Architecture History Seminar Report: Digitalization

This report examines the impact of digitalization on architectural design, contrasting traditional methods with modern technologies. It analyzes the evolution from manual drafting to computer-aided design (CAD) and building information modeling (BIM), highlighting how these advancements have simplified and enhanced the design process. The report emphasizes the shift from representing buildings on paper to utilizing parametric models and integrated digital systems. The author argues that digitalization is crucial for handling the complexity of modern building design, minimizing errors, and improving efficiency. The report concludes by agreeing with the author's viewpoint, underscoring the importance of modern technologies and digitalization in contemporary architectural practices, where designers must consider design complexity, minimize errors, and ensure faster project implementation.

Running head: ARCHITECTURE HISTORY SEMINAR
ARCHITECTURE HISTORY SEMINAR
Name of student
Name of university
Author’s note:

1
ARCHITECTURE HISTORY SEMINAR
Summary of analysis:
Although toady designers and architectures have privilege to work with modelling where
availability and utility of this modelling is not that challenging, but this not always been the
case, especially challenges that designers and architectures required to represent and abstract
a complex thing like building though some sheets of papers which were significantly smaller
for this purpose and this is what made it so much challenging.
However, introduction of technology and digitalization in architecture not only made design
and modelling easy, but it made it effective. The first revolution of digitalization was ensured
while some techniques were changed from manual methods to automation provided by
computerization. For example, Slide rules were changed to calculators, drafting tables were
changed to copies of AutoCAD, and steel manuals were changed to computation programs.
Two of the most significant technological revolution in this context are introduction of
computer aided design or CAD and building information modellers or BIM. While CAD
made it easier to manipulate lines, arcs and circles, it was evolved into concept of blocks
which represent a type of geometry which considers integrated and connected branches which
are possible to repeat, reflect and scale which made management of large volume of digital
data easier while making drafting effective and efficient.
BIM ensured that drawings are not only mere technique for representation of building design,
but it should be considered as an extended artifact which is required for parametric model of
building. The parametric model provides context for describing how a building will look like
when it is completed and this provides a comprehensive idea regarding the design of the
building. However, integration of algorithm techniques and cloud computing with BIM
provided a “third generation of digital contextualization” where relationships of various
systems, various physical component, and large data structures along with other digital

2
ARCHITECTURE HISTORY SEMINAR
information are connected and combined for virtualizing all of the systems that are associate
with the building.
Analysis of argument:
The main argument of author is that compared to traditional building design, today design
and implementation of that design is significantly complex, therefore modern techniques are
required. In this context automation is an important context and this is not possible without
digitalization. Therefore, application of modern technologies for example CAD and BIM are
so important.
Justification for argument:
The author argued that previously design along with construction technology were not that
advanced and were not that efficient. However, the author also described that designers were
capable of designing buildings with technologies that are not automated because designers
and builders worked with enhanced coordination, buildings were not that complicated, legal
considerations were not that significant and it was efficient to describe designs through
traditional drawings for example plan, section and elevation . However, for designing modern
buildings that are significantly complex, advanced technologies and digitalization is required.
Critical review of thesis:
I agree with argument of the author because, in modern context for designing buildings, it is
important to ensure that designers not only consider complexity of designing building, but
they ensure that it minimizes errors in design while ensuring faster implementation of the
design. In order to ensure all of these aspects modern technologies and digitalization are
required.