Skip to main content

Fractal Geometry in Architecture

  • Living reference work entry
  • Latest version View entry history
  • First Online:
Handbook of the Mathematics of the Arts and Sciences

Abstract

Fractal geometry is a product of fractal theory, a mathematical approach that describes the way space is filled by figures or objects. A fractal geometric figure is one that can be iteratively subdivided or grown in accordance with a series of rules. The overall fractal figure then has parts, which under varying levels of magnification tend to look similar – if not identical – to each other, and the figure fills more space than its topological boundaries. While pure mathematical fractal figures can be infinite in their iterations, there are examples of fractal shapes with limited scales that can be found in architecture. This chapter briefly outlines the background of fractal theory and defines fractal geometry. It then looks at the confusion surrounding the claims about fractal geometry in architecture before reviewing the way architecture and fractal geometry can be combined through inspiration, application, or algorithmic generation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bovill C (1996) Fractal geometry in architecture and design. Birkhäuser, Boston

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Capo D (2004) The fractal nature of the architectural orders. Nexus Netw J 6:30–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coates P, Apples T, Simon C, Derix C (2001) Current work at CECA: Dust plates and blobs. In: Proceedings of 4th international conference on generative art, GA2001, Milan, 12–14 Dec, unpag. Politecnico di Milano, Milan

    Google Scholar 

  • Crompton A (2001) The fractal nature of the everyday environment. Environ Plan B: Plan Des 28:243–254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eaton L (1998) Fractal geometry in the late work of frank Lloyd Wright. In: Williams K (ed) Nexus II: architecture and mathematics. Edizioni dell’Erba, Fucecchio, pp 23–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Edgar D (2008) Measure, topology, and fractal geometry. Springer, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Eglash R (1999) African fractals: modern computing and indigenous design. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Harris J (2007) Integrated function systems and organic architecture from Wright to Mondrian. Nexus Netw J 9:93–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holl S (2010) Architecture surrounds you, in the same way that music surrounds you. ArchIdea 42:4–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Jencks C (1995) Architecture of the jumping universe. Academy Editions, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Joye Y (2011) A review of the presence and use of fractal geometry in architectural design. Environ Plan B: Plan Des 38:814–828

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz WE (2011) Fractal geometry of architecture. In: Dietmar B, Gruber P, Hellmich C, Schmiedmayer HB, Stachelberger H, Gebeshuber IC (eds) Biomimetics – materials, structures and processes: examples, ideas and case studies. Springer, Berlin, pp 179–200

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mandelbrot BB (1982) The fractal geometry of nature. W.H. Freeman, San Francisco

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Obrist HU (2008) The father of long tails interview with Benoît Mandelbrot. In: Brockman J (ed) EDGE.org. Retrieved from http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/obrist10/obrist10_index.html

  • Ostwald MJ (1998) Fractal traces: geometry and the architecture of Ushida Findlay. In: van Schaik L (ed) Ushida Findlay. 2G, Barcelona, pp 136–143

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostwald MJ (2001) Fractal architecture: late twentieth century connections between architecture and fractal geometry. Nexus Netw J 3:73–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ostwald MJ (2006) The architecture of the new baroque: a comparative study of the historic and new baroque movements in architecture. Global Arts, Singapore

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostwald MJ (2010) The politics of fractal geometry in Russian paper architecture: the intelligent market and the cube of infinity. Architl Theory Rev 15:125–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ostwald MJ, Moore RJ (1996) Fractalesque architecture: an analysis of the grounds for excluding Mies van der Rohe from the oeuvre. In: Kelly A, Bieda K, Zhu JF, Dewanto W (eds) Traditions and modernity in Asia. Mercu Buana University, Jakarta, pp 437–453

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostwald MJ, Vaughan J (2016) The fractal dimension of architecture. Birkhauser, Cham

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Pearson D (2001) The breaking wave: new organic architecture. Gaia, Stroud

    Google Scholar 

  • Peitgen H-O, Richter PH (1986) The beauty of fractals: images of complex dynamical systems. Springer, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Samper A, Herrera B (2014) The fractal pattern of the French gothic cathedrals. Nexus Netw J 16:251–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt G (1988) Expert systems and interactive fractal generators in design and evaluation. In: CAAD Futures ‘87 Eindhoven, The Netherlands, 20–22 May 1987. Elselvier, Amsterdam, pp 91–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Schroeder MR (1991) Fractals, chaos, power laws: minutes from an infinite paradise. W.H. Freeman, New York

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Sedrez M, Pereira A (2012) Fractal shape. Nexus Netw J 14:97–107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saleri R (2005) Pseudo-urban automatic pattern generation. Chaos Art Archit – Int J Dyn Syst Res 1:24.1–24.12

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Salingaros NA (2004) Anti-architecture and deconstruction. Umbau-Verlag Harald Püschel, Solingen

    Google Scholar 

  • Storrer WA (1993) The Frank Lloyd Wright companion. University of Chicago Press, Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • Trivedi K (1989) Hindu temples: models of a fractal universe. Vis Comput 5:243–258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Tonder G (2006) Changing the urban façade through image superposition. In: Proceedings of the international symposium on architecture of habitat system for sustainable development. Kyushu University, Fukuoka, pp 83–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Yessios CI (1987) A fractal studio. In: Integrating computers into the architectural curriculum. ACADIA, Raleigh, pp 169–182

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Josephine Vaughan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Vaughan, J., Ostwald, M.J. (2020). Fractal Geometry in Architecture. In: Sriraman, B. (eds) Handbook of the Mathematics of the Arts and Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70658-0_11-2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70658-0_11-2

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-70658-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-70658-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MathematicsReference Module Computer Science and Engineering

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Fractal Geometry in Architecture
    Published:
    04 September 2020

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70658-0_11-2

  2. Original

    Fractal Geometry in Architecture
    Published:
    31 May 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70658-0_11-1