MANUFACTURING FREEFORM ARCHITECTURE

Still mired in decades-old technologies, most architects are missing one of the greatest opportunities of the computer revolution. Even if they use computer-aided drafting software, these architects are following an old pattern of creating paper drawings for the later interpretation—or misinterpretation—by builders with conventional tools. Why shouldn't the architect's computer do the construction too?

ONCE AND FUTURE GRAPHICS PIONEER

In the glitzy world of computer-generated visualizations that dominate movies and magazines today, it's easy to take for granted the photographic quality that architects are able to give their renderings of proposed buildings.

But behind the scenes, there have been have been four decades of grueling, dedicated, and inspired research to make possible these synthetic images that are indistinguishable from photographs.

ONCE AND FUTURE GRAPHICS PIONEER, PART II

The Program of Computer Graphics (PCG) at Cornell University, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, continues to set the highest standards for innovation in architectural design technology. Director Donald P. Greenberg has led the program since its founding in 1974.

More Design Tools