The Paradox of the Disconnected Architect The purpose of all the information preceding this section philosophy he calls the “otium for the people” he defines this We could then start moving into the realm of more complex is to create a base from which a conceptual computational as the integration of leisure, work, recreation and retirement. decision-making stages. The one that piqued my interest the architectural tool can be established. This can be a reality in architecture with the augmentation most, after reflecting on this year’s work in my BAS(Hons) To begin I must make a clear distinction between Computation of architecture and algorithm. Stephen Dale (2019) wrote an course, is that of contextual appropriateness and social and Computerization. This is a topic which is discussed in detail article titled “Intelligent Automation for the new Augmented understanding. by Terzidis (2006) in the opening sentence in his prologue of Workforce” which reviews a summer workshop called “The ‘Algorithmic Architecture’. His definition of the two are as Knowledge and Innovation Network” where a keynote speaker The resounding lesson I learnt by immersing myself in this follows: Cleary Ahern eased the social concerns stating “that it was not year’s design projects is that, no matter how much training •“Computerization is the act of entering, processing, or storing about displacement of workers, but about upskilling workers and learning I do I will never be able to understand (on a information in a computer or computer system” These are the in order to effectively off-load routine tasks to augmentation completely integrated level) the context of an environment current architectural systems we have in abundance, they are the technologies.” In other words, it is redundant to have educated I am not familiar with. The two contexts I have been tasked evolution of pen and paper (i.e. From Rock to Spear). These and intellectual individuals doing tile and bathroom layouts. It’s with designing in this year were by far the most challenging I systems involve the digitization of content that has already a waste of resources and human intellect and creativity. have ever had to deal with. Herein lies the paradox I titled this gone through the process of analysis to product. I understand the tentativeness of the architectural community chapter and my essay after, that of the disconnected architect. •“Computation is the procedure of calculating i.e. determining in handing over their design integrity to a machine. There are something by mathematical or logical methods” While these two reasons for being skeptical, even afraid, of algorithmically How is this a paradox? Let me elaborate. I am an architect sayrestpemrosceasrseetshtehoarteatircealdlyonpearbtyotfhtehheu“mDaingitbarlaCinudltauirley.”T(3h),ethey assisted design. The first and most obvious is the loss of a job that has been educated in the process of designing within difference between architect and computer, in this aspect, is that many of us are extremely passionate about. This point myriad contexts; as an individual I do not understand these that the computer is far more capable and efficient. I completely agree with, which is why the inclusion of the tchoenrteebxytsm(4a),kainndg anything I propose will either be a hit or a miss, The conclusion, when comparing these two definitions, is that architect in the design process of these technologies is vital. my attempt from the start disingenuous. This we are using computer-based design in the wrong way. Our Looking back at the previous theme of habits, we can deduce is problematic due to the fact that these objects will be long approach has been to make our drafting life more efficient. that we are already computational, so the logical step would be standing and have an impact on real world social issues and While there is most certainly a need for efficiency in this aspect to develop on and evolve that process. people. Therefore, the paradox of the disconnected is that my of the architectural process, the more advantageous use of the The other, slightly obnoxious, stance is that once the education in the architectural field no matter how thorough computational power provided by these technologies is in the computational algorithm is taking part in the design process can never fully prepare me for designing in varying contextual design process. the credit or authorship of the end product is blurred. This is realms, which are incalculable. “time saved by automization must be invested in new capacities where the ego of the architect comes into effect. I believe if for disautomization, that is, for the production of negentropy”. we are to truly transcend our capabilities as a profession this is The solution, computational algorithmic analysis. Social This quote by Bernard Stiegler (2015) poses the question something that we need to analyze and act on. There is no place Media plays an enormous part in our society. Why not use what can we as architects do with the time saved through for the architect’s ego in today’s society. We need to understand it to assist this aspect of the design process. What knows us automization, my answer is what can we not do with it? The that we are a part of this social system, not separate from it. better than the algorithms that are an extension of our every design process is such a complicated and convoluted leviathan Therefore, what enhances society, in turn, enhances us. day lives. Imagine a world where the contextual design process that drains precious time and resources daily. Imagine a world What I propose is bite sized development of technologies that is informed using real time, real world analysis of the subject where simple design mechanics and principles could be are slowly integrated into the workplace. The logical starting matter, the people you are designing for. I believe a technology assimilated and produced in the blink of an eye. It would leave point would be the automation of simple room layouts (i.e. like this augmented with the architect in the design process us with all the time we need to contemplate all the philosophical bathrooms, furniture layout etc.) and slightly more complex can reduce the stigma toward the utilization of computational aspects of architecture we as architects crave, while still pleasing structural layouts. The education of interns and newly digital systems in architecture. the client with a functional user-friendly product. Steigler has a graduated architects would be done in conjunction with these technologies, thereby not eradicating the architects’ (engineers’) understanding of these principles. Architectural Augmentation: The Paradox of the Disconnected Architect 7 Danilo Deletic 321081
fig. 05. Street View of site context in KwaThema, fig. 06. Street View of my context in Westcliff, Johannesburg. Johannesburg. Conclusion To conclude I must first make we need to iron out the kinks an algorithmic computational it clear that the shear scope of in our approach to design. tool to design the Southern this topic is overwhelmingly In his article “From Objet and Western facade for diverse and there are so many to Field” Stan Allen (1999) maximum Solar efficiency. different ways of approaching speaks about the architects The few theoretical examples it, you’d need an algorithim to inability to address the I have found are the case even begin understanding the complexities of urban studies in Terzidis (2006) full potential. context. He believes that book and the example The main theme I took in order to manage the on the left by Madrid away from the research and complexity of any context, architects Rodrigo Delso analysis of this topic is that architecture must give up a Gutiérrez & Javier Argota the augmentation of man and measure of control. Sánchez-Vaquerizo. They machine in the design process The only real world use numerous algorithmic can be extremely usefull if it example of algorithm used equations to layer a is implemented correctly. in architecture that I am hypermobile commuter city Before we can even begin to familiar with is the Media- and through this technology incorporate computational ICT in Barcelona by Cloud develop a conceptual mass systems into our workplace, 9 Architects, where they used that deals with real life data analysed in the context. fig. 07. Hypermobile Commuters City, Synopsis plan and details 121 of prototypDe.elGsoeGnuetriaétreredzuansidnAgr1go2t7a Saálngcohrietzh-Vmaiqcuoepritzioons and genJeAraEti7v2e:1 layers of information. R.D Gutierrez and J.A Sanchez (2018) Architectural Augmentation: The Paradox of the Disconnected Architect Danilo Deletic 8 321081
Bibliography Endnotes Published Refrences: 1. There might have been earlier itterations of tools that were created using bone. 1. Allen, S. (1999) ‘From Object to Field’, AD: Architecture after Geometry, vol.67 no 5/6, 2. A supercritical state is when a liquid is placed under immense heat and pressure above its May - June, 1997. critical point, thereby giving the substance the properties of both liquid and gas. 2. Latour, B. (1990) ‘Drawing Things Together’, in Michael Lynch and Steve Woolgar, eds., 3. A book by Antoine Picon. 4. I would have to live an extended period of time in every context to be able to have a real Representation in Scientific Practice. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1980, pp. 19 - 68 3. Latour, B. (1991) We Have Never Been Modern, trans. Catherine Porter. Massachusetts: world understanding. This is not practical. Harvard University Press 4. R.D Gutierrez, J.A Sanchez (2018) Autonomy and Autimation in the Architectural Project: The Algorithm of Hypermobile Commuter’s City, Journal of Architectural Education 5. Terzidis, K. (2006) Algorithmic Architecture. Oxford: Elsevier Ltd. 6. Stiegler, B. (2015) La Societe Automatique. 1. L’Avenir du travail. Paris: Artheme Fayard 7. Wigley, M. (2001) ‘Network Fever’. Grey Room 4, pp. 82 - 122. 8. Online Refrences: 1. Duhigg, C. (2012) How Companies Learn Your Secrets, The New York Times Magazine, 16 February [Online]. Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/magazine/ shopping-habits.html (Accessed: 23 October 2019) 2. Code for America (n.d) How we do it. Available at: https://www.codeforamerica.org/how (Accessed: 26 October 2019) 3. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (2019) Ancient Tools. Available at: http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/behavior/stone-tools (Accessed: 23 October 2019) 4. Dale, S (2019) Intelligent Automation for the new Augmented Workforce, The future of Work. Available at: http://www.stephendale.com/2019/06/25/intelligent-automation-for- the-new-augmented-workforce/ (Accessed: 28 October 2019) Architectural Augmentation: The Paradox of the Disconnected Architect 9 Danilo Deletic 321081
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