Writing Resources
Architects were able to make a valiant design like Heydar Aliyev a reality because designers of twenty first century have a formidable ally in their creative process This technological device was by far the most revolutionary invention of the twentieth century Computers and computer aided design CAD was a huge game changer for architects when it came out in 1960s and is now considered indispensable in building design and construction Initially helping the architects in saving time with their drawings computer software has evolved to the point of Parametric modeling which allows the designer to work with certain features of a building without having to recalculate all the other features that are affected by the changes they make This makes them extremely powerful design tools Now we can make the most complex of the design forms in which all the logistical calculations like loads on building effect of solar radiation cost estimations and factors of error can be calculated pre construction The Gherkin Tower in London is a good case in point as parametric modeling played the key role in its design There are three main features that make it stand out from most other skyscrapers it's round rather than square it bulges in the middle and tapers to a thin end towards the top and it are based on a spiraling design All these could easily be taken as purely aesthetic features yet they all cater to specific constraints A major problem with buildings of the Gherkin s size is that air currents sweeping around them create whirlwinds at their base making their immediate vicinity an uncomfortable place to be To address this problem the design firm SMG advised the architects to use computer models which based on the mathematics of turbulence simulate a building s aerodynamic properties
