This research investigates the potential of parametric model and parametric design thinking as a methodology for interpreting architectural decision-making. A hypothesised methodology is developed that translates architecture concepts into a system of parameters with constraints. The methodology is tested through the case study of Forum Confluentes, where generated design variations are compared with the as-built project to reconstruct the logic underlying architectural form. The findings suggest that parametric reverse-engineering can provide a systematic framework for architectural interpretation. The study further demonstrates that the methodology is most effective when implemented as an iterative process incorporating a feedback loop between design interpretation and parameter-system construction.
Analysing architectural precedents is fundamental to design research. While traditional methods often rely on manual formal analysis, the late 20th century saw the emergence of rigorous mathematical and algorithmic techniques supported by parametric modeling-a mode of design thinking in which architectural decision is presented as an editable system of rules.
This approach may serve multiple purposes:
(1) it can help critics and researchers understand the latent logic of an existing project;
(2) it can support the schematic design process by testing alternatives;
(3) it can inform architects by translating precedent analysis into reusable design strategies;
Within this broad field of applications, this essay focuses specifically on the first purpose: using parametric modelling as a critical analytical tool to interpret the architectural decisions embedded in Forum Confluentes.
To test this approach, the research uses Forum Confluentes by Benthem Crouwel Architects as a case study. The building is deconstructed into a system of parameters, constraints, thresholds, and feasible ranges. This parametric system generates constraint-consistent alternatives against which the architect’s final choices can be positioned and interpreted. In this way, the analysis moves beyond aesthetic observation and examines the differences between the built design and other feasible parametric configurations as a way of understanding the architect’s decisions.
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