TAD Docs

Taxonomy means a classification system. SFA stands for Sabu Francis and Associates, the company that holds the copyrights of TAD.

The SFA Taxonomy is based on the fractal theories in geometry. According to the fractal theory, all the volumes in architecture designs can be represented by either solids or spaces.

In TAD, objects are classified in the following types:

• Atom - It represents a space that is not further sub-divided in the minds-eye of the architect. For example; when designing a building, an atom would be the rooms in the building. But this actually depends on the scale of the design. If you are designing a table; it would be possible the architect considers the space below the material of the table, where your legs would go into; that space could be an atom for that scale of design. And so on, for other scales.
• Envelope - It represents an enclosure space that wraps other spatial elements.
• Connector - It represents spatial elements that connects between other spatial elements. For example, Doors and windows.
• Artefacts - It represents elements that cannot be further sub-divided at the current level of investigation. For example, canopies, interior furniture, and other similar objects. Think of artefacts as either fully solid matter For eg - Chajjas (aka sunshades), canopies etc… or they are to be later broken down further into its constituent ''atoms“, “envelopes” and “connectors ”; when the design gets detailed out.
• Linked-nodes - It represents a set of artefacts that are linked to each other. For example, column-beam frame.
• Pseudo objects - It represents the objects that are not actual built objects. For example, referential objects like lights, location, and look at.

Note: In TAD, objects are assigned their properties via isKindOf option in the Site Info Pane.