How is Autodesk Maya used for parametric architectural design and folly development?

In this workshop, Maya is used for its ability to manipulate geometry at a scaleless level, treating forms as dynamic bodies with hard (rigid) and soft (fluid) material behaviors rather than fixed architectural elements. Maya's deformation, blending, boolean, and texture tools allow participants to create complex structural and surface geometries that would be difficult to achieve in standard architectural software. The workshop leverages Maya's perception of scale as a design variable, where the folly's logic dictates appropriate scale rather than a predetermined architectural brief.

What does the Architectural Follies 2.0 workshop at PAACADEMY cover?

The workshop explores parametric design through the lens of Affect, examining how emotional response can be designed rather than incidentally produced. Participants work through inspirational image research, applied texture and geometry strategies using blending, twisting, and boolean operations, structural innovation that avoids prefabricated components, cellular logic through repetition, multiplication, and mutation, and the interplay between structure, skin, and mass in folly design. Case studies and critical discussions on existing folly projects run alongside the design studio work, with Enscape used for final visualization.

Is Architectural Follies 2.0 suitable if I did not attend the first Architectural Follies workshop?

Architectural Follies 2.0 is a sequel to the original Architectural Follies workshop. Participants who have not attended the first edition should have a working familiarity with Autodesk Maya and parametric design principles before joining, as the sequel advances those concepts rather than reintroducing them from scratch. Experience in Grasshopper is also expected given the computational nature of the studio projects.

What will I produce in the Architectural Follies 2.0 studio?

Participants will produce an individual folly design developed through the full parametric workflow in Maya and Grasshopper, grounded in a personal research approach using inspirational images and exploring custom structural and material logic. The final design will be rendered and visualized using Chaos Enscape, reflecting both the emotional affect the participant intends to provoke and the geometric invention developed throughout the studio.

Jun 29 & 30, 20248 lessonsIntermediate

FREE with Full Access Workshop Intermediate 8 lessons 5.0 Rating

Architectural Follies 2.0

Architectural Follies 2.0 is a parametric design workshop on PAACADEMY that explores the emotional dimension of architectural follies, examining the interplay between computational logic and affect. Using Autodesk Maya, Grasshopper 3D, and Chaos Enscape, participants develop unconventional structures through parametric principles, custom geometries, digital materiality, and spatial experimentation. The workshop challenges conventional notions of form, scale, and structure to produce follies that provoke both thought and emotion.

This course includes

Live workshop · 7h 31m
Lifetime session recordings
Certificate of completion
Grasshopper 3D · Autodesk Maya · Chaos Enscape
Private Discord community
Included with Full Access

This course is a sequel to Architectural Follies. During the course, we will explore the emotional response, also known as “Affect,” of folly within the context of Parametric Design (intellect). Parametric design is a powerful approach that combines mathematical algorithms, computational tools, and creative intuition to generate complex and dynamic architectural forms. In the Architectural Follies 2.0 workshop, we will explore how parametric design influences our perception of architectural follies by examining the interplay between intellect and emotion. Key Topics:1. Introduction to Parametric Design: Understanding the principles and techniques behind parametric design.

Exploring case studies of iconic parametric architectural projects 2. Emotional Impact of Follies: Analyzing the emotional responses evoked by architectural follies. Discussing the role of aesthetics, symbolism, and context in shaping affect.3. Parametric Tools and Techniques: Hands-on exploration of MAYA software. Creating parametric designs that elicit specific emotional reactions.4. Case Studies and Critiques: Reviewing existing folly designs through the lens of affect. Engaging in critical discussions about the emotional impact of architectural interventions.5. Design Studio Projects: Applying parametric principles to design your folly. Considering both intellectual rigor and emotional resonance in your design process.

This workshop delves into the emotional response within parametric design, focusing on creating architectural follies. Through theoretical discussions and practical exercises, participants will explore the interplay between intellect and emotion in architectural design. Key topics include:

An introduction to parametric design principles.
Analysis of emotional impact.Hands-on exploration of parametric tools.
Design studio projects aimed at creating unconventional structures.
The workshop challenges traditional notions of form, fostering designs that provoke thought and emotion.

Exploring Parametric Design: Principles and Emotional Impact of Architectural Follies
Hands-On with Maya: Creating Parametric Designs that Elicit Emotion
Innovative Structures: Designing Your Folly with Custom Geometries and Materials
Case Studies in Affect: Analyzing the Emotional Responses to Architectural Interventions
Dynamic Design Projects: Merging Intellect and Emotion in Parametric Architecture

Inspirational ImagesChoose a series of inspirational images that exhibit “structural” qualities. Look beyond architecture—consider patterns, textures, and connections. These images will serve as touchstones for your folly’s development. Applied Texture: Imagine bodies (geometry) connecting and dissimulating through intricate patterns and textures. How can you create a sense of both separation and unity? Applied Geometry: Extend, interlock, and engage bodies within your folly.

Blend, twist, mesh, and boolean geometric forms to achieve unexpected compositions. Structural Innovation Your folly’s structural design must break free from off-the-shelf components. Avoid prefabricated trusses and standardized assemblies. Instead, delve into the root material and geometrical properties of architectural structures. Design your own structural space—one that defies conventions.ScalelessnessThink beyond traditional scales (S | M | L).

Embrace a scaleless conception. Maya, our chosen software, alters our perception of scale. Let the architectural problem dictate the appropriate scale for your folly. Strategic ApproachesRepetition | Multiplication | Mutation: Explore cellular logic. Radicalize your project by manipulating units. Use repetition, multiplication, and mutation to create dynamic architectural systems. Formal Systems: The design of your folly extends beyond its physical form. Consider the formal systems it embodies—the architectural physiology. How do these systems interact with space, movement, and emotion? Recipe for Your FollyMethodology: Blend STRUCTURE, SKIN, and MASS.

Structure provides organization, skin defines surfaces, and massing shapes the composition. Digital Materiality: Play with HARD BODIES (rigid elements) and SOFT BODIES (fluid, deformable elements). Explore textures, behaviors, and material expressions. Ground: Situate your folly within an existing or fictional site. Consider context, topography, and interaction with the ground. Personal AestheticsFormal Characteristics: Address formal qualities intentionally.

How will they influence the perception of your folly? Spatial Experience: Remember that design shapes experience. How you design the space affects how it will be used and felt. Ornamental Consciousness: Consciously consider how the body perceives your architectural object. Ornamentation isn’t just decoration—it’s an embodied experience. Interiorities and Cavities: Explore the interplay of solid and void. How do interior spaces interact with external forms? The charm of a folly lies in its delightful absurdity and ability to provoke thought and emotion without practical function.

1. Welcome + Updates

06:01

Welcome video and introduction to the course

2. Lecture – What is a Folie?

49:43

Let's first understand what a folie is.

3. Intro to Maya

01:23:27

An introduction to Maya’s interface and basic 3D modeling techniques.

4. 3D Modeling in Maya

01:34:25

Advanced 3D modeling techniques, object manipulation, and practical examples.

Total sessions: 2 Sessions
PAACADEMY will provide a certificate of attendance.

3 Courses5.0

Principal and co-founder – As an educator and designer, Erick has been in pursuit of innovation and technology in the field of architectural thinking and teaching processes; his expertise, expanding his graduate thesis at GSAPP, is based on researching digital experimental techniques and strategic thinking for the manipulation of Form in design, which he uses these design abilities in the services of thoroughly generating spatial and organizational issues central to architecture. Born in El Salvador, Erick holds a master’s degree in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University, GSAPP, and a bachelor’s degree from The Southern California Institute of Architecture, SCI_Arc.

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