Game of Renders - The Use of Game Engines for Architectural Visualization
01 Jan 2019-
TL;DR: This work proposes the coupling of a portable algorithmic design framework with a Game Engine to support interactive visualization of architectural models and increase the rendering performance of the framework.
Abstract: Good visualization mechanisms offer architects, and their clients, a better grasp of how their designs are going to turn out when built, and the experience one might have inside the constructions. This also helps the architect orient the design in a more informed manner. However, typically used modeling tools do not offer satisfactory visualization solutions. The operations available to view and navigate through the 3D space are flawed in terms of speed, interactivity, and real-time rendering quality. To solve this issue, we propose the coupling of a portable algorithmic design framework with a Game Engine (GE) to support interactive visualization of architectural models and increase the rendering performance of the framework. We explain in detail this integration, and we evaluate this workflow by implementing a case study and comparing the performance of the GE to architectural modeling tools.
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01 Dec 2019
TL;DR: Live Coding in Virtual Reality (LCVR) is proposed, a design approach that allows architects to benefit from the advantages of VR within an algorithmic design workflow, and a critical analysis and comparison of the various solutions available in the context of two different programming paradigms: visual and textual.
Abstract: As many other areas of human activity, the architectural design process has been recently shaken by Virtual Reality (VR), as it offers new ways to experience and communicate architectural space. In this paper we propose Live Coding in Virtual Reality (LCVR), a design approach that allows architects to benefit from the advantages of VR within an algorithmic design workflow. LCVR integrates a live coding solution, where the architect programs his design intent and immediately receives feedback on the changes applied to the program; and VR, which means this workflow takes place inside the virtual environment, where the architect is immersed in the model that results from the program he is concurrently updating from inside VR. In this paper we discuss the possible impacts of such an approach, as well as the most pressing implementation issues. We offer a critical analysis and comparison of the various solutions available in the context of two different programming paradigms: visual and textual.
9 citations
Cites methods from "Game of Renders - The Use of Game E..."
...The Khepri AD tool, currently available for use within the Atom IDE and with the Julia language, offers a direct connection to a GE backend: Unity (Leitão et al. 2019)....
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...Another possible solution entails taking advantage of the (2) tailored textboxes offered by Unity’s Application Program Interface (API)....
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...In order to compare both paradigms, visual and textual in the context of LCVR, we developed a Khepri-based Grasshopper plug-in capable of communicatingwith any of Khepri’s backends aswell, but most importantly, Unity....
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TL;DR: This paper proposes a new design approach: Live Coding in Virtual Reality (LCVR), which means that the architect programs the design while immersed in it, receiving immediate feedback on the changes applied to the program.
Abstract: Algorithmic Design (AD) uses computer programs to describe architectural models. These models are visual by nature and, thus, greatly benefit from immersive visualization. To allow architects to be...
8 citations
23 Mar 2020
TL;DR: This research proposes to ease the programming task for architects who wish to code their models in VR, by supporting program comprehension in the LCVR workflow with traceability and refactoring mechanisms.
Abstract: Algorithmic Design (AD) is a design approach based on the development of computer programs to describe architectural models. The programs’ outputs are digital architectural 3D models, which are visual by nature and, therefore, benefit from immersive visualization. Live Coding in Virtual Reality (LCVR) is a methodology for the interactive development of AD programs while immersed in Virtual Reality (VR), favoring a more intuitive development process for architectural designs. However, complex buildings tend to require complex AD programs and, despite the added visual aid, as programs grow in complexity, it becomes harder to understand which parts of the program were responsible for which parts of the model. Moreover, LCVR introduces a new level of complexity: interaction with both model and program in VR. This research proposes to ease the programming task for architects who wish to code their models in VR, by supporting program comprehension in the LCVR workflow with traceability and refactoring mechanisms. These features will help users interact with their designs from within the virtual environment.
6 citations
Cites methods from "Game of Renders - The Use of Game E..."
...Khepri’s refactoring mechanisms automatically adjusted all function calls affected by this change, guaranteeing that the program keeps on running as expected despite the modification....
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...In this case, the combination Julia+Atom+Juno was used for the IDE, while the AD tool chosen was Khepri [13]....
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...Khepri’s traceability is illustrated in Figure 6....
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...Rosetta [14] and Luna Moth [1], two textual programming tools, as well as Khepri, the AD tool used for the LCVR implementation, support bi-directional traceability, which means users may select either code fragments or model parts and the tool will highlight the corresponding part in the opposite end....
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...Figure 8 presents an example of Khepri’s refactoring capabilities....
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TL;DR: This paper proposes the Navigator tool, which gathers a set of white-box mechanisms that automate the generation of default, random, similar and hybrid designs and design subspaces, while also supporting thegeneration of design collections.
Abstract: Generative design systems can generate a wide panoply of solutions, from which designers search for those that best suit their interests. However, without guidance, this search can be highly inefficient, and many interesting solutions may remain unexplored. This problem is mitigated with automated exploration methods. Still, the ones typically provided by generative design tools are mostly based on black-box methods that drastically reduce the role of the designer, while more straightforward white-box mechanisms are dispersedly found in specific applications. This paper proposes the Navigator tool, which gathers a set of white-box mechanisms that automate the generation of default, random, similar and hybrid designs and design subspaces, while also supporting the generation of design collections. The proposed mechanisms were tested with two generative systems that create, respectively, tower and chair designs. We expect that, by providing understandable mechanisms for navigating design spaces, designers can become more engaged in the search process.
1 citations
23 Mar 2020
TL;DR: This work proposes to address the problem of barrier to the adoption of AD by coupling AD with complementary representation methods that are adequate for designing complex architectural projects and by supporting their synchronization in a dedicated design tool.
Abstract: Algorithmic Design (AD) is a novel approach to architectural design based on the creation of form through algorithms. The inherent flexibility of AD encourages the exploration of a wider design space, the automation of design tasks, and design optimization, considerably reducing project costs. Nevertheless, current AD uses representation methods that radically differ from those used in architectural practice. This creates a barrier to the adoption of AD, thus, limiting the potential benefits. We propose to address this problem by coupling AD with complementary representation methods that are adequate for designing complex architectural projects and by supporting their synchronization in a dedicated design tool.
1 citations
Cites background from "Game of Renders - The Use of Game E..."
...Since architectural models tend to be computationally heavy, we are exploring game engines as a fast visualization alternative [4, 11]....
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References
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23 Mar 2020
TL;DR: This work proposes to address the problem of barrier to the adoption of AD by coupling AD with complementary representation methods that are adequate for designing complex architectural projects and by supporting their synchronization in a dedicated design tool.
Abstract: Algorithmic Design (AD) is a novel approach to architectural design based on the creation of form through algorithms. The inherent flexibility of AD encourages the exploration of a wider design space, the automation of design tasks, and design optimization, considerably reducing project costs. Nevertheless, current AD uses representation methods that radically differ from those used in architectural practice. This creates a barrier to the adoption of AD, thus, limiting the potential benefits. We propose to address this problem by coupling AD with complementary representation methods that are adequate for designing complex architectural projects and by supporting their synchronization in a dedicated design tool.
1 citations