Parametrising historical Chinese courtyard-dwellings: An algorithmic design framework for the digital representation of Siheyuan iterations based on traditional design principles

Wang, Yuyang, Agkathidis, Asterios ORCID: 0000-0002-0742-5218 and Crompton, Andrew ORCID: 0000-0001-9206-8341 (2020) Parametrising historical Chinese courtyard-dwellings: An algorithmic design framework for the digital representation of Siheyuan iterations based on traditional design principles. FRONTIERS OF ARCHITECTURAL RESEARCH, 9 (4). pp. 751-773.

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Abstract

Many Beijing Siheyuan, a type of Chinese vernacular housing with significant cultural value, have been lost in recent years. Preserving the few remaining has become a necessity, but many contemporary architects lack an understanding of their design principles. Based on a historical analysis deriving from Fengshui theory, the Gongcheng Zuofa Zeli ancient construction manual, and craftsmen's experience, this paper describes a parametric algorithm capable of producing Siheyuan variants within a 4D CAD environment which by transforming the original design principles into an algorithm contributes to an understanding of Siheyuan typology and their preservation. This algorithm was implemented in a virtual scripting environment to generate accurate virtual counterparts of historical or extant Siheyuan houses revealing the tacit computational rules underlying traditional Chinese architecture.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Digital heritage, Parametric design, Siheyuan, Fengshui, Gongcheng Zuofa, Zeli, Algorithmic design, Computational design
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	11 Jan 2021 09:52
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 23:04
DOI:	10.1016/j.foar.2020.07.003
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3113114

Available Versions of this Item

• Parametrising Historical Chinese Courtyard-Dwellings: An algorithmic design framework for the digital representation of Beijing Siheyuan iterations based on Fengshui and Gongcheng Zuofa Zeli. (deposited 19 May 2020 09:53)
  • Parametrising Historical Chinese Courtyard-Dwellings: An algorithmic design framework for the digital representation of Beijing Siheyuan iterations based on Fengshui and Gongcheng Zuofa Zeli. (deposited 17 Jul 2020 08:03)
    • Parametrising historical Chinese courtyard-dwellings: An algorithmic design framework for the digital representation of Siheyuan iterations based on traditional design principles. (deposited 10 Aug 2020 07:40)
      • Parametrising historical Chinese courtyard-dwellings: An algorithmic design framework for the digital representation of Siheyuan iterations based on traditional design principles. (deposited 11 Jan 2021 09:52) [Currently Displayed]