ABSTRACT
Curvilinear design is the art and science of creating structures and objects out of curving forms. The antithesis of the curvilinear building, the "straight" building, has been around since time began; post-and-beam construction is one of the oldest forms of architecture and has been utilized and improved on for generations. While post-and-beam buildings tend to be square or rectangular, many ancient societies used variations on this structural system to create round buildings. The Pantheon in Rome, for example, has a grand circular rotunda that is today one of the best examples of Roman engineering. Titanium is an extremely strong material that makes an excellent cladding for buildings. Bendable concrete is useful in constructing bridges and roads, as well as buildings. Translucent concrete can add a unique element to a building's lighting design. The future of curvilinear design depends, in large part, on the availability of computer software that can keep up with the imaginations of designers.
