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Models in Architectural Design

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Springer Handbook of Model-Based Science

Part of the book series: Springer Handbooks ((SHB))

Abstract

At one time, architects and construction specialists used to rely mainly on sketches and physical models as representations of their own cognitive design models. Today, they rely increasingly on computer models including parametric models, generative models, as-built models, building information models (GlossaryTerm

BIM

), and so forth. Of course, processes of abstraction and the actual architectural model-based reasoning itself remain in the mind of the practitioner who is in control of the design and construction process. However, this whole new array of alternative computer-based representation models has profoundly affected decision-making in architectural design and construction. In this chapter, a brief overview is first given of the state-of-the-art in design thinking research. Following this, an outline is given of how diverse data models, such as BIM and parametric models, are currently used in architectural design and construction. An indication is then given of how these models relate to the in-mind model-based reasoning on which architectural designers and construction experts rely in decision-making and creative thinking. This outline will not only review well-known theories of design thinking and architectural design practice, it will also integrate ongoing theoretical research about analogical reasoning and about abductive, deductive, and inductive reasoning.

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Abbreviations

2-D:

two-dimensional

3-D:

three-dimensional

4-D:

four-dimensional

5-D:

five-dimensional

AEC:

architecture, engineering and construction

ALP:

abductive logic programming

BIM:

building information model

CAD:

computer-aided design

CBR:

case-based reasoning

FBM:

feature-based modeling

ICT:

information and communication technologies

SMG:

specialist modelling group

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Ghent University, J. Plateaustraat 22, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Pieter Pauwels

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  1. Pieter Pauwels
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Correspondence to Pieter Pauwels .

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  1. Department of Humanities, University of Pavia, Piazza Botta 6, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Lorenzo Magnani  & Tommaso Bertolotti  & 

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Pauwels, P. (2017). Models in Architectural Design. In: Magnani, L., Bertolotti, T. (eds) Springer Handbook of Model-Based Science. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30526-4_45

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30526-4_45

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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