Architectural interpretations of spatial form based on cellular automata with application in balneal contexts

• Published in: Arhitektura i urbanizam Vol. 2009; no. 26; pp. 45 - 55
• Main Authors: Petruševski Ljiljana, Devetaković Mirjana, Mitrović Bojan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Serbian
• Published: Institute of Architecture and Urban and Spatial Planning of Serbia 01.01.2009
• Subjects: balneal architecture; cellular automata; contextualization; interpretation; spatial
• ISSN: 0354-6055; 2217-8074

The concept of cellular automata (CA) has been challenging various disciplines for many decades. In this study the concept has been examined in the process of spatial form generation. After providing the mathematical and logical explanations of CA and self-replicating systems in general, the paper references relevant previous studies of CA use in generation of spatial form. It also presents the original CA module of the software Fun3D that has been developed at the University of Belgrade, with aim to support generic processes in creation of architectural form. The authors suggest a series of steps, directed towards a methodology of architectural interpretation of a generated spatial form. The steps include, but are not limited to interpretation of cell state (live-dead; solid-void, opaque-transparent active-inactive, etc), signification of the cell itself (single unit, block of units, structural element, functional element..), interpretation of a rule, interpretation of the CA dimension (1D - line/surface; 2D surface/structure), and finally interpretation of a spatial form as a whole. The central point of the presented study is an experiment realized with the group of architecture students, required to consider a specific balneal context in creating their original, CA based spatial forms. The proposed contextualization allows more specific interpretations that could be systematized and transposed from an academic experiment, to a professional application in architectural and urban design. This study is part of a wider research activity titled Generic Explorations (Generička istraživanja) conducted within the Faculty of Architecture, University of Belgrade, since 2004. It is realized within the Technological project 16007 titled Balneal Tourism (Banjski turizam), financed by the Serbian Ministry of Science from 2008-2010.