BETWEEN AFFECT AND EFFECT: COMPUTATIONAL EXPLORATION OF THE LATENT SPACE BETWEEN ORNAMENT AND STRUCTURE
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Architectural design has long explored ornament and its relationship to structure, sometimes treating it as essential, sometimes as a complement, and other times as decoration. This paper explores the use of computational design methodologies to examine this relationship, specifically investigating optimization frameworks to generate structurally performing yet aesthetically specific designs. The research investigates two methods for combining aesthetic and performance objectives through a case study of ornamental patterns found in mosques and churches. The first method takes a pixel-based approach, combining topology optimization with a diffusion-based image generation model. The second method uses an evolutionary optimization algorithm to adjust a parametric design space, where a Vision Transformer model was used as a surrogate to embed designer aesthetic preferences into the optimization process, and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) evaluated structural performance based on displacement and weight criteria. The parametric approach was applied across case studies, including block tile optimization, modular element optimization, and a material-constrained dome fabricated from plywood. The results show the potential of integrating Machine Learning (ML), FEA, and optimization to address the fuzzy nature of aesthetic features while promoting structural performance.