Jose Beirao
Universidade de Lisboa, FA - Faculdade de Arquitectura, Faculty Member
- ArchitectUrban DesignerResearcher on CitiesInterested in tool development for supporting urban design and analysisedit
Although earthbag construction is recognizably a low environmental impact solution, existing software tools are limiting factors, since they do not have enough technical data to support its building information model. We propose a visual... more
Although earthbag construction is recognizably a low environmental impact solution, existing software tools are limiting factors, since they do not have enough technical data to support its building information model. We propose a visual programming language code to generate earthbag domes inserted in a BIM environment, where these structures can be associated with other design and structural elements, producing the required technical data to inform construction including technical specifications as well as material and task quantification. This research adopted an experimental methodology exploring the advantages of the combination of Building Information modelling with parametric generative design in of the design of earthbag buildings or hybrid constructions involving earthbag walls of different geometries. It was validated resorting to a simulation process where it was possible to redesign and 3D print a scaled model of an existing earthbag building that merges different shapes in the same building, including the automated generation of the associated technical data. The developed tool allows designing different types of earthbag buildings providing a typical BIM model including both geometric model and technical specifications.
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Research Interests: Geography and Portuguese
The aim of our study was to apply a biomimetic approach, inspired by the Ammophila arenaria. This organism possesses a reversible leaf opening and closing mechanism that responds to water and salt stress (hydronastic movement). We adopted... more
The aim of our study was to apply a biomimetic approach, inspired by the Ammophila arenaria. This organism possesses a reversible leaf opening and closing mechanism that responds to water and salt stress (hydronastic movement). We adopted a problem-based biomimetic methodology in three stages: (i) two observation studies; (ii) how to abstract and develop a parametric model to simulate the leaf movement; and (iii) experiments with bimetal, a smart material that curls up when heated. We added creases to the bimetal active layer in analogy to the position of bulliform cells. These cells determine the leaf-closing pattern. The experiments demonstrated that creases influence and can change the direction of the bimetal natural movement. Thus, it is possible to replicate the Ammophila arenaria leaf-rolling mechanism in response to temperature variation and solar radiation in the bimetal. In future works, we will be able to propose responsive facade solutions based on these results.
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As construções em terra são soluções reconhecidas de baixo impacto ambiental. São construções duráveis, fortes, climaticamente eficientes, formalmente flexíveis e são compostas por recursos renováveis e reaproveitáveis favorecendo o... more
As construções em terra são soluções reconhecidas de baixo impacto ambiental. São construções duráveis, fortes, climaticamente eficientes, formalmente flexíveis e são compostas por recursos renováveis e reaproveitáveis favorecendo o desenvolvimento sustentável. Este artigo classifica as variações construtivas de aplicação da técnica de construção em terra superadobe. Também conhecido como “adobe ensacado”, “saco contínuo de terra estabilizada”, “earthbag building” ou “Earth-filled bags”, o superadobe consiste na técnica construtiva onde as paredes são construídas basicamente por sacos preenchidos com terra e areia empilhados, com arame farpado entre eles. A técnica foi desenvolvida como possível solução de construção na lua, depois foi aplicada pare resolver a problemática de habitação popular, atualmente é possível encontrar construções em superadobe robustas, com diferentes usos e com associações de outras técnicas construtivas. Este artigo tem por objetivo tabular as variações co...
Research Interests: Humanities and Art
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Climate change and rise in urban temperatures have further increased the cooling load demands for tall buildings located in hot climatic regions. Cooling loads in tall buildings can be reduced by integrating them with natural ventilation... more
Climate change and rise in urban temperatures have further increased the cooling load demands for tall buildings located in hot climatic regions. Cooling loads in tall buildings can be reduced by integrating them with natural ventilation (NV) and building integrated vegetation (BIV) techniques. This study explores the potential of NV and BIV for obtaining low-energy buildings by analyzing ten tall buildings as case studies. Buildings are analyzed for NV, BIV, architecture design parameters, and energy savings. The results show that mixed-mode ventilation is the most commonly employed, and circular building plans have the highest potential for energy savings. Furthermore, the combination of NV with sky-gardens (BIV type) is the best strategy for achieving low-energy tall buildings in the tropical climate. The outcomes show that the application of well-researched building physics rules is in practice for making energy-efficient tall building. These findings may be helpful for designers and planners to develop further strategies and low-cost methods aiming at the development of more sustainable and healthier tall buildings.
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Urban planning and design are increasingly often supported by analytical models of urban space. We present a method of representation for analysis and classification of open urban spaces based on physical measures including... more
Urban planning and design are increasingly often supported by analytical models of urban space. We present a method of representation for analysis and classification of open urban spaces based on physical measures including three-dimensional data to overcome some observed limitations of two-dimensional methods. Beginning with “convex voids” constructed from 2D plan information and 3D data including topography and building facade heights, we proceed to “solid voids” constructed by aggregation of convex voids. We describe rules for construction of both convex voids and solid voids, including basic forms and their adjustment for perception. For analysis we develop descriptive characteristic values such as enclosure, openness, granularity and connectivity, derived from more basic geometric properties of the void representations. We also show how combinations of these values can be correlated with urban open space typologies, including commonly accepted traditional ones as well as previously unnamed classes of space. Concluding with discussion of some future planned developments in this work, we also propose that such methods can contribute to better understanding of the relations between urban forms and their perception and use, so as to guide urban transformations for improved urban quality.
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This paper presents a computational approach to provide dynamic assessment and optimization of principles derived from Transit Oriented Development (TOD)-an urban development model that advocates compact, walkable, and mixed-use... more
This paper presents a computational approach to provide dynamic assessment and optimization of principles derived from Transit Oriented Development (TOD)-an urban development model that advocates compact, walkable, and mixed-use neighborhoods, centered around transport stations. In spite of being increasingly promoted in several cities of the world, TOD lacks an approach that addresses multivariate data for optimization of its principles. In this paper, we propose a methodology backed by an algorithmic-parametric CAD environment, applied to a neighborhood unit in a case study. The objective is the analysis and improvement of TOD relevant and measurable features (transit accessibility, walkability and diversity) in order to optimize neighborhoods' features. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the management of solutions in TOD planning processes, supported by a principle-index-tool approach triad.
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Due to its complexity, the evolution of cities is something that is difficult to predict and planning new developments for cities is therefore a difficult task. This complexity can be identified on two levels: on a micro level, it emerges... more
Due to its complexity, the evolution of cities is something that is difficult to predict and planning new developments for cities is therefore a difficult task. This complexity can be identified on two levels: on a micro level, it emerges from the multiple relations between the many components and actors in cities, whereas on a macro level it stems from the geographical, social and economic relations between cities. However, many of these relations can be measured. The design of plans for cities can only be improved if designers are able to address measurements of some of the relationships between the components of cities during the design process. These measurements are called urban indicators. By calculating such measurements, designers can grasp the meaning of the changes being proposed, not just as simple alternative layouts, but also in terms of the changes in indicators adding a qualitative perception. This thesis presents a method and a set of tools to generate alternative so...
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El conocimiento actual demuestra la expansión de las propuestas de las fachadas receptivas recurriendo a enfoques biomiméticos, investigación de materiales y diseño algorítmico. Este trabajo recoge las tendencias en materiales y... more
El conocimiento actual demuestra la expansión de las propuestas de las fachadas receptivas recurriendo a enfoques biomiméticos, investigación de materiales y diseño algorítmico. Este trabajo recoge las tendencias en materiales y tecnologías que contribuyen al control térmico y ambiental de los edificios a favor de la sostenibilidad. Analizamos once propuestas de fachadas e instalaciones, los diseños elegidos cumplen con los siguientes criterios: presentar diferentes estrategias reversibles de transformación del material y/o materiales de base biológica. En obras futuras, pretendemos proponer nuevas soluciones de fachada receptiva para contribuir a la sostenibilidad de los edificios.
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This paper exposes a criticism on the Brazilian social housing program "Minha Casa Minha Vida" (MCMV) and provides a few strategies for improving results. The role of new technologies is addressed as a way of enhancing the... more
This paper exposes a criticism on the Brazilian social housing program "Minha Casa Minha Vida" (MCMV) and provides a few strategies for improving results. The role of new technologies is addressed as a way of enhancing the results of those strategies.
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The interest in earthbag dome construction (also known as earthbag or superadobe) has been increasing as world consciousness develops to achieve the planet’s equilibrium for sustainable living. The main objective of this research is to... more
The interest in earthbag dome construction (also known as earthbag or superadobe) has been increasing as world consciousness develops to achieve the planet’s equilibrium for sustainable living. The main objective of this research is to develop a parametric tool to help architects modeling virtual earthbag domes from ideation to construction phase. This challenge has been addressed by adopting an experimental methodology that explores parametric generative design with the use of a visual programming language (VPL). In this paper we present the development of a tool for the ideation level including features that allow for the calculation of material quantification. Even thought, the tool does not work in a Building Information Modeling environment, the generative model outputs technical information to support construction, namely material quantities. The usability of the tool was validated by a random international sample of experts.
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This paper describes part of a wider research that aimed at using Shape Grammar to generate more diverse and interesting urban spaces in Brazilian Social Housing developments. A shape grammar corresponding to design patterns was inferred... more
This paper describes part of a wider research that aimed at using Shape Grammar to generate more diverse and interesting urban spaces in Brazilian Social Housing developments. A shape grammar corresponding to design patterns was inferred from the PREVI Lima urban plan developed by C. Alexander [1] in the 1970s. The grammar was inferred from the plan layout and from the text instructions (or pattern descriptions) presented by Alexander, and can be applied to design new plans within a wider formal universe than what the plan layout would suggest. The final section of the paper points towards the development of generic grammars as a way of encapsulating good qualities of certain design projects and applying them to new situations.
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Due to its complexity, the evolution of cities is something that is difficult to predict and planning new developments for cities is therefore a difficult task. This complexity can be identified on two levels: on a micro level, it emerges... more
Due to its complexity, the evolution of cities is something that is difficult to predict and planning new developments for cities is therefore a difficult task. This complexity can be identified on two levels: on a micro level, it emerges from the multiple relations between the many components and actors in cities, whereas on a macro level it stems from the geographical, social and economic relations between cities. However, many of these relations can be measured. The design of plans for cities can only be improved if designers are able to address measurements of some of the relationships between the components of cities during the design process. These measurements are called urban indicators. By calculating such measurements, designers can grasp the meaning of the changes being proposed, not just as simple alternative layouts, but also in terms of the changes in indicators adding a qualitative perception. This thesis presents a method and a set of tools to generate alternative so...
Within the field of architectural and urban research, this work addresses the complexity of contemporary public space, both in a conceptual and concrete sense. It aims at systematizing spatial attributes and their categories and... more
Within the field of architectural and urban research, this work addresses the complexity of contemporary public space, both in a conceptual and concrete sense. It aims at systematizing spatial attributes and their categories and discussing spatial complexity and measurability, all this in order to reach a more comprehensive understanding, description and analysis of public space. Our aim is to improve everyday usage of open public space and we acknowledged users as its crucial factor. There are numerous investigations on the complex urban and architectural reality of public space that recognise importance of users. However, we did not find any that would holistically account for what users find essential in public space. Based on the incompleteness of existing approaches on open public space and the importance of users for their success, this paper proposes a user-orientated approach. Through an initial survey directed to users, we collected the most important aspects of public spac...
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Abstract Urban environments are defined and modeled in a variety of ways depending on the scientific approach to analyze them. Even though a number of analysis could benefit from using a single model and re-using results of one for the... more
Abstract Urban environments are defined and modeled in a variety of ways depending on the scientific approach to analyze them. Even though a number of analysis could benefit from using a single model and re-using results of one for the sake of the other, so far no single data model is available. Moreover, the existing standardized models focus on describing objects in and around urban architectural void rather than the spaces themselves. Nevertheless, a number of phenomena such as heat, energy, pollution, also including social and mobility aspects would undoubtedly benefit from using a model that is explicitly focused on defining the urban architectural void and its characteristics as continuous field, interconnected network or series of spatial units. Therefore, this paper aims to suggest a versatile data model that would allow to separate, interpret, analyze and visualize the urban architectural void using a standardized automated procedure. The model relies on Gestalt theories for space compartmentalization. It allows performing various kinds of analysis and storing their results in a unified format using core concepts of GIS. The model can be rendered both as a 2D and 3D representation. Finally, user intervention and parameter calibration is allowed at every principal step of an automated procedure.
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Urban planning and design has a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and regions. It is a complex process that extends for a long period and involves many participants. The lack of integrated tools to support this... more
Urban planning and design has a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and regions. It is a complex process that extends for a long period and involves many participants. The lack of integrated tools to support this process hampers the ability to maximize the response of plans to contextual conditions while using the least resources. This paper describes research that aims to develop such a tool, integrating formulation, generation, and evaluation capabilities. It is focused on the generation module which relies on the encoding of Urban Induction Patterns (UIP) using shape grammars. A grammar for the extension plan of the city of Praia is presented as one of the case studies used to support UIP definition and illustrate its application. The paper also discusses how the proposed tool can be used for developing and monitoring urban plans.
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The street system is an important component of the city ontology created for a generative urban design tool and should be able to integrate the many visions or interpretations that designers or other urban design agents may have about... more
The street system is an important component of the city ontology created for a generative urban design tool and should be able to integrate the many visions or interpretations that designers or other urban design agents may have about streets. This paper describes several characteristics of the street system, with its components organized into object classes which are the shape sets of algebras used by a generation module to generate street network representations that can be assessed by a GIS platform.
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"This paper describes the “Public Space Patterns” ontology including itsrelated rule-based model, used as a basic structure of a “City InformationModelling” (CIM). This model was developed within a larger research projectaimed at... more
"This paper describes the “Public Space Patterns” ontology including itsrelated rule-based model, used as a basic structure of a “City InformationModelling” (CIM). This model was developed within a larger research projectaimed at developing a tool for urban planning and design. The main purpose is toprovide computer-readable descriptions of Patterns for planning urban space, tomake available programming strategies and design options to the participants of the urban development process. The paper shows an ontology implementation of concepts describing the public space and the relationships established by meansof transitive properties which allows the system to infer new relations amongstother patterns. The inference mechanism makes available relations that were notpreviously evident fostering the awareness of underlying implicit patterns.
Cite: Montenegro, Nuno, Beirão, J.N. & Duarte, J.P., (2011c). Public Space Patterns: Towards a CIM standard for urban public space. In RESPECTING FRAGILE PLACES [29th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 978-9-4912070-1-3], University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture (Slovenia) 21-24 September 2011. 29th eCAADe Conference. Ljubljana, pp. 79–86. "
Cite: Montenegro, Nuno, Beirão, J.N. & Duarte, J.P., (2011c). Public Space Patterns: Towards a CIM standard for urban public space. In RESPECTING FRAGILE PLACES [29th eCAADe Conference Proceedings / ISBN 978-9-4912070-1-3], University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Architecture (Slovenia) 21-24 September 2011. 29th eCAADe Conference. Ljubljana, pp. 79–86. "
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Cite: Gil, J., Montenegro, N., Beirão, J. N., & Duarte, J. P. (2010). On the Discovery of Urban Typologies. In Bringing City Form Back Into Planning, Proceedings of the CITTA 3rd Annual Conference on Planning Research, pp. 163-176.... more
Cite: Gil, J., Montenegro, N., Beirão, J. N., & Duarte, J. P. (2010). On the Discovery of Urban Typologies. In Bringing City Form Back Into Planning, Proceedings of the CITTA 3rd Annual Conference on Planning Research, pp. 163-176. Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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"Urban planning and design have a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and on the quality of life of the population. Efficiency at this level is hampered by the lack of integrated instruments for formulating,... more
"Urban planning and design have a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and on the quality of life of the population. Efficiency at this level is hampered by the lack of integrated instruments for formulating, generating, and evaluating urban plans. This chapter describes the theoretical foundations of a research project, called City Induction, aimed at the creation of a model for the development of such an instrument, departing from existing theories, which are integrated through a discursive grammar. The proposed model is composed of three sub-models: (1) a model for formulating urban programs from the analysis and interpretation of the context, based on Alexander’s pattern language; (2) a model for generating urban plans that match the program, based on Stiny’s shape and description grammars; and (3) a model for evaluating urban plans, that can be used for analyzing, comparing and ranking alternative solutions, departing from Hillier’s space syntax. A common urban space ontology guarantees the syntactic and semantic interoperability among the three sub-models. This ontology will be used to structure and codify information into a Geographic Information System (GIS), which will be the kernel for the computer implementation of the larger model. A CAD system is used to construct 3D models from contextual information stored in the GIS. In short, following Stiny and March’s design machines concept, the goal is to create an urban design machine that is able to produce flexible urban plans at the site planning level.
Cite: V. Duarte, J. P., Beirão, J. N., Montenegro, N., & Gil, J. (2012). City Induction: formulating, generating, and evaluating urban plans. In S. Müller Arisona, P. Wonka, G. Aschwanden, & J. Halatsch (Eds.), Digital Urban Modeling and Simulation. Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS) (Vol. 242). Springer Berlin Heidelberg"
Cite: V. Duarte, J. P., Beirão, J. N., Montenegro, N., & Gil, J. (2012). City Induction: formulating, generating, and evaluating urban plans. In S. Müller Arisona, P. Wonka, G. Aschwanden, & J. Halatsch (Eds.), Digital Urban Modeling and Simulation. Communications in Computer and Information Science (CCIS) (Vol. 242). Springer Berlin Heidelberg"
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One of the problems that planners face currently is the difficulty in finding appropriate guidelines for organizing public open spaces in urban areas. This invokes the need to create a system tool to describe and guide the planning of... more
One of the problems that planners face currently is the difficulty in finding appropriate guidelines for organizing public open spaces in urban areas. This invokes the need to create a system tool to describe and guide the planning of such components of the urban space. This research explores the problems related to the description and the location of public open spaces, and defines a system that integrates three distinct and complementary phases – appraisal, description, and location of public open spaces – each involving a specific methodology and associated tools. The main purpose is to provide computer-readable descriptions of patterns for planning urban space, to make available programmatic strategies and design options to the participants of the urban development process.
Research Interests: Urban Geography, Ontology, Spatial Analysis, Architecture, Data Mining, and 38 moreShape Grammar (Architecture), Space and Place, Urban History, Urban Planning, Pattern Recognition, Computer Aided Design, Gentrification, Urban Studies, Networks, Participation, Urbanism, Housing, Transportation, Urban Sociology, Semantic Web technology - Ontologies, Urban And Regional Planning, Land-use planning, Landscape, Public Space, Debates on public space and public life, urban design theory, urban culture and history, Cities, Urban Design, City and Regional Planning, Environmental Criminology, Infrastructure, Landscape Planning, Public spaces, Pattern languages, Understanding the Publicness of Public Places, Urban Regeneration and The Future of Cities, Cultural Spaces in The Contemporary Urban Landscape, Architecture and Public Spaces, Nuno Montenegro, Nuno Montenegro Architect, Nuno Montenegro Arquitecto, Nuno Montenegro Arquiteto, Neighbourhood Service, Redevelopment of Open Spaces, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Water In the City
""Urban planning and design has a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and regions. It is a complex process that extends for a long period and involves many participants. The lack of integrated tools to support this... more
""Urban planning and design has a considerable impact on the economic performance of cities and regions. It is a complex process that extends for a long period and involves many participants. The lack of integrated tools to support this process hampers the ability to maximize the response of plans to contextual conditions while using the least resources. This paper describes research that aims to develop such a tool, integrating formulation, generation, and evaluation capabilities. It is focused on the generation module which relies on the encoding of Urban Induction Patterns (UIP) using shape grammars. A grammar for the extension plan of the city of Praia is presented as one of the case studies used to support UIP definition and illustrate its application. The paper also discusses how the proposed tool can be used for developing and monitoring urban plans.
Keywords: Urban Design, Patterns, Shape Grammars, Generative Design""
Keywords: Urban Design, Patterns, Shape Grammars, Generative Design""
Research Interests: Robotics, Architecture, Shape Grammar (Architecture), Digital Fabrication, Urban Planning, and 10 moreGenerative design, Additive Manufacturing, Formal grammars, Urban Design, Generative Architectural Design, Computer Aided Architectural Design, Shape Grammars, Parametric Design, Ontologies, Knowledge representation, Semantic web, Cloud computing, Ontology based data access, Knowlede management, and Fabbers
Grammar formalisms for design come in a large variety, requiring different representations of the objects being generated, and different interpretative mechanisms for this generation. At the same time, all grammars share certain... more
Grammar formalisms for design come in a large variety, requiring different representations of the objects being generated, and different interpretative mechanisms for this generation. At the same time, all grammars share certain definitions and characteristics. Building on these commonalities, we consider a component-based approach for building grammar systems, utilizing a uniform characterization of grammars. Sortal representations constitute the components for this approach. They implement a model for representations, termed sorts, that defines formal operations on sorts and recognizes formal relationships between sorts. Each sort defines an algebra over its elements; formal compositions of sorts derive their algebraic properties from their component sorts. This algebraic framework makes sortal representations particularly suited for defining grammar formalisms considering a variety of algebra, and match relations (or interpretative mechanisms). For urban design and simulation, sortal grammars may include, among others, descriptive grammars, shape grammars, GIS-based grammars and any combination thereof.