Architecture in Digital Culture: Machines, Networks and Computation

This book explores the manifestations of architecture, cities, and design processes within digital culture, adopting a comparative and critical method. It discusses transformations of the analogy between architecture and the machine, the impact of big data and smart city sustainable management systems on global networked cities, and computational design thinking in the context of complex systems. It proposes a way toward more liberating, digital, and sustainable futures for architecture.

Format: Hardback
Length: 148 pages
Publication date: 14 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate manifestations of architecture, cities, and design processes within the dynamic realm of digital culture. Through a comparative and critical approach, the author explores the profound intersections between the digital and architectural discourse and practices of the past and present. Spanning three central themes—machines, networks, and computation—the book begins by examining the transformative shifts in the analogy between architecture and the machine since the early twentieth century. It raises thought-provoking questions about the complex relationships between architecture, humans, machines, and the surrounding environment.

Moving forward, the book delves into the urban landscape, scrutinizing how big data and smart city sustainable management systems have reshaped historical visions of global networked cities. It also explores computational design thinking, both historically and in the context of complex systems, while keeping a close eye on the latest technical, social, and economic developments. By highlighting both the potential drawbacks and the groundbreaking innovations, the book offers a roadmap toward more liberating, digital, and sustainable futures for architecture.

This book is a vital resource for architecture students, academics, and professionals, as it intricately connects instances of digital architecture practice and discourse throughout the history of the digital culture paradigm. It sheds light on the profound ties between these digital practices and sociopolitical developments, presenting a compelling case for a novel architectural history of the recent past. By unraveling the threads that connect the past and present, this book offers a fresh perspective on the evolving landscape of architecture and its potential for shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032148205