week 10

Parametricism as a term is fairly modern when it was coined by Patrik Schumacher, an associate of Zaha Hadid Architects who themselves are one of the leading firms that showcase parametric design in their many projects. Parametricism as a definition is the new great style after modernism proclaims by Schumacher, in the context of architecture is when all architectural elements and complexes are parametrically malleable. Principles such as forms that are soft in favour of rigid forms and functions that are parametric activity scenarios. In the text of Parametric Patterns by Schumacher, he goes to depth of how articulation is the central core competency of architecture where patterns are a key element as being innovative and dynamic. Patterns have evolved with the use of technology as techniques such as texture mapping having been replaced by scripting. In the modern age of buildings, we mainly see the use of parametric patterns in the façade, where instances such as light and shadow can be controlled through its responsiveness behind the design of various patterns.

Schumacher is very vocal and idealistic in his views of what he perceives the future that is built upon parametricism. He states this quote in his manifesto " There is a global convergence in recent avant-garde architecture that justifies its designation as a new style: parametricism. It is a style rooted in digital animation techniques, its latest refinements based on advanced parametric design systems and scripting methods. Parametricism according to Schumacher can be flexibility for the 21st century as it accommodates not just architecture but also urbanism and other design disciplines. Urbanism is a expanding field as the world grows day by day and the cities of the future maybe be only sustainable if it were to be parametric. Parametricism brings malleable components into a dynamical play of mutual responsiveness as well as contextual adaptation.Computationally design wise, these can be designed through geometric, positional and material elements which are associated with this style.