A Study On The Design Of Non-linear Architecture By Using BIM

The structure and forms of architecture have tended to be diversification with the development of science and philosophy in recent decades. As a result, the concept of non-linear architectural design is proposed to adapt the trend. From the perspective of architectural design, it is an urgent need to introduce an advanced design method(BIM) since traditional design already cannot achieve the requirements of the complexity of the modern non-linear architectural design and its shortages has been shown more obviously. The concept of BIM(Building Information Modeling/Model/Management) has been put forward for a few decades, and recently the deeper knowledge and more rational utilisation of BIM bring a new opportunity for the development.The definition of BIM is that it is a process to use digital model for project design, construction and operation, which focuses on the input, storage and expression of ‘information'. The core characteristic of non-linear architecture emphasises the expression of the non-linear architectural form. In addition, the key design idea is that how to design a non-linear form, as well as to store and convey the whole information of non-linear architecture during its life cycle. Thus, on the basis of the strong combination of BIM and non-linear architectural design, critical analysis and research on BIM have significant meanings.Through critically analysing the history of non-linear architecture, the article firstly introduces the development of non-linear architectural design, summarises the key issues and then discusses its applicability and necessity. Furthermore, the article concludes the thinking pattern, method and operation procedure of non-linear architectural design based on the whole life cycle of architecture. Finally, the paper proves its feasibility depending on a specific programme. Comparing with the previous research on BIM, the article focuses on exploring, inducting and concluding the thinking pattern and method of non-linear architectural design from the view on architecture. Whereas the article does not describe too many details of the operating process and regards the relevant softwares as design tools.The article divides into five sections including six chapters to elaborate and reflect the thesis statement. Part 1(introduction) explores the key problems of non-linear architectural design and the present application of BIM depending on the previous research. Part 2(chapter 2) summarises the development of non-linear architecture and non-linear architectural design, and illustrates that non-linear architectural design is an inevitable tendency. In terms of the thinking pattern and method of design, Part 3(chapter 3 and 4) shows the strategies of involving BIM into non-linear architectural design, and concludes the possible effects of further actions, which are caused by design thinking, method and procedure. Part 4(chapter 5) gives the specific programme(group B3 of Luxe Lake eco-city) to describe how to combine BIM with non-linear architectural design. Part 5(chapter 6) gives some conclusions, illustrates the limitations and shows the further actions and goal.