This publication represent the annoted introduction slides to the RIBA Research Symposium 2009: Changing Practices, where Christian Derix – Aedas Head of Computational Design and Research – presented a session entitled ‘Transmision of design knowledge through simulation’.
The presentation focused on the topic of simulation as a device to encapsulate and transmit design experience and knowledge. Computing in architectural design so far has been mostly identified with CAD and parametrics. CAD encapsulates data, while simulation via computation encodes process and design heuristics. Simulation allows people to communicate their design intentions more explicitly than images and links disciplines. Finally, some algorithms and computing techniques will be shown that exemplify the shift from parametrics to simulation.