Aware design models

Appearing almost alive, a novel set of computational design models can become an active counterpart for architects in the design process. The ability to loop, sense and query and the integration of near real-time simulation provide these models with a depth and agility that allows for instant and informed feedback. Introducing the term "Aware models", the paper investigates how computational models become an enabler for a better informed architectural design practice, through the embedding of knowledge about constraints, behaviour and processes of formation and making into generative design models. The inspection of several computational design projects in architectural research highlights three different types of awareness a model can possess and devises strategies to establish and finally design with aware models.

This design practice is collaborative in nature and characterized by a bidirectional flow of information. The concept of the aware model addresses hence the current infrastructures of digital design models and processes, which impede technologically and methodologically feedback between disciplines and processes.