W7 Reading

In the 21 century, new strategies for design and new technology of making materials or large constructions have emerged, based on biological models of the processes by which natural material forms are produced. The self organization of biological material systems is a process that occurs over time, a dynamic that produces the capacity for changes to the order and structure of a system, and for those changes to modify the behavior of that system. Natural materials develop under load, and the intricate interior structure of biological materials is an evolutionary reponse. At the level of individual, there is also an adaptive response as, for example, bone tissue gets denser in response to repeated loads in athletic activities such as weightlifting. In the industrial world, polymer cellular foams are used for insulation and packaging, but the high structural efficiency of cellular materials in other, stiffer materials has only begun to be explored recently. Comparatively few engineers and architects are familiar with the engineering design of cellular materials, and this has contributed to the slow development of cellular structures in architecture.

As digital architecture remains in its infancy, one must be cautious not to draw conclusion about the temporary features it presents. Far from being jeopardized by the generalization of the computer and the development of virtual worlds, materiality will probably remain a fundamental feature of architectural production. One can furthermore speculate whether the use of the computer, with its web extensions, represents a substantial departure from the traditional features of architectural representation. Digital technology are getting familiar in architectural, and its going to be more and more important in the furture.