In Google Earth, we can find the fabric of the block is the standard type of old urban

Since we consider about urban fabric, we started from figure-ground.

The paths in figure ground could be deconstructed into “network system” and “path themselves” Network System Path Themselves

So, let me introduce the process in a brief way. Path analysisNetwork analysis Select the target block Network generation Path generation Combine network and path together to get a new block Remake as Figure-ground System features Hierarchy Cellular-automata System bug fixing Reform in new block Reform a standard path by patterns Take patterns Pick standard paths

People purposely make this kind of paths, Block could be cut into more than 2 parts by this hierarchy. Network Analysis Main Inferior Secondary We start from the hierarchy analysis to define which level could be make by generative design. With lowest hierarchy, used to support the system of green ones. Main element of the path system, mainly used by local people, with high continuity. I want to deal with two hierarchy only, so I take a part as the study area.

In other word, the site of this design is limited in this area. By the way, if we consider about network system only, the mapping is just like this. Network Analysis

Diagram- 街道續 Diagram- 障礙移除 People in the past form paths in a simple thought----the continuity. In the past, paths is made without urban planning, people just try to link different part, or break obstacles to make the continuity of paths. Network Generation

In this generative design, we use cellular automata to form a new network system. C.A. in this case is a grid system construct with a lot of cells, each cell acts follow a simple rule. Like “When there are 1 cell around, the cell alive.” or “When there are more than 4 cells around, the cell should die.” We use this kind of rules, to analogue the behavior of path making of past. Network Generation

We use the plug-in of “Grasshopper,” “Rabbit” This battery control the rule of born. Dead cell comes to alive when it has exactly 1 or 2 living neighbors. This is the rule how a cell born in this case. Network Generation

A living cell remains alive only when surrounded by 1,2 or 3 living neighbors. This is the rule that a cell could keep alive. If the cell couldn’t keep alive, then die. Network Generation

This Is the process we make network system. We start from the network made by cellular automate And we note the network system we see in the C.A.. Then fix the system in order to make sense in real. Define the hierarchy of the paths inside. (Into blue and green) And we smooth the green system to strengthen continuity. Network Generation

And we transform the network we got in C.A. into the block we deal with Network Generation

This part, we are discuss what define the form of path on figure ground. I tried to tell a path in many patterns, each patterns have its own width and length. The 2 basic parametric are width and the length of patterns. Path Analysis Since I just analogue computer, I decide analyze a path for each hierarchy only.

At the same time, we will use the same analytic process on blue hierarchy, too. Path Analysis

This analysis is based on how I realize the path made from. Path Analysis If we consider the path is the space between the buildings along itself. We can use the length of building as a parametric and the width of path as the other parametric. We will got a lot grids as patterns.

Green SystemBlue System lengthwidth 1/2 width lengthwidth 1/2 width lengthwidth 1/2 width lengthwidth 1/2 width S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D S D H C11.221H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C H C13No Data joker joker1No Data joker joker2No Data S = Space D= Diamond H= Heart C= Club ♠♦♥♣ You can see we got a lot of data. Since I use card as my random picker, my data of each hierarchy should controlled under 54 patterns. Path Analysis

To form a new path, we put a lot patterns together. Path Generation

The last process! And now, we transform the paths into the network, to put them together. This process really need the help of computer…

Finally, we got a new path… But there is still something different… Compare with old one… I think it’s not difficult to find the new network is too smooth, and the width of paths have less variation.

Finally, we got a new path… But there is still something different… Compare with old one… If only we compare with the path we analyzed, the outcome is ok. Because the path we choose is obviously working in the whole.

So… How can we make this process better? Just like debug, each time we run a process, we can know what might fix this process. Maybe there are more hierarchies. These two paths in my analysis are at the same hierarchy, but the form of them are really different. To find the differentiation, we should know more reasons what make the form of paths.

And we can still find the path is really not smooth. We also need more obvious about the reasons form the network. some place smooth, so place angle Full of angles Too smooth The real oneCellular automata typeSmoothen type

To make a real block by generative design, we need more data (parametric) to get closer to real. Path Network And more?

Thanks for your attention. Always end with… THE END