COMPUTER AIDED ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
ARCH 6410/3410: SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

Exercise 2: A 2D exercise in geometrical modeling and symmetry analysis
Due: September 19, 2011

This assignment will introduce or re-introduce you to the use of a Computer Aided Architectural Design system. You will learn how to create objects from graphic primitives, associate these objects within groupings and use them in a manner that describes geometrical organization.

This work is to be based on a work of architecture, landscape architecture or other designed or natural three-dimensional form that you can continue to model for the semester. You should choose a work that is of critical significance, and is well documented to the extent that you can reproduce or have access to existing plan, section and elevation drawings. This exercise is in two parts.

Part 1 Preliminary Analysis

Once you select your the case study subject, analyze its plan and elevation. See if you can reduce its apparent complexity to a few simple geometrical ordering elements. Look in particular for symmetry transformations. These may include:

translational symmetry  (move and copy tools)

bilateral symmetry (mirror tools)

rotational symmetry (rotate tools)

Once you've uncovered some of the geometrical ordering elements of your project , you are ready to begin Part 2. You do not need to submit any work for Part 1.  

Part 2 Geometrical analysis  in Plan and Elevation

In this part of the exercise, you will explore Microstation according to your analysis from Part 1. With the aid of Microstation's transformation operations, you are to assemble figures from primitive graphical elements (e.g. lines, circles, arcs, etc.). Use whatever transformation tools (e.g., copy, rotate, scale, mirror commands) that are appropriate to your geometrical analsys. That is, construct your drawing taking into account the systematic application of these transformation tools to construct a plan of your subject and optionally an elevation. Use color and layers to help organize your drawing according to geometrical thematic elements.

The table on Basic Microstation Commands contains a list of functions, along with several other features with which you should become generally familiar upon completion of this assignment.

What you need hand in:

Submit a Microstation drawing file (i.e., a .dgn file) showing plan and optionally an elevation. Place your finished drawing in your submit directory on the school's computer system. You will be advised as to how to create a submit directory in the workshop. To submit your homework assignments, simply copy the MicroStation file into your submit directory.

1. Find the Computer Icon on the left-hand side of your Windows desktop and open it (double click), or go to "start"/"all programs"/"my computer" from your Windows OS.
2. Find the G: (Classes on Olmsted) drive letter and open it.
3. Open the folder for Arch6410.  Inside this, open the Submit folder, then your section time's folder, then your personal submit directory.
4. Go back to the Computer Icon and find the directory with your personal folder.  Open this and locate the correct MicroStation file.  All MicroStation CAD files have a suffix (file extension) of .dgn and will have an Icon with a blue B symbol on it.
5. Copy the homework file from your personal folder to your submit directory in G: as found in steps 1-3
6. When the file appears in the Submit folder (the icon will appear there), the file has been submitted.
7. IMPORTANT - Send email to Earl Mark (ejmark@virginia.edu) and your TA who's email addresses appear at the top of the Syllabus.  Include within your email a message that describes the work you have done, the location and name of your drawing file, and also, a paragraph about yourself, your background in computers (if any) and expectations for the semester.