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Parametric Tools in Architecture: A Comparative Study

There are many claims in the literature regarding the creative potential of parametric CAD tools at the conceptual design phase. However, there is very little empirical evidence to support such claims. It is for this reason that this study has been conceived. Questions to explore were: a) Is there a correlation between the parametric design process, which relies mainly on parametric tools and creativity at the early design stage?

b) Is there a difference that is statistically significant between parametric and non-parametric CAD tools in relation to their impact on creativity variables, namely ideation (generating a volume of design variants)? We performed statistical analysis of results from a TWO-group research design, i.e. parametric and non-parametric practices). Over the past few years, several issues of the Architectural Design (AD) journal were exclusively devoted to the review of parametric tools and the way they have been deployed by large design practices within the design process. Many large practices are creating a grouping, usually named ‘smart geometry group’ to use parametric tools in design problem solving. Unlike traditional CAD tools, parametric tools are not easy to use and require different level s of skills from designers. Yet very little research existed that empirically examines the creative potential of parametric tools in design. This work sought to fill this knowledge gap.