Smartgeometry (SG) is a key influence on the architectural community who explore creative computational methods for the design of buildings. An informal international network of practitioners and researchers, the group meets annually to experiment with new technologies and collaborate to develop digital design techniques. When SG was founded in 2001 by London-based architects and friends Hugh Whitehead (Foster + Partners), J Parrish (AECOM) and Lars Hesselgren (PLP), there was little in the way of parametric tools for architecture. SG was founded to encourage the development, discussion and experimentation of digital design techniques driven by design intent rather than on construction specifications. SG calls for a re-consideration of the design process, where the creation of computational mechanisms become an integral part of designing not a task done prior to or separate from the process. In the early years of the workshops this need for new ways of design thinking led to the development of Bentley s GenerativeComponents software. In recent years, the ecology of these design environments has diversified to include multiple software platforms, as well as innovative fabrication techniques and interactive environments. SG has grown accordingly from a handful of experts to an international network of designers who are defining the future of design. Founded by digital pioneers, it creates the algorithmic designers of the future. Inside Smartgeometry can be seen as a retroactive manifesto for SG, examining and contextualising the work of the SG community: the digital spaces, prototypes and buildings designed using bespoke tools created in response to architectural ideas. From interactive crowd-sourcing tools to responsive agent-based systems to complex digitally fabricated structures, it explores more than a decade of advances that have been influential for architecture. Through 23 original texts including reflections by the founders, and key contributors such as Robert Aish, Martin Bechthold, Mark Burry, Chris Williams and Robert Woodbury, the book offers a critical state of the art of computational design for architecture. Many international design and engineering firms have participated in SG and the book includes chapters by practitioners from offices such as CASE, Design2Production, Foster + Partners, Grimshaw, Populous and SOM.

Smartgeometry (SG) is a key influence on the architecturalcommunity who explore creative computational methods for the designof buildings. An informal international network of practitionersand researchers, the group meets annually to experiment with newtechnologies and collaborate to develop digital designtechniques.When SG was founded in 2001 by London-based architects andfriends Hugh Whitehead (Foster + Partners), J Parrish (AECOM) andLars Hesselgren (PLP), there was little in the way of parametrictools for architecture. SG was founded to encourage thedevelopment, discussion and experimentation of digital designtechniques driven by design intent rather than on constructionspecifications. SG calls for a re-consideration of the designprocess, where the creation of computational mechanisms become anintegral part of designing - not a task done prior to orseparate from the process. In the early years of the workshops thisneed for new ways of design thinking led to the development ofBentley´s GenerativeComponents software. In recent years, theecology of these design environments has diversified to includemultiple software platforms, as well as innovative fabricationtechniques and interactive environments. SG has grown accordinglyfrom a handful of experts to an international network of designerswho are defining the future of design. Founded by digital pioneersit creates the algorithmic designers of the future.Inside Smartgeometry can be seen as a retroactivemanifesto for SG, examining and contextualising the work of the SGcommunity: the digital spaces, prototypes and buildings designedusing bespoke tools created in response to architectural ideas.From interactive crowd-sourcing tools to responsive agent-basedsystems to complex digitally fabricated structures, it exploresmore than a decade of advances that have been influential forarchitecture. Through 23 original texts including reflectionsby the founders, and key contributors such as Robert Aish, MartinBechthold, Mark Burry, Chris Williams and Robert Woodbury, the bookoffers a critical state of the art of computational design forarchitecture. Many international design and engineering firms haveparticipated in SG and the book includes chapters by practitionersfrom offices such as CASE, Design2Production, Foster + PartnersGrimshaw, Populous and SOM.

Foreword 6-7by Brett SteeleIntroduction 8-19by Brady Peters and Terri PetersThe Origins of Smartgeometry 20-35by Hugh Whitehead, Lars Hesselgren and J ParrishFirst Build Your Tools 36-49by Robert AishParametric Evolution 50-59by Branko KolarevicMatrix Architecture 60-71by Jenny E SabinMetrics of Human Experience 72-79by Roly Hudson and Michael WestlakeInteracting with the Model 80-91by Neil Katz, with Bess Krietemeyer and Tobias SchwinnResponsive Design: Towards an Ecology of Objects and People92-101by Andre Chaszar, Anton Savov, Peter Liebsch and SaschaBohnenbergerDesign Flow and Tool Flux 102-111by Robert WoodburyThe Sound of Smartgeometry 112-121by Brady PetersDesign Exploration and Steering of Design 122-129by Axel KilianGeometry: How Smart Do You Have To Be? 130-141by Chris WilliamsGenerativeComponents and Smartgeometry: Situated SoftwareDevelopment 142-153by Volker Mueller and Makai SmithFrom Descriptive Geometry to Smartgeometry: First Steps towardsDigital Architecture 154-165by Mark BurryEXPLORING Human-Computer Interaction IN DESIGN PROCESS166-175by Flora Salim and Przemek JaworskiDesigning Intelligence: DIY Robotics for Responsive Environments176-185by Nick PuckettEncoding Design 186-195by Fabian ScheurerWorking Prototypes, Creating Knowledge 196-205by Shane Burger and Xavier De KestelierMind the Gap: Stories of Exchange 206-217by CASEDesigning Robotic Assemblies 218-231by Tobias BonwetschThe Practice of Smartgeometry 232-241by Hugh WhiteheadDigital Crafting: Performative Thinking for Material Design242-253by Mette Ramsgard Thomsen and Martin TamkeDesign Robotics: New Strategies for Material System Research254-267by Martin BechtholdContributor Biographies 268-272