The Top Five Parametrically Designed Structures

I really enjoyed researching this set of buildings. Upfront, I wanted to remind all the ranking is relative; but I think each structure stands out for its architectural merit, and hopefully below I’ve managed to highlight some of the structure’s unique features before bringing focus back to their parametric roots. (Readers might see some weird click throughs to the embedded content. It’s all safe; it’s just Medium’s platform.)

I wanted to first start by describing some of the different types of paramedic design used in the AEC industry today because the nature of parametric design is very different for each the conceptual design and production drawing stages. All the examples which follow leverage paramedic design to develop their form, conversely, using parameters during the production phase draws upon computation to assisting the rendering of plans, sections, and details, extending onto building design analysis. The bridge between each type is the ability to attached data to geometry — and here I mean in the broadest sense possible — for each phase utilizes parameters in very different ways. The use of parametric design in the production phase must necessarily stay in the background for the moment — to hopefully be returned to in the future — whereas in this post we celebrate the structures’ architectural merit and creative-risking.

Another point to include which adds context to the issue of why it’s important for modern designs to take into consideration the different characteristics of parametric design is also why the public-at-large should care about parametric design. At the core of understanding applications of parametric design is the ability to improve the building design process and increasing building design quality. This is a function of understanding how variables, and changing those variables, affect the form of a building during the design process. The most basic example considers the effort required to calculate the optimal angle for each exterior louver, wherever located on the building, to maximize solar efficiency, in this case to reduce solar heat transfer (shade). Depending how confident one feels they understand the solar patterns of a site throughout the year, it is possible to manually adjust each louver with close observation of the site and dead reckoning, But if each of the louver’s angle is considered a variable, it’s also possible to optimize every one of them to the site’s conditions through computation — more accurately and with higher tolerances than by hand– and indeed there are several software packages available to do just that. If communities wish to recognize their goals of sustainable design, adopting such innovations is essential.

City Of Dreams Hotel Tower, Macau, Zaha Hadid Architects, 2017.

Though Zaha Hadid Architects gets a lot of press for their parametric design, owing to the breath of a wide portfolio quality of course varies. This really wonderful tower in a far away exotic location somehow skipped my attention when it was completed last year. The angles and intersections of the exterior are the parameter as they conform to the shape of the tower. But what I find so marvellous about this structure is how the pattern sort of degenerates from its organized state at the bottom before finding stability again at the top. I think it’s a really sophisticated non-trivial approach which celebrates the creativity of architecture.

Oculus Station at World Trade Center, NY, Calatrava, 2016

Calatrava’s 2016 Oculus Station is a magnificent example of parametric design. The white spines soar above visitors creating a unique space both inside and directly around the structure. It’s somehow both modern, but also evocative of old cathedrals and grand train stations. Here Calatrava and his team simply choose a standard dimension for the spines and then deformed each according to a changing variable. A really successful project I think.

Metropol Parasol, Seville, Spain. Juergen Mayerh, 2011.

This structure in Spain gained some notoriety when completed in 2011 for being the largest laminated wood structure to date. Some of this credit goes to the engineering geniuses at ARUP for figuring out the geometry of such a proposal. With the structural forces understood, a square parameter could be defined which thereafter establishes the project’s iconic style at a distance and up close. This project was a really intriguing way to revitalize a deteriorating public square, and with the space now attracting tourists and locals alike, shows the power high concept, high design architecture can have on a community. From a far, I really like how well the postmodern form integrates into the traditional roof tops of the neighbourhood. It compliments the traditional architecture well.

Chunhua Pedestrian Bridge, Shenzhen, China. Tanghua Architects, 2011.

As a pedestrian, I’m quite appreciative of the creative risk and effort the city of Shenzhen put into to the artful Chunhua pedestrian overpass. Yes, I argue even humble pedestrians deserve high-design, high-concept work. A project of this complexity — as in non-standard for its function, the overall constructability of the project is not extravagant — is why it took such effort to overcome the inherent risk of such a proposal. It’s much safer for pedestrians, and the design shades them in an inviting way where one normally fines an inhospitable roadside. The organic shape is tellesalated with triangles to form the pattern seen in the pictures.

Panyaden International School Sports Hall, Panyaden, Thailand. Chaing Mai Life, 2017.

This sports hall is quite a structure and highlights through engineering excellent the direction architecture should develop to integrate more closely with the locality. Made 100% of bamboo, it is an exceptionally sustainable design. The parameter here is the consistent curve of the bamboo which can not be exceeded. Again and again the same semicircle is used to build up the shape of a gym. The reason this project required the effort of two structural engineering firms is because they basically checked each others work with the innovative building material to make sure it could withstand the areas weather extremes and seismic activity. The firm did a really good job. Definitely a space I’d love to see in person.

Runner up:

Bloomberg Pavilion, Akihisa Hirata Architecture, 2009

Not really a structure but more of an installation piece, I really liked this simple building from Japanese designer Akihisa Hirata. The literature for the piece suggests they were trying to evoke the shape of a tree canopy, which can definitely be recalled in certain views of the structure if one imagines an ancient tree bending close toward the ground with age. The parameter used to capture this shape is the isosceles triangle, and what the designer has done really well with installation — beyond expressing a wonderfully pure form — is welcome daylight into the structure using the defused paths off the triangles, making for a really unique and special interior experience for visitors. The reverse is also true when lit from inside at night, and soft light from the interior escapes to shape the form.