Iheartblob – Augmented Architectural Objects. A New Visual Language

IoA Institute of Architecture (Ed.) Aleksandra Belitskaja, Benjamin James, Shaun McCallum

iheartblob – Augmented Architectural Objects

A New Visual Language

Birkhäuser Basel

iheartblob – AUGMENTED ARCHITECTURAL OBJECTS: A NEW VISUAL LANGUAGE GERALD BAST

Table of Contents

6

OOO OOO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

: PUT-

TING THE HEART IN BLOB GREG LYNN

USER MANUAL

8

11

Obj. 1 ––91 An Act of Rebellion. 12––99 RIPPED NEAR THE SEAMS

14

MICHAEL YOUNG

WHY YOU SHOULD CARE ABOUT STYLE FREDRIK HELLBERG & LARA LESMES

20

Obj. 92 —182 An Act of Submission. 100—181 OUT OF DATE iheartblob

102

Obj. 183 — 273 An Act of Liberation. 182 — 269 CYLINDRICAL SELF-PORTRAITS AND DEEP DREAMS: THE MEREOLOGIST ’ S SCRAPBOOK

184

ANDREW WITT

NEW CONVENTIONS, OLD PROBLEMS KUTAN AYATA

190

6—7

Foreword

iheartblob – AUGMENTED ARCHITECTURAL OBJECTS: A NEW VISUAL The forms LANGUAGE of“ modern GERALD BAST

life can be differentiated in various ways, but what ties all of them together is their fragility, temporality, vulnerability, and tendency toward constant

change.”

Zygmunt Bauman

We live in a world that is characterized by change, insecurity, ambiguity, and an increasingly high degree of complexity.

The uncanny and the uncertain are constant companions of our times.

The speed of progress in scientific and technological knowledge as well as the increasingly urgent need for solutions in the manifold areas of global challenges – such as: aging societies, climate change, backlash in democracy and human rights, migration, economic inequality and poverty, digitization of human labor, and the preservation of cultural heritage – require radical new forms of education and knowledge acquisition in inter- and cross-disciplinary, synergistic and analytical strategies. Humankind’s power to make things happen will no longer express itself so much by putting thoughts into material form, but will instead

manifest itself in linking intellectual, intuitive, and social processes.

Investigating new tools, new visual languages, new methods of distribution and new theories is crucial to confront and challenge the intensity of our times – in architecture and beyond. With their interdisciplinary experiments, iheartblob create ephemeral extensions of architectural spaces into virtual dimensions and thus fantastic objects. Their investigational approach founded in theory and criticism kickstarts a much-needed discourse that embraces fragments and complexity instead of shying away from it. Their reflection about a shift in architecture through virtuality leads to a reflection about society and current cultural processes as a whole as well as an observation of ‘liquid times’ (Bauman), in the truest sense of the word.

USER MANUAL

This book consists of a non-linear interwoven investigation into the current state of archi­ tecture and technology.

Short texts, uncanny im­agery and interactive augmented reality content consider the state of architectural discourse at momentary instances through over 250 unique designs.

The use of new tools and new visual lan­guages challenge every­day as­ pects of the discipline, as well as more eso­teric notions of architectural theory – its history and the philosophies that shape it. The book itself is an object of exper­ imentation, where its dig­ital companion is wait­ing to be revealed, where ­a small vertical line indicates the digital

extension of the images.

Each object stands on equal ground: each image, each text and each interactive augmen­ tation draws on the tenets of a flattened hierarchy where the investigator is of equal importance within the project.

To experience inter­ active augmented reality content, download the free app on the App Store or Play Store by scanning the QR code below.

Obj. 1––91 An Act of Rebellion.

Each surreal Architectural Object seeks response from a stagnant architectural discourse. Stemming from pure architectural speculation alongside novel theoretical ideas, ultimately confronting discourse. Typical architectural parameters do not apply – as scale, gravity and inhabitation are discarded, with sensuality, purity of space and form taking their place; theoretical and philosophical thought is intrinsically embedded.

Dynamic aesthetics challenge the depths of architectural identity, exposing its limitations as simply a facilitator of space. Instead, space itself becomes the provocation of new approaches in form, technology and discourse.

88––89

An Act of Rebellion

ARCHITECTURE POSTURE. What can we as architects learn from Flemish Renaissance painters?

What if we personify our Architectural Objects: allowing them to learn, to hug, to fight? How do such moves affect the spatial environment?

We find inspiration in the posture of traditional artistic still life compo­ sitions; these classical rules reapplied to a post-Cartesian, technologyoriented design setting enables opportunities for object-oriented architecture that bleeds beyond basic aesthetic principles, into emotional and spatial realms.

Obj. 78

90––91

An Act of Rebellion

Obj. 79––81

DO WHAT YOU CAN’T. Aren’t we all academics now? Instagram.

Facebook. Snapchat. YouTube. This is now the main form of contemporary and academic life. Geotagged LoDIMINISHING INTELLIGENCE. Will our future selves cations. Instagram Stories. Snapchat ever bother to learn new languages, try to drive or even snaps. Facebook Live. Instagram think creatively thanks to the increasing artificial intelligence LIVE. Everything LIVE. Your own urban of new tools? As designers, movement logged online – by yourthe introduction of AI via gen­ erative design tools offers self or those who profound potential. Potential to uncover undiscovered have filmed you. forms and increase efficiency throughout our discipline.

We believe these However, we must remain con­ stantly vigilant, as new techtools set fire to nologies often come with the allure of simplicity and the the academic distraction of veiled complexity. paper and blaze Careful consideration of how we use these tools to furt­her ar­chitecture’s important theo­ trails for a future retical concepts and core where there facets is necessary and increas­ ingly overlooked both with‑ is no need to sit in our discipline as well as the 9 BILLION. By 2050, our population world around us. and mull over will have increased to this. How can and thinkers combat the issues your intricate use of language, hop- architects that come with exponential population growth? Climatically, we can address the ing to please editors or sponsors. concerns of renewables and zero bon constructions, but is this really a We are our own editors. Share your car­ seriously constructive approach?

This suffers from symptoms of localiza­ own vision! The world has never tion. Incorporation of thermodynamic prin­ciples can address the issues more been so open, so free. con­ceptually in an attempt to reconfig­

ure the world we live in as a whole – an open system whereby energy move‑ ments and relationships are inherently complex and interconnect­ed. Our goal is to design spaces, which not only give people the power to survive in this world, but to thrive globally!

244—245

An Act of Liberation

BO RRO W IN G S PAC E . Does architecture have a reason to exist?

An Architectural Object does not charge by the square meter nor promote itself on social media (yet) – but we as the observers, the creators and the investors choose to react in predictable prag‑ matic ways with an Architectural Object, and that need not be the case. New mechanisms of MOVEMENT IN ARCHITECTURE. funding and a What happens when a static Architectural Object specu la­t ive tembecomes infused with poral view (think dynamics? Greg Lynn , once blood over money) noted that architecture was the last refuge for mem‑ can run alongside bers of the flat earth disruptive tech club – a shame when we con‑ changes – this is sider not only the vitality A RC HIT E C T U R E V S . DE S I GN . which movement gives, but the process of Why are architecture also the disconnect such a empowering arcompetition juries often de‑ distinction embodies bevoid of architects? As we chitects to re– tween us and architecture. design for different stake- New technologies a llow new negotiate our tra– holder groups, our sensiliteral and phenomenal unbilities in herently change. derstandings of movement. ditional relationWe begin to subvert moship with financments of poetic posture for ing – fundamenstructural simplicity, ul­ tally altering the timately justified through Capitalist pre– shaving costs, yet we argue and attempt to archi– dicament we face. tecturalize absurdities The result has like the Bilbao effect. We potential to evoke find ourselves claiming to capitalize on this with essences, archi­ each and every entry, tecture sensa­ as though it is a pretions, perceptions set command in our CAD software. Our discipline and concepts, is often seen as a series which are often of building relationships lost in the distinction between theory rather than counter-intuitive ideas. Architects as a and practice.

30 whole aren’t doing much to correct this character‑ ization, especially through our banal, repetitive forms, and our repetitive formal representation (we can’t all use Skalgubbar ).

Obj. 243–245

30

Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s ar­ tistic works are a great reference of this new approach. They create joy through evoking new readings of familiar spaces, and their works often confront

the predictability and banality of our daily routine.

246—247

An Act of Liberation

Obj. 246

T RA V E R S E . How do architects engage with travel? Not so long ago, the only way to appreciate architecture was to visit it. More often than not, archi­ tectural voyages to distant lands brought new motivated influence. Today, we find ourselves experiencing the inverse: we may appreciate architecture, augmented and virtually through the 1,038,888 #sagradafamilia tags. Our ac­ cess to architecture has become so readily available that we’ve actually reached a point of severe oversaturation.

Digital accessibility is undeniably an incredibly freeing thing, however, we must reflect on the intricacies of archi­ tecture, which will u ltimately be dis­ proportionately underva lued through digita l experiences. Architecture in its built form, investigated through physical navigation will reopen a depth to architecture, which is in the process of being partially forgotten.