Luigi Moretti’s Formalised Methods and his Use of Mathematics in the Design Process of Architettura Parametrica’s Swimming Stadiums

Abstract

The use of mathematical structures as a design tool by Luigi Moretti, the first theorist of Architettura Parametrica, is an unexplored theme even though he repeatedly stressed their importance in his writings. Moretti proposed that bringing design thinking closer to mathematical formalisations could profoundly renew the discipline of architecture. However, he also warns that these formalisations may overwhelm architecture’s values to which a numerical dimension cannot be associated. The reconstruction and discussion of the mathematics behind his swimming stadiums featured in the 1960 Architettura Parametrica exhibition permits us to understand how Moretti intended a design process informed by formalised methods. This paper proposes a novel reading, based on unpublished archival sources and presented with both theoretical and practical approaches, of one the first applications that interweaves formal methods, mathematics, digital tools and scientific thought in architecture.