Methods of Parametricism in the architecture of children's supplementary education facilities

. The purpose of this article is to show the problem of design and construction of art schools in large Russian cities. The absence of attractive solutions of facades does not mark out the schools of arts from the mass of urban development. To solve the posed problem there are presented the possibilities of using the methods of parametric architecture for designing schools of art by computer modeling. By using unique room layouts, interesting planning the territory of buildings, unusual types of facades, it is possible to get children's attention to such a type of schools, to motivate them to study here and to get new experience in their chosen field of activity. The authors examined the methodology of architectural design and the concept of parametricism as a modern way of modelling architectural space. We have analyzed some parametric design methods. Artificial intelligence and modern computer technology introduce a number of fundamentally new methods of parametric and compositional design. The application of parametric modelling methods is shown on the example of art school’s design-project to prepare children for admission to architecture or art high schools.


Introduction
At present, mass housing is predominant in Russia's large cities. One of the main elements of mass urban development is educational buildings. The typology of educational facilities is quite different, and pre-school supplementary education facilities are widely represented in it. Children's art, music and architecture schools are separately distinguished, according to experts in various areas [1], should have a distinct, individual and aesthetically good-looking architectural image. Attractive and memorable compositions stimulate the development of artistic and musical creativity in those schools, and foster a positive psychological attitude and a desire for regular practice in creative disciplines. However, new pre-school education facilities under construction often continue to inherit the typical planning and façade solutions of Soviet modernism of the 1970s and 1980s. As a result, the façades of these buildings blend in with the residential buildings, failing to accentuate and catch people's eyes, and the color schemes of such facilities are presented in an unimpressive, faded, 'grey' color scheme.
It should be noted that local authorities and the architectural community are currently paying a lot of attention to solving these problems: collections of recommendations, which regulate the options for lighting facades, ways of placing information elements, a variety of coloristic and compositional techniques in the design of educational institutions, are issued.
In this regard, it seems interesting to consider approaches to design of modern art school buildings within the given recommendations. According to the authors, one of the modern trends contributing to the solution of the above-mentioned conceptual and creative problems is the trend of parametric architecture and design. This direction is notable for the fact that the participants of the design process, first of all the architect, have an opportunity to get an expressive volume of three-dimensional model, interesting solutions in the design of interior and landscape environment, to predict the best options of volume-planning solutions. [2] This article aims to identify and disseminate basic parametric design techniques in relation to art school buildings being constructed in the residential areas of large modern cities.

Design problems and architectural planning requirements
Creative, aesthetic and professional education of the younger generation is one of the indicators that determine the level of culture of the society, its economic and social development.
The facilities of additional pre-professional general education programs in the field of art can be combined according to the main types of complexes, such as music school, school of choreography, school of fine arts and etc. The system of placement of such facilities is focused on general cultural development and early professionalization. The main element of the district service network are the buildings of art schools. [3] Children's art school is an institution of additional education for children and teenagers, which implements an educational program with the study of academic disciplines at an advanced level. The main goals and objectives of the Children's Art School are to realise the education for children and teens, the possibility of getting a general cultural development, improving the artistic and aesthetic tastes, the acquisition of artistic and performing theoretical knowledge, skills and abilities, the formation of the creative facilities of children, the acquisition of experience in creative activity, identifying and developing children's talents and professional inclinations at an early age, preparing children for their post-graduate studies in the arts. [4] Analyzing the buildings of art schools, implemented since the middle of the 20th century, we can notice that the architectural and artistic appearance of the buildings are not inconsistent with modern requirements of comfort and modern educational trends. Basically, for the construction of such typical buildings were used outdated finishing materials, standard sizes of windows and doors. There are the almost complete absence of architectural details. (Fig.1) Arts schools represent a complex multilevel volumetric-planning structure reflecting the content and peculiarities of the educational process, but the functional-planning structure of the existing schools is now outdated: there is a need for new spaces and rooms. Thus, many buildings do not fulfill the requirement of current trends in education and social comfort.
From the point of view of modern researchers, art school buildings should have expressive exterior and interior solutions, a strict and symmetrical relationship of parts and the whole in the compositions of the facades. The building should have its own visual "character", a universal and expressive compositional structure. [5] From the point of view of modern world tendencies in design, some of these provisions are undoubtedly disputable, but the general focus on authenticity, plasticity of forms, inspiring effect from observing the silhouette and separate architectural details should form the basis of modern design approach. This approach can be fully realised by using the methods and principles of parametric architecture. [6]

The main concepts and methods of Parametricism
Parametric modeling is a design that is based on using the parameters of the elements that are part of the overall model, and the relationships between these parameters that determine the geometric shape of the model. Thus, the search for design solutions is simplified. A set of programs and a variety of methods and algorithms, as well as their modification allow to achieve the optimal technical and economic indicators of architectural design.
Prominent representatives of the direction are: Frey Otto, Greg Lynn, Santiago Calatrava, Jan Kaplicki, Zaha Hadid, Costas Varotsos, John Fraser, Paul Coates, Peter Eisenman, Frank Gehry. The basic concepts of this direction were established by P. Schumacher. [7] Architect and PhD, one of the leading ideologists of "Parametrism" (from Greekcommensurate) P. Schumacher declared the new direction as a phenomenon characterising some property of a device, process, substance, environment, where digital, generative and algorithmic architecture became parametric. "Parametricism" is positioned by him as a neoavant-garde style that has already become an epochal phenomenon.
Parametric engineering and design combines a complex of methods consisting of general knowledge about man and science as well as theoretical foundations about architecture and urban planning. Parametric design techniques are applicable in bionic, lightweight, modular and infrastructure construction.
Parametric architecture methods are implemented using the following software: for modelling -Maya, Rhinoceros; for node (visual) programming -Grasshopper 3D, Dynamo; for text programming -Processing, Python; for project refinement -ArchiCAD, Revit, Digital Project, CATIA (Computer Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive Application).
There are some methods for creating design solutions using computational design techniques, the main ones are parametric, informative and generative. [8] Building Information Modelling (BIM) is used by builders, architects, planners, construction companies and craftsmen from the pre-design study onwards, and is supplemented by relevant information at the appropriate stages of the work. Information modelling is also convenient for large companies -the ability for participants to work on the same building model makes working together more accurate, efficient and cost-effective. Once construction is complete, the BIM model is used to manage the building. Ideally, the BIM model is a lifecycle model that is used from the first draft to demolition of the building. In Russia, the use of BIM model is gradually becoming mandatory. For the construction of children's art school buildings, which are mostly financed from the budget, information modelling helps to control the construction time as well as construction and operation costs.
Generative method is an integrated programming language called Computer Generated Architectures (CGA), which is based on the use of rules and algorithms to create models in a three-dimensional environment. CGA technology can control the number of windows and doors in a project, the width of openings, facade texture, type of finishes, ceiling height, placement of furniture, as well as other parameters that control the external shape of the building, layout elements, etc. These codes can be applied to any type of building to produce a 3D model in a very short time. In addition, the programme has also recently become a more specialised tool for urban design. Generative design can be used to visualise master plans, monitor the development of projects throughout the city, manage zoning codes and interact with citizens. In the design of art schools, for example, it is possible to use an algorithmic search approach to select the best arrangement of desks and workstations for students in specialised classes (sculpture, easel painting), taking into account the unobstructed visibility of staging and ergonomics. It is also possible to find the size and arrangement of window openings on the surface of the facades, taking into account the sun's movement pattern and the calculation of insolation times and locations of sun protection devices. An important task for the architect-programmer may be to analyse the flow of people in and around the school grounds. In this way, the architect is able to set criteria for machine analysis and quality assessment of design solutions.
The parametric method is performed by programming code to determine the dimensions and geometry of the model. Nowadays, computational and statistical analyses are used in engineering and urban planning. Parametric modelling is a sequential process to create an architectural form by specifying variable parameters of architectural elements. The special nature of parametric models allows the user to change the values of one variable and thereby influence other variables, creating a new design scenario based on the values of all variables. Changing the design script allows the designer to change the entire form of the model, not just individual elements. The concept of parameter-driven modelling is now used in a wide range of off-the-shelf software [9]. For art schools, in the context of this article, it is important to be able to find new complex architectural forms and facade surfaces described by mathematical equations, which allows further transfer of information to specialists in other departments in the form of layouts and ready-made drawings. An interesting task is the selection of façade solutions: it is possible to randomly generate repeatedly varying geometric shapes of hinged decorative shells or lamellae.

Results
It should be noted that the style of the objects created with the method is peculiar, as it is dominated by organic lines and empty shapes, also to optimise structural strength (or flexibility, as required) using the least amount of material. The research spectrum can be supplemented by aspects with both economic and ecological effects, such as optimised use of materials in construction, energy or employees, a smooth transition from automated planning to production. All information is linked in parametric models, which means that when planning buildings for children's art schools any changes to components will be updated automatically.
The parametric model can be reused and developed from project to project. With the help of visual scripting users can create parametric models even with little programming knowledge. The project data is used throughout the entire process, from design to construction to realisation.
Based on the discussion above, it is possible to formulate recommendations for the application of the parametric approach for the design of children's art schools: 1. Using the parametric method to find an expressive silhouette and original space planning solutions that create an atmosphere of creative freedom and creativity; 2. Detailing the façade planes to find original compositional solutions using rhythm, size, coherence and colour of orthogonal and curvilinear elements also based on the parametric method; 3. Application of the generative method to find the best options for the orientation, size and shape of light openings, shading devices, taking into account the requirements of insolation time and natural light; 4. Application of generative design as a tool of analysis of ergonomic parameters in the placement of equipment and furniture for creative disciplines, as well as a means of designing the corridor system in accordance with the absence of intersections of human flows of different functional groups of rooms and evacuation requirements; 5. Design the landscape environment, passageways and walkways based on generative design tools; 6. Information modeling of the art school building to create a "digital duplicate" of the object with all the characteristics of engineering systems, load-bearing and enclosing structures.
As an object of experimental design was selected architectural school for preparing children for admission to the architectural or art high schools. The project was used to analyse the capabilities of Revit program, building a 3D model of the building using the technology of adaptive parametric design.
Since the concept of the building was created with the phenomenon "genius loci" (Latin for "spirit of place" or "genius of place") and the construction site was near a natural body of water, it was decided to provide unusual geometric arrays on the facades in the form of waves from the outside of the building. Obtaining the shape of these elements was possible by the connection of the parameters of the family [10]. In the following figure we see a prepared family of elements, if we change the parameter of radiuses, we could get a different shape of the curtain facade envelope (Fig.2). This facade shell is presented in 3D view, as it looks in the white model. Initially we set some parameters, as a consequence, the shell has adopted one of the possible shapes (Fig. 3). We can change the dimensions of the shell by changing the parameters for the used radiuses in the context menu. In the last figure we can clearly see the results of changing the dimensions of the same shell (Fig. 4). We can notice how much the shape has changed in a few seconds, by changing a few numbers in the family. During creating a family, you should be guided by the principle of reasonable sufficiency, i.e. the amount of graphic and attribute information in the family should be minimal, but sufficient to solve the tasks at hand. Families, placed in the Revit project file, become elements of the BIM model that accumulate necessary information as the project develops.
Below is a plan of the second floor of the designed object. Here were applied the ideas and concepts of non-standard solutions not only for the facades of the building, but also to obtain a rounded flowing form of the premises. (Fig. 5).  In the end we present the final sketch of the project for a children's architectural school. The object fits perfectly into the environment and the selected area, and has a non-standard form that stands out strongly against the background of urban development, and attracts the eyes of passers-by citizens. (Fig. 6)   Fig.6. Final visualization of the experimental project.
The application of the parametric approach allowed to obtain an unusual compositional and planning solution, as well as an authentic and recognizable style solution of the facades.

Discussions
The introduction of design solutions based on the parametric approach often meets a certain resistance in the circle of the professional community and construction investors. There is still a distrust of the creative understanding of the results of computer modeling and the understanding of these technologies as something artificial in relation to traditional design methods. Parametric design is often criticized for lack of direction in revealing the underlying architectural image of the building, for the absence in the work of architects, followers of parametricism, the desire to consider the "spirit of place", social, cultural and historical uniqueness of the construction site. Considering the objects, the construction of which is conducted from budget financing, it is impossible not to mention the economic risks. Complex technology to create non-standard architectural elements in the Russian practice is still losing in price terms to their standard counterparts.
Critics of the style also note that the expressiveness of interior and exterior solutions can be achieved in other architectural styles and approaches, such as modernism, bionics or deconstructivism. Nevertheless, the development of this architectural style and computer modeling technology, focused on the continuation of the "hand" and the consciousness of the architect, according to the authors, in the future, will be able to solve the mentioned contradictions.

Conclusions
The methodology of parametric architecture can be used to find unique, meeting all modern architectural requirements, design solutions of architectural art schools.
The material considered in the article allows us to draw the following conclusions: 1. A brief analysis of massively built and already built schools of art showed a lack of bright, stylistically extraordinary, beneficial to the formation of a comfortable indoor environment architectural solutions; 2. Three basic methods of parametric design applied to designs of children's schools of art are considered; 3. Recommendations are given on the use of methods of parametric architecture for creation of modern projects of children's schools of arts; 4. An example of a design for a children's architecture school is given, along with a description of the software tools used; 5. The advantages and disadvantages of the parametric approach to architectural design are noted.
It is now clear that the next step in the development of the design process will be the use of artificial intelligence technology in architecture. It has already found a potentially revolutionary application in design, combining the generative power of algorithms with the ability to control the material implementation of models and BIM modeling. Time will tell how much of this approach will be justified in terms of solving design problems, and how it will be combined with architects' need for expression and creative expression.