Discourses

This is my Turkish translation of the 1997 article by Charles Jencks, “Nonlinear Architecture: New Science = New Architecture?”. Very short but the cult text explains the emergence of a new technology-based architecture. Although very old, it is still an up-to-date discussion for computational design research. NON-LINEAR ARCHITECTURE: NEW SCIENCE = NEW ARCHITECTURE ? Charles Jencks Yüz yıldan beri pekçok mimar yeni oluşan yaşam koşullarının yeni bir mimarlığı doğuracağını söylemişlerdir. İronik olarak, bu söylemler Modernistler tarafından gelenekselleştirilmiş, ancak zaten bilinen…

Here is a good brief explanation by Mark Garcia on how patterns re-emerged in the digital age after Modernism and Postmodernism. …In the 1980s and 1990s, Postmodernist patterns predominated, and especially those of Robert Venturi, Rem Koolhaas, Stan Allen and Sanford Kwinter (fields), along with historicist, folding, sprawl, cross-programming, high-density/proximity, non-places and other Deconstructivist and high-tech patterns. In 1992, Henri Lefebvre’s last book Rhythmanalysis: Space, Time and Everyday Life was published. Because Lefebvre’s keystone concept of ‘rhythm’ is identical to…

Here is a phrase from Deleuze’s famous article “Difference and Repetition”. It clarifies my mind while thinking about patterns, boundaries, rules, and most importantly, the idea and techniques of deformation in contemporary architectural geometry. … On the other hand, generality belongs to the order of laws. However, law determines only the resemblance of the subjects ruled by it, along with their equivalence to terms which it designates. Far from grounding repetition, law shows, rather, how repetition would remain impossible for…

Here is a simple explanation of the famous Euclidean Constructions: Why didn’t Euclid just measure things with a ruler and calculate lengths? For example, one of the basic constructions is bisecting a line (dividing it into two equal parts). Why not just measure it with a ruler and divide by two?One theory is the the Greeks could not easily do arithmetic. They had only whole numbers, no zero, and no negative numbers. This meant they could not for example divide…

This is our eCAADe paper with Fulya Akipek, explaining our 2013 Workshop series called “Infections”. Contemporary trend of the computational design education is grounded on an integration of domains such as fabrication technologies, material studies, and generative techniques. This requires not only an intuitive handling on digital tools and methods, but also an experience on material and production constraints simultaneously. Patterning emphasizes a material shift in the generative side of the digital paradigm, and a geometric shift in the material…

This paper presents the beginnings of my journey into architectural education, presented at Yıldız Technical University Architectural Education Symposium 2007, together with YTU/CADU staff; Ela Çil, Birgül Çolakoğlu, Meral Erdoğan, Fulya Akipek, Oya Pakdil, and Şebnem Yalınay. It includes different exercises from various studio instructors,  all motivated by contemporary computational design theory. This was one of the milestones in the first year of education of a computation-based studio in Turkey, which we’re sustaining at İstanbul Bilgi University Basic Design studios…

In the 14th century, Albrecht Dürer basically seems to capture some of the fundamentals of contemporary parametric design. Apart from other thinkers of his age, he refused to accept one single definition of beauty, based on proportions. His famous physiognomical studies reflected very early examples of referential systems that generate diverse design outputs, even a half-century before Descartes published the coordinate system and four centuries before D’Arcy draw the formal studies on species. I don’t know if he is mentioned…

Below is another cult article written by Robert Aish in 2005; Design has been described as making inspire decisions with incomplete information. True, we may use prior knowledge, we may even think we understand the causalites involved, but what really matters is exploration: of new forms, of new materials, and speculation about the response to the resulting effects. Essentially, this exploration has its own dynamics, involving intuition and spontaneity, and without which there is no design. But of course we…

Here is my 2004 Turkish translation of the popular article “Deleuze and the Use of the Genetic Algorithm in Architecture” by Manuel DeLanda in 2001. The computer simulation of evolutionary processes is already a well established technique for the study of biological dynamics. One can unleash within a digital environment a population of virtual plants or animals and keep track of the way in which these creatures change as they mate and pass their virtual genetic materials to their offspring. The hard work goes…

The exploration of the concept of “patronus – pattern” in architecture is presented in a captivating and insightful manner. This issue of AD, although older, continues to hold relevance in the contemporary realm of architectural design, covering various aspects of the conception and utilization of patterns. It’s comprehensive analysis and thought-provoking discourse shed light on the intricate relationship between patterns and architectural form, unveiling the potential for pattern-based design approaches to shape and enhance built environments. This is why this…