ABSTRACT

This well-illustrated book unites essayists and emerging architectural practices to examine how digital tools are increasingly being used in architectural design, not only to show form, structure and geometries but also to visualize and simulate energies and material qualities such as air, gas, sound, scent and electricity.

Softspace takes stock of current advancements in design and research, while drawing on historical and ideological trajectories rooted in the past fifty years. The varied contributors examine the capabilities of such 'energy matters' to act as catalysts for design innovation today.

This well-presented and impressively authored title will provoke architects of all levels to consider the potential for creative and innovative design through the use of digital design tools.

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

Energies, matter & the gradients of space

chapter |13 pages

Putting out the fire with gasoline:

Parables of entropy and homeostasis from the second machine age to the information age

chapter |11 pages

Potential energies

Sean Lally (Weathers)

chapter |13 pages

Nested capacities, gradient thresholds and modulated environments:

Towards differentiated and multi-performative architectures

chapter |9 pages

Cybernetic anything…

chapter |13 pages

The archoid chimera:

Electric space as social machine

chapter |10 pages

Eco_logics Helene Furján

chapter |13 pages

Matter and sense