Modern Technology as Technical Image in Architectural Design and Representation
In the pre-technological era, human perception and comprehension of their surroundings were relatively limited and primarily based on direct sensory experiences and recorded media such as text, drawing, and painting. However, the advent of various digital tools, such as photogrammetry, lidar scanning, augmented reality, and virtual reality, has enabled humans to gain a more comprehensive and systematic understanding of the world. In the field of architectural design, the integration of digital tools into the physical design and production process has resulted in a new perception of space and environment called mixed reality. This phenomenon, as described by Vilém Flusser in “Into the Universe of Technical Images,” acts as an apparatus or medium that connects human cognition with the reality filled with virtual elements that is prevalent today. Technical images in architecture have revolutionized the way architects and designers can represent their concepts, providing them with additional options for display. Through ongoing research, new ways of perceiving and generating the built environment have emerged through the lens of advanced computational technologies. Mixed reality, serving as an apparatus, has been instrumental in assisting designers and architects to recontextualize their designs within the contemporary social context. By leveraging the benefits of mixed reality, designers and architects can explore innovative ways to visualize their concepts, ultimately leading to the creation of more contextually relevant and socially responsive built environments. However, the use of technical imagery in design also raises problems regarding the inherent values and biases of virtual representations of architecture. Because technical images are influenced by the cultural and historical environment in which they are formed, virtual representations may reflect the prejudices and ideals of the culture in which they are created. The degree book comprises seminars and design studio projects that delve into the technology and representation of mixed reality in architecture, investigating how this innovative approach creates a new workflow for contemporary architectural design. Through rigorous exploration and experimentation, the book seeks to examine the potential of mixed reality as a tool for architects and designers to create contextually relevant and socially responsive built environments.