Greg Lynn Form

One of the most provocative and exciting architects today, Greg Lynn has defined how designers and architects use computers as a medium, operating in an expanded field that fuses cutting-edge technology, contemporary art, and science fiction aesthetics with architectural form. At the epicenter of a debate about the role of digital design and new fabrication methods in architecture and general design culture, his projects skillfully blend high technology and detailed craftsmanship, driven by modeling software from the film and aerospace industries. They range from the Ravioli lounge chair for Vitra to the Embryological House, a pre-fab housing type that takes advantage of new manufacturing technologies to produce customized houses adaptable to local conditions. Included are contributions from theorists, architects, and artists, and futurists such as Sylvia Lavin, Ben van Berkel, and Caroline Bos of UN Studio, J.G. Ballard, and Tom Friedman, among others. Greg Lynn FORM offers a window into Lynn's methods and techniques, theoretical positions, and career trajectory. Rather than a retrospective of Lynn's career, it is thought-provoking and forward-looking.

Due to its comprehensive tool-set and great potential for 3D modeling, more and more architectural design and interior design firms are adapting Autodesk Maya and integrating it into their practice. There has been no book aimed at architects and designers who wish to harness the opportunities presented by this software, until now..... The book promotes parametric design. It integrates the theoretical research of computational design and Maya non-linear modeling techniques associated with simulation, animation, digital fabrication and form-finding within 2D & 3D design. Readers will learn: How to use Maya polygon and NURBS modeling tools to create non-linear procedural model. How to use Maya driver keys and relationship tools to generate parametrically negotiable solutions across various design professions. The design logic and generative processes, as well as the potential of parametric thinking as a resourceful tool for achieving diversity and complexity in form generation and fabrication. How to use Maya to prepare files for rapid prototyping and the integration of Maya into various fabrication techniques such as laser cutting, CNC milling, and 3D printing. How to create a digital simulation to simulate all aspects of surface properties and dynamic forces with Maya physics engine. How to use Maya skeleton system and animation tools to control complex architectural forms. How to create photo-realistic renderings with Maya lighting, material and texture mapping. Using several real projects as examples, the book will go through the entire rendering process step by step. How to combine Maya with various CAD/BIM tools to create an efficient design pipeline. How to use Maya MEL script to create customized tools and interface. The book includes case studies from Zaha Hadid Architects, Greg Lynn Form, Gage Clemenceau Architects, Tang & Yang Architects, as well as step by step exercises, demonstration projects and crucially a fantastic online resource which includes video tutorials, scripts, and Maya source files.

This seminal book from Architectural Design was originally published in 1993, at a time of crucial change and on the eve of the digital revolution. It brought together a series of essays that many believe created the favourable environment in which computer-based design could thrive. Considered one of the most influential architecture publications of the 1990s, this book ranks as a classic and in itself is a crucial chapter of history, though one that has been out of print since 1999. This faithful reprinting includes a substantial new introductory essay by Mario Carpo, Head of the Study Centre at the Canadian Centre for Architecture, which examines the impact of the original texts and their ongoing significance. Thereafter, the book is true to its original content showcasing projects by ground-breaking architects such as Greg Lynn, Jeffrey Kipnis, Bahram Shirdel, Frank Gehry and Philip Johnson.

The exhibition and publication constitute the first phase of a multiyear research project launched by the CCA to investigate the incorporation of digital technologies in the field of architecture.

CD-ROM contains animations which provide further illustration of the projects in the book.

Boat, airplane, and automobile design tools and software are now applied to architectural projects using robotics and high-strength, low-weight, carbon fiber composites. Greg Lynn's studio and Mark Foster Gage's seminar at Yale—with participants Frank Gehry, Lise Ann Couture, Chris Bangle, and Greg Foley, among others—generated a lively dialogue invigorating the future of design.