Of the thesis entitled: MeasureIt-ARCH: Creating Unconventional Dimensioning Tools, for an
Open Source Design PlatformCrafting
Abstract:
This thesis focuses on the development and testing of MeasureIt-ARCH. A GNU GPL licensed software tool developed to facilitate the use of the open source software Blender for Architectural design work. MeasureIt-ARCH adds functionality to produce dimensioned and annotated line drawings that can be used in tandem with blenders robust modeling and rendering toolset. Rather than simply imitating the dimensioning workflows of conventional CAD or BIM tools, MeasureIt-ARCH explores unconventional methods for generating linework and placing dimensions. It abandons references to user defined work planes and instead utilizes information about a model’s geometry and the user’s viewpoint to dynamically inform a dimension placement or linework’s visual characteristics.
Beyond simply discussing the creation of Measuerit-ARCH itself, this thesis provides 3 small speculative discussions about the implications that an Open-Source design tool might have on the Architectural profession.
First, we investigate MeasureIt-ARCH's use for small scale architectural projects in a practical setting, producing conceptual design and renovation drawings for The Lodge at Pine Cove. Second, we discuss the tools potential to facilitate greater engagement with the Open-Source Architecture (OSArc) Movement. Drawing on writings by Carlo Ratti, Mathew Claudel, Theodora Vardouli, and Leah Buechley, to gauge the state of the movement, and providing a brief case study of the work done by Alastair Parvin and Clayton Prest on WikiHouse, highlighting the challenges of operating an Open-Source Architecture project without an Open-Source design software. Finally, we provide a demonstration of how MeasureIt-ARCH and Blender can be used as a platform to integrate with external systems to Produce a proof of concept, dynamic data visualization of the Noosphere installation at the Futurium center in Berlin, by Phillip Beesley Architects Inc.
This tool is intended as the first step towards creating an Open-Source design pipeline for Architects. A step towards creating architectural drawings that can be shared, read, and modified by anyone, within a platform that is itself free to be modified and improved.
The examining committee is as follows:
Supervisor:
Philip Beesley, University of Waterloo
Committee Member:
Maya
Przybylski,
University
of
Waterloo
Craig
Kaplan,
University
of
Waterloo
External Reader:
Patrick Harrop
The
committee
has
been
approved
as
authorized
by
the
Graduate
Studies
Committee.
The
Defence
Examination
will
take
place:
Friday September
6,
2019
11:00
AM
ARC
2003
A
copy
of
the
thesis
is
available
for
perusal
in
ARC
2106A.