Measuring the Usability, Efficiency and Effectiveness of CAAD Tools and Applications

Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD) decisions and judgments have been at the heart of architectural design practice. Despite the increasing popularity of computer aided design applications, measuring the decision making of designers empirically remains elusive. Past research claiming usefulness of the CAD has relied largely on anecdotal...

Quality of design and usability: a vitruvian twin

This paper explores different indicators of quality of architectural design that are used in debates and design appraisals in the Netherlands. In addition to the old Vitruvian trilogy of utilitas, firmitas and venustas a plea is made for a broad view on quality of architectural design. Because buildings go far beyond “free art”, in particular...