Complex adaptive systems and rule-based design: applications in architecture and urban design

• Grant number: 14/50289-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2014
• End date: August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Architecture and Urbanism Technology
• Agreement: University of Melbourne
• Principal Investigator: Maria Gabriela Caffarena Celani
• Grantee: Maria Gabriela Caffarena Celani
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Civil, Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FEC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/10498-3 - Contemporary architecture and automation: praxis and reflection, AP.R

Abstract

The overarching goal of this project is foster collaborations between interdisciplinary research teams at The University of Melbourne and The University of Campinas in the general fields of architecture, urban design and computational modelling. In this project, we will develop applications of Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) (Holland, 1996) in urban design and architecture, with an emphasis on both research and teaching outcomes. Despite recent work investigating the properties of CAS (see, for example; Manesha and Tadib, 2011; Dobrescu, Dobrescu, and Popescu, 2010; and Batty 2009), relatively little research adopting an explicit complex systems approach has been carried out in architecture, and even less in urban design. Given the current advances in information and computing technologies, we now have a wide variety of software tools and modelling paradigms available to investigate the dynamics of complex adaptive systems. Our main aim will be to develop applications of this technology to support innovative adaptive designs and planning to meet the needs and complexity of the contemporary urban environments. (AU)