Swarm Matter

RESEARCH BACKGROUND: Swarm Matter is an experimental digital architecture project that explores the ornamental capacity of multi-agent algorithms within architecture. The ornamental piece demonstrates the emergence of complex order and discernible figures from field conditions, through self-organising processes. RESEARCH CONTRIBUTION: This creative work is part of a larger research trajectory by Roland Snooks to develop and articulate a behavioural approach to architectural design that draws from the logic of swarm intelligence and operates through multi-agent algorithms. This work is part of a new architectural paradigm that has developed out of complexity theory, computation and a focus on emergent phenomena. The major exhibition 'Naturalizing Architecture' at the FRAC (Orleans, France) - which his work was a part of - was an attempt to define this movement and "to illustrate the scope of this epistemological revolution, where architecture and science have entered into a dialogue within the computational field" (Frederic Migayrou and Marie-Ange Brayer, 2013). RESEARCH SIGNIFICANCE: Swarm Matter was exhibited at the ArchiLab/FRAC (2013, France), with the exhibition catalogue published by Hyx Editions. It was also exhibited at the Architecture Biennial Beijing, Architecture SH Gallery (2010, Shanghai), Canactions (2010, Kiev Ukraine), Nous/LOT (2010, Kentucky, USA) and Pin-Up (2011, Melbourne). Swarm Matter was also published in Pulsation in Architecture (USA), Architect Victoria (Australia), City Vision (Italy), l'Architecture d'Aujourd'hui (France), Architecture Australia, New Computational Paradigms in Architecture (China), Evolo (USA), Tarp: Coding Parameters (USA), Urban Environment Design (China) and Artichoke (Australia). Roland Snooks presented this project in invited public lectures at: MIT (2014, USA), University of Pennsylvania (2014, USA), Aalto University (2012, Finland), Tongji University (2011, China), Milano Polytecnico (2011, Italy).