11521 Digital Theory

Description

The digital has necessitated a rethinking of the terminology central to architecture (e.g. line, plane, surface, structure, system,) and this subject equips students with an understanding of the territory of computational design through its theoretical vocabulary and relevant histories.

The subject consists of an intensive study of architectural theory and specific technical developments that have influenced the realm of digital creation in advanced architectural design since the 1950s. This subject investigates the theoretical and technical histories principally concerned with research in intelligence, information and complexity theory, material philosophy, and networks and how these have been translated into advanced digital systems in architectural practice. Other issues that are addressed through the above theme's include the relationship between models or organisation and architectural space, material systems and the engagement with technologies of production, form generation and issues of form generally as a result of digital processes and conceptualisation, and the relationship between developments in the sciences and their import to architecture.

Students read both weekly readings and a series of books over the course of the session, attend lectures and discuss the readings in seminar mode. Assessment is based on a short written review of a section of the weekly reading material, a short written review of a book and a critical essay.

Typical availability

Spring session, City campus