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	Architecture Through the Looking Glass Pioneering Software to Design, Document and Sell Buildings Architects in the Information Age Of Virtual Buildings and Real Architecture The Objects Amoung Us

Of Virtual Buildings and Real Architecture, by David Marlatt, AIA

Architects, in partnership with owners, are in a prime position to assert their central role not only in the initial design of their buildings, but also in their long term programming, maintenance and opertaion.

Enough has been written in the past 24 months about virtual reality, virtual buildings, and virtual firms, that the subject is beginning to appear quite real. The technological hype with which we are virtually surrounded, however, can easily cloud the architect's vision of deeper issues and problems facing the profession, such as the environmental impact of building, housing for a growing and moving population, firm profitability, and relevance of our profession in society over the long term.

These are daunting challenges for which - despite hype and cliches - computers and software are an incontournable part of any reasonable solution. Most architects accept and embrace this fact, but it is still healthy to evaluate technology against some of the core values of architecture as both a profession and a business.

Mass Customization

n his recent book, Democratic Architecture, Donald MacDonald, FAIA, proposes four principles to be applied to housing: that it be affordable, easily and inexpensively changeable, minimize damage to the environment, and express the multiplicity of society. These principles transcend computer technology, of course, but there are places where the right software can be extremely helpful. Daiwa House in Tokyo, Japan, for example, will soon create custom software and building components for their 5,000 person sales force. This software will enable them to work directly with clients to design "custom" houses within a wide range of parameters. By using intelligent building objects in their sales and design process, they will allow people to participate in the design of their homes, an option never before available to them.

In Americus, GA, Habitat for Humanity International rapidly prototypes and optimizes inexpensive houses for its chapters to use in their local communities (Graphisoft has donated more than 200 copies of ArchiCAD to Habitat for Humanity chapters across America). "The difficulty with the type of houses we build is that they tend to be pretty small," says Peter Dalva, Habitat for Humanity's associate director of construction technology. "You tend to do a lot of revisions and alterations, and if I didn't have ArchiCAD I couldn't make as many revisions. It leads to better design."

Effective communication with constituency groups is also a great challenge in the housing community. Arizona architect Paul Schwam helps design affordable housing in communities along the Mexico/U.S. border: "...the problem is you need to get a lot of information across to a lot of people who don't all necessarily speak the same language. The best way to do that is graphically, and it's also better for the planners to think about it in 3D. I think time is one of the biggest issues. If we're going to solve the border development problem, we're going to have to solve it quickly."

Market Square North, STUDIOS ArchitectureMore, More, Faster, Faster

And, we might add to the subtitle above, "Cheaper, Cheaper." As are all professionals, architects are under increasing pressure to deliver more and better client services on a shorter schedule while incurring fewer costs. Redundant processes only waste time and increase the risk of errors. Nevertheless, creativity and imagination - intrinsic to successful architecture - defy systemization and efficiency.

The profession's challenge is to provide an efficient environment for invention and discovery. Like a fast-track project, design must continue throughout the documentation process, and working drawings should start with schematic design, each affecting the other in a dynamic and recursive manner.

This is possible using integrated CAD software which stores the complete building model in the computer. Access to detailed information early in the design phase helps improve design and avoid errors later. Conversely, when working drawings become by-products of the integrated building model, fundamental design changes can occur with fewer repercussions very late in the process. In addition to the benefit of improved design quality, integrated CAD software reduces needless administration and the re-drawing of redundant details, specifications and other information.

Virtual You, Virtual Me, We get Together Virtually

Today I drove 20 miles to and from work across San Francisco and burned about one gallon of fossil fuel. I also consumed roadways, abraded my car, and wasted about one hour of my life. So did hundreds of thousands of people in the Bay Area.

This evening on the World Wide Web I visited my stockbroker, my travel agent, shopped for a gift, and did some research, and burned practically no fuel. So did hundreds of thousands of people in the Bay Area.

Despite a large and fast-growing population, however, the World Wide Web remains generally a solitary and uninspiring "place." Is it inevitable that the Web not transcend the flat computer screen , or is it only that principles of firmness, commodity and delight have never been seriously applied to it? Just like a poorly designed building or city, the lack of architectural thought in most Websites impacts my ability to navigate, interact with others, and accomplish my tasks efficiently or at all.

Improving the architectural character of the Web is an important issue for the opportunities it presents architects and the benefits it may engender for users. The Web will never replace most conventional building, but its potential to archive information, process transactions, and facilitate meetings can also help save a significant amount of the world's natural resources.

Creators and Caretakers of the Built Environment

Because architects using integrated 3D CAD software generate so much valuable building information in the course of delivering architectural services, many new fields and services open themselves. Some ideas for ways in which architects can stay involved with clients and projects beyond the issuance of an occupancy permit are:

Creation of images, animations and virtual reality scenes for Building marketing, Management of building spaces and assets, Post-occupancy studies and simulation of design changes, Analysis and visualization of product performance over the building life cycle, Content development for electronic "building owner's manuals" including product data and links to manufacturer Websites

Building owners and managers are also seeking ways to use technology to manage their assets, optimize leasing, and improve their bottom line. Architects, in partnership with owners, are in a prime position to assert their central role not only in the initial design of buildings, but also in their long-term programming, maintenance and operation.

Between now and the new millennium - still a long time in the computer world - it is safe to say that almost all practicing architects will use computers and software for design and drafting. Beyond these foundational tasks, however, how will computers be used to advance the profession, better the environment, and provide people with greater access to architecture?

This is not a question for some future virtual world. Intelligent object technology is available now. Designing in an integrated environment is now. Controlling complete, three-dimensional building data is now. All of these technologies can be put to work today to address real problems and exploit great opportunities.

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