Giovanni De Paoli

Is a Digital Model Worth a Thousand Pictures

This communication addresses the use of a new type of referents database in the context of an architectural design studio. It discusses the results of design experiences held with the objective to study the cognitive effects of a teaching approach based on precedents and metaphors available as interactive and reusable digital models to students. The introduction of this referent-based approach is inspired by three major principles: the largely accepted fact that the creative work of architects is highly supported by referring to precedents and metaphors; the use of algorithmic digital methods to encapsulate architectural knowledge; and the constructivist approach to architectural design education. The study finds that the role of the modeled referents is helpful for the design studio learning, and that they are most creatively used when internalized by the student.

Interactive itinerary of heritage houses in Beirut: walking back to the future

The aim of this project paper is to explore the opportunities and challenges of using ICT in the understanding, representation, preservation, management, interpretation of cultural heritage and its Man initiated deconstruction. Aggressive urban development and the rampant growth of tourism pose major problems to world heritage sites. Of particular interest for this project paper are issues related to the specific town of Beirut through interactive virtual reality, and making virtual reality user-friendly and available resources for the general public. A virtual Platform is presented in order to explore and map the challenges and opportunities of using ICT in cultural heritage. This virtual Platform provides a forum to examine and discuss current practices and future directions in the representation, documentation and communication of cultural heritage using ICT. It aims to provide an occasion to share and exchange experiences and research findings, to stimulate more ideas and useful insights regarding the uses of ICT in cultural heritage.

The Front of the Stage Of Vitruvius’ Roman Theatre

The driving force of all researches where the systems of computation are used, is the utilization of an intelligent method for the representation of building. The use of computer, in design process, is often limited to technical functions (tekhne), and what one usually calls computer-aided design is often no more than computer-aided drawing. In this research paper we continue a reflection on the architects work methods, and suggest an approach to design based on the semantic properties of the object (Le. semantic operators), rather than by geometric operators. We propose a method of computer aid design using procedural models where the initial state of design is vague and undefined. We operate from a paradigm that leads to represent a building by means of parametric functions that, expressed algorithmically, give a procedural model to facilitate the design process. This approach opens new avenues that would permit to add the logos (semantic properties) and lead to a metaphorical representation. By means of procedural models, we show that, from a generic model we can produce a four dimensional model that encapsulate a volumetric model with semantic characteristics. We use a meta-functional language that allows us to model the actions ane! encapsulate detailed information about various building elements.