Introduction: Persistent Modelling: reconsidering relations

This introduction to 'Persistent Modelling – an extended role for architectural representation' identifies how the book probes the relationship between representation and the represented, in an architectural context. It discusses how the book presents an examination and discussion of historical, familiar contemporary and, perhaps, not so familiar emerging manifestations of this relation. What persists from this probing, fully intact, is that representation and the represented remain inextricably related in our contemporary and emerging practices. What comes into focus is that the nature of this relationship is becoming increasingly variegated. This is apparent in three principle areas; the duration of active influence that representation can hold in relation to the represented; the means, methods and media through which representations are constructed and used; what it is that is being represented.