Computing In Place, VAI Roma, and Architecture in the Modern Age

Eric Sauda

8/15/2013

Throughout this presentation it became clear way DArts has always had such a strong relationship with the visualization department. In many ways the logic used to come up with, and solve problems is very similar. Both rely on the organization of large systems of knowledge to solve problems, and deal with problems that may or may not be major problems in people’s minds. Thus, the problem solving logic, especially when dealing with the more abstract problems, seems to be about trying to make the problem smaller and smaller so that it is more manageable. It’s less about solving the whole problem, and more about solving, or identifying potential solutions to parts of the problem.

Having been involved with the Computing in Place project for the past year and a half, but not focusing on the problem solving procedure that I have been applying I think I will start there. Unlike Architecture in the Media Age, the problem, or direction of the project is fairly clear, to find the place of large-scale media displays in an architectural context. It sets up a path that can take many branches and detours as each interactive technique is approached and experimented with. When progress has been exhausted, we can go back to the beginning and re-examine things, or begin exploring an entirely new mode of interaction. The project ultimately tries to put media within an architectural framework, and explores the multiple ways accomplish that goal.

While at first glance Computing in Place and Architecture in the Media Age seemed to be very different projects, I don’t think they are. Computing in Place tries to find a place for media in architecture, while Architecture in the Media Age tries to place architecture in the realm of media. The latter project is defined quite a bit more ambiguously than Computing in Place, but I think that is necessary, since we do not usually think of architecture as a source of media. They both explore the relationship between media and architecture, and discuss the increasing blurring of the two. Both are about diagramming, or setting up a network of issues pertaining to the architecture-media relationship, and focus less on trying to create a grand theory that ties the two together. They are set up as parallel projects that should give a greater understanding about the middle ground between the two topics.