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The use of parametric design in urban settings has usually been conducted through top-down approaches; however, it has been hard to satisfy the preferences of urban residents. Spatial renovations occur frequently in the urban environment. Residents build quickly, using materials such as lightweight steel and sheet metal, in order to take up more space in the urban environment. Though such bottom-up processes as renovated spaces can satisfy users in practical terms, they can also clutter the city landscape.
In the third industrial revolution, the possibility of urban spaces has been stimulated by new technologies. Widespread internet and digital fabrication tools have allowed space to be defined directly by the user who can renovate rapidly and then share with others who have similar requirements, facilitating the creation of new types of space. The introduction of digital fabrication and its product into the urban environment has resulted in the creation of spaces that fulfil designers’ needs. Parametric design can construct a uniform yet flexible structure, which remains subject to renovation under certain regulation. This method aims to harness the spirit of third industrial revolution in the renovation of space, reflecting effective digital tools and methods in the “Maker Era,” establishing a new approach to urban renewal.
In terms of intervening in the urban environment, this study aimed to return nature to spaces that are lacking natural elements, reinventing such spaces through their association with nature. To combine both the urban and natural aspects, bamboo was selected as the main material for structural design. With the benefit of being fast-growing, easily-accessible and low-price, bamboo is considered to be an effective material for fast renovation in Taiwan. Throughout the design process, parametric design was first applied in order to create the model that would be used to fit each accommodation. As a natural material, bamboo has a uniform aesthetic. This raw material can be modified through merging with digitally fabricated products. Combining the flexibility of parametric design and the uniqueness of bamboo, the aim of the design was to satisfy different usages and to form structures that could coexist within the same space. These structures are associated with plants, bringing nature into urban life.
Nowadays, the vitality of residents’ self-renovations can be easily found throughout the city, reflecting the fact that people have their own ideas regarding their life and the creation of their accommodation. We believe such imaginative spirit should not be stifled by cluttering materials and methods. Multiple connections need to be made between urbanization and personalization. Thanks to internet access and web-page sharing, a renovation platform could be built to achieve a level of personalization within a wider systematic structure. In the near future, the increased presence of the Maker Era will optimize such a structure and platform. Residents could intervene to renovate their accommodation in a more efficient and natural manner, thus increasing the possibility of urban evolution.
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