116
9.3 Generative Process and Design
The generative process offers an unconventional way of conceptualising the mechanisms and design
of our built environment. Research in generative systems is closely linked to the general concept of
synthesis, mostly apparent in the systems of nature. Nature has devised specific mechanisms for generalised synthesis, using the structure of DNA, protein synthesis and biochemistry (McCormack,
Dorin, & Innocent, 2004). The diversity and adaptability of life on earth through the generative process demonstrates how to potentially overcome problems in the built environment. It may be helpful
to describe the roots of the word ‘generative’, which have relevant definitions and meanings relating
to the concept of generative design and pattern languages. Further, ‘regenerative’ has a very close
relationship to the processes that we will investigate in this chapter. This relationship is evident in the
basic definition of ‘generative’, to bring something into existence: ‘having the power or function of
generating, originating, producing, or reproducing’, as defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generative). Neis, Brown, Gurr, and Schmidt (2012)
describe a definition of the generative process in building relative to the origination of many into one:
‘…many inputs, actors and activities that are relevant to the design and production of a building or a
urban neighbourhood’ (Neis et al., 2012, p. 4). These definitions lead us to look at the properties of
generative systems, generative process and generative design.
Generative systems offer a philosophy that views the world in terms of dynamic processes and their
outcomes. In Kuhn’s terminology (Kuhn, 1962) the properties of generative systems can be summarised as:
• The ability to generate complexity, creating many orders of magnitude greater than their specification. This is known as database amplification, where aggregates create a dynamic hierarchy;
• The ability to self-maintain and self-repair. Generative systems may adapt to maintain stable configurations within a changing environment;
• The complex and interconnected relationship of organism and environment. Organisms not only
evolve to adapt to their environment, their presence can affect and change the environment self.
Inter-species dependencies form a complex web of relationships with connected feedback loops;
and
• The ability to generate novel structures, behaviours and relationships. Novel structures in this
instance refer to the quality of being new, original and different from anything else (McCormack
et al., 2004).
Generative design offers modes of experience based on the incorporation of generative system
dynamics into the production of objects and experience. In this context, generative design tries to
understand and conceptualise the world and its complex structures, and attempts to approach problems through the generative process, formulating a number of parameters, principles and rules that
interact with each other and create form, shape and place (Neis et al., 2012, p. 4).
Generative process, as defined in the context of urban planning and architectural design, needs to
explore the challenges of human settlements, neighbourhoods, connectivity, liveable streets, green
spaces, identity, and whole communities. The generative process explores the processes within the
built environment at different levels of scale and in different modes that include environmental, physical, social, cultural and economic themes considering the urban design and planning needs. Neis et al.
(2012) distinguish between three different generative processes within the overall pattern language
approach (Neis et al., 2012, pp. 4–5):
1. Patterns and pattern languages are considered as the first kind of generative system or process.
The applications of patterns started in the mid-sixties and extended into many fields of science, are
still widely in use, and;
9 Living Structures: The Fundamental Properties of Wholeness
9.3 Generative Process and Design
The generative process offers an unconventional way of conceptualising the mechanisms and design
of our built environment. Research in generative systems is closely linked to the general concept of
synthesis, mostly apparent in the systems of nature. Nature has devised specific mechanisms for generalised synthesis, using the structure of DNA, protein synthesis and biochemistry (McCormack,
Dorin, & Innocent, 2004). The diversity and adaptability of life on earth through the generative process demonstrates how to potentially overcome problems in the built environment. It may be helpful
to describe the roots of the word ‘generative’, which have relevant definitions and meanings relating
to the concept of generative design and pattern languages. Further, ‘regenerative’ has a very close
relationship to the processes that we will investigate in this chapter. This relationship is evident in the
basic definition of ‘generative’, to bring something into existence: ‘having the power or function of
generating, originating, producing, or reproducing’, as defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generative). Neis, Brown, Gurr, and Schmidt (2012)
describe a definition of the generative process in building relative to the origination of many into one:
‘…many inputs, actors and activities that are relevant to the design and production of a building or a
urban neighbourhood’ (Neis et al., 2012, p. 4). These definitions lead us to look at the properties of
generative systems, generative process and generative design.
Generative systems offer a philosophy that views the world in terms of dynamic processes and their
outcomes. In Kuhn’s terminology (Kuhn, 1962) the properties of generative systems can be summarised as:
• The ability to generate complexity, creating many orders of magnitude greater than their specification. This is known as database amplification, where aggregates create a dynamic hierarchy;
• The ability to self-maintain and self-repair. Generative systems may adapt to maintain stable configurations within a changing environment;
• The complex and interconnected relationship of organism and environment. Organisms not only
evolve to adapt to their environment, their presence can affect and change the environment self.
Inter-species dependencies form a complex web of relationships with connected feedback loops;
and
• The ability to generate novel structures, behaviours and relationships. Novel structures in this
instance refer to the quality of being new, original and different from anything else (McCormack
et al., 2004).
Generative design offers modes of experience based on the incorporation of generative system
dynamics into the production of objects and experience. In this context, generative design tries to
understand and conceptualise the world and its complex structures, and attempts to approach problems through the generative process, formulating a number of parameters, principles and rules that
interact with each other and create form, shape and place (Neis et al., 2012, p. 4).
Generative process, as defined in the context of urban planning and architectural design, needs to
explore the challenges of human settlements, neighbourhoods, connectivity, liveable streets, green
spaces, identity, and whole communities. The generative process explores the processes within the
built environment at different levels of scale and in different modes that include environmental, physical, social, cultural and economic themes considering the urban design and planning needs. Neis et al.
(2012) distinguish between three different generative processes within the overall pattern language
approach (Neis et al., 2012, pp. 4–5):
1. Patterns and pattern languages are considered as the first kind of generative system or process.
The applications of patterns started in the mid-sixties and extended into many fields of science, are
still widely in use, and;
9 Living Structures: The Fundamental Properties of Wholeness