The contribution of Horst Rittel to the scientific approach to design in the beginning of the computational era

Abstract

This paper goes back fifty years to a period that can be considered the birth of the computational design research. During the sixties the computer was only accessible to a few mathematicians or programmers and it becomes object of a much wider theorization and influence. Calculus and mathematical logic inherent to the computer support the emergence of areas including the information theory and the operational research, which would call the attention of social science and arts. Some Design and Architecture Research Centers, in the UK and the USA start using the computer to support design methodologies based on analysis and mathematical logic as well as to assist the design conception process. A similar approach can also be found at he Hochschule für Gestaltung Ulm (HfG-Ulm), in Germany, founded in 1953 by the Swiss architect Max Bill. Despite its short existence, it was considered a very important school in the twentieth century, where a remarkable group of teachers and ideas converged. In this context, this paper describes the relevance of the HfG Ulm regarding the exploration of scientific analysis methods associated with the Design Process. Comparing to other contemporary Research Centers, this approach at the HfG Ulm was remarkable because it was introduced and practiced without the use of computers. Therefore, this paper dedicate its attention to tracing, analyzing and illustrating the particular contribution of Horst Rittel, based on the manuscripts used at the HfG-Ulm classes. Being a mathematician, his integration in the design curriculum was innovative and resulted in the development of a scientific methodology in design. This article thoroughly demonstrate that the work developed by some teachers, like Horst Rittel launched the foundations that constitute the basis for further computational approaches in architecture.