dnoble@kahn.ced.berkeley.edu (Douglas Noble) (08/18/90)
Computer Aided Visual Representation in Architecture
Karen Kensek
Douglas Noble, AIA, Ph.D.
Department of Architecture
University of California, Berkeley
Announcement - August 10, 1990
Description
There are few innovations in the practice of architecture that
have had the impact of the introduction of the computer as a
visualization tool. In a relatively short time products have
been developed that allow the designer to generate remarkably
realistic, even surrealistic, representations of built form.
Especially exciting has been the use of computer-aided
visualization to explain design proposals to clients and win
design competitions.
We are currently working on developing a book on this subject
which we hope to have published in the Spring of 1991.
This book will graphically demonstrate the state of the art in
computer generated visualization for architects. The orientation
of the book is toward the general public, with some emphasis on
the professions of architecture and visualization. We expect the
nature of the illustrations to be impressive enough to capture
the interest of a very broad section of the population. The main
point of the book is to capture the brilliant images produced
from the synthesis of two artistic endeavors, architecture and
computer graphics.
The book will open with a two or three page introduction or
preface that will describe the uses of geometric modeling for
visualization in architecture and outline the structure of the
book. A short illustrated history of architectural computer
visualization will follow, laying the foundation for
understanding the computer techniques to be described in the next
section.
Our intention is to provide a brief, non-technical description of
the methods used in computer visualization written at a level
that will be widely understandable. Such methods include image
processing, wireframe modeling, surface modeling, solid modeling,
ray tracing, radiosity, and holograms, among many others. Using
specific graphic examples from architecture, we will explain in
laymen's terms with heavily annotated diagrams the concepts and
discuss the the advantages and disadvantages of each technique.
The main body of the book will be examples taken from work done
by academics and students, professionals, and those in the
computer industry. A short description will accompany each
illustration indicating how it was generated and what special
features it may have. We will include credits for the work in
the description, including school or firm, hardware platform,
software system and any special effects.
The book will be fully indexed by school, firm, and designer
name, and by the techniques used to create the illustration.
If you are interested in participating in this venture, we
encourage you to contact us at the address noted below. If you
already have material which you believe is appropriate for the
book, please send a copy (no originals yet, please) directly to
us along with the information requested below.
Thank you for your help!
Douglas Noble
Department of Architecture
232 Wurster Hall
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94704
(415) 642-2658 (office)
(415) 642-4942 (message)
dnoble@ced.berkeley.edu
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Project Description
Name of Company/School
Advisor
Person/team who prepared the image(s)
Date
Contact Name, address, and phone (include e-mail)
Hardware system
Software systems(s)
modelling system
rendering system
Output system
Description of the use of image (why you built it)
and why on CAD?
cost of producing the image?
interesting results
surprising findings
Were there any significant drawbacks to the technique used?
Have the images or projects won any awards/competitions?
Have the images been published elsewhere?