Crossing the Media: An Experiment in the Digital Analogue Borderland

An open-ended, diversified and critical approach of architectural design, using different form of ideas representation might offer best chances to gain new spatial solutions. Today’s most forward architects and designers are aware of this and make full use of physical and digital media during the process of design. During the summer term 2004 the experiment ‘Crossing the Media’ took place at the Technical University of Braunschweig. The main goal of this practical oriented seminar has been the exploration of the interface between analogue and digital media within the design process. Both techniques, analogue and digital, were used in an experimental way and their interaction and adaptability in the field of architecture was analyzed. The work examines the possibility of a consistent integration of digital and physical representation in a design process and the individual benefits of each. In order to achieve this, we made up a stringent line of digitalanalogue and analogue-digital (DA-AD) technologies for our design experiment. During the examination we focused especially on the creative potential of the techniques used, their interaction and adaptability in the field of architecture. Hence one of the goals of the occupation with the digital analogue interfaces was the examination of the emerging shift within the structure during the process, the imprints of technology This paper describes the workflow and tools that were used, our practical experiences with analogue digital interface and the emerging questions and impulses to architect future work and theory. The discovered limitations and consequences of interfaces between the analogue and digital realm of design and their creative chances will be revealed. We share results which we think may be helpful to others, and we highlight areas where further research is necessary.