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Architectural styles have evolved, with distinct periods marked by unique styles that reflect broader artistic movements. Despite extensive research on traditional and contemporary architectural styles, there remains a gap in understanding the distinctiveness and contributions of Parametricism as a 21st-century architectural style. This study aims to critically examine the emergence and development of Parametricism, aiming to highlight whether it represents a fundamental evolution in architectural thought and practice or primarily a methodological innovation. Through a comprehensive investigation of its formal characteristics, historical roots, and relationships with other architectural movements, this study seeks to discuss Parametricism’s unique contributions to modern architecture. This research is crucial as it addresses the underexplored area of parametric design’s impact on architectural theory and practice, offering a critical analysis that situates Parametricism within the broader context of 21st-century architectural styles. By clarifying the definition and position of Parametricism, this study aims to enrich both the state of the art and the state of practice in the field, providing valuable insights for scholars, practitioners, and students of architecture. Through this critical assessment, the paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on the evolution of architectural styles, highlighting the originality and significance of Parametricism in contemporary architecture.

SETS (Self-Erecting Temporary Shelter) is a project born to realize a temporary, flexible, lightweight, experimental pavilion. It is a synthesis between the ancient origami’s art and the innovative vacuumatics. So SETS is able to switch from two-dimensional configuration, for transportation and storage, to the spatial one, adaptable to several uses (from fashion shows to emergencies). To achieve this goal SETS is based on two qualifying items: a strong geometric control, due to the parametric design tool, and the vacuum technology, that is able to ‘freeze’ it into the chosen configuration. In this article the authors will describe the topics of the first steps of the research, that allowed them to make some physic model in scale. They will also show the program of the following phases, that are addressed to the building of a prototype.

The traditional need for coding to create parametric design has become quite obsolete with the advent of powerful visual programming languages for most becoming architects of the current young generation that are studying all around the world. Parametricism might become one of the standard skills for applicants seeking for a position at architectural design practices. It raises a question – how to implement the parametric knowledge into the workflow of a classical architectural designing approach, and rethinking the way we present these concepts at university level education of architecture. Additional knowledge of subjects is necessary, for example, about the structural integrity, material tolerance, fabrication optimization, sustainability issues etc. just to name the most frequent areas where lies the highest potential of making mistakes when these new systems are in use. Meanwhile the CAD/CAM paradigm that let architects design straight for fabrication brings new challenge for construction practice. Parametricism is an excellent platform of research for form finding, as there is very little amount of time needed to recreate significantly different design proposals by changing the variables, as soon as the bigger system of internal relations is set up.

The interview with Chilean architect Cazú Zegers, conducted by Ingrid Quintana-Guerrero and Rafael Méndez Cárdenas as part of Pabellón 2023, delves into key themes that are essential to understanding her approach to architecture and the practice that underpins it. Central to the discussion were topics such as the connection between poetic language and geography, parametric thinking, the cultural ancestry rooted in the Pacific region, and community-based collaboration. La entrevista concedida por la arquitecta chilena Cazú Zegers a Ingrid-Quintana Guerrero y Rafael Méndez Cárdenas, en el marco de Pabellón 2023, aborda aspectos cruciales para entender el pensamiento de la arquitecta de cara a su oficio y la práctica a la que sustenta. Inquietudes como la relación entre palabra poética y geografía, el pensamiento paramétrico, la ancestralidad cultural que subyace en la región pacífica y el trabajo comunitario, estuvieron en el centro de la conversación.

Patrik Schumacher reflects on the role and potential of Stereotomy 2.0 within the larger context of parametricism.

Architectural parametric design is a process to use intelligent softwares for building a series of geometric models with special mathematical relationships and to modify one unit model’s parameters so that other models are made corresponding modifications. Drawings link is very precise between all professionals such as architects, structure engineers, facility engineers and the efficiency to design and construct is improved greatly compared with traditional way. Parametric design means can generate a large number of colorful building space plastic design options for architects and owners to choose. In the future if architectural parametric design would have been prevalent, our earth will enter the era of flowing cities. This paper has mostly discussed the technology essence, technology platform, advantages and disadvantages of architectural parametric design.

After a startling and meteoric rise to fame, Arab Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid is one of the most sought after and in-demand architects of the twenty-first century. Hadid’s work, which often defies description, draws on a diverse palette of influences including Soviet Constructivism, Suprematism, and what her colleague Patrick Shumacher has termed ‘Parametricism’. At the same time, Hadid’s work – she studied under Rem Koolhaas – is infused on multiple levels with her Arab culture and identity. Originally more famous for her designs and un-built works, those which have been constructed or are on the verge of completion span the globe from China to Azerbaijan to Europe, the US and – more recently – the Arab world. She is the recipient of some of architecture’s most prestigious awards including the Pritzker Prize. Simultaneously, Hadid has met with controversy and obstacles to her single-minded approach to design and utilization of space in both Europe and the Arab world. This article contains previously unpublished interviews – which examine her approach to form and space, her relation to computer-assisted design, as well as her Iraqi identity – undertaken with Zaha Hadid by the author over a decade, as well as photographs and illustrations of her paradigmatic work that pose serious challenges and hurdles for structural engineers and builders, while engaging all those who view or encounter them to assess their own relation to space and concepts of it.