A quick stroll through Parametric Urbanism

Parametric/ Parameter:  In mathematics, parametric equations are a method of defining a curve. A simple kinematical example is when one uses a time parameter to determine the position, velocity, and other information about a body in motion. [i]

That was a little brief to get introduced to the terminology - widely used in the contemporary design strategies. If one was to define the resultant of such equations, it is to provide a definition to complex forms seen in nature that can measure the ‘change’ in form, function or of any nature by defining them as variable parameters.

 a defined curve based on parametric equations - butterfly curve. -source:wikipedia

 Is urban(ism)... parametric?  Of course it is. Every urban condition is in constant change like every matter or collected matter in the universe with certain parameters driving the change. One could define ‘urban’ as assemblies of matter that includes you, me and all other physical elements that form a city and since every matter is under change and we (as humans) can only see through limited scales in our lifetime, hence do not notice the two scales: the one that spans over the period of our lifetime or the other that happen quicker than we can absorb in our senses.  But the city is constantly under change; shops give way to new ones- change in fashion and choice, houses change to multi-storeyed apartments -change in value and need, change in social culture- network interface with our lives, and the list is endless...

If the list is endless the how can we select the parameters for designing a city as we have constraints?

A city exists in an interrelationship between various parameters; social interaction spaces, economical development, availability of land, number of people and sometimes from its relation to other cities (e.g. recent the hit on European cities due o collapse in American leverage system). The Design parameters although could be restricted to more physicality with a data driven approach as a constant feedback mechanism can alter the design time and again to produce a set of changes that in turn allows the city to be more responsive than the earlier formats of city design which were driven by the zoning laws and basic initial masterplans (city of Chandigarh).

Parametric Urbanism - AADRL[ii]

In the initial 19 hundreds when first cities were designed with Howards idea of city design (on a clean slate of land all over the world) was realised due to a very necessity in the change in social structure. The origin of automobile as a form of transport forced to enhance the road width which completely changed the profile of the cities from the medieval era which had narrow streets and 3 storied houses. Today it seems no different to see cities zoned out in various housing, commercial and industrial sectors which during the early emergence from medial towns looked as huge surprises. Similarly, parametric urbanism today gives a similar impression that it is advanced from the traditional planning of zoning which works with techniques on a data feedback system are by far more efficient than the planning of today’s cities as the data inputs can give a more intelligent and efficient behaviour of overall cities performance. However the question of realising these designs is not a question as much to design but rather a question of social necessity –

‘For the Garden cities the invention like the automobiles and industries brought about the major switch. What is going to drive the contemporary city design system to be replaced by parametric urban design schemes if they were to be realised on clean a slate  again? ‘

 

“...all you touch and all you see, is all your life will ever be.

run rabbit run dig that hole, forget the sun

and when at last the work is done, don’t sit down

its time to dig another one...“

Breathe, Dark side of the moon- Pink Floyd

-Subharthi Guha

14^th Feb 2009 

 

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[i] source:  wikipedia

[ii] AADRL.net