Patrik Schumacher, partner at Zaha Hadid Architects, has recently come to prominence with his ideas on parametricism.

In this interview, Patrik explains parametrics – the computer design tools that underlie parametricism – introducing 'nurbs', 'splines' and 'subdivs'. He goes on to explore parametricism itself, highlighting its rejection of geometric forms, simple repetition and juxtaposition and introducing its key principles of 'soft' shapes, continuous change and correlation. The programme also discusses the complexity of parametric designs, and examines how parametricism relates to nature and environmentalism.