Reading Assignment 01

Blob Tectonics

In these two readings by Greg Lynn he begins to explain the abstract nature of a form deemed "the blob".  In "Probable Geometries: The Architecture of Writing in Bodies", Lynn begins to explain the ambiguity of the way we as humans attempt to measure shapes.  He goes on to explain that fields such as biology and geology have developed "...convincing geometric descriptions of vague forms."  Forms that previous to such developments have not been able to be described.  More importantly with this discovery, which Lynn describes adamantly, is that it indicates that all geometries are not exact.  It seems that it is only a matter of perspective as to which we are able to deem a shape "exact".  This new ability to define any shape has led to that of architects being able to create what we know as "blob architecture".

Lynn goes on to describe what a blob really is in his article, "Blob Tectonics, or Why Tectonics is Square and Topology is Groovy".   Lynn makes the comparison to the blob to the iconic 1950's horror films.  As he describes, a blob is multiplicity as well as its singularity.  It is one holistic form, however, internally is derived by a multiplicity of conditions.  This idea of a blob developed into isomorphic polysurfaces, or what is known as "meta-ball".  This form of modeling is defined by its relationship to other objects as opposed to conventional primitives such as spheres.

These new forms and perspective on form has pushed the limits of geometry and what is definable.