The Computer Application At Stage Of The Architectural Schematic Design Phase

As the key technology of the current information age, computer technology has already been utilized in every aspect of social development. Its impact on architect design has also developed from the experimental research of the early age to the technological application as "Electronic Drawing Palette", and further to intellectual field of design concept. As the further development of computer technology, overall digital design environment will become an industry standard. Computer will be the indispensable design tool for architects, just as the traditional pen and paper. Just as no architect will mention about "Pen-Aided Architecture Design" or "Model-Aided Architecture Design", Computer-Aided Architecture Design (CAAD) will lose its special identity with the development of technology and the formation of digital design thinking of architects, and become only one of the many standard architect design methods.This article includes 5 chapters. The first chapter briefly describes the purposes, meanings and methods of the research included in the article. The second chapter describes the formation basis and characteristics of CAAD in different phrases based on the different periods, and also reviews the history of CAAD. The third chapter is a thorough exploration of CAAD and architects' computer thinking pattern based on the characteristics of CAAD, the existent conditions of CAAD, the combination of design theories and computer applications, contemporary CAAD and the advantages of the usage of CAAD. The forth chapter introduces multimedia technology, virtual reality, network technology, the concept and characteristics of new application direction in CAAD and its applications in different aspects of architecture design. The fifth chapter discusses the adaptation of new design tools, design methods and design environments, the developments and changes in architecture.With the development of the computer technology and the broader usage of computer by architects, the impacts of computer in different aspects of architecture design have become clearer and clearer. These clear procedures will necessarily outline a new design environment, generate new formats of thinking, and will give architects new thoughts and opportunities.