Mathematics and Programming I

Abstract

An introduction to information technology for architects. It is not about the HOW, but rather about the WHAT, not about virtuosity when dealing with digital tools, but rather about understanding coding. Not about pragmatism, but rather about literacy. It forms the basis of digital architectonics, the art of joining, which needs to be cultivated with care, prudence and patience.

Objective

Normally, one would expect this course to teach students how to draw architecture while using computers. This course does not because digital architectural models are not drawn, but encoded. In the current discussion about building information models (BIM), we see how blocked the situation can become when one draws architecture digitally. Today, digital models are a tedious 'minefield' with hundreds of gigabytes of data of all kinds. A digital model as code, however, is lightweight, compact and fast – a sparkling crystal, like poetry. That is why coding is the focus of this course. More specifically, students learn to read code and to value thinking in code. Learning active coding goes beyond the time-frame and should not be forced upon people. Thanks to digital awareness, students can quickly learn a wide variety of software using help available in the Internet, and competently use it according to their personal preferences. The aim of the course is for the students to develop as architects and to grow a digital personality. Specific reference is made to the history of architecture in conjunction with mathematics and philosophy. The essential tool of the trade is the lambda calculus in the implementation of Mathematica. The information technology interconnection of all digital media will be presented: text, image, graphic, model, animation, film, audio and the corresponding software. Current issues will be discussed: Internet, Internet of things, cryptography, privacy, big data, machine intelligence, building information models, responsive cities, smart homes, robotics, energy and logistics. Current and historical modelling processes will be worked on.

Content

The Mechanics of Digital Introduction and overview on folding Calculus Text and numbers Lists and colours Pictures and films Cryptography and communication Rules and graphs Graphics and Animation 3D models Solid models Music and sound The Big Plenty Parsers Databases Machine intelligence Many images Many texts Many drawings Many models Smart buildings City and country On the Internet of Things A Digital Archaeology of Architecture The geometry of Euclid The architecture of the Greeks The arithmetic of Ptolemy The architecture of the middle ages The geometry of Descartes The architecture of the Renaissance The arithmetic of Lagrange The architecture of the Enlightenment The algebra of Boole The architecture of the classical period The theory of categories The architecture of the 20th century The Digital Architectural Model Architecture and poetry The perspective model The probabilistic model The crystal The hybrid The continuum The Oikos The model concept 1920 The model concept 1950 The model concept 1980 The model concept 2010 Brand and style

Resources