Abstract: The idea of buildings in harmony with nature can be traced back to ancient

times. The increasing concerns on sustainability oriented buildings have added new
challenges in building architectureral design and called for new design responses.
Sustainable design integrates and balances the human geometries and the natural ones.
As the language of nature, it is, therefore, natural to assume that fractal geometry could
play a role in developing new forms of aesthetics and sustainable architectureral design.
This paper gives a brief description of fractal geometry theory and presents its current
status and recent developments through illustrative review of some fractal case studies in
architecture design, which provides a bridge between fractal geometry and architecture
design.
Keywords: Fractal geometry, Architecture design, Sustainability.

Objectives
Data
This research project aims to translate virtual fractal models into physically built
architectural objects. The considered fractal models are based on iterative
algorithms, which were developed at the LIRIS for the creation of virtual images.
The physical objects will aim for an application in the field of construction on the
scale of architecture and design objects. Fractal objects will be designed and
built as bearing shell structures, irregular three dimensional polygonal structures
etc. Generally, since the eighties, architects show a great interest in complex
geometry. In the field of construction, until today, it is technically very difficult to
build complex shapes and geometries. Therefore, these types of shape have only
been applied in the field of industrial design. Contemporary architecture uses
CAD software (Computer Aided Design) that enables architects to easily create
complex shapes. The complex shapes, proposed by actual CAD-software, obey to
a classical approach of geometry because they are locally plane or smooth. In
order to build so called free-form shapes, their generally polynomial geometry
first has to be discretized, which leads to a more or less approximate result.
Passing by the method of fractal geometry, the project presented here tries to
face this problem by proposing a set of powerful tools in order to physically
construct complex geometries. Defining shapes by generative systems based on
iterative construction presents an advance beyond the limits of classical algebradifferential models. Among the generative systems, subdividing schemes permit
the easy generation of surfaces. Based on this method, the project team plans to
create a class of fractal objects for CAD-modelers, which can be used for the
conception of realizable physical objects. This new class allows the creation of
objects of unusual shape (rough, accidental, etc.). Surfaces representing natural
shapes (mountains, rocks) as well as surfaces of special shapes (sculptures,
architecture, decoration) will be integrated in the CAD modeler.
The advantages to use discrete fractal modeling for conception and production of
architectural objects are the following: First, the virtually conceived model
consists of a discrete number of elements right from the start (vertex, edge,
face). Second, without converting the object, the applied method allows to verify
the geometry on physical models at an early design stage by using rapid
prototyping. Third, numerical structural simulation can be applied directly on the
objects elements. Fourth, for the construction of material and real scale
buildings, the geometric elements are replaced by constructive and architectural

elements (joints, beams, panels). During this project, different applications will
be considered and tested by the construction of several experimental and real
scale prototypes. Their applications can be classified into two categories: loadbearing structures (shell-structure, framework, treelike pillar) and nonbearing
structures (spatial separator, suspended ceiling, shading panels, dcor). For their
production, different integrated manufacturing processes are considered. To plan
and to realize the prototypes, wood is chosen for the following reasons: - The use
of computer assisted manufacturing of timber products has become more and
more common in the field of construction. - The project team disposes of a
carpenter studio at the IBOIS and has a solid experience in innovative timber
construction. - The material shows very good ratio of bearing capacity to weight
and low costs with regard to raw material and manufacturing of prototypes,
which makes wood completely adequate for the presented types of construction.
These points favor the choice of the material wood for the construction of
aforementioned prototypes. Finally, the prototypes will be tested for their
architectural and structural serviceability. We are convinced that the combination
of fractal geometry/wood/integrated manufacturing opens a new spectrum of
applications that employ wood in the field of construction. A new perspective will
be given to sculptural research, architecture, design and to the creation of new
shapes

ANALYSIS
2.3.2 Projected methods
2.3.2.1 Towards a new conception in constructive elements
The architectural design by fractal objects is always expressed in discrete
elements. Within the field of construction, the concept of working with a range of
constructive and architectural elements has a long tradition. In this perspective,
the advantage of the presented design approach is mighty: The elements that
constitute an IFS surface can be substituted directly by architectural or
constructive elements. These can be classical, existing constructive elements as
well as new fractal constructive elements. There are several stages proper to the
construction process. Our method that proposes to use fractal models to define
and produce architectural objects, is of major interest for the collaboration
between the different participants involved in the construction process. It allows
working with one and the same model at different levels. The different steps of
the construction process using fractal models will be: -The Design is not
conceived first in a smooth shape which then has to be recomposed with
constructive elements (as mentioned earlier). Therefore, the virtual lay-out is
geometrically spoken much closer to the final product. -The Structural Analysis
can directly be done using the design model, if applying FEM. -The Production by
CNC also uses discretized models to produce the prototypes. As already
mentioned, the free-form objects, which are used nowadays (based on

algebradifferential models) are manufactured in a discrete form, which meet the

initial geometry only approximately. This loss could be limited to a minimum by
the use of discrete fractal objects. (fig. 08, 13, 15)

2.3.1 Goals 2.3.1.1 From virtual models to materialised models The definition of a
spatial fractal object starts from a virtual level, because its geometry is modelled
virtually. By this manner, a solid object is defined. A spatial fractal mesh
describes the initial shape. Thereon, physical 3D models are built by rapid
prototyping (fig. 08 and 15). These materialised prototypes offer another,
physical approach to verify the fractal geometry in form and space, permitting
also adjustments if necessary. This step of physical modelling at an early design
stage is indispensable. To physically touch and feel the properties, which are
attributed virtually (roughness, thickness, etc.), to have the possibility to turn
and observe the object in detail, adds a subjective and instantaneous point of
view and a unique qualitative argument to the design process. Simultaneously,
the same basic files serve to define structural load models. Once imported to
software, which works with finite elements, they are verified. In this way the
elementary parts of the geometry become structural elements, linear, plane or
even solid. Once its mechanical properties are assigned, the finite element
analysis of the structure dimensions the fractal object, which then embodies
material and scale.