read 08 - algorithmic arch

Algorithms may be understood as synergistic allegiances between human mind and computation. We may not know entirely the nature of the problems / solutions we engage in, so methodologies that deploy fast-paced, iterative designs provide a more comprehensive perspective on the stakes of the project.

Also, the concern for revealing all possible design solutions gives the algorithm economic agency, insofar as it aids in legitimizing design to decisions to clients. When design decisions about facade panelization are justified in terms of their environmental performance rather than their aesthetic, data becomes an ally. It is double-good when the architecture exhibits both aesthetic and functional aspects.

By questioning the capacity for non-humans to contribute to design, the discipline opens up new social, political, and economic terrains for exploration. The dialogue between humans and non-humans can be profound, so long as the intelligence embedded in the algorithm is solid.