1.

CHAPTER 1

1.1 Introduction

Information age that is characterized by the rapid shift of traditional industrial practices towards
the digital techniques based on information technologies increased the challenges for
architectural field in not only the terms of how we design the buildings but also in terms of how
we manufacture and construct the building.

Design computational, digital architectures of topological, non-Euclidean geometric space,

kinetic and dynamic systems of facades are replacing traditional practices of architecture in
terms of both designing and construction. Digitally driven design processes or computational
designs characterized by integrated, dynamic, open-ended and unpredictable but consistent
transformations of three-dimensional structures are giving rise to new and more complex
architectural possibilities of designs. In order to overcome complexities in designing and
constructing the structure, entanglement of computation design and with construction
machineries are required. In order to meet such complexities techniques of digital manufacturing
were introduced that integrated design conception computation design and construction together.

Digital manufacturing advances have already attained success in aerospace, automotive, and
shipbuilding industries. Now it is opening up new dimensions in architectural design. The
advances in computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
technologies have started to have an impact on building design and construction practices from
past few years. They opened up new opportunities by allowing production and construction of
very complex forms that were until recently very difficult and expensive to design, produce, and
assemble using traditional construction technologies.Its

Evolution in architecture might face difficulties as it will lead to the replacement of relation
between architecture and its traditional means of constructing it. Therefore its important to
identify the scope of digital manufacturing for the type of project it is implied on. In order to do
such comparatives a certain number of parameters should be derived to investigate and educate
people about the concept of digital fabrication in architecture. This project therefore attempts to
derive important parameters of study to investigate certain components of architecture which are
also applicable in Indian context.
 1.2 Title

DIGITAL FABRICATION IN ARCHITECTURE

1.3 Hypothesis

Digitally fabricated architectural components and building elements of any scale could be
manufactured by taking into account certain sets of parameter.

1.4 Aim

To investigate the unexplored nature of digital fabrication in architecture and to establish set of
parameters to decide the method of

1.5 Objectives
• To understand the relation between digital fabrication and architecture
• Achieving the concept of various methods of digital fabrication through various examples.
• Deriving set of principles/parameters for the selection of type of method to go with (digital
versus conventional).
• To understand various applications of digital fabrication in the form of facades, structural
elements, interiors and furniture.

1.6 Scope

With the growing need of clients in parametric architecture and their vision towards more
complex forms it is therefore a difficult task for architects and designers to cater the complexity
and geometry of the demanded form, therefore digital fabrication act as a platform to cater the
design and construction processes of the components simultaneously and easily. A certain sets of
parameters will set a base for selecting the type of process a client or an architect should go with.
1.7 Limitations
• Since digitally manufactured buildings do not exist in India, the research depends
primarily on certain individual components of building for the primary case studies,
rather than building as a whole.
• Most of the conclusion and solution also depend more on the secondary case studies and
interviews of the expert of this field.
• Primary case studies will be limited to a certain kind of materials i.e. stainless steel,
cotton steel and wood

1.8 Research Methodology

• identification of need for studies through aims and objectives
• understanding the concept of digital fabrication through literature reviews
• choosing literature case studies and analyse and understand the process of digital
fabrication for certain components of a building
• derive certain parameters based on literature reviews done and derive comparative matrix
of digital and conventional ways of creating or manufacturing those components of the
building
• streamlining of case studies based on materials
• Identification of those components of building which are being manufactured in Delhi in
both digital and traditional way of process.(live case studies)
• though most of the components will not include live case studies of conventional way of
doing them due to lack of craftsmanship and resources , I will generate a rough process of
creating those elements based on my knowledge and give a rough idea
• explaining the benefits and lags of applicability and scope of digital fabrication through
case studies
• giving a rough conceptual model of preparing any such component through my gained
knowledge