Analysis of Form and Space Changes in Design Process of Free-form Architecture of Culture-Related Facilities in South Korea

This research investigates the design process of free-form architecture to understand the design strategy and changing factors during the development phase and the cause for them. It is aimed to foresee the changing factors from the design process and to reduce design changes. It analyzes the design changes of free-form architecture based on projects with finalized documentation or under construction in South Korea. Many free-form shapes of the free-form architectures have to be adjusted to rigid-form in order to satisfy function and be economical to build. The research finds three patterns in design changes. First, from the factors for design changes: function, constructability, design, program add/subtract, efficiency, circulation; Function and Constructability are the higher factors compared with the rest. The two are the design changes suitable for actual usage and cost savings. Second, each project has different predominant factors for design changes as the degree of free-form is different. Contrary to initial expectation, the greater the degrees of free-form of the competition scheme, the higher the rate of Function among the factors for design changes. Constructability is higher when the degree of the free-form is less than others. It means that the lower the degree of the free-form, the more properly planned the space of the building is. Last, Constructability of free-form architecture is considered during the earlier design phase than definite-form, one by which the design changes by comparing 'Before fixed Space Program' (BSP) and 'After fixed Space Program' (ASP) design changes. The research would be helpful as a reference for setting up competition guidelines to reduce trial and error during the design process.