18/12/08 Page: 1/13 REUSING ARCHITECTURAL PRECEDENTS IN EVOLUTIONARY DESIGN

Abstract. This paper departs from the so-called generally accepted fact that architects recall their own design solutions to solve new problems. This practice, however, as it is usually carried out, by using their memory and archives, is neither very efficient nor effective. Therefore, this paper investigates the possibility of reusing architectural precedents within the framework of computer-based evolutionary design. The paper questions the potentials of current models in representing the reuse of previous solutions as well as in adapting them to fit new environments. It also speculates on the development of a new approach for the representation of a model for the reuse of architectural precedents