influence computer

[monkeyboy]

hey everybody,

 

i'm doing a paper for school on the subject 'the influence of computer and software on designs/architecure'

what i want to say is; there's a new trend with new software like sketchup, max, viz, maya,..., that allows architects and designers to sketch there first ideas not on paper but on-screen. offices like greg lynn, morphosis, aysmptote,... all tend to make really difficult architecture, that is hard to draw without computer. what we see is that the architecture gets the strangest forms en spaces.

 

maybe you guys can help me a bit since you are in the industry. are the architects among you also working mostly on pc, or do you still draw your first sketches on a beer coaster?

can you maybe sum some pros and con's, so i get a larger input, en get a more clear view on this topic,

 

thnx in advance,

 

monkey

[garethace]

http://www.aceshardware.com/forum?read=105061126

 

try reading a bit from these guys perhaps.

[mbr]

I hate to say it, but it's a pretty tired and old subject. Back in '95 or a little before that, it was the 'new' thing. Alias|Wavefront (I believe they had merged at that point) was the software of choice for schools like UCLA (my grad school) and Columbia. Greg Lynn taught (and teaches) at both and had a huge impact on this process. Thom Mayne/Morphosis leans towards the FormZ side, with some 3D Studio (although that's changing). Completely different styles, but utilizing technology to shape space.

But always keep in mind that the forms are not necessarily that different than what was being made with basswood and chip board, prior to these programs being used - it always comes down to the artist, not the software.

 

If you want to write a paper on this subject, consider at looking at the new techologies. This includes Gehry's new work with MIT (Gehry Technologies, I believe it's called) and Bentley's Generative Components (that Mayne and Co. are using). These are truly 'shaping' the built world as they bridge the gap between virtual form and built reality.

 

Possilby look at the new stereolithography machines, HP has one coming out for less than a grand. There is the Versa personal laser for $1k that can do anything, without any software or skills. Pretty cool stuff.

 

Good luck.