The term parametrics comes from the word parameter, which is defined as an input or influence that shapes something else. In this case, a parameter influences architecture by how it structures buildings and homes.

A few examples of parametric styles are the skyscraper designs of Mies van der Rohe, the sleek lines of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the rounded curves of many contemporary architects.

These types of spaces feel comfortable for us because we perceive them as natural habitats. Spaces with curved walls, for instance, create a feeling of comfort due to the similar shape of our bodies in space.

Other parameters like height affect how well you can see out of a building and what moods you get. A tall tower looks better when you have access to the whole side, creating a sense of seclusion.

With time, technology advances cause newer trends. For example, there was a period where glass towers were the hot style, but now they’re being replaced by metal and concrete ones.

This shift away from transparency is caused by concerns about people leaving their windows open and thus exposing your house or apartment to potential break-ins. Or maybe someone just doesn’t want their view obstructed!

All these factors play into why some architectures look more popular than others.

Examples of parametric architecture

Many famous buildings have been designed using a concept called “parametric” or "scaling" architecture. This is when you design your house, apartment building, mall, etc., as a framework that can be expanded or contracted depending on how much space you have and what kind of use you want to give these spaces.

A restaurant owner might want to add an additional table for large groups, while someone who wants to meet people could choose to reduce the size of the room.

This way, there are always certain standards of accommodation whether it's for one person or twenty-one people, which gives everyone the same level of comfort. It also helps with cost management – if the budget does not include any furniture, you do not need to buy new pieces to fit this theory!

Parametric concepts can be adapted in many different ways. For example, by adding walls or doors, creating private rooms, changing the shape and height of various areas, and so on. All of these changes are done in terms of proportions, so they feel natural and intuitive.

Factors that affect parametric architecture

One of the biggest factors in determining if your design is parametric or not is how you define architectural terms. If you don’t, then it can become confusing as to what each term means!

For example, when people talk about ‘parameterized buildings,’ they are referring to a type of structure where there are certain components that repeat themselves throughout the building. These repeated components are referred to as parameters.

A common example of this would be windows; every house has windows, so windows make up a parameter. Different shapes and sizes of windows are different parameters.

Design considerations for parametric architecture

The next level of abstraction in designing buildings is called parametric or modular design. Rather than having one style that must be applied to every building, this approach allows you to create “building parts” or modules that can be mixed and matched to make different structures with unique looks.

Most people are familiar with software applications which use this technique, where you pick and choose from various components (e.g. buttons, headers, logos, etc.) to make new apps. Technically speaking, these aren’t buildings yet because they don’t have roofs, but it doesn’t take much imagination to see the potential applicability!

By breaking down large projects into smaller pieces, architects hope to inspire others to do the same by demonstrating how easy it is to develop your own ideas. They also believe this will give clients more choice in what they want their house to look like, as well as creating an opportunity for other builders to contribute and expand upon the project.

There are several types of parametric designs, such as those inspired by nature or mathematics. Some even combine both concepts together, making it possible to mix and match shapes and styles within a given structure.

Identify the parameters that affect your design

As mentioned before, one of the most important things to consider when designing parametric architecture is what kind of resources you have available to you. This includes both internal and external factors!

As interior designers, we are limited in many ways due to cost constraints or personal preferences. For example, if I wanted to use patterned wallpaper as a surface treatment, it would cost too much money which could hurt my budget for other features. Or maybe I just don’t like patterns very much so I wouldn’t put up with them for long because I would spend more time cleaning off all the leftover bits than enjoying the wall coverings.

These types of limitations can be frustrating but they also give us an opportunity to look into other areas to find new surfaces and textures. We may even develop strategies to work around our budget by looking at low-cost alternatives or finding ways to rework the texture or pattern to make it less expensive.

Not only do these treatments cost less, but they can be sourced from companies or individuals who create their own designs so there aren’t too many rules about how they are used.

Calculate your parameters

The first step in designing parametric architecture is figuring out what your design space is. This includes determining if you have enough room for expansion, how tall your building will be, as well as what types of functions it will need to hold.

Based on the information given in our initial diagram, we can determine that this office has an adequate amount of space for additional offices or private rooms. It also seems like there’s enough floor area for the reception desk.

This gives us some basic guidelines about how many stories this building should have. One story equals one level of the building, which means this office probably needs at least two more.

Now that we know how much vertical space this office has, we can start thinking about what function these extra floors would need to fulfill. A common type of business is having an administrative staff or CEO who works from home sometimes.

So instead of giving them their own separate office, they have a private workstation with all of the tools they need. These include computer software such as Microsoft Office, and possibly a private phone line so they do not have to rely on shared resources.

This way, they do not have to worry about whether their coworkers are using the same software as them or if they have access to important files. They can focus only on working without any distractions.

Analyze your design

The first step in designing parametric architecture is analyzing your current design and determining what parameters you have already!

You should take note of all the features such as doors, windows, roofs, etc. that make up your building. These are called integral parts of the house.

Next, think about the different areas where people gather. Are there schools, hospitals, or restaurants nearby? What kind of activities do these places promote?

These types of facilities are considered function spaces. They give people something to use so they can enjoy themselves, for example, by having a meeting at the company office, someone has to drive it since it does not run on batteries like an internal computer system would.

Lastly, consider how people move around. If they have cars, then creating walkable neighborhoods makes sense. Or if they rely heavily on public transportation, then making sure their station is easy to access makes sense too.

All of these factors play into deciding which buildings fit well within the space and what shape each one takes.

Document your design

Now that you have an understanding of parametric architecture, it is time to put all of this knowledge into practice! Before doing anything else, you must document your design. This will be used for references as well as creating new documents or presentations based off of yours.

A good way to do this is to use something like Balsamiq, Google Draw, or InFlow to create a diagram of the space. Make sure to include lots of detail and test out different shapes and sizes to see how they fit together.

After getting this down, start designing! Begin by defining areas and components such as living rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, etc. Then define what types of spaces each area is (for example, a bedroom would be categorized as a sleeping room), what functions those spaces have (such as a kitchen needs a place to prepare food) and what materials those spaces are made of (a house needs solid walls and roofs).

Once these things are defined, you can begin layering and connecting them more elaborately.

Know your parameters

The first important thing about parametric architecture is knowing what you’re defining as a parameter. It’s easy to get confused because there are so many different terms used for this concept.

Mostly, it comes down to understanding why people use the term “parameterized design.” This phrase was popularized in the early aughts when digital architects would take an existing style and add variables (or parameters) to make their own version of that style. For instance, they could adjust the color or texture of the materials or the shape of the objects.

These designs were referred to as “variation styles,” which makes sense since those are the things we call shades and textures. And if you think about it, most buildings have shapes and sizes!

But today, the word “design” has taken on a much broader meaning than just building shapes and colors. With technology becoming more advanced every year, people now refer to software and apps as “designed” products.

So when someone says they want something with “parameters,” they probably mean they want their device or app to look new and unique. They might even say they want it to be stylish. Or maybe professional.

That’s where things can become tricky. Because depending on who you ask, what defines a style can vary slightly.