by Henry Neil Holtzman., Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1991., Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-66).

This thesis explores a holistic design process through which architectural elements can engage the dynamic forces of natural phenomena and integrate the spatial and temporal experience of building form with its physical environment. The framework for this exploration is a…

As we begin to comprehend the ways we interact with the data/information/knowledge structures which construct our individual perception of reality, we see a shift from the dyadic Cartesian method of reading our environment, to a triadic, or Systems View, which…

The thesis explores architectural form generation through two behavior based artificial intelligence approaches: the communication of agents in an unpredictable simulation system, and the codification of information within an evolutionary process. Both concepts stem from the evaluation of potentially definable…

This dissertation investigates changes that occurred in architectural culture in respect to conditions of modernity. Large-scale industrialization and urbanization caused dramatic ruptures with traditional social and economic hierarchies, forcing a reconceptualization of the theoretical constructs underlying architecture. During the course…

The act of designing in architecture is a complex process. Many designers, when probed for reasons to explain their actions, are either unable to answer questions, or provide explanations that are not true descriptions of their actions. Frequently the designer…

This dissertation investigates the relation between Mies van der Rohe and cinema. Its purpose is to elucidate, both historically and theoretically, the association between the architect Mies and the pioneers of abstract film Hans Richter and Viking Eggeling during the…

Over the course of the twentieth century, how were real estate developers and architects involved in transforming their own professional practices and the built form of American cities? My dissertation uses historical, architectural, and urban analysis to show how real…

Daylight and energy are a fundamental input for architectural design. It is vital to have a stock of knowledge that will enhance the bond between daylight and other physical environment data. This study aims to develop a new model of…

This dissertation maps the ethnographic and archaeological work of the Dutch architects Aldo van Eyck and Herman Haan between 1947 and 1967, including van Eyck's writings, editorial work, and encounter with the sub-Saharan Dogon people, and Haan's expeditions and ethnographic…