Conceptual Design by Means of Islamic-Geometric-Patterns within a CAAD-Environment

The starting point in this research was to develop a 3D grammar theory on top of existing 2D Islamic-geometric-patterns, trying to rescue their fundamental geometry contents to be applied in contemporary architecture without compromising any architectural style. As it is self evident the architectural design process consists of clearly distinct stages namely conceptual design, materialisation and further completion. A this conceptual stage the innovative item of the research deals with pattern grammars on 3D complex geometrical patterns, considering them as polyhedra and polytopes, for their use as an underlayer to a concept design, like architects use 2D rectangular and triangular grids by the conventional way. Handling these complex 3D patterns requires a special environment which is possible with CAAD. Within the CAAD environment, the handling of these complex patterns is easily done by means of 3D tools, because the 3D tools permit the user to make any possible manipulations and geometrical transformations in an easier way in space. To a geometrical patterns, there is some attention paid during the last 50 years by some scholars. The most complex geometrical patterns are highly developed in Islamic architecture because it is forbidden in Muslim religion to use man's portraits or sculptures of human beings in the religious buildings. All these approaches to complex patterns are analysed and studied as 2D elements. The question was how could we consider them in 3rd dimensions and use them instead of 2D underlayer, as 3D underlayers in the conceptual phase of the CAAD design. Pattern grammar is a generally employable aid (underlying pattern) for conceptual and material designs. On the basis of rules of symmetry and substitution, ordering principles have been worked out, which can be used for formal design methods as well as detailing systems (e.g. modular coordination). Through the realization of a pattern grammar a wider range of underlying patterns can be offered and a choice from these can be made in a more fundamental manner. At a subsequent stage the collection of “empty boxesi can be filled with (architectural) elements in such a way that another option is created between either filling up the boxes completely, filling them partly, or filling them in such a way that they overflow. It is self-evident that underlying patterns can also be used for details and decoration in a design. Concerning the materialisation of the concept design, within the 3D CAAD environment, substitution methods are partially developed. Further theoretical developments concerning the materialisation phase constantly backed up through feed-back with specialist matters (such as e.g. by means of expert systems, decision-support systems), must be worked out. As feed-back of the research, the possibilities of the design with 3D patterns have been tested and the procedures are explained. (*) Working with 3D patterns gives a designer more inspirations to develop new ideas and new concepts and gives the opportunity to handle the complexity. (*) The formal, structural and symmetrical qualities of geometrical patterns has a positive influence on the industrialisation of the building components. (*) Working with 3D tools which are able to handle complex geometry have a result because of the accuracy of the information, that there has hardly been a mistake made during the preparation and the assembly of the building components. This has also positive results concerning the financial aspects of the building process.