Luna Moth: Supporting Creativity in the Cloud

Algorithmic design allows architects to design using a programming-based approach. Current algorithmic design environments are based on existing computer-aided design applications or building information modeling applications, such as AutoCAD, Rhinoceros 3D, or Revit, which, due to their complexity, fail to give architects the immediate feedback they need to explore algorithmic design. In addition, they do not address the current trend of moving applications to the cloud to improve their availability. To address these problems, we propose a software architecture for an algorithmic design integrated development environment (IDE), based on web technologies, that is more interactive than competing algorithmic design IDEs. Besides providing an intuitive editing interface which facilitates programming tasks for architects, its performance can be an order of magnitude faster than current algorithmic design IDEs, thus supporting real-time feedback with more complex algorithmic design programs. Moreover, our solution also allows architects to export the generated model to their preferred computer-aided design applications. This results in an algorithmic design environment that is accessible from any computer, while offering an interactive editing environment that integrates into the architect’s workflow.