Advances in Engineering Research, volume 120

International Forum on Energy, Environment Science and Materials (IFEESM 2017)

Digital Morphogenesis: A Synthetic Approach to Generate Architectural

Elaborate Components
Jiarui Liu1,2 a,b,Zhiyu Guan3,c,Xin Chen1,d,Chunyi Xu1,e
1
Shenyang Jianzhu University,China
2
Shenyang Ouya Civil Engineering Design Co.,Ltd., China
3
Zhongtian Construction Group Co.,Ltd. Northeast Company, China
a
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
d
[email protected],[email protected]

Keywords: Architectural Design; Digital Morphogenesis; Elaborate Components; Generated

Approach; Digital Prefabrication
Abstract. The convoluted nature of contemporary architectural design stands as an innovation trend.
However, this tendency could hardly be supported by traditional computational assist design
technique. The purpose of this research is to present digital morphogenesis technologies increase the
accessible of generation architectural elaborate components. The application of digital
morphogenesis on the design of architectural elaborate components enabled the emergence of
convoluted nature of contemporary architectural design. It is believed that digital morphogenesis
could provide the methods from the term of design, analysis and manufacture. This paper suggests
that digital morphogenesis could deliver an available process for creative architectural elaborate
components.

Introduction
Digital morphogenesis is prominent promoting the development of contemporary design. It is a novel
method and tool to create complexity morphology and process, which lead to an unconventional
aesthetic and technical complexity. This approach depended on logic understood through the esoteric
study of the natural morphogenetic rules which creative the structural nature processes [1]. Neil Leach
[2] traces digital morphogenesis design presents the potential of the computational realm through the
opening up the design fields of possibilities. Also, this has been explored by some avant-garde
architects, such as Achim Menge and Frei Otto, in diverse ways. Besides, Michael Weinstock [3]
claims that produce emergent morphogenesis and behavior is the origins of the notion, which is
obtained by mathematical basic of processes. The utilization of mathematical models can simulate the
calculation of the pattern or structure formation process both in natural conditions and computational
environments. Digital morphogenetic methods are evolutionary since incorporate iterations of
physical modelling. The emergence of digital morphogenesis due to the booming of computer science,
which have already influence the manufacture of elaborate architectural components. Traditionally, it
is nearly impossible to meet the requirement of an unusual morphogenesis[4], which is limited to the
design tools and manufacture process. However, the soaring development of computational
technology promoted the application of digital morphogenesis on the domain of elaborate
prefabrication in last decade, the process of computational technology has evolved into design
participants from a simple assist drawing tools.
The purpose of this paper is to present that what digital morphogenesis could deliver for the
design and fabrication of architectural elaborate components. The study investigated from elaborate
geometry generation, computational analysis and digital fabrication. Specifically, the study elaborated:
design algorithm to easy the complexity morphology; using computational simulation assist design
and utilized the digital method to realize the unconventional morphogenesis.

Copyright © 2018, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.

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Algorithmically generated geometry

Digital morphogenesis delivers an opportunity for architects that converting the end state of what they
are designing into unimaginable shapes. Architects did design using algorithm program, such as
processing and grasshopper, to define the generation rule of geometry without pen or by mouse in a
CAD program. Geometry could be designed with a complexity and richness which would create
highly differentiated and spatially complex architecture.
Architects could sculpt the form, even though, they would not imagine the end state at the
beginning of the project. Just as what Hansmeyer[5] did in the platonic solids project(Fig. 1). Those
abstracted the process of creation, morphogenesis, is asymmetric cell division. Designer exerted
control over the process that generated the form instead of design the form. The morphogenesis of
resulting presented an unusual aesthetic and technical complexity that likely defies intend to
reductionism. In esoteric realm, if the designer makes a small change to the parameter such as folding
ratios, it would lead to the shape changes correspondingly.

Fig. 1, Platonic solids project Fig. 2, Frei Otto’s "form-finding"

Moreover, Architects could define forms and methods that borrow nature's processes, and then
code them as algorithms to explore unimaginable shapes. Frei Otto, a highly renowned architect, who
obsessed of research on nature and computation, was one of the first to apply "form-finding"
technique to the architectural design. Amounts of elaborate structures began its generate logic with
"form-finding" technique[6]. Those buildings present a clear and logical "form-finding"
process(Fig2). This method created logic through the technology of digital model simulation to find
morphogenetic rule from the laws of nature and also find the process of the natural pattern and
structure. Since there is not man-made interference during the process, it known as the
"Self-formation" procedure.
Thus, developments in digital morphogenesis made architects have access to create elaborate
architectural components that is excited new. Designers could define themselves as a facilitator rather
than a designer as well as define nature as a rule-maker in the process of algorithmic architecture.
Additionally, the utilization of algorithm independent developers from their experience, no bias and
no preconceptions. These allows designers to create structures at all scales by developing a process,
including those, even have dreamt up.

Analogue and digital analysis

Phillip Ball[7] points out that mathematics and geometric could describe patterns and forms. It
means that digital data could represent that whole of surfaces and details of designs. Computational
morphogenesis design focus on the analysis and production of complex shapes and behaviour . It
could provide optimal solutions for designers by simulate and analyse digital models with particular
conditions, especially in highly sophisticated data analysis. Additionally, Michael Hansmeyer
expounds that simulation of morphogenesis generated on computer environment could escape from
physical constraints. It means that designer could make any possible tests that they otherwise would
not go. For example, surfaces could intersect themselves, and become mini-scale as possible. Even if
the forms of these surfaces stretched or tear, it would not be a dilemma. Above all, digital analysis
shows the scope of morphogenesis which architects can design.

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Besides, there is a relevant example Eden project(Fig.3) which presents that how concepts from
biology and computation help designer radical reduce waste in resource efficiency. Architects devise
the most efficient structural scheme, utilization of hexagons and pentagons with the assistance of
computational analysis, through abstract morphogenesis from pollen grains and carbon molecules.
This structure solution provided an efficient use of steel and top overall performance. Also, it cut
down the cost of foundations, due to the utilization of less steel reduced the overall weight in the
structure. On the other hand, this form gets extra sunlight into the interior, and it means power-saving
in winter because receiving additional external heat. Those are the key to radical increases in resource
efficiency.

Fig. 3, Eden project

Hence, the computational analysis provides is a useful method of architectural elaborate
components design in an efficient way. Architects could test any ideas without considering about cost
and realize. Also, designers would sculpt the morphogenesis that is abundance and synergy due to the
computational would find the most optimization layout.

Digital materially elaborate fabrication

Digital morphogenesis could provide complexity machining. It could promote the productive of
complexity prefabrication by the computational algorithm. These between material, morphogenesis,
structure and fabrication defined through the algorithm that becomes an integral component of the
digital design tool. Digital elaborate geometries contain information at very many scales. It would
take even years to drew all the drawings, almost impossible for a designer to specify or conceive of.
The application of computational technology of morphogenesis fabrication can help architects
achieve their proposals, without worried about that complex shapes and structures cannot produce.
Computational models would preserve all the information of fabrication, even all of the surface
intricacies. These make architects involved in the manufacture of elaborate architectural
prefabrication in an efficient way and more widely adopted.

Fig. 4, Arabesque wall project

Architectural elaborate(Fig. 4) components are highly differentiated and spatially complex

structure, unlike traditional design, both the overall morphogenesis and the microscopic surface detail
is a single process. Some formations might be smaller than the threshold of human visibility. So it
demands more about mini-scale fabrication. In the past, ornament and formal expression cease in
tiny-scale was a luxury. However, computational technology products could be fabricated at
nanoscale components which both in design and manufacture process with the feature of complex
morphogenesis, with the help of computational design and digital fabrication. Employing 3D printing

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or industry robot for fabrication of elaborate architectural works herald architects could now achieve
their complexity and mini-scale design. Further, an excellent example is the arabesque wall project
which present ornamental details at the scale of millimetres. The rhythmic of arabesque wall was
produced sophisticated. Interwoven curve exhibit perfect touch and offers new impressions from any
perspective. This wall is same as arabesque ornaments, both geometric and mathematical become the
compositional principles of it. The primary component is an iterative tiny and division of surfaces. A
design process folds a single surface repeatedly produce a structure composed of millions of little
facets emerges. There is a dramatic impact on this fabrication because creating such a complexity and
richness of detail. Otherwise, it would not be materialized with relative ease.
Therefore, digital materially fabrication provides the future of architectural elaborate design at
the nanoscale. This technology not only would be highly efficient but also produces beautiful and
organic decorative effects and formal effects. In some case, elaborate architecture could escape the
paradigms of rationalization and standardization to produce exquisite detailing and elaborate texture.

Conclusions
This essay has attempt to evaluate whether initial design strategies and fabrication might be
replaced and promoted by computational morphogenesis, especially in the domain of architectural
elaborate components. Initially, it expounded that architects develop an algorithm for digital
morphogenesis to easy the design process of architectural elaborate components. Further, the
computational analysis could provide amounts of tests the elaborate components that might not be
available in the physical environment. Last but not the least, the application of digital morphogenesis
would make the fabrication of complexity prefabrication, especially sophisticated and complex stuff,
is likely to be fabricated.
In conclusion, digital morphogenesis has become a newly arisen method of architectural
elaborate components design. This paper proves that various perspectives need be to take into
consider. In this essay, it might be true that there are limitations when evaluating the application of
digital morphogenesis in the field of elaborate components. Architects will consider more about
expand the generated logic and fabrication for the whole building design to fully embrace what digital
morphogenesis can provide in nearly future.

Acknowledgement
This work was financially supported by Ministry of Science and Technology(PRC)
13th five-year plan: Building Technology Basic Theory of Precast Concrete Industrialization (grant
number: 2016YFC07014-02) and National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant number:
51408373) . We thank our colleagues from Shenyang Jianzhu University who provided insight and
expertise that greatly assisted the research, although they may not agree with all of the interpretations
of this paper.

References
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Strategies. John Wiley.(2004)
[2] Leach, N. Digital morphogenesis. Architectural Design, 79(1), 32-37.(2009)
[3] Weinstock, M. Morphogenesis and the Mathematics of Emergence. Architectural design, (3),
10-17.(2004)
[4] Pawlyn, M. Biomimicry in Architecture (Vol. 15). Riba Publishing.(2011)

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[5] Hansmeyer, M. Subdivision beyond smoothness. In Proceedings of the Sixth International

conference on Computational Aesthetics in Graphics, Visualization and Imaging (pp. 75-81). Euro
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[6] Drew, P. Frei Otto: form and structure. Westview Press.(1976)
[7] Ball, P. Nature's patterns, Oxford: Oxford University Press.(2011)

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