Architecture language words.
The classical forms of Architecture described in ’De Architectura’ are based on more ancient forms that had fixed the relationship and use of each form of architectural order to produce a certain result or to be used in a certain situation.
The architecture language of our own time has deliberately severed its link to the original fixed orders in order to achieve a response to current needs, values, qualities, beauty, culture, and society.
Consequently only fragments of the original language of Architecture remain.
These fragments are used to repair historic fabrics.
The new language words are listed in this essay.
They are currently evolving into a new language of orders that is aligned with the sciences, technologies, materials, needs and possibilities of our age.
This article may therefore be regarded as an ongoing dictionary of Architectural terms as a basis to record and direct those changes.
Accretive fractals
Add smaller and smaller pieces to build up a finer scale of structure.
Adaptive design
Design for all users. Capable of being fully used and sensed and of sensing its environment and responding.
A step-by-step problem-solving procedure, especially an established, recursive computational procedure for solving a problem in a finite number of steps. An equation.
Aesthetic
Empiricism - Sensory input, Rationalism - rationalization, Empiricism - sensory output = aisthanomai, meaning "I perceive, feel, sense" = aisthetikos, meaning "esthetic, sensitive, sentient" = Aesthetic
The language of the architecture. Its characteristics of Form. Its description.
In sequence Context = Need, Analysis of Persistent Patterns = Environment, Analysis = Function identification, Analysis of Functions, Aesthetics = Characteristics, Form = Optimized solution to Need, Enhancement of the characteristics of the Form = Values = Quality = Beauty = Culture = Society.
Allometry
The growth of body parts at different rates, resulting in a change of body proportions.
Amplification
An addition to or expansion of a statement or idea.
Analysis
The observation of phenomena, the formulation of a hypothesis concerning the phenomena, experimentation to demonstrate the truth or falseness of the hypothesis, and a conclusion that validates or modifies the hypothesis.
Antonovsky A. 1979.
Angle.
The part of a complete circle between two lines with the same original coordinates in space.
Architecture
An infinite, evolutionary, process trying to organize chaos to enhance existence by providing for needs.
Historically a collection of styles that have organized chaos to enhance existence by providing for needs.
Currently it is a dialogue trying to optimize Form out of Need.
In the future it will be a response to the needs and knowledge of its time.
It language is aesthetics, a dialogue in context.
Art 2012
Sensory input then Rationalism then Sensory output for non functional visual communication purposes.
Artificial intelligence
The science and engineering of making intelligent machines.
John McCarthy 1955
Artificial Life
Virtual life created by algorithm and not by natural process.
Autopoiesis
Automatic or self creation using algorithms.
Auxetic Grid
Growth resulting from increase in cell size not division.
Axiomatic
Self-evident or unquestionable.
Beauty
A combination of qualities, such as shape, colour, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sense of sight.
'Fitness (proportions in relation to each other to) (to serve the function), Infinite variety to retain attention and so pleasure, Uniformity, Regularity, Symmetry, Simplicity with variety, Distinctness of each part of the form, Intricacy, Quantity of form produces astonishment, awe and if continued horror, Lines are not ornamental, pleasing forms by a variety of line and varying the situation with each other, beauty of form increases with variation, division of form into odd numbers, curves are ornamental, composite curves are the most ornamental, Proportions, light and shade, avoid regularity in composition and increase simplicity, colouring, embedded movement in form, underlying structure of the form evident through the skin'
From Hogarth
In sequence
Sensory Input = Seeing, Hearing, Smelling, Touching, Tasting, Speaking
Then
Rational Ideas = Analysis = Identification of Wants and Desires = Identification of Functions = Identification of suitable Form = Concept
Then
Sensory Output = Communication of Form = Speaking and Touching
Then
Opinion = Values = Quality = Beauty = Cultural = Society
Beauty
Enhancement of the characteristics of Form.
Bending
Morphogenic, elastic and plastic, structure on small scales, adapting volume, surface area and perimeter.
Bio-filic responses
The love of nature and all living things
Bio-mass
All of the active forms in a given volume or area of space time.
Bio-mimicry
Design from experience to produce stocastic concepts.
The utilization of evolutionary algorithms.
The utilization of variation, environment, random, step by step, pre-determined Heuridstic, procedures through prototypical examination.
Bio-morph
A surrealist form derived from natural, parent forms.
Desmond Morris – Biomorph Paintings.
Biomorph recursive, algorithms for the representation of evolution
Richard Dawkins.
Biomorph recursive, algorithms for the representation of evolution as a process of optimization of form.
Bio-morphism
Design based on natural patterns.
Borderlines
Verging on a given quality or condition
Chaos theory
The analysis of complete disorder and confusion.
James Gleick
Cognitive science
The study of the mind and its processes philosophy, psychology, artificial intelligence, neuroscience, anthropology , linguistics.
Coherence
Self similarity of environment
Column
Part of the form envelope extruded vertically to support a volume.
Complexity
Multiple, overlapping patterns of coordinates, lines, groups and sets.
Comprehensibility
The extent to which events are perceived as making logical sense, that they are ordered, consistent, and structured.
Connectionism
The analysis of connections and their interactions.
Constraints
Things that narrow down choices.
Context
Inception context.
The social and environmental moment of the creation of the form or any element within the form under consideration.
Duration context
The social and environmental history or predicted events of the form or any element within the form under consideration.
Recycled context
The social and environmental predicted events of the form or any element within the form under consideration.
In sequence Context = Need, Analysis of Persistent Patterns = Environment, Analysis = Function identification, Analysis of Functions, Aesthetics = Characteristics, Form = Optimized solution to Need, Enhancement of the characteristics of the Form = values = quality = Beauty = Culture = Society
.
Coordinates
The location of something in space time for a given duration.
One coordinate allows for possibility.
Two coordinates allows for direction.
Three coordinates creates probability.
Four coordinates creates actuality.
Five coordinates re-creates possibility.
Cyberspace
A virtual infinite electronic environment.
Datascape
A visual representation of all the measurable forces that may influence, steer or regulate the work of the architect.
Deconstruction
A philosophical movement and theory of literary criticism that questions traditional assumptions about certainty, identity, and truth; asserts that words can only refer to other words; and attempts to demonstrate how statements about any text subvert their own meanings.
Dennis Lindley, "The Philosophy of Statistics", The Statistician (2000)
Derrida, Of Grammatology, pp158 and 163
‘Must always aim at a certain relationship, unperceived by the writer, between what he commands and what he does not command of the pattern of language that he uses…. [It] attempts to make the not-seen accessible to sight.’
'Destruktion' (destruction ) is the term used in Heidegger's Being and Time
Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1980
'Abbau' dismantling, mining, decomposition, separation, breakdown, quarrying, cutback, analysis can be find Heidegger's Basic Problems of Phenomenology
Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1982
'Verbindung' Connection, compound, link, conjunction, combination, communication, association, contact, coupling, junction, liason, interconnection, relationship, relation, touch, line, union, tie, connexion, splice, affiliation, juncture, link-up, incorporation, society is discussed mainly in "The Principle of Identity," in Identity and Difference (New York: Harper and Row, 1969, pp. 23-41)
Uberwindung (Overcoming), see Heidegger's Nietzsche.
'Function follows deformation' it is 'the hidden potential of modernism' ' an architecture finally which distorts itself in order to reveal itself anew'
Philip Johnson Mark Wigley Associate Curator of the Deconstructivist Exhibition. New York 1988
Design
To conceive or fashion from sensory input a rationalized form and to communicate it by sensory output.
Design Pattern
A mathematical algorithm that influences form.
Dialectic
The nature of logical argument.
Douglas Richard Hofstadter
Door
A complete penetrative, articulation of the form envelope.
Ecosophy
A philosophy of ecological harmony or equilibrium
A. Drengson and Y. Inoue, 1995 and Pierre-Félix Guattari
Emergence
A set of parts put together that start to make higher level entities with properties that are completely unlike the properties of the original parts.
Emergent
Coming into view, existence, or notice
Ectosymbiotic
Existing on a living system in order to exist.
Endosymbiotic
Existing in a living system in order to exist.
Energy and Resource Depletion
This is the great need of the 20th and 21st century.
The Sun is halfway through its life.
The Earth is halfway through its life.
The resources of the Earth are half depleted.
Life forms and resources are becoming extinct.
The human population is increasing.
The environment is changing faster than we can respond to it with our knowledge and technology.
We have reached the point where we know that we will have continually reduced resources to survive as a species from this point in our evolution.
This changes all our needs, removes wants and desires and focuses humanity on survival.
Engaging
Bring into.
Entities
A thing with distinct and independent existence.
Entity
The existence of something considered apart from its properties.
Entropy
Is the thermodynamic property toward equilibrium ivolving average, homogenization, dissipation.
Euclidian Transformations
A rotation of a set of lines and angles by a matrix or algorithm.
Evolution
Biological change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift.
Evolutionary algorithm
A subset of evolutionary computation, a generic population-based metaheuristic optimization algorithm.
An Evolutionary algorithm uses mechanisms inspired by biological evolution such as reproduction, mutation, recombination, and selection.
Evolutionary computation
The use of iterative progress to solve multi dimensional problems.
Floors.
Volumes that serve to articulate the space.
Folding
A Morphogenic, elastic and plastic form.
Form
The Sensed, Identified, Analysed, Optimized essence of anything.
In sequence
Context = Need, Analysis of Persistent Patterns = Environment, Analysis = Function identification, Analysis of Functions, Aesthetics = Characteristics, Form = Optimized solution to Need, Enhancement of the characteristics of the Form = Values = Quality = Beauty = Culture = Society.
Form ever follows function.
Louis Sullivan
Form is not the aim of our work, only the result.
Ludwig Mies van De Rohe.
Form follows want and desire to feed consumerism through mass production to feed engineered consent for profit.
Form must now follow need through mass customization through individual needs for uniqueness.
Form Evolution Tree
Coordinate (x,y,z) to line
Line to triangle
Triangle to scalene triangle as a randomizer of line and coordinate.
Triangle to isosceles triangle as a randomizer of line and coordinate.
Isosceles triangle to point on a circle (Thales Theorem)
Triangle to curved equilateral triangle to sphere.
Triangle to fractal equilateral triangle to infinity.
Triangle to equilateral triangle to tetrahedron, octahedron, hexagon and icosahedron.
Triangle to right angle triangle to circle to sphere
Triangle to right angle triangle to Thales Theorem to circle to nonagon, septagon, decagon, star polygon, decagram, petrie polygons and pentagon.
Triangle to square to rhombus to kite to quadrilateral to trapezoid to isoceles trapezoid
Triangle to square to rectangle to parallelogram to quadrilateral
Triangle to right angle triangle to square to Pythagorean theorem to cuboid.
To right angle triangle to spiral to Fibonacci series to ratio to proportion to scale to dimension.
To right angle triangle to spiral to minimal surfaces to sphere to hemisphere to catenoid to torus to ring torus to spindle torus to horn torus to geodesic to helicoid to saddle to fractal form.
See also ‘A Shape Hierarchy for 3D Modelling from Video’ which gives the following relationships
A. van den Hengel, A. Dick, T. Thorm¨ahlen, B. Ward P. H. S. Torr
This paper proposes a relationship
Point or coordinate , sphere , concentric spheres,
Point or coordinate , sphere , cylinder, cylinder cone, surface of revolution.
Point or coordinate , sphere , regular polyhedra, prism, cuboid, general polyhedra.
Point or coordinate , sphere , cylinder, cylinder cone, prism, cuboid, general polyhedra.
Point or coordinate , sphere , cylinder, cylinder cone, cuboid, general polyhedra.
Point or coordinate , plane, orientated plane.
Point or coordinate , plane, circle, square, triangle, rectangle, general shapes.
General polyhedra tree relationship
Henagon, digon, triangle, quadrilateral, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, octagon, nonagon, decagon.
General polyhedra point, coordinate, line ,side tree relationship
1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10
General polyhedra degrees tree relationship
0, 180, 360, 540, 720, 899-997, 1080, 1260, 1440
General polyhedra ratio to following polyhedra ratio tree relationship
0: 0, 1:2, 1:1.5, 1:1.333, 1:1.249, 1:1.2, 1:1.1666, 1:1.428
Form design in the sequence of compactness, area, perimeter, volume, surface area.
This allows for form design in the sequence of need, available site area, proposed or existing plan, section and envelope.
Form (2d) in order of compactness of shape allowing for equal areas for each shape.
Compactness of shape in this definition is independent of dimension. It is a characteristic of the complete shape itself and the ratio of each shapes perimeter to area ratio.
square, circle, pentagon, polygons, equilateral triangle, rhombus, trapezoid, rectangle, kite, right angle triangle.
Form (2d) in amount of space (site) used by each shape to enclose the same area.
isoceles triangle, right angle triangle, equilateral triangle, parallelogram, circle, square.
Form (2d) in order of magnitude of area for the same perimeter.
circle, square, parallelogram, right angle triangle, isoceles triangle, equilateral triangle.
Form (2d) in order of magnitude of perimeter for the same area.
equilateral triangle, isoceles triangle, right angle triangle, parallelogram, square, circle.
Form (3d) in magnitude of volume for the same plan area for each shape.
cylinder, cube, prism, cube variants, sphere, truncated cube, tetrahedron.
Form (3d) in order of magnitude of surface area for the same plan area for each shape.
cylinder, prism, cube, cube variants, truncated cube, tetrahedron, sphere.
Form (3d) in order of minimum surface area for equal volumes for each shape.
Sphere, cylinder, cube, cone, pyramid.
Form (3d) in order of magnitude of surface area to volume for each shape.
plane = largest surface area to volume, tetrahedron, cube, octahedron, dodecahedron, icosahedron, sphere
Form (3d) in order of magnitude of volume for each shape.
sphere, icosahedron, dodecahedron, octahedron, cube, tetrahedron, plane = smallest volume to surface area
Form (3d) in order of compactness of shape allowing for equal areas, volumes and surface areas for each shape.
Compactness of shape in this definition is independent of dimension. It is a characteristic of the complete shape itself and each shapes perimeter, area, surface area and volume ratios.
2d Minimum perimeter = circle
2d Minimum area = equilateral triangle
3d Minimum volume = tetrahedron
3d Minimum surface area = sphere
On plan = a square, circle, equilateral triangle = curved equilateral triangle = spherical tetrahedron = A Reuleaux triangle
On volume and surface area = spherical tetrahedron = spherical equilateral triangle = spherical tetrahedron = A Reuleaux triangle
It is the earth form of geometry.
But
It cannot be altered from these values or it becomes less efficient .
But
Form related to triangles also has the following properties.
Maximum curvature
Riemannian triangles with the sum of all angles greater than 180 deg exist on the surface of a sphere and so achieve a minimum surface for the sphere.
In this way maximum curvature can also mean shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere as with geodesic geometry.
This is expensive as a form in terms of plant, people and materials.
Mean, Zero or Euclidian curvature
Triangles with the sum of all angles equal 180 deg existing on the plane within a sphere across its diameter forming the greatest extent of the sphere according to Thales theorem with right angle triangles.
This is sustainable as a form in terms of plant, people and materials.
This is the most common type of triangle forms humans have used.
Minimum curvature
Hyperbolic triangles with the sum of all angles less than 180 deg exist within the volume of the sphere and so achieve a minimum surface forming the points creating the volume of the sphere.
This is proactive as a form in terms of materials but is expensive in terms of production time , plant and people because of its complexity.
Form Development patterns
The development pattern of any volume when opened up covers a larger formed surface area in 2 dimensions than when the shape is enclosed.
Fractal
An algorithm that is repeated to reproduce itself or to create a larger form of itself.
Fractalising
A process that leaves some areas as regions without subdivision internally but part of the boundary of the Fractal subdivision.
Function
The purpose for which something is designed or exists.
Generational
The formation of a line or geometric figure by the movement of a point or line.
Generative architecture
Evolution of form by algorithm.
Generative architecture - Predefined topologies
‘Structures defined by pre-set geometric properties and spatial relations unaffected by the continuous change of shape or size of figures using the physical simulation engine to reach the equilibrium state defining the final form of the structure.’
‘Generative Topologies’ video by Enrique Ramos
Generative architecture - Evolutionary Topologies
‘A genetic algorithm defines the parameters of a constrained system that generates populations of structures evolving towards the selection of a best volume using variable criteria.
The implemented architecture of nodes and links with an embedded set of data that describes and gives information about other data containing the physical properties of the elements permitted and the measurement of the total weight of the structures, maximum deflections, horizontal displacements and number of elements. These data were later used to determine the fitness of the individuals in the population’
‘Generative Topologies’ video by Enrique Ramos
Generic
A repeatable universal utility form
“People can inhabit anything. And they can be miserable in anything and ecstatic in anything. More and more I think that architecture has nothing to do with it. Of course, that’s both liberating and alarming. But the generic city, the general urban condition, is happening everywhere, and just the fact that it occurs in such enormous quantities must mean that it’s habitable. Architecture can’t do anything that the culture doesn’t. We all complain that we are confronted by urban environments that are completely similar. We say we want to create beauty, identity, quality, singularity. And yet, maybe in truth these cities that we have are desired. Maybe their very characterlessness provides the best context for living.”
Generic city’, a critic to current mode of urbanization.
Rem Koolhaas interview in Wired 4.07, July 1996
Geodesic Geometry
At maximum curvature the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere.
Genetic algorithm
A search heuristic that mimics the process of natural evolution using mathematical relationships and a pre-specified level of optimization.
Genome
The entirety of an organism's development information.
Geometric data analysis
Is used as a computer algorithm, multi-dimensions, parametric, image, pattern and
shape analysis through coordinate clouds set out in a 3 dimensional grid around an object.
The method includes topological, cluster analysis, inductive, correspondence and principal component analysis.
Geometric recursion
Repeated geometry.
Golden ratio
‘The ratio of the sum of the quantities to the larger quantity is equal to the ratio of the larger quantity to the smaller one.’
Source: Wikipedia. 1: 1.618
Gravity
This is an observed effect of nature whereby physical bodies attract each other in proportion to their mass. It is a fundamental environmental constraint in Architectural form and materials.
Group
A set together with a binary operation satisfying certain algebraic conditions
Heuristic
Experience based method for problem solving.
Hydrofolding
‘Hydro-Fold is a fascinating technique of folding that automatically begins to assume a three dimensional shape upon being printed from a normal ink jet machine. Invited by its Director Marva Griffin to the 15th anniversary of the Salone Satellite, on the theme “Design Technology”, the ECAL (University of Art and Design Lausanne) presents an installation by Christophe Guberan, a third-year Bachelor student of Industrial Design. “The idea is to give shape to paper through the simple use of water, adapting an existing printer to control the phenomenon.’
Hyletic
The study of matter or raw impressions of an intentional act.
The abstraction from the form.
Hyperbody
A building body that changes its shape and content.
Hyperreality
Is used in semiotics and postmodern philosophy to describe an inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from a simulation of reality, especially in technologically advanced post-modern societies. Hyperreality = a way of characterizing what our consciousness defines as "real" in a world where a multitude of media can radically shape and filter an original event or experience.
Some famous theorists of hyper-reality include Jean Baudrillard,(self referencing language) Albert Borgmann,(social consequences of hyper-reality through humans subordinated by machines), Daniel Boorstin,(reproduction or simulation of an event becomes more important or "real" than the event itself) and Umberto Eco.(semiotics)
Hypothesis
A communicated idea.
Iconic
A set of forms that immediately link to context, metaphor or analogy.
Information based realms
A mathematical quantity expressing the probability of occurrence of a particular sequence of symbols.
Interaction
An action or influence.
It has three components – comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness.
Iterative progress
Use of prototyping, in from or virtual, prediction of each stage of a multi-dimensional problem.
Life
Non cellular life, cellular life, bacteria, archaea, eukarya, protista, fungi, plantae, animalia
Line
An abstract connection in space time for a particular duration between two coordinates.
A deformation to manufacture a boundary or edge.
Load
A measure of deformation capability in a material. Rigid, flexible, tension, compression, rotation.
A potential created by manufacturing natural materials to a particular form.
Manageability
The limit of control.
Manufacturing.
The process of creation.
Naturally created by evolution.
Created deliberately from natural resources by humans.
Mapping
An operation that associates each element of a given set (the domain) with one or more elements of a second set (the range).
Mass customization
Individual production of objects all made within individual set tolerances.
Mass production
Mass production of limited life objects all made within universal pre-set tolerances.
Material
Natural resources.
Natural resources manufactured, altered by process, to enhance life potential.
Maximize
To increase to ultimate potential.
Meaningfulness
The opinion as to how much anything communicates.
Memetic algorithm
"An idea, behaviour or style that spreads from person to person within a culture.”
Richard Dawkins.
Messey Computation
Morphing two computer programs, algorithms to produce an unknown result.
Metaheuristic
Use of data input prototyping, in from or virtual, prediction of each stage of a problem to try and achieve a pre-determined set of values and conditions.
Metaphor
A metaphor is a communication that describes a subject by comparison, to an unrelated subject.
Metaphysics
Abstract theory or talk with no basis in reality.
Metonomy
A figure of speech in which one word or a phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated.
Minimalism
Use of the fewest and barest essentials or elements.
Minimize
To reduce to the smallest possible amount, extent, size, or degree.
Minkowski space
Minkowski spacetime (named after the German mathematician Hermann Minkowski) is the mathematical setting in which Einstein's theory of special relativity is most conveniently formulated.
Monocoque.
Is a single unit. ‘Single – Shell’
Is a Form that opposes environmental conditions and loads through the design of the external skin without an internal structure.
Morphology
The study of the form and shape of things and their evolutionary relationship.
Includes, shape, colour, pattern, structure, power and environmental interfaces and services.
It has two main branches of Anatomy (internal) and Eidonomy (external)
It has sub-branches of Comparitive, Functional and Experimental Morphology.
Morphometrics
The quantative analysis of form by computer algorithm, multi-dimensional, parametric measurement to test the factors that effect shape against universal rules
There are three branches of the science.
Traditional (size), Landmark based geometric morphologies (co-ordinates inside, outside and external to the shape)
Procrustes-based geometric morphometrics (the volume outside the shape is used to compare shapes)
Procrustes superimposition (coordinates of the centroid of the shape are aligned with an external shape and variances compared)
Euclidean Distance Matrix Analysis - Outline Analysis (coordinates of the envelope of the shape are examined)
The data output is in the form of a grid.
Analysis of the data is by computer algorithm, multi-dimensional, parametric comparison.
Human comparison of the results allows for a random identification of any variances to the agreed universal rules of measurement.
Multidimensionality
In mathematics and physics, the dimension of a space or object is informally defined as the minimum number of coordinates needed to specify each point within it.
Nature
The Universe.
Need
Require something because it is essential or very important.
Neologism
A new word or phrase entering common language.
Non-reproducible
Not able to produce a counterpart, image, or copy of.
Ontology
The branch of metaphysics dealing with the nature of being.
Optimization
This is the ultimate production of form through manufacturing.
The basis of the language in emergent architecture.
Architecture has become so complex and necessarily controlled by time, finance and political restrictions that it must be predicted and produced without error.
The only way to do this is to move the decision making of the architect away from the detail and to concentrate it on the form.
The detail functions are encoded into algorithms and so produce communication diagrams that incorporate all possible outcomes.
Its origins lie in the project management software developed by the military to test battle plans which was later adopted into the construction industry.
Optimization is the selection of a best volume using variable criteria.
Optimization leads to stochastic optimization leads to metaheuristics leads to evolutionary computing leads to evolutionary algorithms leads to emergent architecture.
Packing
Optimization of the use of a volume within which other volumes are placed.
Parametric
An algorithm that can be varied and that also causes variables in connected algorithms.
Path / linear graph
Is a particularly simple example of a tree, namely a tree with two or more vertices that is not branched at all.
Perception rules for negotiating environment
Sensory Input is electrochemical interaction of the human organic container containing the human electromagnetic entity with the environment.
Perception is the comparison, in the neural network of the organic shell, referred to as the human brain, of the sensory input and any and all previous sensory input pathways created. If a match is found then it is re-checked and embedded further into the brain neural net by neurotransmitters forming synaptic links. The network of connections is referred to as memory.
Sensory output is the comparison of previous sensory input pathways then the activation of a sensory electrochemical output to allow checking by another humans. This is referred to as a communication or discussion.
The sensory output is referred to as language. It is the interpretative, aesthetic product of human understanding of their sensory input.
A Distal stimulus or Distal object activates sensory input via, light, pressure wave, electro-magnetic resonance, electro-chemical resonance.
A Proximal stimulus is the interaction with the human nervous system by the stimulus.
A Transduction is the process of moving the stimulus from the external environment through the sensory interface and into the human nervous system and feedback loop.
Perception is a general term for all sensory input that refers to the total environmental input, abstraction and interaction of forms of energy experienced by humans.
Parent Forms
The original forms created to fulfill the constraints of the design. The initial coordinate, orientation, area and volume of the form.
Perforated fractals
Sponge gasket and sieve fractals.
Perforation
Morphogenic, elastic and plastic, openings, semi-permeable membrane.
Permutation
The rearrangement of a parent form into a new form.
Phylogenetic
Persistent patterns of the evolutionary history of a group of organisms, especially as depicted in a family tree. These in a particular context, environment, determine Function.
Philosophy
Currntly in 2013 this is Sensory input, Rationalism, Sensory output = Platonic theory = thought independent of reality = John Locke Empiricism observation, experience, evidence = metaphysical realism = Speculative realism we cannot perceive reality directly
PI
Is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.
Source: Wikipedia.
Porosity
The ratio of the solid to void in a material.
Pragmatics
The study of the relation between symbols and those who use them.
Printers -3D
Printers that can manufacture from CAD information any object.
Procrustes analysis
Computer algorithm, multi-dimensional, parametric measurement analysis of form and shape by altering the rotation, scaling, translation and superimposition of objects for purposes of comparison towards an optimised form.
Proto-architecture
The hypothetical ancestor of the current aesthetics, language, of Architecture.
Purpose
The reason for which something exists or is done, made or used.
Push-pull model
The use of Tension to perforate a material along a line.
The use of Compression folds, and eventually curves to increases complexity of form.
The use of Vertical compression to create folding.
Recursive
A formula that generates the successive terms of a recursion.
Reductionism
An attempt or tendency to explain a complex set of facts, entities, phenomena, or structures by another, simpler set.
Relations
A generalization of arithmetic relations.
Right angles
Are nodes. Points of 3 space coordinates in a singular time coordinate for a given duration.
Multiple right angles form circles and spheres and allow development of ratio, aesthetic and optimised forms.
Scaling coherence
The perception of environmental predicaability to an optimized, adapting, level.
Scaling hierarchy
Human perception of environment in relation to there organic containers.
Scientific Method
Formulate a question.
Hypothesis what will occur.
Predict from the hypothesis what will occur.
Test the results.
Analyze the results.
Repeat.
Self organizing
The achievement through internally produced entropy of equilibrium.
Semantics
The study or science of meaning in language.
Semiotic
The theory and study of signs and symbols, especially as elements of language or other systems of communication, and comprising semantics, syntactics, and pragmatics.
Seriality
A mathemetical, unreal, relationship in a field of the connected, transitive, and asymmetric members of the domain.
Servos
Architectural environments integrated synthetically with ecologies and shifting material states and electronic information infrastructures.
Sets
A collection of well defined and distinct objects
Sierpenski algorithm
Division of equilateral triangle into equal triangular subdivisions to produce fractals.
Singularity
A point in space-time.
Soft shell
Hybrid expandable and inflatable
Statistical shape analysis
Multi-dimensional, parametric measurement analysis of form and shape for purposes of comparison towards an optimised form by computer algorithm.
Stochastic optimization
Use of random data input prototyping, in form or virtual, to try and achieve a pre-determined set of values and conditions.
Strain
A measure of deformation in a material. Rigid, flexible, tension, compression, rotation.
Sub-Nature
Below nature, below the environment. The unseen and yet natural environment. Usually of decay. Sub-nature links to retro-architecture and steam punk architecture through recycling and retro-historical societies driven to live in the past by resource depletion.
Surface
Is a multi-dimensional, infinite, topological, two dimensional, Euclidean, coordinate abstraction manifold.
Sustainable
Conserving an ecological balance by avoiding depletion of natural resources. Replenishing and Rationing.
Symbiotic
A relationship of mutual benefit or dependence.
Symbolic
A symbol or set of symbols expressing a language element.
Synathrosis
The reading of our environment as a summation of multiple systems that maintain external and internal rules.
Synethesia
The production of a sense impression relating to one sense or part of the body by stimulation of another sense or part of the body.
Syntactics
The branch of semiotics that deals with the formal properties of signs and symbols.
Synthetic
Prepared or made artificially.
Tectonic Articulation
Folded plates.
Teleologies
The explanation of phenomena by the purpose they serve rather than by postulated causes.
Tessellation
Pattern manufacturing of repeating, connected, rotatable 2d or 3d shapes in a pattern.
Thermal Conductivity
The heat transfer rate through a material related to its composition and specific density, specific heat capacity at a particular temperature and pressure level.
Thermal Equilibrium
The heat flow through a material to reach equal temperatures at the same pressure levels.
Tiling
Optimization of the use of a surface on which volumes are placed.
Topology
The study of geometric properties and spatial relations unaffected by the continuous change of shape or size of figures.
Topology optimisation
Is a computer generated, multi-dimensional, algorithmic, parametric design method that strives to produce optimized forms for a set of constraints.
Transcendent
In Kant's theory of knowledge, being beyond the limits of experience and hence unknowable.
Trabecular
From a medical term relating to the formation of bones in the human skeleton.
Trabecular, spongy or cancellous bone structures are a multi dimensional lattice and have a higher surface area. They are less dense. Often softer, weaker, and less stiff.
In Architecture, relating to a Bio-Mimicry of the humans skeleton, to achieve a high surface area structural form. They are produced via. computer generated, multi-dimensional, parametric lattice algorithms.
Unique
Being the only one of its kind.
Unitary Construction.
Construction of a total Form by making a series of interlinked Forms or Monocoques.
Universal
Applicable or common to all purposes, conditions, or situations.
Universal scaling
Size dependant variation.
Value
The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance or preciousness of something
Virtual
A simulated hypothesis or a reproduction of anything
Walls
Vertical volumes that serve to articulate spaces.
'The wall loses its enclosing characteristics and serves only to articulate the house organism.'
Mies Van der Rohe. Manuscript 19th June 1924.
Windows
A complete penetrative, articulation of the form envelope.
Zoömorphic
Architecture characterized by wavy and flowing lines, loose, amorphous shapes, and, sometimes, with exteriors resembling carapaces.
A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (2 ed.) James Stevens Curl.
Ian K Whittaker
Email: iankwhittaker@gmail.com
01/07/2013
14/10/2020
5579 words over 31 pages.