The geometry of architecture has a tradition following a rectangular form. Surveys were conducted in the early 20th century that found 98% of building plan shapes were rectangular, with variability mostly being the pitch of a gabled roof, according to Philip Steadman’s, Why are Most Buildings Rectangular? A common idea is that in modern architecture, instruments used by draftsmen such as T-squares make it easier to create shapes that follow a standard axis planform or elevation.

We organize personal body movement according to forward & backward axis and orthogonal left & right axis. This bilateral symmetry along with the gravitational upward and downward is the basic structure relative to our spatial interpretation.

Technology has evolved to enable designers to think in a macro and microscopic variable spatial demeanor. 3-Dimensional computer aided design has become a basic post-modern contemporary tool, and polygonal vector cognition has changed our visionary scope and spectrum of architectural styles. These essential ideas are now taught to all architecture, industrial, 3-D entertainment, and gaming design students. The environmental visualizations are formed from a network of polygons.

In the 1940’s, before polygonal digital renderings, Buckminster Fuller popularized the geodesic dome. This structure is made of polyhedron that are organized to create an extremely efficient curved structure. Vector polygon meshes are an essential component of 3-Dimensional modeling and design. Structures like the geodesic dome have inspired a emergence of parametric design. These curvilinear forms comprise structures on a new scale of ergonomic spatial conceptualization.

In the image above from ASM International Headquarters in Ohio, the observer will find the network of hexagonal forms create a lattice structure. The different regular angles that comprise the structure create the appearance of a perfectly arced curve along the silhouetted outline. This is a basic part to the idea of curvilinear parametric design.

A parametric surface is defined as an Euclidean spatial construct based on the curvature and arc length of curves on the surface, surface area, and differential geometric invariants. It is often used to describe this new wave of architectural design style. Throughout evolutionary human experience, the mind has thrived around organic forms that use biomimicry as a component of their structure. Reminiscent of natural wave-like surfaces, rock undulations, and honeycomb formations, these modern human products are a new ergonomic experience for everyone to interact with. It has risen to the forefront of contemporary architectural media.

Notably, famous architects such as the late Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, and Santiago Calatrava are internationally renowned for creating innovative structures that bend the boundaries of the framework that buildings are formed and the space around them.

The concept of curvilinear parametric design is changing the way we look at luxury residential construction. According to the LA Times, designer Mario Romano, made an impression on the metropolitan urban landscape with a residential parametric design completed in 2017. A vision of wavelike frequency emanates across the structure located in Venice, California.

In 2019 a prominent building designed by Belzberg Architects for the Gores Group in Beverly Hills utilized parametric design concepts to add curvilinear glass panels, sculptural fins of threads, and a laser cut aluminum paneled canopy roofline with an oscillating form.

As tools such as large scale modular 3-Dimensional Printers become more popular, there may be a new desire for luxurious bespoke forms. Perhaps artistic progenitors will construct them interactively with virtual reality headsets. Architects and construction managers may move prominently into a position of approving the physics of the structure and ensuring it is anchored properly to a geographic site. Artists & designers will continue to push the boundaries of the architectural forms built and integrated with the earth.

A design firm WATG Urban in Chicago has designed a ‘freeform’ 3-D Printed home an innovative business called Branch Technology. Using a revolutionary engineering process called cellular fabrication, they created a home that looks like the luxurious architectural version of a tumbled opalescent meteorite. These modular components are shipped to the site in glass fiber reinforced concrete or synthetic stucco.

As new innovative designs reach the precipice of design and functionality the landscape of luxury design architecture will evolve into a new interpretation of style and originality.

Philip Steadman. (2006). Why are most buildings rectangular? UCL Discovery. https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/13217/1/13217.pdf

Buckminster Fuller. Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckminster_Fuller

Parametric surface. Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parametric_s…

(2009, Aug 6). Biomimicry in action | Janine Benyus. TED. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_GFq12w5WU&ab_channel=TED

Daniel Foster. (2017, Jan 7). ‘Wave House’ architect translates nature’s forms into residential designs. Los Angeles Times. latimes.com/business/realestate/hot-property/la-fi-hp-wave-house-20170107-story.html

Carol Choi and Kristofer Leese. (2019). Nimble parametric practice: the digital toolbox. AIA KnowledgeNet. network.aia.org/blogs/john-j-clark-aia/2019/12/29/q4-2019…

Edie Cohen. (2014, Nov 26). Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained: Hagy Belzberg and Joan Behnke Remake Gores Group. Interior Design. interiordesign.net/slideshows/detail/8277…

(2018, Jan 22). WATG Confirms Testing Phase of Freeform 3D-Printed House. WATG Urban. watg.com/watg-confirms-testing-phase-of-award-winning-freeform-3d-printed-house

Our Products. Branch Technology. branch.technology/products