Digital imaging in architectural design E‐ducation
| Pages | 22-30 |
| Date | 01 September 2002 |
| Published date | 01 September 2002 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/03055720210474253 |
| Author | Johan Verbeke |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
Digital imaging in
architectural design
E-ducation
by Johan Verbeke, Sint-Lucas
Brussels and Martijn Stellingwerff,
TU Delft/Sint-Lucas Brussels
Keywords: Education, Distance learning,
Digital libraries
Abstract: Digital images can play a crucial
role in communication and the exploration of
design concepts in distant learning
environments. First described is the general
context in which the authors are working: the
ideas behind the AVOCAAD project, the
AVOCAAD conferences and their E-ducation
system. Then the importance of digital image
databases for architectural education is
outlined. The roles of imaging in design and
the concept of ``information pumps'' are
explained. It is argued that different types of
digital images are required at different stages
of the design process.
The AVOCAAD project
Some ten years ago, our Institute for
Architecture, Sint-Lucas in Brussels, started
discussions with people from IBM. The topic on
the agenda was the use of computers in
architecture. From these discussions originated
the underlying ideas of the Leonardo da Vinci
pilot project AVOCAAD (Added Value of
Computer-Aided Architectural Design). The
visual communication of ideas and the use of
digital images were key issues for the proposal.
In November 1996 the project was approved and
in April 1997 the first AVOCAAD conference
took place. From then on a group of about ten
European partners (schools of architecture,
architects, engineers and software firms) met
regularly in order to further design and build the
educational database system and its digital
content (including images of student work).
The AVOCAAD project was originally
summarised in the following statement:
Normally, a long and tedious design process
precedes the realisation of an architectural
object. During this process, the initial ideas
and concepts of the architect crystallise out
in a realisable form.
The availability of cheaper and more user-
friendly computers and software implies
that even small and medium-sized design
offices will start using CAAD (Computer-
Aided Architectural Design). This has an
important potential impact on the design
process. CAAD offers many new
possibilities and there are an increasing
number of examples showing us how these
new technologies support and change the
design process in a positive way.
Nevertheless, many design offices are not
yet exploiting the possibilities. They are
using CAAD only for producing plans.
Many architects, confronted with the new
media, react in a negative way. It is clear
that new impulses are needed in order to
exploit the added value of CAAD in the
design process.
In order to realise the potential in the
technology and to react to rapid changes in
the field, it is necessary to develop new
training methods, new course content and
new training material. This will augment
training quality and the importance of
CAAD in the curriculum. It will also give
maximal chances to CAAD in the future. In
a second phase we see a positive impact in
basing offices and architectural institutes on
the further development of CAAD. The new
training methods, new course content and
new training materials will make the
anticipation of future developments and
faster innovation possible.
This can be realised in the following way.
The project will benefit from the practical
training program stage of AVOCAAD.
Experiences will be brought together in
order to develop a new vision of the creative
use of CAAD. New course material will be
the concrete result. This will be the start of
new training and in-service coaching
oriented towards exploiting the added value
#MCB UP Limited, ISSN 0305-5728, DOI 10.1108/03055720210474253
22 Ð VINE, Volume 32 Number 3 2002, Issue 128
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