Solids, Parameters, and Programs: Computation for Early-Stage Architectural Design

• Published in: IEEE annals of the history of computing Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 80 - 93
• Main Author: Woodbury, Robert F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 01.07.2025
• Subjects: Computational modeling; Computer architecture; Data mining; History; Media; Parametric statistics; Product design; Product development; Programming; Software architecture; Software development management; Solid modeling; Symbols; Training
• ISSN: 1058-6180; 1934-1547
• DOI: 10.1109/MAHC.2025.3598651

In 2025, computation pervades architecture. No one idea or technology dominates. Architectural practice comprises many processes, so we should not be surprised at the wide diversity of tools used. Here though, I focus on how computation has supported the early part of design—that often brief period that sets overall project organization. Computer-aided architectural design (CAAD) researchers have long focused on such “early-stage architectural design.” Typically, the term remains an aspirational goal, rather than a sharp research objective. It does not translate directly to practice, which has opportunistically adapted computational tools developed elsewhere. This article examines three related computational devices that have played important, though not complete, roles in early-stage architectural design. First, solid modeling systems enable computational sketches of early ideas. Second, parametric modeling requires design structure, but defers many decisions to later design stages. Third, end-user programming tools encourage prototyping to support very early-stage decision-making.