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520_Henge-#269-View_0_Landscape
520_Henge-#358-View_0_Landscape
520_Henge-#377-View_0_Landscape
520_Henge-#19-View_0_Landscape
520_Henge-#20-View_0_Landscape
520_Henge-#110-View_0_Landscape
520_Henge-#111-View_0_Landscape
520_Henge-#188-View_0_Landscape

Henge

 

Henge is an exploration of circular megalithic structures of the prehistoric age. It is a work of historical fiction where these stone assemblies, achieved through herculean efforts of stacking, aligning, and balancing immense chiseled rocks, are reimagined within an alternate universe of algorithmic possibility.

year
2023
Platform
fxhash
Collaborator
Tender - Adam Berninger
Links
Interactive App , Analysis
520_Henge_187_a_1
Stone Henge, The Antiquities of Great Britain, Thomas Hearne and William Byrne, 1777

Henges share a few qualities that inspired this project. They are places of gathering within a loose collection of stones to organize ceremony or worship under celestial alignments. They are also monolithic in their materiality and employ the most elemental techniques of megalithic, or large stone, construction. These particular types of henges, known as cromlechs, are circular spaces fit with purpose and ritual and in this sense, serve as precedents to the great human edifices, charging landscapes with meaning and presence through geometry and order.

520_Henge_ancient
Neolithic henge monument containing three stone circles around the village of Avebury in Wiltshire, Engraving by John Britton, 1826

Finally, henges are a collective language of place-making shared across a range of cultures and ages, from the Mesolithic and Neolithic eras and across territories from modern-day Portugal, Germany, Scandinavia, to the well-known Stone Henge in Great Britain.

520_Henge_nomad
Nomad Circle, Richard Long, 1996

This project is deeply inspired by the timeless and universal narrative created through a thoughtful and deliberate placement of large rocks in a circle. It seems that when confronted with marking a place and communing with nature, human beings like to make circles out of stones. Among all the symbols of place making, the circle is the original and still remains the most universal.

 

HISTORY IS GENERATIVE
Henge animates the history of these circles, their roughness and seemingly endless variation. Its not a truthful recreation but a re-living the moment through new eyes. The following are some test outputs:

Henge #398
Henge #398
Henge #377
Henge #377
Henge #376
Henge #376
Henge #358
Henge #358
Henge #347 View
Henge #347 View
Henge #343 View
Henge #343 View
Henge #340
Henge #340
Henge #322
Henge #322
Henge #280
Henge #280
Henge #269
Henge #269
Henge #257
Henge #257
Henge #229
Henge #229
Henge #225 View
Henge #225 View
Henge #188 View
Henge #188 View
Henge #183
Henge #183

HENGE DESIGN
The following attributes define some of the Henge features:

520_Henge_Piranesi_SKies
Vedute di Roma (Views of Rome) by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750–78

ATMOSPHERE

For Henge’s atmosphere, its clouds and weather, we were inspired by Piranesi’s spectacular cloud formations in his engravings. These skies are cropped from Vedute di Roma (Views of Rome) by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, ca. 1750–78.

520_Henge_Jones_Stonehenge
The most notable antiquity of Great Britain, vulgarly called Stone-Heng, Inigo Jones, 1655

HENGE AS ARCHITECTURAL SPECULATION

Proportion and geometry are at work in this henge analysis by architect Inigo Jones. At the request of the king, Jones tried to prove that Stone Henge was actually the ruins of a Roman temple through a geometrical forensics. Despite being completely wrong, he produced the first thorough monographic analysis of a building in the United Kingdom, evidence that a re-imagining of a henge need not be factually correct to inspire architectural speculation.

520_Henge_Plots-Grid
Henge Layout Types

HENGE LAYOUTS

Each Henge has a randomized size, density, and category, or multiple categories overlaid to determine it’s layout. The categories are:

  1. Ring: a circle of stones equidistant from the center.
  2. Disk: stones randomly placed anywhere in a disk.
  3. Random: stones randomly placed anywhere in a circle.
  4. Bi-Axial Symmetry: stones arranged symmetrically across two axes.
  5. Radial Symmetry: stone positions mirrored across multiple axes.
  6. Vertical Symmetry: stone positions mirrored across one axis.
520_Henge_Stack_grid
Henge Stack Types

HENGE STACKS

Stone stack variations. The category determines the length, width, height, and amount of stones.

  1. Regular: other categories are based off this one.
  2. Short:  Larger length and width. Smaller height and amount.
  3. Large: Larger length, width, and height. Smaller amount.
  4. Long: Larger length, smaller width.
  5. Thin: Larger amount. Smaller length,width, and height.
  6. Tall: larger amount. smaller width and height.

Every Henge is a three dimensional landscape viewable in four drawing conventions: plan, perspective, elevation, and isometric.

520_Henge_#1
520_Henge_#376
520_Henge_#358
520_Henge_#280
520_Henge_#257
520_Henge_#188
520_Henge_#183
520_Henge_#149
520_Henge_#120
520_Henge_#111
520_Henge_#110
520_Henge_#398
520_Henge_#109
520_Henge_#93
520_Henge_#70
520_Henge_#37
520_Henge_#32
520_Henge_#29
520_Henge_#24
520_Henge_#20
520_Henge_#19
520_Henge_#9
520_Henge_#7
Henge_Pixplot_01

400 Henges minted outputs in PixPlot, a convolutional neural network and Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) in order to cluster visually similar images near one another.

ANOTHER CIRCLE

Henge extends our fascination with stone landscapes. Our project Another Circle used salvaged limestone to create a temporary public space for Mill Race Park in Columbus, Indiana.

Read our essay about History is Generative to learn more.

Plot generation code

                        //////////////////  Aranda\lasch
//////////////////  Jesse Bassett
//////////////////  5/20/2022 v3.3

function roll() {
    plot = makePlot(0);
}
    
class Plotattributes{
  constructor(_category,_size,_density,_stackAmount) {
    this.category = _category,//type of generation
    this.size = _size,//size/scale
    this.density = _density,//density of stacks
    this.amount = _stackAmount,//number of stacks
    this.x = [],//List of X for stacks
    this.y = []//List of Y for stacks
  }
}

function makePlot(_arg,_argCat,_argSize,_argAmount){

  let _plotCat = shuffle(plotCategories)[0];
  let _plotSize = floor(random(1000,2000));//circle radius
  let _plotDen = random(.02,.05); //density with respect to radius not area.
  let _plotAmount = floor(_plotSize*_plotDen);
  let _plot;

  if (_arg === 0){
    _plot = new Plotattributes(_plotCat,_plotSize,_plotDen,_plotAmount);
  }
  else if (_arg === 1){
    _plot = new Plotattributes(_argCat,_argSize,_plotDen,_argAmount);
  }

  //create points
  //PlotCategories = ['ring','disk','circle,'grid,'axis','row','axialSym','radialSym'];
  if (_plot.category == 'ring'){
    let radius = _plot.size - 250;
    let diameter = floor(Math.PI *2 * radius);
    _plot.amount = floor(diameter / 500);
    for (let i = 0; i < _plot.amount; i++){
      let tempT = (Math.PI*2/_plot.amount) * i
      let tempR = radius;
      _plot.x.push(tempR*Math.cos(tempT));
      _plot.y.push(tempR*Math.sin(tempT));
    }
  }else if (_plot.category == 'disk'){
    let diskMin = _plot.size * random(0,.7);
    _plot.amount = _plotDen * (_plot.size - diskMin);
    for (let i = 0; i < _plot.amount; i++){
      let tempT = rList(1,0,Math.PI*2);
      let tempR = rListWeight(1,diskMin,_plot.size,.5);
      _plot.x.push(tempR*Math.cos(tempT));
      _plot.y.push(tempR*Math.sin(tempT));
    }
  else if (_plot.category == 'circle'){
    for (let i = 0; i < _plot.amount; i++){
      let tempT = rList(1,0,Math.PI*2);
      let tempR = rListWeight(1,0,_plot.size,.5);
      _plot.x.push(tempR*Math.cos(tempT));
      _plot.y.push(tempR*Math.sin(tempT));
    }
  }else if (_plot.category == 'grid'){
    let gridScale = floor(random(300,800));
    let gridAmount = _plot.size/gridScale;
    for (let i = 0; i < gridAmount; i++){
      for (let j = 0; j < gridAmount; j++){ 
        let d = dist(i*gridScale, j*gridScale, 0, 0);
        if(d <= _plot.size){
          _plot.x.push(i*gridScale);
          _plot.y.push(j*gridScale);
          _plot.x.push(-i*gridScale);
          _plot.y.push(j*gridScale);
          _plot.x.push(i*gridScale);
          _plot.y.push(-j*gridScale);
          _plot.x.push(-i*gridScale);
          _plot.y.push(-j*gridScale);
        }
      }
    }
  }else if (_plot.category == 'axis'){
    let axisNum = ceil(random(2,8));
    let gridScale = floor(random(200,300));
    let gridAmount = floor(_plot.size/gridScale) ;
    for (let i = 0; i < axisNum; i++){
      for (let j = 2; j < gridAmount; j++){
        let tempT = Math.PI*2*i/(axisNum);
        let tempR = gridScale*j;
        _plot.x.push(tempR*Math.cos(tempT));
        _plot.y.push(tempR*Math.sin(tempT));
      }
    }
  }else if (_plot.category == 'row'){
    let gridScale = floor(random(300,400));
    let gridAmount = _plot.size/gridScale;
    for (let i = 0; i < gridAmount/2; i++){
      for (let j = 0; j < gridAmount; j++){
        let d = dist(i*gridScale*2, j*gridScale, 0, 0);
        if(d <= _plot.size){
          _plot.x.push(i*gridScale*2);
          _plot.y.push(j*gridScale);
          _plot.x.push(-i*gridScale*2);
          _plot.y.push(j*gridScale);
          _plot.x.push(i*gridScale*2);
          _plot.y.push(-j*gridScale);
          _plot.x.push(-i*gridScale*2);
          _plot.y.push(-j*gridScale);
        }
      }
    }
  }else if (_plot.category == 'axialSym'){
    for (let i = 0; i < _plot.amount/2; i++){
      let tempT = rList(1,0,Math.PI);
      let tempR = rListWeight(1,0,_plot.size,.5);
      _plot.x.push(tempR*Math.cos(tempT));
      _plot.y.push(tempR*Math.sin(tempT));
      _plot.x.push(tempR*Math.cos(tempT));
      _plot.y.push(-tempR*Math.sin(tempT));
    }
  }else if (_plot.category == 'radialSym'){
    for (let i = 0; i < _plot.amount/8; i++){
      let tempT = rList(1,0,Math.PI/4);
      let tempT2 = rList(1,Math.PI/4,Math.PI/2);
      let tempR = rListWeight(1,0,_plot.size,.5);
      _plot.x.push(tempR*Math.cos(tempT));
      _plot.y.push(tempR*Math.sin(tempT));
      _plot.x.push(tempR*Math.cos(tempT));
      _plot.y.push(-tempR*Math.sin(tempT));
      _plot.x.push(-tempR*Math.cos(tempT));
      _plot.y.push(tempR*Math.sin(tempT));
      _plot.x.push(-tempR*Math.cos(tempT));
      _plot.y.push(-tempR*Math.sin(tempT));
      _plot.x.push(tempR*Math.cos(tempT2));
      _plot.y.push(tempR*Math.sin(tempT2));
      _plot.x.push(tempR*Math.cos(tempT2));
      _plot.y.push(-tempR*Math.sin(tempT2));
      _plot.x.push(-tempR*Math.cos(tempT2));
      _plot.y.push(tempR*Math.sin(tempT2));
      _plot.x.push(-tempR*Math.cos(tempT2));
      _plot.y.push(-tempR*Math.sin(tempT2));
    }
  }else{
    _plot.x.push(0);
    _plot.y.push(0);
  }
  _plot.amount = _plot.x.length;
  return(_plot);
}

function rList(length, low, high) {
  let myList = []
  for(let i=0; i<length; i++){
    myList.push(random(low,high));
  }
  return myList
}

Stack generation code

                        //////////////////  Aranda\lasch
//////////////////  Jesse Bassett
//////////////////  5/20/2022 v3.3

function roll() {
   makeStack();
}

class Stackattributes{
  constructor() {
    this.name,
    this.x,//x position
    this.y,//y position
    this.category,//type of stacks to generate
    this.stoneAmount = [],//how many stones in the stack
    this.stoneLength = [],//list of stone lenghts
    this.stoneWidth = [],//list of stone Widths
    this.stoneHeight = [],//list of stone Heights
    this.colors = [],//list of stone colors
    this.rotation = [],//list of stone rotations
  }
}
   
function makeStack(){
  let stackCat = shuffle(stackCategories)[0];
  let vList = new Array();
 // print('Plot: ' + plot.category + ', Stack: ' + stackCat);
  for(let i = 0; i < 30 ; i++){//voronoi list to use, sort by area later
    vList.push(i);
  }
  for (let i = 0; i < plot.amount ; i++) {
    stackList.push(new Stackattributes());
    stackList[i].name = i;
    stackList[i].category = stackCat;
    //stackList[i].category = 'regular'
  }
  //let stackCategories = ['regular','tall','short','big','long','thin','sorted','centered','bowl','cone'];
  for (let i = 0; i < stackList.length ; i++) {
    if (stackList[i].category == 'regular'){
      stackList[i].stoneAmount = floor(random(2,7));
      stackList[i].stoneLength = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,100,250);
      stackList[i].stoneWidth = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,100,250);
      stackList[i].stoneHeight = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,50,150);
      stackList[i].rotation = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,0,Math.PI/2);
      stackList[i].VoronoiIndex = shuffle(vList);
    }else if (stackList[i].category == 'short'){
      stackList[i].stoneAmount = floor(random(2,4));
      stackList[i].stoneLength = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,200,500);
      stackList[i].stoneWidth = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,200,500);
      stackList[i].stoneHeight = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,75,100);
      stackList[i].rotation = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,0,Math.PI/2);
      stackList[i].VoronoiIndex = shuffle(vList);
      }else if (stackList[i].category == 'large'){
      stackList[i].stoneAmount = floor(random(1,2));
      stackList[i].stoneLength = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,150,300);
      stackList[i].stoneWidth = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,150,300);
      stackList[i].stoneHeight = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,200,600);
      stackList[i].rotation = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,0,Math.PI/2);
      stackList[i].VoronoiIndex = shuffle(vList);
    }else if (stackList[i].category == 'long'){
      stackList[i].stoneAmount = floor(random(4,6));
      stackList[i].stoneLength = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,50,150);
      stackList[i].stoneWidth = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,100,500);
      stackList[i].stoneHeight = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,50,150);
      stackList[i].rotation = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,0,Math.PI/2);
      stackList[i].VoronoiIndex = shuffle(vList);
    }else if (stackList[i].category == 'thin'){
      stackList[i].stoneAmount = floor(random(9,15));
      stackList[i].stoneLength = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,150,200);
      stackList[i].stoneWidth = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,150,200);
      stackList[i].stoneHeight = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,35,70);
      stackList[i].rotation = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,0,Math.PI/2);
      stackList[i].VoronoiIndex = shuffle(vList);
    }else if (stackList[i].category == 'tall'){
      stackList[i].stoneAmount = floor(random(1,6));
      stackList[i].stoneLength = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,100,200);
      stackList[i].stoneWidth = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,100,200);
      stackList[i].stoneHeight = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,100,500);
      stackList[i].rotation = rList(stackList[i].stoneAmount,0,Math.PI/2);
      stackList[i].VoronoiIndex = shuffle(vList);
    }
  }
  for (let i = 0; i < stackList.length ; i++) {
    stackList[i].x = plot.x[i];
    stackList[i].y = plot.y[i];
  }
}
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