Table Of ContentDesign Games for Architecture
Design Games for Architecture teaches you how to create playful software tools
based on your architectural design processes, whether or not you are familiar
with game design technology. The book combines the fun and engaging
aspects of video games to ease the sometimes complex process of learning
software development. By working through six exercises illustrated with
screen shots and code, you acquire knowledge about each step required
to build useful tools you can use to accomplish design tasks. Steps include
analyzing design processes to identify their logic, translating that logic into a
collection of objects and functions, then encoding the design procedure into
a working software tool. Examples presented in the book are design games
– tools that a designer “plays” like video games – that span a wide range of
design activities. These software tools are built using Unity: free, innovative
and industry-leading software for video game development. Unity speeds up
the process of software creation, off ers an interface that will be familiar to
you, and includes very advanced tools for creating forms, eff ects and interac-
tivity. If you are looking to add cutting-edge skills to your repertoire, then
Design Games will help you sharpen your design thinking and allow you to
specialize in this new territory while you learn more about your own design
processes.
Aaron Westre is an adjunct instructor at the University of Minnesota School
of Architecture and founder of Artifi cial Natures, a design studio specializing
in building custom software for architects and designers.
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Design Games
for Architecture
Creating Digital Design Tools with Unity
Aaron Westre
First published 2014
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Simultaneously published in the UK
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2014 Taylor & Francis
The right of Aaron Westre to be identifi ed as author of this work has been asserted by him in
accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any
form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks,
and are used only for identifi cation and explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Westre, Aaron.
Design games for architecture : creating digital design tools with Unity / Aaron Westre.
pages cm
Includes index.
1. Architecture--Study and teaching. 2. Architecture--Problems, exercises, etc. 3. Computer
games--Programming. 4. Unity (Electronic resources) I. Title.
NA2005.W47 2013
720.285--dc23
2013003836
ISBN: 978-0-415-62276-9 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-415-62277-6 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-203-75017-9 (ebk)
Acquisition Editor: Wendy Fuller
Editorial Assistant: Laura Williamson
Production Editor: Alanna Donaldson
Typeset in Bembo by
Servis Filmsetting Ltd, Stockport, Cheshire
Dedication
Many people were instrumental throughout the writing of this book. Thank
you to Polly, whose unending support was critical to my progress. Thank
you to J, whose experience and pragmatism helped refi ne my approach.
Thank you to the University of Minnesota School of Architecture for giving
me the opportunity to experiment with and refi ne these ideas.
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Contents
List of Figures .............................................................................................x
Introduction 1
1 TOOLS OF THE TRADE 9
Trying It Out ..........................................................................................12
2 BUILDING BLOCKS 23
2.1 · The Brief ......................................................................................24
2.2 · The Proposal ................................................................................24
2.3 · Opening the Project ....................................................................25
2.4 · Prefab ..........................................................................................27
2.5 · Defi ning Variables ........................................................................29
2.6 · Adding Functionality ....................................................................31
2.7 · Falling ..........................................................................................33
2.8 · Moving the Block ........................................................................35
2.9 · Touch Down ................................................................................40
2.10 · A Bit of Randomness ..................................................................45
2.11 · Guides and Views ........................................................................46
2.12 · Starting Over ...............................................................................50
2.13 · Interface ......................................................................................53
2.14 · Further Exploration ......................................................................57
3 SLINGSHOT 59
3.1 · The Brief ......................................................................................60
3.2 · The Proposal ................................................................................60
vii
Contents
3.3 · Opening the Project ....................................................................61
3.4 · Ready ..........................................................................................62
3.5 · Aim ..............................................................................................66
3.6 · Fire ..............................................................................................68
3.7 · Aggregation .................................................................................71
3.8 · Getting a Better View ..................................................................74
3.9 · About Time ..................................................................................78
3.10 · A Surprise ....................................................................................80
3.11 · Further Exploration ......................................................................84
4 KIRIGAMI 87
4.1 · The Brief ......................................................................................88
4.2 · The Proposal ................................................................................88
4.3 · Opening the Project ....................................................................89
4.4 · The First Piece .............................................................................89
4.5 · The Joint ......................................................................................91
4.6 · The Fold .......................................................................................93
4.7 · Completing the Tile .....................................................................97
4.8 · Assembling the Paper .................................................................99
4.9 · The Counter Fold .......................................................................108
4.10 · The Cut ......................................................................................109
4.11 · More or Less .............................................................................111
4.12 · Exercising Constraint .................................................................113
4.13 · Big Finish ...................................................................................116
4.14 · Further Exploration ....................................................................117
5 COMPONENT LAB 119
5.1 · The Brief ....................................................................................120
5.2 · The Proposal ..............................................................................120
5.3 · Opening the Project ..................................................................121
5.4 · Setting the Stage .......................................................................121
5.5 · The First Component .................................................................122
5.6 · Creating Components ...............................................................125
5.7 · The Management ......................................................................127
5.8 · Finding a Pair .............................................................................131
5.9 · Free or Otherwise .....................................................................138
5.10 · Starting the Bonding Process ....................................................142
5.11 · Freeze ........................................................................................143
viii
Contents
5.12 · Creating the Bond .....................................................................144
5.13 · Giving Up ...................................................................................150
5.14 · Mix It Up ....................................................................................153
5.15 · Further Exploration ....................................................................155
6 SHOWROOM 157
6.1 · The Brief ....................................................................................158
6.2 · The Proposal ..............................................................................158
6.3 · Opening the Project ..................................................................159
6.4 · Adding the Model ......................................................................159
6.5 · Moving Around ..........................................................................161
6.6 · Let There Be Light .....................................................................163
6.7 · Overhead Lights ........................................................................165
6.8 · The First Goal ............................................................................167
6.9 · Reaching the Goal .....................................................................171
6.10 · Adding More Goals ....................................................................174
6.11 · Completing the Level ................................................................175
6.12 · Further Exploration ....................................................................177
Conclusion ..............................................................................................178
Further Reading .....................................................................................180
Index .......................................................................................................182
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