Since the Renaissance, descriptive geometry has become a
generative architectural idea and a systematic representation of
production, CAD’s precision is the apotheosis of this trajectory.
Questions of representation: the poetic
origin of architecture
Alberto Péree Gomez
Despteallheexctement abou digital medi itis
‘scllimpossbleoargue tha he ineeprationofsuch
‘onccrn in the prodton a architecture has bed
“automatic postive eft on our but
environment. hedigial'emtgarde’ has
‘degenerated into banalmannerism, producing
Dbomogencousrevlts with itl reard fr cual
‘contexte allover the world Clearly sich means of
representation arehere to tay an this poses,
corms questions. Adcesng primarily our
‘sion ~and net other senses embodiment
experimental video, computer graphics, and virtual
Images have transformed ou conceptual
understanding ofreality Monopolising che
‘Alsourse surrounding visual repreeetation,
‘iscussions around the scl digital revlon’
often exclude more primary sues ofmeaning nd
les.
“Thedigital “avant-garde” has degenerated
jntoa banal manners, producing
homogeneous results with ittieregard for
cultural contexts allover the world. early
such means of representation are here to
stay, and this poses enormous questions’
Paradoxically. the fagmentationand
‘eaporalisstionofspace inated by film montage
and moderaistcollage that opened upa aly
Infinstereuim of poet pices for he umn
sapintion vl swat heir ransntion into
aehstecture Daring the two decade, the
‘schctive potential ofvirnua spec hasexpanded
beyond sllexpectaions,dhroxgh both eechnoogic
breakthioughsand aritic endeavours yrthe
architectural profession stil reluctant o question
‘certain fundamental premises concerningthe
‘uansparency aad homnogenstyofitemeansof
representation,
“Aehtacturaleonoeption and reststion usally
assumed oneivone corespandence between the
‘epreentediden andthe al balding, The ac tat
teal media aio make histiterl transcription
‘more feasblethuough automation and roti has
resulted ina unwilingnes to question is
premic. Absalte contol sexentain our
‘eehnclogicalworld Although drawings, prints,
‘moves photographs. and computer graphic ply
Aierse soles inthe desi proces, they are regarded
most often as necessary surtogate or sulomstic
transcriptions ofthe built work Todiscose
pproprlate alternatives to he ideological
sustosphgungmstarchetulcesionst
seepisto acknowledge thatvalucladentolsof
Separators ied acto
reallaaion ofarchitecture:
Valeadentaok
‘The proces afereation prevalent in arehitetare
‘odayarsumes that aconventional et of roections,
avalousscales fom ie detail adde up 103
Complete objective evofa building isthis
assumption ofthe eal el conceptual inversion
‘with eosin eary western moder, at
‘constitutes the fst stumbling Block Whether the
srehtect ineffective or egaly responsible fo the
‘production ofconstrction documents (working
{sarings) the assumption remains These projective
‘epresuntaliony ely om redactvermtacte
‘coectons with each proection constituting part
ofadissected whole. They ae expected tobe
‘bsolutely unambiguous stid posible
(misjinterprettions and functions eiient
‘neutral instruments devo afintereat value other
‘ha thie apacy for accurate traneeripeion. The
arehitecral profession generally hasidentied
larchitecturel drawing with such pojectie took
‘The decrptverets of projections that me ta for
ranted operate ina geometried, homogeneoss
space that wasconsraed asthe'real' space ofan
Scion uring heninereenth conury our implicit
‘rustintheapplicton ofa scentie methodology
toarchitecte dries from techniques prescribed
‘by eques Nicolas tous Durand in hire der
econ dare (8oa and 3893} -Durands
‘Mecns daconpon wie the ist deg
oor | glo: mesg 05 | a7‘method tobe thoroughly dependent on the
predictive pact ofthese projections For him,
sabe) Samorri vill comes immedtelsto
24 the etymologyalo speak tothe cre
‘soship between the projection of shadows an3
esr perspective an obligatory chaprer in mart,
ssntcenthv-andeighteentvceneury treatises onthe
Sc nthe atehitatoral radii, however,
Scaphykeptitsmenningasa-draughtors
ng-cutin is length apd beat todisplay the
roy. inother wards. the profil oF section. This
~ ofthe term wes stil present in thenineteenth
ssuy= Mader atin ictonsries translate
~osyugia be actual tern asitappeacsin the
niting Viruvia manuscript athe drawing
linge in perspective, and generally atu thet
sword ssynonymousto scagrepa The ets
‘sx perspetve wae unknown nancent Rome nd
-seawhen Vitruvius speaks about the nee peso
seve appropriate to raged comedy andsatre
cok¥,ch.6) hete sno mention of prspectivein
nection with asc thette, iruvis deseribes,
‘exe scene asa royal pace facade with perio,
“angular piecesof machinery which revolve
Site beyond he doors and whose te aces were
vated correspond toca detnatie eave
Sacbao anges that evap which related
ewe of perpectie ete deren of tape or
three dramatic genres APPIOPHate Types