Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing [Hardcover]

Branko Kolarevic (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415278201 | ISBN-13: 978-0415278201 | Publication Date: December 18, 2003 | Edition: 1

Architecture in the Digital Age addresses contemporary architectural practice in which digital technologies are radically changing how buildings are conceived, designed and produced. It discusses the digitally-driven changes, their origins, and their effects by grounding them in actual practices already taking place, while simultaneously speculating about their wider implications for the future. The book offers a diverse set of ideas as to what is relevant today and what will be relevant tomorrow for emerging architectural practices of the digital age.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This beautifully produced and illustrated book is an excellent reference book and a unique snapshot of the state of digital technologies in architecture today.' - Carol Hermann, Nexus Network Journal

'I would like to recommend these books [reviewed alongside Performative Architecture]. The topic needs to be better understood by students and those not privileged enough to be in the group represented by these volumes. The participants ... were stellar ... These books fulfill a genuine need.' - Journal of Architectural Education

About the Author

Branko Kolarevic is Associate Professor for the Department of Architecture, Graduate School of Fine Arts, University of Pennsylvania, and is an Associate Member of the American Institute of Architects.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis; 1 edition (December 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415278201
• ISBN-13: 978-0415278201
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,381,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Branko Kolarevic is a professor of architecture at the University of Calgary in Canada, where he holds the Chair in Integrated Design. He has lectured worldwide on the use of digital technologies in design and production and has taught since 1989 at several universities in North America and Asia. He is the past president of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture (ACADIA) and is the recipient of the ACADIA 2007 Award for Innovative Research. He holds doctoral and master's degrees in design from Harvard University and a diploma engineer in architecture degree from the University of Belgrade.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Architectural Revolution by Information Revolution, November 20, 2006

By 

Joong Won Lee "Joongwon" (Cambridge, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing (Paperback)

We all know that information revolution has totally transformed the society. Architecture is no exception. Relative to industrial revolution's impact on architecture, "what has this recent revolution done to the field?" is the basic inquiry to the book. This book diligently answers to the question. It is extremely informative and provocative regarding digital technologies available for architecture.

As an outcome of a symposium held at U.Penn. in 2002, the book compiles various scholars and practitioners around the world. They grapple with the current technologies available to design and manufacture innovative shapes/forms/spaces that associate with digital aesthetics.

Spearheaded researchers such as Bill Mitchell(MIT), Chris Luebkeman(Arup), Ali Rahim (U.Penn), and Branko Kolarevic (U.Penn, chief editor of the book); and, cutting-edge practitioners such as Jim Glymph (Gehry), Hugh Whitehead (Foster & Partners), Bernhard Franken (Franken Architekten), etc.; both groups provide theoretical framework and actual applications.

It's interesting to point out that the authors deliberately associated digital architecture with smooth forms. Double curvatures deform structure/ skin/ space of the building. The new modes of design and production enables that complex geometries to be part of building industry.

As a reader, the most challenging claim of the book is that the authors
assert (some explicitly and some implicitly) on the new role of an architect. They believe that this new mode of production will revolutionize the client-architect-contractor relationship. Because architects will be the (single) dominant source of information on the three dimensionally morphed shape, manufacturers and fabricators would rely heavy on architects. The authors predict architect would regain absolute power of medieval master builders.

11 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Compilation, April 7, 2004

By 

Karl R Kowalske (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing (Hardcover)

This book provides a great overview of the developing technolgies in digital design and fabrication. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a comprehensive study in the current trends in digital architecture. A series of 20+ articles by designers working in this area of architecture, this book updates the conversation to what is happening today and what is being projected in the future. Great resource!

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!, September 18, 2006

By 

M. Marrison (LA, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Architecture in the Digital Age: Design and Manufacturing (Hardcover)

I'm getting my masters in Architecture and this book is a must-have, must-read for anyone designing in the digital age. It's informational and inspiring not only for architects, but anyone interested in using computer technology as a method for design carried through to manufactuing.