Generating housing layout designs: Fractals as a framework

This paper introduces a computer-based application for three dimensional (3D) landscape simulations of housing-layout-design using the concepts of fractals with Iterative Function System (IFS). At an early phase of designing housing layouts, the designer assigns specific locations and positions for many house-units on an undeveloped site. From a simple template pattern defined by an XML file, this application generates a wide variety of such layout designs in 3D which consists of multiple residential house-units. Along with the house, the unit can include other design components found in a residential development such as a roads, walls, trees etc. The template defines the transformation rules for the IFS. It includes the information of the geometrical relationships between the stages in the iteration and of the components used in stopping the iteration. The application is formulated, implemented and tested. The results got from the case studies are demonstrated and evaluated