eCAADeRIS2017_proceedings as pdf ca. 6MB

The Virtual and the Physical

Between the representation of space and the making of space

The realm of computation in architecture spans from the virtual representation of space to its physical making. Beyond the visualisation of space we are concerned with the different models of space to explore and uncover its relevant properties. At the symposium we will explore the dimensions of space beyond its physical existence and try to understand the implication of computation in architecture to social, political and environmental spaces. At the other end of the spectrum computation in architecture intends to optimise, automate and integrate effective methods and concepts into architectural production. Through biomimicry/biophilia and material computation, we explore alternative approaches to space construction. We are interested in the gravitational field between the afore-mentioned extreme ends of computation in architecture. Within the symposium we intend to uncover how computation in design and fabrication influences our understanding of space and, reciprocally, how the computational representation of space impacts the production of architecture. We aim to reach to the extremes of the spectrum of architectural space to critically speculate about its creation in theory and practice.

We called for academic papers, practical work or design propositions which engage with the transition from the virtual to the physical or vice versa and explore the realm between the representation of space and the making of space. We are interested in how we represent architectural space and its manifold diversity of social interaction, economic determination, environmental impact, functional requirements and spatial quality to make it available and impactful on computational design processes. Some questions we are curious about include: How does architectural space manifest itself in built shape and solid form? How do we represent non-geometrical parameters to find their role in the design process? How do we account for spatial quality to be sustained during computational design procedures? Where do we integrate potential social interaction and functional interconnection in the various design systems? What are the driving forces of architectural design computing?

Apparently these questions exist in academia but they are increasingly infiltrating architectural practice. The question of what and how and who is influencing and controlling the design process is increasingly pressurising the practicing architect. Is the academic promise of computationally driven design really viable in practice? Is robotic fabrication an alternative way for mass customising building elements in a cost-effective way? How is virtual reality supportive in the daily design routine of architectural practices? What are some of the viable procedures to transform the virtual representation of space into the physical space of a building? What material properties impact the fabrication process and become manifest in the design system?

Evidently the advances in integrating computation into architectural design and production has a vast influence on how we educate future architects at our universities. We are interested in how education has changed. We want to discuss how methods of learning and teaching have changed, what content has been added to curricula and what impact this might have had on the understanding of architecture and computation.

A. Benjamin Spaeth
Wassim Jabi

Chairs of the 5^th eCAADe RIS 2017