Toward a Living Architecture?: Complexism and Biology in Generative Design

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2019
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

Toward a Living Architecture? is a groundbreaking exploration of the emerging realm of generative architecture, delving into its intricate connections with computation, biology, and complexity. This comprehensive critique, written by Christina Cogdell, takes a bold and unprecedented approach to examining the claims made by generative architects, particularly in light of the sciences they draw upon, including complex systems theory, evolutionary theory, genetics and epigenetics, and synthetic biology. Through meticulous analysis, Cogdell uncovers significant gaps and inconsistencies in the rhetoric of generative architecture, while also highlighting promising avenues for further development.

Cogdell argues that architectural design, often presented as sustainable, often fails to deliver on its promises. She exposes how the language employed by some cutting-edge practitioners and educators can mislead students and clients into believing they are obtaining biological solutions when, in reality, they are not. By employing life-cycle analysis as a framework, Cogdell parses the material, energetic, and pollution differences between different digital and biological design and construction approaches.

In her narrative, Cogdell traverses from the computational to the biological and from present-day practices to visionary futures. She challenges the prevailing notions of green-tech sustainability advocates by questioning the long-term viability of quartzite-based silicon technologies and their reliance on rare earth metals. Cogdell raises important questions about the sustainability of our digital and biological future, challenging common projections of a computationally designed and manufactured world.

Furthermore, Cogdell's critique extends beyond architecture and science, drawing comparisons between eugenic design of the 1930s and the aims of some generative architects and engineering synthetic biologists today. She highlights the shared goals of enhancing human capabilities and controlling human evolution, raising ethical and societal implications that warrant careful consideration.

In conclusion, Toward a Living Architecture? offers a thought-provoking and comprehensive examination of the emerging field of generative architecture. Through rigorous analysis and insightful storytelling, Cogdell challenges the status quo
quo and provides valuable insights into the potential and limitations of this cutting-edge movement. This book is a must-read for architects, designers, scientists, and anyone interested in shaping the future of our built environment and the broader realm of architecture and science.

Weight: 642g
Dimension: 178 x 252 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517905385