Examples of Computational Design

In this blog post I begin my exploration of computational design by looking for examples of such design in the real world. Computational design is not necessarily design work done on a computer, but designs that use parameters and algorithms. These can be found both in nature and in the human-created world.

Computational Design in Nature

Botanical

(Tinogeorge, 2017)

The leaves of coconut trees demonstrate parameter-based growth as each leaf grows at a 20º angle relative to the previous one along the tree's length. This creates a spiral growth pattern for the leaves. The scars of each old leaf's location are visible on the trunks of coconut trees, making this computational growth pattern more visible to observers.

Zoological

(Sues, 2019)

A turtle shells are another example of computational design. The patterning visible on this turtle's shell, for example, shows how computational design is present in the zoological world. Not only do turtle shells have sections within them that must grow together in unique geometries to create a cohesive whole, but each of those individual sections also displays its own computational pattern.

Environment Built by Non-Human Organisms

(Dowsett, 2023)

Spiderwebs are an excellent example of computational design in animal-built environments. Spider webs are designed in intricate patterns not only for to trap prey, but also as a signaling tool. Spiders use their web for pattern recognition, sensing vibration patterns emitting from and coming to the spider. It is believed this may aid the spider in detecting prey, broken sections, and mates (Luz, 2017).

Computational Design in the Human-Built Environment

The Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku, Azerbaijan

(Pranav, 2024)

The Heydar Aliyev Center in Azeraijan was designed by Zaha Hadid and her team. It was designed with ubiquitous flowing curves as a reaction to the cities efforts to modernize streets filled with blocky, utilitarian Soviet-era architecture (Heydar Aliyev Centre, n.d.).

Beetle-Inspired Robotically-Woven Pavilion

(Grozdanic, 2014)

This pavillion was created by robotic manufacturing to mimic the design structure of beetle-shells. It is made of glass and carbon fiber formed into 36 distinct pieces to create a strong 50 meter squared pavilion (Grozdanic, 2014).

Kagome Bamboo Basketry

(Shinohara & Chan, 2024)

Kagome basketry uses a trihexagonal pattern to weave together bamboo baskets. The use of this pattern allows for the weave to stay together without the use of fasteners (Shinohara & Chan, 2024). This design method has been used for research in computational structure design.

Researchers, Artists, Designers of Computational Fabrication

Christine Dierk

(Adobe Shows off Animated Dress by Project Primrose, n.d.)

Christine Dierk is a research scientist with Adobe. In 2023 she debuted Project Primrose, which was focused on creating interactive wearable designs through the use of laser cut polymer-dispered liquid crystals (Malach, 2023). These crystals had a printed circuit board installed behind them so that the light diffusion properties of each tile could be adjusted. This allowed for the creation of designs, ranging from static to animated and interactive. Simply moving within the dress could be sensed and change the display according to the movement. This is interesting to me because she applied an existing technology used in items like smart windows and applied it in a computational setting. The tiles used in her work have a similar shape and organization as fish scales, a known example of computational design in nature. She expanded on that unique design to create a novel digital interface. See more of Christine Dierks work on her website at https://www.christinedierk.com/.

Bjarke Ingels

(Big | Bjarke Ingels Group, n.d.)

Bjarke Ingels is a very famous architect known for his unique designs that are created using parametric designs based on the characteristics of the space which the building will occupy. When he begins designing he first thinks about what the location itself needs. For example, one of his most famous projects, Copenhill, is home to a waste-to-energy plant. He designed it to also serve as a ski hill and

(Big | Bjarke Ingels Group, n.d.)

climbing wall since Copenhagen is a flat city that lacks other sites for altitude-based recreation. He knew the requirements for the energy plant, then worked to computationally interface those requirements with parameters for a recreational slope. This work is interesting to me because it makes buildings more than just buildings. They cease to be limited to protection from the elements and become a widely useful and interesting addition to the environment. I have also seen Copenhill in-person, which furthered my interest. See more of Bjarke Ingel's work on his website at https://big.dk/.

Sources

Adobe shows off animated dress by project primrose. (n.d.). Project Primrose. Retrieved January 22, 2025, from https://project-primrose.com/

Big | bjarke ingels group. (n.d.). BIG | Bjarke Ingels Group. Retrieved January 22, 2025, from https://big.dk/

Dowsett, S. (2023, February 22). Naturespeak: Spiders—the lore of nature’s web weavers. Pique Newsmagazine; Pique News. https://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/local-news/naturespeak-spidersthe-lore-of-natures-web-weavers-6576619

Grozdanic, L. (2014, July 4). Icd and itke’s robotically woven pavilion mimics the structural performance of beetle shells [Blog]. Inhabitat. https://inhabitat.com/icd-and-itkes-robotically-woven-pavilion-mimics-the-structural-performance-of-beetle-shells/

Luz, C. (2017, March 23). Computing with spider webs. https://blog.bccresearch.com/computing-with-spider-webs

Malach, H. (2023, November 13). Engineers behind adobe’s interactive dress explain how it changes patterns within seconds. WWD. https://wwd.com/pop-culture/culture-news/adobe-dress-project-primrose-1235921359/

Pranav. (2024, July 18). Computational design: Architecture in the digital age. DEV Community. https://dev.to/material360/computational-design-architecture-in-the-digital-age-1mgh

Shinohara, H., & Chan, T. H. P. (2024). A computation design method for architectural artifacts adapted from traditional Kagome bamboo basketry techniques. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 13(2), 249–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2023.11.007

Sues, H.-D. (2019, August 20). How the turtle got its shell, with apologies to aesop. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-turtle-got-its-shell-apologies-aesop-180972929/

Tinogeorge. (2017, September 6). Palm tree trunk(Cocos nucifera). George O’Keeffe | Game Artist. https://georgeokeeffegameart.wordpress.com/2017/09/06/palm-tree-trunk-cocos-nucifera/