Computational Design is a heterogeneous field of digital development enhancing architectural design, which has emerged and expanded during the past 20 years or so. There are many different definitions, but in general the computational design developer combines expertise in scripting and programming with design competence, and the ability to develop and apply digital code to resolve issues or enhance workflows in architectural design processes. One can argue that it entails a designerly way to write code, or a more systematic way to design. For certain, computational design is a field that continues to advance, with applications in all stages and scales of the architectural design project providing the architect with the ability redesign and improve the design process. This advance has been pushed for a long time within experimental practice and academia, but the application within architectural practice is increasing. To add new capabilities and new ways of practice can be challenging, however. This white paper addresses some of these challenges and presents a set of strategies in response to them. It also provides examples of how computational design has been used at White Arkitekter to enhance architectural commissions of all scales. The computational design development in these selected projects has been conducted by Dsearch, a team of computational design specialist engaged in project specific innovation as well as generic method development since 2010.
QC 20250428