Page 69 - JCAU-6-1

Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Exploring abduction in regenerative design

Figure 11. The outcomes of the GAN_Physarum computation. Source: ecoLogicStudio, Deep Green, Urbansphere, Venice, 2021

the study of cities, transforming urban typology into urban themselves originate in other adjacent forms (ecology)”
morphogenesis. It shifts the focus from the form of the city (Kwinter & Davidson, 2008, p. 147).
to how variations in the environment and resources may This morphogenetic process within the DeepGreen
impact the form generation of the city. We argue that this project demonstrates the understanding of algorithms as
is the second layer of meaning in mind ecology, suggesting “natural” patterns and embedded forms to compute in a
the correlation within the multiple stages of the same biological manner and design in an ecological way. In fact,
entity. The two layers of meaning initiate the correlation of in ancient Chinese architecture and urban design, there was
all and resonate with the epistemology behind the “Nature profound contemplation and emulation of nature behind
and Humans in One Unity” in Daoist philosophy, which the selection, layout, and construction of cities and buildings
recognizes the unity and interconnection of all things. In (Almodovar-Melendo & Cabeza-Lainez, 2018). Daoist
this regard, the concept of urban morphogenesis embodies philosophy holds that humans should discover the Dao of
such unity and coherence in urban design. This notion Nature by observing and understanding the phenomena of
becomes computational thinking in the self-organizing all things and applying it as a guiding principle for human
city (Poletto & Pasquero, 2012). behavior (Yin, 2012). Today, we perceive that the Dao
The DeepGreen protocols establish not only an of Nature embodies the interconnection and unity of all
innovative workflow but also an algorithmic model that things and points toward a developmental, dynamic, and
combines biological and digital computation, serving as adaptive pattern. Therefore, the morphogenetic approach,
the DNA for the urban form. Training GAN_Physarum to integrating the collective intelligence of humans and non-
behave like a PP is also driven by the unique computational humans, echoes this philosophical concept and could be a
mechanisms of PP. PP does not simply compute; it still contemporary understanding and extension of “The Dao
exhibits uncertain behaviors in any particular case, which Imitates the Laws of Nature” in urban design.
is also a form of free will. This is because “it does not
follow a rigid priori rules but instead operates according 5. Discussion
to a ‘heuristic dynamic,’ relying on ‘unbiased physical, This article presents the DeepGreen project as an exercise
chemical and biological laws’” (Shaviro, 2016, p. 321). That in regenerative design, which applies digital algorithmic
is, the GAN_Physarum model also does not follow a top- analysis, biological computation, and AI to establish design
down and deductive algorithmic procedure that invariably protocols for urban ecological infrastructure. The project
presents the same conclusions when the parameters are kept envisions innovative urban fabrics at various resolutions,
constant. PP’s method is bottom-up, demonstrating a self- ranging from the urban scale to the architectural scale. The
organizing system that changes its morphology according design process is intricately woven around the innovative
to interactions (Figure 12). As a consequence, urban and ecological thinking of abduction as well. Non-human
design is no longer centered on static forms but strives to entities become design agents and bio-citizens (Pasquero
build dynamic and adaptive models. Urban morphology & Poletto, 2020) to create rich and complex feedback
becomes “the result of a computational interaction between loops, realize circular urban metabolism, and integrate
internal rules and external (morphogenetic) pressures that architectural and ecological systems.

Volume 6 Issue 1 (2024) 11 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1084