From Digital to Real Theoretical-digital architectural concepts and the realization of complex spatial forms

To summarize former experiences of design seminars of the past years, the paper describes how new thinking and development structures within a design process, in conjunction with digital design media, requires new approaches to the design process itself. Also required are new solutions in adequate, three-dimensional, haptic presentation methods (model making), in order to secure the physical control of the computer-generated data structures. Points of origin have been several student projects whose conception was based on the idea of the contradiction of a modern architectural approach with its inclination to industrialized parts and series. The promise of the computer based design and manufacturing process seemed to allow the realization of almost every imaginable architectural shape for the same costs as those in regular planning and manufacturing processes. The different projects explored both static modelling methods and dynamic computer- driven development and presentation techniques. The latest project touches the field of an algorithm-based design process. Finally a possible process chain from early design stage into a three-dimensional, physical model is described. Considering the resources and financial budgets at universities, the development of an efficient manufacturing process with effective interfaces will summarize the method and finalize the study process