Papers by Christopher E Bamborough
Intelligent & Informed - Proceedings of the 24th CAADRIA Conference - Volume 2, 2019
In contemporary data-driven society, forces of capital increasingly seek risk-averse decision mak... more In contemporary data-driven society, forces of capital increasingly seek risk-averse decision making through data and digital calculation, aligned to this the discourse around design intelligence in architecture has begun to embrace the role of data and the technical non-human as much as the human. In parallel, the cultural understanding of data, in technologically mediated societies, has become tied to the digital representation of information experienced in everyday life, which in turn influences human practices. A problem exists in the dominance of scientific thought around data in architecture that exerts disciplinary bias towards quantity rather than quality. In contemporary digital practice, data is assumed to offer an objective characterisation of the world and have faithful representation through the mechanisms of the computer. From this shift, a macro question exists concerning the influence of data's conceptualisation on the physical products of architecture. To contribute to this overall question this paper considers the register of data in early modernism identified as a moment when scientific abstraction and the mapping capacity of the machine combine to afford recognisable data practices and infrastructures.
The frequent use of the acronym STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) within the rhetori... more The frequent use of the acronym STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) within the rhetoric of the National Innovation and Science Agenda should immediately sound alarm bells for the field of architecture. While some, now and then, include the A (Art), there is a bias toward these four core disciplines and a perception that they provide a means towards " innovation " , and with it " progress " and " growth " through new technology. In Australia the socially facing practice of architecture has found itself navigating the territories of service and construction economies through technologies of shelter, in doing so it is complicit in serving mainly the wealthy, and assisting in the political control of resources. As we enter a post-resource era is the architectural profession making the same mistake by adopting the rhetoric of another capitalist profit driven economic paradigm? In this paper, I wish to assess the political rhetoric behind the innovation economy critically to highlight the assumptions contained within. In response, I will offer alternative approaches based on social use-value and a focus away from consumption and labour as means of value exchange. Through considering peer to peer production, and associated cultures of making, hacking and re-use, as alternative frameworks for political economy, the question is proposed whether architecture should seek to create its own agenda for innovation, rather than adopt the dominant economic model? The paper aims to address the assumptions that surround the rhetoric of innovation in Australian political discourse, question the motivations of this focus, and assess its benefit for architecture.
Thesis Chapters by Christopher E Bamborough
The Architect’s Measure: Constructing a character and influence for data in practice., 2023
Chapter 8 concludes the thesis and challenges the prevailing technical discourse on data and its ... more Chapter 8 concludes the thesis and challenges the prevailing technical discourse on data and its role in architectural practice. The conclusion argues that data should not be considered a background process or technical by-product but a critical element that has always influenced architectural theory and practice. The writing establishes a three-stage framework for understanding how architects integrate data into practice, transitioning from observation to forecasting future possibilities and finally instructing material outcomes. The thesis finishes by critically examining data's potential and challenges in shaping future architectural practices, urging architects to engage with data more critically and creatively to influence the profession and built environment.
The Architect’s Measure: Constructing a character and influence for data in practice., 2023
Chapter 7 explores data through the lens of technical observation and surveillance capitalism, fo... more Chapter 7 explores data through the lens of technical observation and surveillance capitalism, focusing on how data-driven practices reshape urban development. It discusses the transition in architectural focus from designing for human activities to optimising spaces for data extraction, using Sidewalk Labs' Toronto Quayside project as a case study. The chapter argues that surveillance-driven urban development requires architects to adapt, leading to rapid material changes and prioritising commercial value extraction over traditional design principles. This shift indicates a future where architectural practice is significantly influenced by the demands of data-driven urban environments.
The Architect’s Measure: Constructing a character and influence for data in practice., 2023
Chapter 6 of 'The Architect’s Measure' delves into how avant-garde architects use data to incorpo... more Chapter 6 of 'The Architect’s Measure' delves into how avant-garde architects use data to incorporate materiality in design. This chapter discusses the digital advancements in parametric design and digital fabrication, reshaping the architect's role in design choices and material results. Case studies, including the Wikihouse project, reveal a conceptual parallel between digital data and materials, treating data as a manipulable flow of design communication.
The Architect’s Measure: Constructing a character and influence for data in practice., 2023
Chapter 5 of "The Architect’s Measure" discusses the recent shift in architectural practice towar... more Chapter 5 of "The Architect’s Measure" discusses the recent shift in architectural practice towards data-driven decision-making, emphasising how architects increasingly rely on digital tools to guide design processes. The chapter explores the conceptual repositioning of data from a mere operational tool to a core material in architectural design, highlighting the transition towards prioritising efficiency, optimisation, and commercial viability. The text scrutinises the implications of this shift, including the potential erosion of human intuition and creativity in favour of non-human pattern recognition and algorithmic processes. It delves into how architects adapt to and integrate these methods, balancing traditional design skills and the new demands of managing and manipulating extensive data sets. The text critically assesses how this transformation aligns with broader economic and commercial pressures, shaping the architect's role and resulting architectural products. The chapter calls for critically examining the inherent biases and partialities within data-driven practices, urging architects to maintain a reflective and informed approach in their engagement with data and technology.
The Architect’s Measure: Constructing a character and influence for data in practice., 2023
This chapter explores the shift in architecture from traditional methods to data-driven practices... more This chapter explores the shift in architecture from traditional methods to data-driven practices from the mid-20th century. It highlights three transitions: adopting statistical probabilities in design, balancing objective and subjective perspectives, and viewing environments as data-influenced sensory spaces. Influenced by figures like Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, this shift led to practices prioritising adaptability, context, and relational understanding, fundamentally altering architectural design and theory.
The Architect’s Measure: Constructing a character and influence for data in practice., 2023
Chapter 3, "Optimal Metrics," of "The Architect's Measure" investigates the historical transforma... more Chapter 3, "Optimal Metrics," of "The Architect's Measure" investigates the historical transformation of architectural metrics, spotlighting the period from the early 19th century to the early 20th century. This era marks a pivotal shift in architectural practice, influenced by industrialisation and engineering advances, leading to a new emphasis on precision, functionality, and standardisation in design. Architects like Le Corbusier, inspired by the exactness and utilitarian ethos of engineering, championed a scientific approach to design, steering away from empirical aesthetics to embrace quantifiable and standardizable methodologies. The chapter scrutinizes seminal developments such as the Weißenhofsiedlung exhibition and Ernst Neufert's "Architects’ Data Handbook," highlighting their role in promoting efficiency, optimization, and the rationalization of architectural processes. Through this exploration, the narrative elucidates how architectural practice transitioned to a data-driven approach, aligning more closely with engineering principles and scientific management, and probes the consequent effects on architectural creativity and cultural expression.
The Architect’s Measure: Constructing a character and influence for data in practice., 2023
Chapter 2, examines the historical and theoretical underpinnings of data usage in architecture th... more Chapter 2, examines the historical and theoretical underpinnings of data usage in architecture through the practices of Leon Battista Alberti and Jean Nicolas Louis Durand. It explores how Alberti's methods of translating physical observations into data laid foundational concepts for architectural representation, while Durand's analytical approach represented a systematic utilisation of data to inform architectural design and composition. This analysis reveals distinct philosophies toward the role of data in architecture, shaping its development and application in the field.
The Architect’s Measure: Constructing a character and influence for data in practice., 2023
Chapter 1 of "The Architect's Measure" delves into the conceptualization and influence of data in... more Chapter 1 of "The Architect's Measure" delves into the conceptualization and influence of data in architectural practice. It outlines how data, historically understood in various forms, affects the way architects observe, forecast, and instruct within their work. The chapter explores the evolution from empirical observation to mechanical and synthetic data collection, emphasizing the cultural and practical shifts in understanding data's role. It raises critical reflections on the inherent partiality of data, proposing a nuanced framework to examine how architects integrate and interpret data in shaping architectural outcomes.
The Architect's Measure: Constructing a character and influence for data in practice, 2023
The introduction of "The Architect's Measure" explores the evolving relationship between architec... more The introduction of "The Architect's Measure" explores the evolving relationship between architecture and data. It discusses how modern architectural practice is increasingly intertwined with data-driven technology, highlighting the shift from intuitive, experience-based decision-making to computational, data-centric approaches. This change raises questions about the role of data in architecture, its benefits, limitations, and cultural implications. The thesis aims to unpack the character and influence of data in architectural practice, tracing its historical evolution and examining its practical applications to challenge the prevailing digital-centric discourse.
Thesis, 2023
This research examines data from the perspective of the architect and investigates how they conce... more This research examines data from the perspective of the architect and investigates how they conceptualise, produce, and use it. It challenges the notion that data is a recent phenomenon and determines its unique character in different periods, offering distinct abilities to the architect. Discourse and case study analysis reveal data's role in architectural theory and practice and its influence on institutional and disciplinary decision making. The research provides a unique perspective, emphasizing data as a driving force of architectural change, rather than merely a technical by-product. It underscores the importance of understanding data to better equip architects for future, data-rich work environments.
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Papers by Christopher E Bamborough
Thesis Chapters by Christopher E Bamborough