In the USA the generation of 30-40 year old architects has a number of remarkable achievements to show for itself. Although this generation encompasses a broad spectrum of architectural genres, it is clear that there is one common factor which differentiates them from the previous generation: they were literally born with the computer. This book reports on how this new tool has influenced and affected the quality of designing, looking at the most interesting protagonists of the electronic generation together with their most important projects. The authors live in New York and are themselves active in this field

Hyperbodies are buildings and environments which can continuously change shape and content. The mutations of such buildings depend on the input coming from their user as well as from the surroundings. This interaction between user and building is determined by a data flow which the hyperbody uses and converts into a "hypersurface" structure, which then alters our perception of space in and around the hyperbody. The architect programs this interaction and can thereby define the specific character of the building. In this book, the author provides a concise overview of this latest digital tool. Kaas Oosterhuis is Professor at the Technical University Delft and is a well-known Dutch architect.

A refreshingly unconventional look at architecture and the World Wide Web. Using Vitruvius' classical text De Arquitectura as a starting point, De Kerckhove begins a journey into the exciting world of the Internet. On the one hand he explores the architecture of this revolutionary medium, on the other, he considers the wide-ranging opportunities which the IT world offers for architectonic design, revealing how this new medium for communication is as much based on tradition as on innovation. Derrick de Kerckhove is the Director of the McLuhan Institute and Professor at the University of Toronto. His research into the effects of innovative technology on human communication, of new media on traditional culture have gained worldwide recognition.

In recent architecture theory and practise there has been a tendency to refer to exteriors as a skin concealing an interior, as opposed to the traditional and more physical concepts of surface, flatness, and depth. The computer now enables the architect to call his design into life, free from the rigid material form, and view it as a flexible and interactive creation. In this book, the concepts of flatness and surface tension are examined in the light of virtual design and built reality. A selection of projects are presented to show how the architects regard space and surfaces in modern architectural practice in a digital age.

A sense of harmony and proportion has traditionally been achieved in architectural compositions by using the dimensions of the human body as the starting point. Modern technology now enables us to go beyond these physical dimensions into a virtual world, and this poses a challenge to architecture as we usually perceive it. Interactive, flexible and intelligent models are being called for. Whilst technology is taking us into the realms of virtual reality, architecture on the other hand, is becoming more corporeal. "Postorganic" is the term being used to express this merging of the body and architecture brought about by electronic media. A radical change in perspective is blurring the distinction between the organic and mechanic, and the artificial logic of the computer and the natural logic of man are fusing together

Design in the area of architecture is essentially an act of innovation, continually striving to integrate practical, metaphorical and symbolic features into the designs using the technical means of today, and this is precisely where the computer can provide fascinating new potential to create a narrative space.

Traditionally architectural models were static creations but now through CAAD, models can be created which are dynamic and easily manipulated. This book shows how the electronic medium can be used to critically reconstruct unbuilt projects, looking in particular at projects by the famous Italian rationalist, Giuseppe Terragni. Four villas and several monument buildings are visually represented, their structures and functions examined and assessed using CAAD.

Total serialism as a concept, has progressed beyond the twelve-tone technique of composers Schoenberg and Webern, and since the 1950s it has been constantly developed. Today, it refers to far more than just a technical process for composing, rather it offers one possibility of creatively integrating knowledge on man and nature into works of art. On all levels of artificial, man-made creations - from musical compositions to architectonic designs - it allows properties and dimensions to be systematically organised, with criteria such as mass and proportions playing decisive roles. Markus Bandur (born in 1960) studied science of music, philosophy and history and now teaches at the universities of Freiburg i.Br, Berne and Kassel

This book explores urban resilience through significant, original and rigorous academic research, utilising the experiences of town planners, architects and decision makers to create a charter on resilient communities. The second part of the book presents mini-essays discussing the strategic points of the paper, and enabling more casual readers with the ability to access information on urban resilience. The book then explores urban resilience through the work and understanding of the institutions responsible for regulating the professions of urban planner, educators, professionals, and those involved in communication. Providing numerous illustrations and examples, Resilient Communities and the Peccioli Charter will be of interest to researchers, postgraduates, architects, urban designers and planners alike.

Following on from the successful book "Natural Born CAADesigners: Young American Architects", this book takes a look at the most recent architectonic developments in the Mediterranean countries, where architects have up to now been strongly influenced by the archaeologically significant environment and their classical architectural inheritance. How do young architects in Italy, France, Spain and Greece react to the new digital age? The electronic tools give them the chance to free themselves from the burden of tradition, to explore fascinating opportunities in their architecture. This book provides a colourful and concise overview of their work, using previously unpublished material. The team IAN+ was formed in 1997 in Rome by Carmelo Baglivo, Luca Galofaro and Stefania Manna. Maria Luisa Palumbo works at the McLuhan Programm in Culture and Technology.