Traversing Euclidian Space

Abraham David Noah

This project is an explorative journey into how different urban fabrics can be quickly generated, visualized and analyzed using procedural methods in Houdini.

The following chapters traces the evolution of three algorithms that generate distinct urban forms.

POLYGON uses a top-down method to create a gridded city with a digital twist.

TETRIS uses modular blocks to create a dynamic skyline with mathematical rules.

XYLEM is a reinvention of street network and a bold inversion of its function.

Each of these cities underwent extensive steps to achieve the current form and performance. Every step in the procedural process was met with a feedback and the feedback was looped back into the step to perfect the algorithm.

The aim of each iteration is to create two end products, one tangible and one intangible. The tangible product is the highly livable urban form, and the intangible is the adaptive procedural algorithm which generate new forms according to site conditions.

The examples discussed in this project wish to serve as an introduction to the benefits that procedural algorithms could have on design processes. A well written algorithm is able to create many quick prototypes for designers to make more informed decisions. Wisely used, it shall become a powerful tool to speed up the traditional design process to create highly livable cities.