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A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Digital Delusions: Fear and loathing of the Parametric Utopia
‘Resist any idea that contains the word algorithm’ Lebbeus Woods Like International Modernism previously, Parametric Design is considered by its most ardent proponents to be the one and only direction going forward in architecture. Fortunately, as with the alternatives to International Modernism previously, there is always more nuanced opposition to such dogmatic directions, that invariably proves to be more interesting and enduringly significant. In clear contrast to an International Style architecture of industrialised uniformity, devoid of poetic reference and remote from human experience, stand the expressively sculptural and highly narrative works of Le Corbusier; the idealised mythology of America in the late works of Frank Lloyd Wright; the sublime abstractions of nature in the work of Luis Barragan and Louis Kahn’s poetic re-interpretations of archetypal architectural elements and the inspiration of the ruins of antiquity. While in the Nordic countries there was a distinct movement, led by Alvar Aalto to moderate and humanise modern industrialised architecture, by reference to nature, vernacular tradition, sense of place, and concern for community and national cultural identity. Colin St John Wilson argues that Aalto was the leading pioneer of what he calls ‘the other tradition of modern architecture’, which he considers to be ‘the uncompleted project’ (St John Wilson, 1995), suggesting an alternative continuing tradition of the modern. The humane poetic modernism of Aalto – who famously stated that he worked within a modular system of 1mm or less - found subsequent expression in work of Reima Pietilä, Sverre Fehn and Jørn Utzon amongst others. Certainly, digital design and fabrication tools would have greatly assisted the realisation of the Sydney Opera House and avoided many of the tribulations that Utzon faced; and he would certainly have embraced such technological assistance. However, no parametric design process alone could have replicated Utzon’s unique design thinking and have created such a ...
Digital Delusions: Fear and loathing of the Parametric Utopia
‘Resist any idea that contains the word algorithm’ Lebbeus Woods Like International Modernism previously, Parametric Design is considered by its most ardent proponents to be the one and only direction going forward in architecture. Fortunately, as with the alternatives to International Modernism previously, there is always more nuanced opposition to such dogmatic directions, that invariably proves to be more interesting and enduringly significant. In clear contrast to an International Style architecture of industrialised uniformity, devoid of poetic reference and remote from human experience, stand the expressively sculptural and highly narrative works of Le Corbusier; the idealised mythology of America in the late works of Frank Lloyd Wright; the sublime abstractions of nature in the work of Luis Barragan and Louis Kahn’s poetic re-interpretations of archetypal architectural elements and the inspiration of the ruins of antiquity. While in the Nordic countries there was a distinct movement, led by Alvar Aalto to moderate and humanise modern industrialised architecture, by reference to nature, vernacular tradition, sense of place, and concern for community and national cultural identity. Colin St John Wilson argues that Aalto was the leading pioneer of what he calls ‘the other tradition of modern architecture’, which he considers to be ‘the uncompleted project’ (St John Wilson, 1995), suggesting an alternative continuing tradition of the modern. The humane poetic modernism of Aalto – who famously stated that he worked within a modular system of 1mm or less - found subsequent expression in work of Reima Pietilä, Sverre Fehn and Jørn Utzon amongst others. Certainly, digital design and fabrication tools would have greatly assisted the realisation of the Sydney Opera House and avoided many of the tribulations that Utzon faced; and he would certainly have embraced such technological assistance. However, no parametric design process alone could have replicated Utzon’s unique design thinking and have created such a ...
Digital Delusions: Fear and loathing of the Parametric Utopia
Carter, Adrian (author)
2020-08-13
Carter , A 2020 , ' Digital Delusions: Fear and loathing of the Parametric Utopia ' , The Place and Parametricism Project Symposium , Melbourne , Australia , 11/08/20 - 19/08/20 pp. 8-9 . < https://acahuch.msd.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/3463703/Place-and-Parametricism-Symposium-Brochure-Opti.pdf >
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
DDC:
720
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