections. This allows architecture to translate the complexity of contemporary life processes in the globalPost-Fordistnetwork society.

History

Parametricism emerged as a theory-driven avant-garde design movement in the early 1990s, with its earliest practitioners –Greg Lynn,Jesse Reiser,Lars Spuybroek,Kas Oosterhuisamong many others – harnessing and adapting the then newdigital animationsoftware and other advanced computational processes that had been introduced within architecture much earlier by pioneers likeJohn FrazerandPaul Coates,but that only spread to make an impact withinavant-gardearchitecture in the last 10–15 years.Schumacher has said that he believes the work ofFrei Otto(1925 - 2015) is a precursor of Parametricism, as Frei "used physical processes as simulations and design engines to 'find' form rather than to draw conventional or invented forms. The inherent lawfulness of the engaged physical processes produced a combination of complexity, rigor andelegancethat was otherwise unattainable. The power and beauty of this approach was striking. "

Early instances of proto-Parametricism, as manifest through the prolific generation of innovative designs and radical experiments within the transitional styles ofDeconstructivismandFolding- including the work of the discipline's discourse leaders such asPeter Eisenman,Frank Gehry,Zaha Hadid,Rem Koolhaas,Wolf D. Prix,Bernard Tschumi,andDaniel Libeskind- were later radicalized by younger practitioners who matured in the context of these early practices, and stabilized the discipline around prolonged research programmes thriving on emerging digital technologies, and culminating in the emergence of Parametricism.

Parametricism co-evolved with the global shift from the Modernist era ofFordism(mass production) to thePost-Fordistera (mass customization) of contemporary global society, and continues to evolve in an increasingly complex and fluid network of global societal communication systems. Parametricism offers advantages over styles that cannot (because they were never intended to) resonate and respond to the complexity and rapid fluidity of today's society. Despite the persistence of styles such asmodernism,minimalism,postmodernism,historicismanddeconstructivism,a hard core of continuous innovation in research and building has stabilized around the new heuristics of Parametricism, and is continuing to proliferate the new style in academic and practice domains worldwide.

Heuristics

Parametricism offers functional and formalheuristicsbased on set of general abstract rules distilled from a very complex ecosystem of sustained avant-garde design research that spans over twenty five years of continuous innovative communication. Parametricism achieves elegance in both senses of the word – it is unified (compact) and beautiful (vital).

Functional heuristics

The functional heuristics of Parametricism include both Negative Principles and Positive Principles that have evolved since the mid-1990s across many projects worldwide, and that together constitute unifying heuristics. The Negative Principles include the avoidance of functional stereotypes (i.e. prescriptive program typologies), and the avoidance of segregative functional zoning (i.e. impermeable separation spaces according to single function allocation). The Positive Principles include the networking of parametric activity/event scenarios, and the communication of all spaces, activities and events.

Formal heuristics

Similar to the Functional heuristics, there are unified Formal heuristics distinguishing Parametricism from other styles of architecture. The Negative Principles include the avoidance of rigid forms that lack malleability; the avoidance of simple repetition that lacks variety; and the avoidance of collage of isolated and unrelated elements that result in a lack of order. The Positive Principles include the intelligent information-rich deformation of soft forms; differentiation of all systems through gradients, thresholds and singularities; and interdependent correlation of all systems.

Projects

Munich Olympic Stadium (Frei Otto and Günther Behnisch, 1972)

Proto parametricism (1952–1992)

Throughout his career,Frei Ottoconducted research focused on constructing light-weight, tensile structures through form-finding physical models that performed analog "material computation". This work is regarded as the precursor to Parametricism. His design for theOlympic Stadium, Munich,built for the1972 Summer Olympics,is a celebrated example of highly innovative lightweight tent construction, designed in collaboration with the architectGünther Behnisch.

The Water Pavilion (Lars Spuybroek, 1993–1997)

Early parametricism (1993–2008)

Yokohama International Passenger Terminal (Foreign Office Architects, 1995–2002)

Beyond the discursive paradigm shifts that led to the emergence of Parametricism, the ambition of the early built projects (1993-2008) was focused on adapting and innovating manufacturing and construction processes, upgrading the discipline's capacity to translate complex digital designs into constructible material assemblies.

One of the earliest built examples, the Water Pavilion (1993-1997), byLars Spuybroek(NOX) andKas Oosterhuis(ONL), was the first building to combine continuous geometry with the utilisation of sensors throughout the interior, creating an interactive environment (also known asresponsive architecture) where light and sound could be transformed by visitors.Spuybroek's building was praised by the renowned architecture criticCharles Jencksas "yet to be surpassed" in his book The New Paradigm of Architecture.

Among the most critically acclaimed and stylistically defining of the earliest projects is the Yokohama International Passenger Terminal (1995-2002), designed byForeign Office Architects(FOA), headed byFarshid MoussaviandAlejandro Zaera-Polo.The project was praised for its "inventive architectural methodology and socially conscious thinking". The project broke new ground, both formally and socially, enriching a prominent shared urban space.

Another notable early example is a project designed byGreg Lynn(FORM), Douglas Garofalo (Garofalo Architects) and Michael McInturf (Michael McInturf Architects) using vector-based animation software (1999). This addition of a 1500-seat sanctuary on the roof of a renovated laundry factory was part of its conversion to the New York Presbyterian Church in Queens, New York (1999).

Among the most celebrated and stylistically defining of the early built projects is thePhaeno Science CenterinWolfsburg,Germany, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects starting in 2000. The building opened to the public in 2005, and has been described as a "hypnotic work of architecture - the kind of building that utterly transforms our vision of the future." It won a 2006 RIBA European Award,and the 2006Institution of Structural EngineersAward for Arts, Leisure and Entertainment Structures.

A later example is the 22-story concrete shell tower 0–14 in Dubai, UAE (2007), designed byReiser + Umemoto.The structural shell creates a unique lace-like facade is modulated for variable light and views. The one meter space between the shell and main enclosure creates natural air movement that cools the glass facade. This is a very early example of the environmental design benefits that are achieved by applying the adaptive heuristics of Parametricism. The building's load-bearing concrete shell eliminates the need for internal columns and load-bearing walls.

Morphosis Architects'Giant Interactive GroupCorporate Headquarters, designed in 2005-2006 and constructed in 2009–2010, is described by the architects as "emerging organically from complexity".The campus is designed as a village that accommodates a diverse array of functions within a continuous folding plane that undulates in and out of the ground plane, creating a new artificial landscape.

Dalian International Conference Center (Coop Himmelb(l)au, 2008–2012)

Parametricism 1.0 (2009–2014)

The most complex and important built projects designed in the style of Parametricism were completed after the global financial crisis of 2008.

Coop Himmelb(l)au's Dalian International Conference Center inDalian,Liaoning,China, was completed in 2012. It has become "an instantly recognizable landmark" and "centerpiece of emerging Central Business District in the city of Dalian, bringing a parametric design to the edge of the Bay of Korea.The dynamically fluid, modulated vector field articulated on the exterior enclosure correlates the level and direction of natural light penetration to the organizational spatial distribution of the interior spaces.

TheLouis Vuitton Foundationwas designed byGehry Partnersbetween 2006-2014. It is considered "a catalyst internationally for innovation in digital design and construction, setting a new standard for the use of advanced digital and fabrication technologies". The web-hosted, parametric, intelligently adaptable three-dimensional digital model enabled a team of over 400 people to contribute to it.

The largest of these projects isDongdaemun Design Plaza,designed byZaha Hadid ArchitectswithSamoo,a majorurban developmentlandmark inSeoul,South Korea.The project resulted in the 2010 designation of Seoul as theWorld Design Capital.The most innovative state-of-the-art fabrication techniques were used in shaping the "45,000 aluminium panels of varying sizes and curvatures". The back-lit facade, "described by the designers as 'a field of pixilation and perforation patterns'...[transforms] from a solid entity by day into an animated light show by night".

Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Terminal 2 in Mumbai, India, designed bySkidmore Owings and Merrilland completed in 2014, serves over 40 million people yearly.The terminal is designed to accommodate traditional Indian departure and arrival ceremonies, and the complex veriagated patterns incorporated in the architecture at all scales are reminiscent of native regional patterns.

Parametricism 2.0 (2015–present )

In a 2014 debate betweenMichael HansmeyerandPatrik SchumacherofZHA,part of "The New How" lecture series hosted byAlejandro Zaera-PoloatPrinceton UniversitySchool of Architecture, Schumacher introduced "Parametricism 2.0", the "upgraded" and now fully matured "Parametricism with parameters that matter".Schumacher emphasized that after two decades of cumulative build-up of knowledge and experience, Parametricism is now fully prepared to "go mainstream", fulfilling the full gamut of the societal tasks of architecture in the "organization and articulation" of the built environment, including tectonic articulation and environmental adaptation.

Examples of projects that fit the Parametricism 2.0 paradigm and are currently in the design phase include Google's California Headquarters byBjarke Ingels(BIG) andThomas Heatherwick(Heatherwick Studio),Beijing New Airport Terminal Building in Beijing China byZaha Hadid Architects- which will be the world's biggest airport terminal,Harbin Cultural Center in Harbin, Heilong gian g, China byMAD Studio,and Earthly Pond Service Center International Horticultural Exposition by HHD-FUN.

Outlook

Parametricism is a globalarchitectural stylethat has converged rather than being invented. InPatrik Schumacher's view, parametricism is architecture's answer to our computationally powered network society, representing a paradigmatic shift in architecture after the collapse of the hegemonic style ofModernism,in response to the global shift from the Modernist era ofFordism(mass production) to thePost-Fordistera (mass customization). The style continues to evolve in an increasingly complex and fluid network of global communications. Parametricism evolves with the advancing computational design and fabrication technologies. e.g. multi-agent computational systems, genetic algorithms and robotic fabrication. However, it is imperative to state that the emergence of a new style does not occur solely as the outcome of innovation in the technological arena. "The intelligence that is able to invent and think through such correlations is prior to its computational implementation. And, to a limited extent there can be" computation without computers ".

In 2020 the online platform Parametricism was launched, featuring writings and works of designers and architects affiliated with Parametricism. Curated by an international team consisting of Daniela Ghertovici (ArchAgenda,Chicago),Patrik Schumacher(Zaha Hadid Architects,London) and Lars van Vianen (Scape Agency,Amsterdam), the platform aims to discuss the current discourse and future direction of the style.

See also

• Parametric design
• Generative design
• Design computing
• IJP The Book of Surfaces

References

• Schumacher, Patrik. "11. Parametricism - The Parametric Paradigm and the Formation of a New Style." In The Autopoiesis of Architecture, Volume II A New Agenda for Architecture. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
• Lynn, Greg. "CCA - Archeology of the Digital." CCA RSS. Accessed April 13, 2015.
• Parametricism - A New Global Style for Architecture and Urban Design. Patrik Schumacher, London 2008. Published in: AD Architectural Design - Digital Cities, Vol 79, No 4, July/August 2009, guest editor: Neil Leach, general editor: Helen Castle.
• Lynn, Greg (1999)."Animate Form"(PDF).andrew.cmu.edu.Retrieved2015-04-13.

External links

• Parametricism
• "The Politics of Parametricism".Archived fromthe originalon 2022-01-26.Retrieved2024-03-28.
• Parametricism
• The future is parametric
• Parametricism Reading List