Digital Tectonics

The old opposition between a digital culture of sensuous, ephemeral images and a tectonic culture of pragmatic building has given way to a new collaboration between the two domains, a 'digital tectonics'. Computer linked fabrication techniques of many kinds have become an integral part of the design process, while new digital tools are allowing engineers and architects to understand in far more detail the behaviour of load carrying surfaces, and to generate new architectural forms. 

Digital and computer-linked design techniques is one of the hottest topics in architecture and in an ever-expanding world of digital technology this book tackles the practical elements of the field.

Neil Leach, Professor Architectural Theory, University of Bath

David Turnbull, Professor of Architecture, University of Bath

Chris Williams,Senior Lecturer in Engineering, University of Bath

Introduction (N. Leach, et al.). 

THE STRUCTURAL TURN.

Material Complexity (Manuel De Landa).

Virtual Gaudi (Mark Burry).

Gaudi’s Hanging Presence (Mark Goulthorpe (dECOi).

Digital Tectonics : Historical Perspective – Future Prospect (Michael Cook).

SoftOffice & Oblique WTC (Lars Spuybroek (NOX).

The Structure of Ornament (Greg Lynn, Conversation with Neil Leach).

DIGITAL OPERATIONS.

Swarm Tectonics (Neil Leach).

Design by Algorithm (Chris Williams).

Biot(h)ing (Alisa Andrasek).

Directed Randomness (Kristina Shea).

Towards an Associative Architecture (Bernard Cache).

Lattice Archipelogics (Marcelyn Gow, David Erdman, Chris Perry (SERVO).

Are we ready to Compute? (Michael Hensel (OCEAN North).

NEW DIALOGUES.

Geometry, Algorithm, Pattern (The Serpentine Pavilion 2002 - Toyo Ito & ARUP) (Cecil Balmond).

Live-It/Love-It (The Mercedes-Benz Museum-UN Studio (Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos).

An Aesthetics of Calculus : Round Table Discussion (chaired by David Turnbull).

Contributor Biographies.