Impossible and Hyper-Real Elements of Architecture

The book Impossible and Hyper-Real Elements of Architecture explores how architects, artists, and designers manipulate reality through rendering, an interdisciplinary, algorithmic, and culturally rooted practice. It explores "impossible" elements that avoid a fixed relationship to a singular built reality, such as digital bonsai trees, pixels, video game levels, grids, and dioramas, which become the territory of speculation, ambiguity, and curiosity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: 13 March 2023
Publisher: Oro Editions

The book "Impossible and Hyper-Real Elements of Architecture" delves into the intricate ways in which architects, artists, and designers manipulate reality. At the forefront of this discussion is the role of rendering, which is often perceived as a mere technical process involving the use of software interfaces and photographic frameworks. However, as the author emphasizes, rendering is a multifaceted cultural practice that encompasses interdisciplinary, algorithmic, and historically rooted elements.

The elements explored in this book are labeled as "impossible" because they transcend the confines of a fixed relationship to a singular built reality. Digital bonsai trees, pixels, video game levels, grids, and dioramas, for instance, stretch across multiple media and formats, creating a tapestry of interconnected representations. Through their work, which appears remarkably real yet cannot possibly exist, these artists and designers invite us to explore the realm of speculation, ambiguity, and curiosity.

The book explores the ways in which rendering becomes a tool for shaping and defining architectural spaces, as well as for creating immersive and interactive experiences for users. It examines the historical roots of rendering, from its early analog practices to its contemporary digital manifestations, and discusses the ethical and philosophical implications of manipulating reality through digital means.

Furthermore, the book highlights the role of rendering in the broader context of architecture and design, exploring how it intersects with other disciplines such as urban planning, landscape architecture, and interior design. It examines the ways in which rendering can be used to communicate complex ideas, evoke emotions, and create a sense of place, and explores the potential for rendering to shape the future of architecture and design.

In conclusion, "Impossible and Hyper-Real Elements of Architecture" is a thought-provoking and insightful book that offers a deep exploration of the complex relationship between architecture, reality, and representation. Through its interdisciplinary approach, the book provides a valuable contribution to the field of architecture and design, challenging our perceptions of what is possible and pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve through digital means.

Weight: 1330g
Dimension: 206 x 258 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781951541552