The world of architecture has seen brilliant changes over the years. What once began for survival is more like an art. With the expanding ideas in technology, architects also come forward with breathtaking designs. The involvement of technology and innovation works for the ease of users.
Most systems in the past had been tweaked and rearranged for this purpose and the world. The Digital era has influenced the way we live. The extravagant facilities we enjoy now have been brought to this world with the latest technology and innovation. Likewise, the architecture sector has seen changes which have seen changes both in the design and the construction stages.
Architecture Before Digitalization
Before digitalisation, architecture was at a much slower pace. The use of digital media in architecture has also answered many global issues. The science of architecture has evolved from necessity to luxury because of advanced technology. Hand-drawn plans and sketches were the forte of the architects earlier. Architects understood the requirements of the clients who approached them and designed particular land patterns by hand. Communication was done primarily through words and drawing, so the designs were limited to the kind of materials available.
Architects also had to depend on numerous discussions with fellow architects turning concepts into reality. The projects then were time-consuming and permanent. It was too expensive to even think about revised designs or reconstruction. The architectural community was smaller and comprised of experts who knew the technical details. Architecture before digital transformation had the objective of, creating what was needed and not something new and unknown to the client. Therefore, it was natural to have repetitive designs and concepts. The quality of structures was not compromised. This is why ancient architecture is still celebrated worldwide.
The age of Digitalisation
The rise in digital architecture started in the 1990s. Frank Gehry and the pioneers in his firm introduced digital architecture for Guggenheim Bilbao in 1990. Back then, there were limitations to achieving what they had intended. 32 years past that, there are so many possibilities in architecture with the help of technological advances. Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Modelling (BIM), etc are some examples of extended help for architects at present.
Architecture students are trained and encouraged to use various software like Autocad, Revit, Sketchup, etc, for their ease of learning, understanding, and visualizing the extent of architecture. With the help of this software, young architects can also experiment and explore various variations possible in terms of design. Digitalization has also paved way for faster and easier construction methods. For an architectural project to work seamlessly, there is a need for constant contact. The communication network between architects, engineers, and construction workers worldwide thanks to the latest technologies available. Because of this, architects can speak to their coordinating staff.
Various social issues have been intertwined with contemporary architecture and solved skillfully. Greenhouse gases, sustainability, overcrowding, etc., are some of the social problems being solved. Although many other issues still require attention, like waste management, material shortage, etc. Architecture still has a chance to save the users for good.
Digital Architecture in Future
The architectural future is foreseen to work for the users’ comfort and to minimise the damage to the environment. Architects visualise future spaces as minimal, futuristic, modular, and flexible. Generative designs are the future where along with the designs, problem-solving is done simultaneously. People in the future are expected to be productive, and projects in the future may not have to pass through many people since digital software cross-out most of the requirements. Customers will be satisfied since digital visualisation makes it easier for the client to communicate with the designer. Cross-cultural and generational gaps occur now and then in all professions. In the future, it will be easier for senior designers to accept the younger generation, making it easier for them to adapt to the professional practice of architecture.
The involvement of computers in architecture opens more positions for people to serve in the field of architecture. Graphic designing, 3D Modelling, Visualization, and rendering require constant mentoring. This calls for skilled people and young people to coordinate accordingly. The digitalisation of architectural spaces also allows people to choose their personal preferences and visualise them freely before being constructed, leaving satisfied customers. Construction stages can be monitored properly to reduce errors and improve quality with the help of technology. Material procurement can be managed likewise to reduce wastage.
Conclusion
Digitalization is a large part of the modern world and architecture. Architects have used various methods to convey the expressions related to each design. However, through digitalisation, architects can use their creativity and find accurate solutions while tending to the customers’ needs. Digital transformation affects not only our lifestyle but also the towns and cities that we live in. No one knows what humans require to build their space in the future. Complex designs which seemed impossible a few years ago are on Earth, so the countless possibilities of miracles being built in the future are worth the wait.
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