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Chances and Crises of Digitalization

File(s)
Wang_cornell_0058_11646.pdf (38.64 MB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://doi.org/10.7298/x16z-s528
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/113053
Collections
Cornell Theses and Dissertations
Author
Wang, Haoyuan
Abstract

In 2022, it had been thirty years since the birth of the internet and twenty years since the Dot-com bubble burst of Web 1.0; now the Web 3.0 is coming. In those years, the architecture industry also digitalized. Some significant milestones may include the digital rendering invented by the team of Professor Greenburg, the first generation of 3D modeling tools from Ohio State University, the computerization studio from GSAAP, and more, and now the most advanced rendering tools using ray tracing can make 100% accurate pictures in real-time; Some software can simulate sunlight, winds, temperature, and gravity; BIM applications can make digital models with all engineering details… In Discrete Assembly and Digital Materials in Architecture, Gilles Retsin described two types of digitalization: one is the conservative, and one is the true digital. Even though his description is majorly around fabrication technologies, the core concept of true and fake digitalization is interesting, as I extend such ideas toward the design process, so there are two kinds of digitalization; the first is basically craftsmanship as the computer work as an extension of the architect's hands, assisting in realizing his thought, and tools like Rhinoceros or AutoCAD is no different from pen or rulers. Yet in the second one, the computer is not replacing the hands but the brain. Instead of designing architecture, the architect makes a system design for him. By adjusting the inputs, countless outputs could be automatically formed. Once a successful algorithm is proven to work, it can be put into mass production of the design. The second type of digitalization is closer to the concept of intelligent revolution and Web3.0, which may completely change the responsibility of architects. Therefore, the two projects described in the following contents are both tests on it, working on algorithms rather than designing, including possible practicing scenarios and general discussions on such topics. Digitalization also brings potential crises. Just like the famous motto of Google, "Don't be Evil," tech firms first appeared like the opposite of traditional firms: young, progressive, and inclusive; however, in the past 30 years, they have grown too fast and big, that they had reached unimaginable strength comparing to any traditional firms. Collection of users' data, exploiting labor, anti-competitive, monopoly..., tech firms practically doing evil at the place beyond the public's sights. Based on research about tech firms, digital platforms, data infrastructure, and the related problem, "Glitch Urbanism" proposed solutions to such problems through urban planning and architectural perspective. Living in 2022, everyone is talking about Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud, and Virtual reality. These technologies change everything, and all are involved, including architects, so we should vigorously research, discuss and practice these techs, utilize the benefits, avoid the problems, and figure out the path of architects in this era.

Description
52 pages
Date Issued
2022-12
Committee Chair
Zivkovic, Sasa
Committee Member
Chi, Lily
Degree Discipline
Architecture
Degree Name
M.S., Architecture
Degree Level
Master of Science
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
Rights URI
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Type
dissertation or thesis
Link(s) to Catalog Record
https://newcatalog.library.cornell.edu/catalog/15644076

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