演算法是數位運算的基礎。本研究探討演算式建築設計的操作特性，讓數位媒材運算機制可以發揮於設計的探索與內省過程中。研究採文獻歸納、個案研究與實例操作等方法，逐步探索演算設計的操作方向及特性。文獻歸納顯示，演算式設計包含參數及程序控制等兩個操作向度。接著，以此歸納結果對包含生手與專家等兩個個案進行觀察與探討。最後以一個環境工作室設計案的實例操作，示範融入媒材運算特性於形隨環境生的設計思維過程，並配合參數與程序控制來探索建築設計的演算過程。

生手與專家的個案研究，綜合顯示參數控制具有「於限制中做探索」、程序控制具有「發散設計探索」的特性。生手個案以建築系大學三年級學生為對象，進行實驗性教學操作。專家個案則選擇建築大師Frank Gehry的古根漢畢爾包美術館，進行間接觀察與造形構成分析，並取中央花狀量體部份，進行形塑模擬與演算操作探索。實例操作則示範「環境工作室設計案」的演算探索過程，將媒材運算特性融入到形隨環境生的設計思維中，並配合前述參數與程序控制等操作來探索空間配置。此部份也顯示出，演算式設計可以透過參數的變動、操作步驟的疊加或選擇，進行衍生結果的探索。

總結探索的結果，顯示演算操作有參數與程序控制等兩向度，而參數控制具有「於限制中做探索」、程序控制具有「發散設計探索」的特性。希望藉由此研究，讓數位媒材有別於紙筆的運算特性，能被發揮在設計的探索及內省過程中。由於觀察的個案數量有限，建議後續可增加探索案例的數量，並對參數與程序控制做更多元的嘗試與組合，發掘並促進其他演算特性於設計思索上的應用。

The objective of this research is to incorporate computational mechanisms into the architectural design exploration process. Parameters (data) and algorithms (procedures) are two fundamental elements of computation. This research proposes two types of design operation—parametric manipulation and procedural manipulation—to support design explorations. These design operations are investigated through three case studies: a series of form exploration exercises, a formation of the geometry of Guggenheim Bilbao, and an architectural design project. The investigation reveals that parametric manipulations afford a top-down design process in which design alternatives are explored within a focused domain, whereas procedural manipulations afford a bottom-up design process in which unexpected design alternatives are emerged through re-compositions of known elements.

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