Parametric Flora
Introduction
“Schriften zur Morphologie” by Goethe established the definition of morphology firstly. The characteristics of natural behavior - conceptualized as interaction, iteration, generation, and variation – to which Goethe alludes are fundamental to the exacting of computation in design.
Inspired by existing research on the association between nature and design processes, “Parametric Flora” have explored the connection between physical morphology and computational aesthetics with parametric modeling software and 3D printing. The flower here as a medium demonstrates the correlations and distinctions from the natural system as emulated in the computational environment.
PARAMETRIC BIOMORPHISM
Across the world, plants take many forms, and their shapes can be an unlimited source of inspiration. Plants embody a lot of patterns that are common in nature — bilateral and rotational symmetry, spirals, and Fibonacci sequences. Parametric design has many similarities to the methods of natural creations. When mathematical expressions of natural forms, like porous, repetitive structures, are introduced into the computational environment, the system-intrinsic characteristics and constraints are defined through a set of parameters.
Types of symmetry
The most noticeable patterns that can be seen in floral diagrams are bilateral and rotational symmetry. There is evidence that symmetry is an important clue for pollinators - insects, and birds, and, moreover, certain species prefer only one type of symmetry. This preference for symmetry can be observed in other animals, even in humans. Supposedly, this mechanism is a part of a larger tendency of looking for patterns in an environment that helps animals navigate and find food and resources more effectively.
Spirals and Fibonacci sequence
Another pattern, commonly seen in plants, is the spiral one. It is one of two main models of leaf growth: spiral and vertical (or simply non-spiral). The latter means that leaves grow on a stem from the same nodes, and the former implies that every leaf emerges from its own point. Vertical leaf arrangements differ from plant to plant, but the spiral pattern is constant in every plant - in this case, all the nascent leaves in a plant are separated by the golden angle, or 137.5°. The same angle and pattern can be observed not only in plants but in other living creatures, for example, tentacles of jellyfish are arranged the same way.
Asymmetry and networks
Even though there is a prejudice towards symmetry in many creatures, perfectly symmetrical plants need the support of chaotical and seemingly disordered networks. Fungi, connect single plants into a coordinated network, through which they exchange information and nutrients, and roots both look like tangled threads, combined without any particular order.
In fact, fungi and roots follow the rules of fractal branching. When they grow, new cells appear on the tip of an existing branch and randomly divide into small branches, which repeat the parental branch. Those offshoots then grow and interconnect with each other, this phenomenon is called anastomosis, and because of this coalescence, the initial structure of a fractal gets hidden.
Integrating computational form and materialization
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) is a critical factor for Integrating computational form and materialization because it enables differences to be achieved. CAM extends the long-term established design process and engages the users in the design steps by adjusting the parameter. Due to the reintroduction of affordable variation with 3d printing, "mass customization" flourishes. In this project, I have experimented with two approaches to print these new bioforms and retained their generation programs in the virtual environment to provide the possibility of customization.
