The Parametric Design Of Non-linear Architectural Form

Owing to the reform and opening up policy, China has overwhelmingly enhanced itsinternational status around the globe, and with the computer technology advancing to a higher stage,the application of science and technology is thriving in all walks of life. In the field of architecturaldesign, the homogeneous high-rise buildings have failed to meet people’s aesthetic needs, andconflicts arise inevitably between the new architectural design methods and the old ones. With itswide application in the field of non-linear architectural design, the parametric design has become astriking feature of contemporary architecture.Starting with the background of the rapid development of modern science and the aestheticfatigue about contemporary architecture, this thesis introduces the application of parametric design innon-linear architecture and regulates the definition of parametric non-linear architectural design withthe rise of non-linear architecture as a starting point. In fact, the parametric design is not a newlyemerging thing, and its ancillary technologies include novel software technology (technologicalplatforms supporting parametric design such as Rhinoceros, Grasshopper and so on) and numericalcontrol machining technology. The enormous convenience and benefit brought by these ancillarytechnologies have facilitated and propelled the renovation of architecture and other fields of designgreatly, which would promote parametric design to a kind of pattern or even a kind of culture in theend. Then how is such pattern defined? As the parametric design functions as a technological means,the designers still need to possess their own design theory. Then which theory can unite withparametric design? What other patterns can be created through this combination? All these are theobjects which this thesis is going to touch upon. Secondly, the experience from the past shows that theclassic design in modern times usually appears in the infant period of the birth of a new technology,therefore, the works of parametric design often come from those designers who are the first to explorethis field. This thesis is intended to probe into the question when the works possessing parametriccharacteristics come into being, and to sum up which type of architecture needs parametrictechnology most through examples. Parameterization is not only a kind of technology but also contains the usual double-edged characteristics as other technologies. This thesis also analyzes theproblems of applying parametric design, such as resource waste and high cost of money. Thosetechnology fetishists who overuse parameterization would push parameterization into a destructivesituation. Moreover, this thesis describes the current situation of parametric design in China:advanced software, backward technology. More importantly, this thesis attempts to explore the mostsuitable path for China to develop the parametric design.The parametric design is merely a kind of technological means, but the final pursuit ofarchitecture and space design is a better city, a more suitable living space and a home with morehumanism rather than technology. We are now walking toward a era highly equipped with sustainabledevelopment and humanism, and the parametric design plays a positive role in achieving this goal.Finally, this thesis discusses the future prospect of the development of architecture and space, andcalls on people to interpret the parametric design.