11th EAEA Envisioning Architecture: Design, Evaluation, Communication Conference in 2013

Track 3 | Conceptual Representation | Exploring the layout of the built environment

Topological infrastructure analysis of the built environment

ABSTRACT

A key property of the built environment is the inherent circulation network describing how spaces connect. Conventional architectural representations are inadequate for representing and analysing physical infrastructure beyond material abstraction. A need for additional modes of representation which capture cognitive and organisational properties of space, such as circulation networks, thus exists. The scope of work described here is the development of formalized modes of architectural representation for mapping, abstracting and analysing these. Extending previous implementations of graphs for spatial analysis - axial maps, access and visibility graphs (Hillier, 1996), place graphs (Franz, 2008) and perceptual structures (Van Tonder, 2004) - the Medial Axis (MA) is proposed as a promising graph representation of topological infrastructure. A suite of dynamic CAD tools implementing algorithms from graph theory which lend themselves particularly well to spatial analysis has been developed. This enables the interactive generation of MA graphs based on floor plans, analysing these and immediately informing design based on the generated data. The tools have been tested for analysing spatial resilience related to security and safety concerns in building design and layout planning. This has yielded positive results and certain graph measures have proven to be particularly significant, such as node centrality, node degree and graph cycles.

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AUTHORS

Anders Holden Deleuran

Computational Design & Research Group, Aedas R&D, Aedas Architects, London, United Kingdom

Anders holds a M.Sc. Eng. in Architecture & Design from Aalborg University and completed the Advanced Design Visualisation course at Umeå Institute of Design. He currently works for the international architecture practice Aedas as a Computational Design Researcher. Here he is developing and implementing various modes of computational analysis, representation and design. Prior to this he was a research assistant at CITA/KADK, working on several projects including collaborations with Mark Burry and Philip Beesley. Anders furthermore has extensive tutoring experience through his work at CITA and as an external lecturer at Aalborg University, KTH Stockholm and TU Delft.

Christian Derix

Computational Design & Research Group, Aedas R&D, Aedas Architects, London, United Kingdom

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