building as matter, energy and information. · 2010-03-30 · building as matter, energy and...

Building as Matter, Energy and Information.An approach of understanding the shift in architecture to the digital,as illustrated with the example of timber construction.

Christoph Schindler

CITA Kopenhagen, March 30 2010

1

This lecture has a title which is quite unusual for an architect’s lecture.

Firstly, its quite long. Secondly, it indicates that it will not be a series of projects.

What will it be about?

«Instead of being a figure in the ground of history, technology has become the ground— not an element of historical change, but the thing itself.»

Rosalind Helen Williams, 2002

RAPLAP, D-ARCH ETH Zürich, 20092

During the last years we witness that contemporary production technology is about to influence architecture as massively as industrialization did during the 19th century.

While computer-aided technologies are discussed and tested thoroughly, their roots and their relation with earlier production technologies remain obscure.

The target of this lecture is a contextualization of contemporary research on information technology in the building sector and identify it as part of a continuous development.

I will discuss how the respective level of technology influences production and formal expression of architecture. To systemize this relation, I propose a periodization model based on insights into the history of technology.

1953 20091533

timber construction as a mirror of production technology

3

Timber construction is a mirror of production technology in architecture. Because of its easy way of machining and the wide availability of the raw material timber construction is among the oldest construction methods and was in pre-industrial times the most economic method.

During industrialization, rationalized and mechanized timber prefabrication determined almost entirely the North American building sector and made the wood frame to a construction method spread all over the globe.

Because of its elaborated computer-aided infrastructure with continuous digital production chains, timber construction can be considered the construction method in the market that has adapted best to information technology.

No other construction method illustrates the relation between production technology and building more comprehensively over a long period of time. Therefore, no other construction method is better qualified to sketch a model of the roots of today’s production technology.

«Oversimplifications, progressively corrected in subsequent development are the most potent or indeed the only means towards conceptual mastery of nature.»

Ludwig von Bertalanffy, 1968

4

To get encouraged to develop such a model, let us not be afraid of oversimplification, which is in the words of the Austrian biologist Ludwig von «the only means towards conceptual mastery of nature».

—production as a model—

5

The frame of my research is production technology.

Technik (Produktionstechnik)

nach Dolezalek 1965

Stoffumwandlung (Verfahrenstechnik)

Veränderung physikalisch-chemischer EigenschaftenStoffgestaltung / Stoffformung

Veränderung von FormStoffverarbeitung

Fertigungsverfahren nach DIN 8580 (1963)Kienzle 1966

5 B

esch

ich

ten

4 F

ügen

3 T

ren

nen

2 U

mfo

rm

en

1 U

rfo

rm

en

Fertigungsverfahren nach Kienzle 1956

allgemeine Technologie nach Karmarsch 1872

allgemeine Technologie nach Beckmann 1806

6 S

toffe

igen

sch

afte

n ä

nd

ern

Fertigungsverfahren nach DIN 8580 (1963) / Kienzle 1966

Zwischen- und Endprodukte des Maschinenbaus

Fertigungsverfahren nach Kienzle 1956

Stoffformung des Maschinenbaus

allgemeine Technologie nach Karmarsch 1872

«Verwandte Bearbeitungsmittel» (handwerklich/industriell)1) Zerteilung oder Zerkleinern2) Vereinigung oder Verbindung3) Formungs- oder Gestaltungsprozesse4) Durchlöchern

allgemeine Technologie nach Beckmann 1806

«Verzeichnis der Verfahren» (handwerklich)1) Zerkleinern2) Glätten, Schlichten, Glänzen, Polieren

Gewinnung (Förderung)

von Stoffen, Energie, InformationVerarbeitung von Stoffen, Energie, Information

Ortsveränderung (Transport)

von Stoffen, Energie, Information

Fertigungstechnik

6

This image shows how the German term for production technology developed. I only want to point out an interesting observation:The assumption introduced by Johann Beckmann 1806 to subdivide the term «technology» into a hierarchical tree structure has been continuously adapted and enriched, but during two centuries it was never questioned. Today’s German norm for classifying production technology – actually not younger than 1966 – is built on Beckmann’s assumption. Instead of provoking a paradigm shift of any kind, the digital fabrication technology we are talking about has been simply integrated into this model.

(Erstaunlich ist vor allem, dass die Annahme Beckmanns aus dem Jahr 1806, den Technikbegriff in einer hierarchischen Baumstruktur aufzugliedern, zwar ständig angepasst und erweitert, seit zwei Jahrhunderten aber nie grundsätzlich in Frage gestellt wurde, während die Naturwissenschaften sich zu Beginn des 20. Jahrhundert mit einer Relativierung ihrer mechanistischen Prämissen arrangieren mussten.)

«Matter, Energy and Information are the base elements of any technology and any technical act from the dawn of man until today.»

Akos Paulinyi, 1990

7

Which parameters are suited to describe every production process, irrespective of whether machine or men are involved and irrespective of its purpose?

The writings of the historian of technology Akos Paulinyi and the discussions with him are the foundation of this lecture.

Akos Paulinyi says:«Matter, Energy and Information are the base elements of any technology and any technical act from the dawn of man until today.»

(«So ist das allgemeine Ziel aller technischen Handlungen abstrakt unschwer auf einen gemeinsamen Nenner zu bringen: es ist die vom Menschen bewusst angestrebte, seine bestimmte Zielvorstellungen verfolgende Zustandsänderung von Stoff, Energie und Information.»

Akos Paulinyi 1990)

«Information is information, not matter or energy.»

Norbert Wiener, 1948

8

Where do we find the roots of the terms Matter, Energy and Information?

The term Matter as it is understood today was coined by René Descartes in the 17th century as res extensa, the extended things. (res cogitans/res extensa).

From the 17th century on, physics and chemistry operated with the terms of Matter and Energy to explain natural phenomena in the world: Matter was the substance things consist of and energy was the substance to move the things.

In case you wonder what is the difference between matter and material I would put it like this: matter is the substance of things whereas material is matter defined by certain properties.

Information as a third parameter of describing the world was introduced by the American mathematician Norbert Wiener to categorize phenomena that could not be understood as matter or energy.

7. Ed. 2007 3. Ed. 2007 14. Ed. 2007 33. Ed. 2008 22. Ed. 2007

Energy

Matter

Signal

Energy’

Matter’

Signal’

9

Analyzing technical processes as a system of matter, energy and information is not a theory of some unworldly scientists.

From the 1970ies until today, the benchmarks of engineering literature, especially the German books, are based on these assumptions.

Production is the application of informationto a workpiece through the use of energy.

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10

Although building production is without doubt part of production technology and this model being omnipresent in engineering literature, it has never been reflected or used in architecture.

Can we use those terms to systemize the influence of technology on architecture through history, to sketch a periodization model?

periodization models in history of technology

-10000 -8000 -6000 4000 -2000 0 2000-9000 -7000 -5000 -3000 -1000 1000

History of ArtKlemm 1954

History of EnergyMatschoss 1901

Periodization

History of EnvironmentRadkau 1990

SociocultureRibeiro 1968

Popitz 1989

Lilley 1966

Singer 1952

Mumford 1934

Lenski 1991

11

What is periodization?

Periodization can be described as the attempt to divide history in segments that help to understand its development and the personal historical point of view. For instance, the description of history of architecture as a series of styles is a periodization model we all grew up with.

This chart shows twelve periodization models based on history of technology with stresses on history of art, economics, energy, or socioculture. It is striking that they hardly have anything in common.

I deduce that every perspective and every question evokes its own periodization model.

machine

hand-tool-technology

machine-tool-technology

information-tool-technology

man

information

matter

energy

matter

energy

informationmatter

information

energy

process design process design

12

My approach of contextualizing information technology is based on Paulinyis distinction between the terms hand-tool-technology and machine-tool-technology, to which I add the term information-tool-technology.

In a first transition, the turnover of matter is assigned from men to a machine.

In a second transition, the turnover of information is assigned from men to a machine.

The assignment of the turnover of energy is not regarded as a transition, but as a way of increasing the turnover.

machine


a) principle b) increase in turnover

machine-tool-technology information-tool-technology

matter matter

energy

information

energy

information

information

matter

information

matter

energy

matter

information

energy

manmatter

information

energy

energy

a) principle a) principleb) increase in turnover b) increase in turnover

13

This model shows the same distinction a bit more in detail.

(axe, steam hammer)

transition 1: assignment of matter(manual spinning machine [Hargreaves Jenny], steam band saw)[Teilfunktionen] Maschinen-Werkzeug-Technik ist «die Übertragung der Funktionen des Haltens und Führens sowohl des Werkstücks als auch des Werkzeugs vom Menschen auf eine technische Vorrichtung». [Eingangsgrössen] Dabei wird der Umsatz von Stoff durch eine Maschine ausgeführt, um repetitive physische menschliche Leistungen zu ersetzen. Information wird durch einen menschlichen Werkzeugmaschinen-Bediener verarbeitet.

transition 2: assignment of information(manual Jacquard loom, electrical Parson mill)[Teilfunktionen] Informations-Werkzeug-Technik ist die Übertragung der Funktion der variablen Steuerung sowohl der Bewegungen des Werkstücks als auch des Werkzeugs vom Menschen auf eine technische Vorrichtung. [Eingangsgrössen] Dabei wird der Umsatz von Stoff und Information durch eine Maschine ausgeführt, um formalisierte physische und intellektuelle Leistungen zu ersetzen.

Skalierungsfaktor: Übertragung des EnergieumsatzesOb die Energie vom Menschen oder einer technischen Einrichtung bereitgestellt wird, bestimmt nicht das Prinzip, aber die Menge des Umsatzes. Dies gilt sowohl für die Maschinen-Werkzeug-Technik als auch für die Informations-Werkzeug-Technik.

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14

Looking for an image to illustrate the relation between the three different technologies in time I propose a wave diagram: new technological developments do not replace each other, but overlap, amplify and complete each other.

—hand-tool-technology—

15

In the following I will verify the relevance of describing technical acts with the relation of matter, energy and information for architectural production with the example of timber construction.

In comparison with other materials, timber was until the beginning of 19th century so dominant that the whole period of time has been called a «wooden age».

machine

man

information

matter

energy

matter

energy

informationmatter

information

energy






16

The separate steps in wood processing were accomplished with hand tools. Muscular strength from men or animals was the power source of all processing steps. Quality and speed of the whole chain were determined by knowledge and skill of the craftsman.

The turnover of matter, energy and information converged in the hand.

Roman axe, ca. 500–200 BC axe 2009, Gränsfors Bruks

=

17

The tools of the woodworking crafts are in use until today with very few basic alterations.

Roman plane, Pompeji 79 AC plane 2009, Stanley

=

18

The restriction to very few principles can not only be observed on a timeline,

Egyptian hand saw, 1490 BC

hand saw 2009, Stanley

=

19

but as well in most cultures and on a global scale.

Jägerschmid 182820

During the application of tools to process parts, absolute measurements played a minor role.

Krummholzdachstuhl Brethen’s Hall im St. Cross Hospital, Winchester, 14. Jahrhundert (Kirk 1994)21

In timber construction of hand-tool-technology the tool follows the growth direction of the tree –

22

In this example of a stave church the stub of a tree is turned around and used for stiffening a joint.

23

Especially in ship-building growth direction was integrated into the construction. Therefore, bent wood could be even more expensive than straight wood.

Franz Wilhelm Exner 1878Hermann Phleps 194224

The tool not only follows the growth direction of the tree, but as well on the next level of scale the fiber direction of the wood.

Klosterkirche Baumburg, Bebeilungsspuren, 18. Jahrhundert (Holzer und Köck 2008)25

The precision is limited by the human skill, because the carpenter only uses his eye and hand to direct the tool.

What we see here is a surface as smooth as it gets with an axe.

floor plan of a school, 1684, Elsau26

In planning, only a minimal amount of absolute measurements was required.

From a 1:1 draft on the building site, the geometry of the parts was not derived numerically, but assigned directly by marking or drawing on the parts, without describing them with absolute measurements.

On this image you can see the plan for a Swiss school from 17th century, only containing the measurements of the total length and width of the building and the position of the fireplace. The rest of the planning was never put on paper.

dovetail joint, Gerner 199227

The geometry of the joints was always produced individually for joining two parts.

Nimmerich 197828

Even if measurements and functions of the parts within the building were basically the same, parts were never interchangeable.

To allocate the individual wooden members to their positions, they were identified with so-called «joint marks».

Abbundplatz um 192029

In the production process, you would start detailing at one corner of a wall and define the geometries of the elements one by one, always using the last one as a jig for the next one.

Fylkemuseum Skien30

Not only timber frame members where marked with joint marks –but as well log houses like this Norwegian example –

Oude kerk, Amsterdam31

or roof structures like here in Amsterdam.

Zusammenstellung: Grossmann 200432

It was not unusual that every carpenter working on the site modified order and systematics of the marking according to his personal conception, without making the positioning unclear and without making the system unusable.

—machine-tool-technology—

33

The beginnings of machine-tool-technology can be traced back far into the wooden age. Initially, they are independent from the Industrial Revolution.

Villard de Honnecourt 123034

The processing of wood required a large input of power. Therefore, already in 13th century simple machines were developed.

The image shows a first hint on machine-tool-technology from the sketchbook of the French builder Villard de Honnecourt from 1230..

Dreirahmen-Sägegatter, Stansfieldmühle 1770erhaltenes Venezianergatter35

In 18th century progress in steel processing allowed to combine up to six parallel saw blades in one frame. With the frame, several cuts with different predetermined widths could be performed at the same time.

As the machine processed automatically material, but no information, the adjustment of the distances between the saw blades caused each time an interruption of the production.

James Nasmyth 184136

This image demonstrates the difference between hand-tool-technology and machine-tool-technology:On the left-hand side, the worker manually machines the workpiece with a hand-tool.On the right-hand side, the worker only activates the mechanical material feed with a hand-wheel. He can not influence the relation between tool and workpiece.

circular saw 1880 circular saw 2009

=

37

Within a few decades during industrialization in the 19th century, the basic wood processing machine tools got invented.

=band saw 1875 band saw 2009

38

Similar to the hand-tools, today’s machine tools still have clearly the features of their first appearance.

=planer 1878 planer 2009

39

It is eye-catching that all machine-tools use the principle of rotation for the tool movement – a movement, that almost can not be performed by hand.

Joseph Paxton, Kristallpalast 185140

If were are willing to get into machine-tool-technology, it meant to adjust the whole working process not to the potential of hand, but to the potential of the machine.

In this image, you see the wooden construction of Crystal Palace at the Great Exhibition in London 1851. Its architect Joseph Paxton invented a specific sash bar machine to groove 320 kilometers of standardized gutters and glass holders.

Everything that changes with machine-tool-technology in wood production has to do with standardization.

machine

man

information

matter

energy

matter

energy

informationmatter

information

energy





41

Within our model, this can be traced back to the separation of the turnover of information from the turnover of matter and energy.

At the place where matter and energy are processed there is no processing of information.

Therefore, the amount of information that is processed should be as small as possible.

The keyword is repetition.

42

In timber construction the idea of interchangeability is expressed very early with the Balloon Frame System since 1832. Its standardized profiles are all derived from a module of 2 x 4 inches.

Oklahoma Land Run, 188943

Sigfried Giedion confirms:«The balloon frame marks the point at which industrialization began to penetrate housing.»

44

The realization of interchangeability requires firstly, agreements on measurement units and characteristics andsecondly, the minimization of tolerances.

Since 1875 the metric system serves as the basis for global agreements.

DIN 4074-5, Sortiermerkmale von Laubschnittholz45

By standardizing the measurements, the material wood was not yet standardized: Its naturally grown organic consistence was full of unforeseeable features such as cracks, twists and knotholes.

The principle of interchangeability not only required corresponding measurements, but also correspondence of all technical characteristics. Hence all characteristics in the organism of the tree which did oppose to its classification were called «wood defects» – although, in the organism of the tree, they were not defects at all.

DIN 4074-5, Sortiermerkmale von Laubschnittholz, 5.1.2.2: «Die Ästigkeit A berechnet sich aus dem nach 5.1.2.1 bestimmten Durchmesser d, geteilt durch das Mass b bzw. h der zugehörigen Querschnittsseite.»

Marra 1972, zitiert in Wagenführ, André; Scholz, Frieder. Taschenbuch der Holztechnik. Hanser : Leipzig, 2008, S. 12846

Consequently, this resulted in researching the homogenization of wood.

Wood was divided into smaller and smaller parts, which were joined with a glue to a new material that balanced the characteristics of its single parts.

These new materials, in English bearing the suitable name «derived timber products», appeared externally as a volume with homogeneous characteristics.

K. Vierling, M. Schmihing and H. Klingenberg:water-resistant urea-formaldehyd resin, 1929

plywood water-resistant ca.1930 chipboard 1935 MDF 1965 OSB 1977

47

It was not before the 1930ies that a water-resistant and fungus-resistant glue could be developed to permanently join the parts.

Therefore, in history of timber architecture, the invention of water-resistant urea-formaldehyd resin is an unnoticed but highly significant turning point.

production at Gunnison, New Albany, 1951

Lustron house, two-bedroom model, 1951

48

Building industry reacted immediately to the new potential of derived timber products.

Alex MacLean, Over 200849

Its use of glue, large floor-to-ceiling panels which were nailed and glue to the wood frame, transformed until today the whole North American continent.

—information-tool-technology—

50

For the description of the third wave in history of technology in timber construction the clearness, that a spectator wins with historical distance, is only given for its beginnings.

machine

man

information

matter

energy

matter

energy

informationmatter

information

energy





51

The linked processing of matter, energy and information, which is characteristic for digital fabrication occurred comparatively late in the wood industry.

Jacquard Loom 180452

The first machine of information-tool-technology is a loom controlled by punched cards. The «Jacquard-machine» automated the selection of the threads for the weaving of different patterns.

Cardamatic Milling System, 1948 Milling center, 2009

=

53

The first numerical controlled machine from the 1940ies is a 5-axis milling machine for the fabrication of helicopter rotor blades. It shows all characteristics of today’s CNC-milling centers.

automated joinery machine, 1984 automated joinery machine, 2009

=

54

A development of the wood industry in the 1980ies was the automated joinery machine for bar-shaped wooden materials.

formalized flexibility

NTNU, Ringve Botanical Garden Viewing Platform, Trondheim 2007

ETH Zürich, Swissbau Pavilion, Basel 2005

ETH Zürich, Libeskind’s Futuropolis, St. Gallen 200555

At first glance information-tool-technology has not much to do with interchangeability, because two parts do not have to be identical anymore. However, they have to fit.

The joining is not relatively solved by drawing and marking like in hand-tool-technology, but based on the same absolute measurement units and tolerances that are the foundation of interchangeability.

What you see on these images are different strategies to label individual parts: paper stickers, milled numbers or printed information. In appearance very similar to the joint marks in hand-tool-technology, they are different in a decisive aspect: All of them are linked to the same algorithms.

195

Code Funktion Code FunktionG00 M00G01G02 M01G03G04 M02G17 M03G18 M04G19 M05G33 M06G34 M07G35 M08G40 M09G41 M10G42 M11G43 M13G44 M14G53 M19

M30G60 M31G61G62 M50G63 M51G64 M60G70 M68G71 M69G73G74G75G80

G90G91G92G94G95G96G97

Vorbereitende Wegbedingungen (G-Funktionen) und Zusatzfunktionen (M-Funktionen) Tabelle 13: nach DIN 66025 Teil 2 (1998), zitiert nach Kief 2007, S. 341ff

DIN 6602556

And even further, surprisingly enough, the processing of information completely based on numbers and on standards how to use them.

This image shows internationally normed functions for the NC-programs to control the tool movements.

Once again: The flexibility in digital production is based on standardization.

Waugh Thistleton, Murray Grove 2009

cross-laminated timber panels

57

In processing there are different strategies how to work with the wooden products:

Either the panels are used directly as building material for walls and ceilings by cutting openings and cut-outs right into them –

Instant Architects, Inventioneering Architecture 2005

cut-out sheets

58

– or the panel is not the part itself, but a cut-out sheet for the different parts, which are nested on the panels and milled without respecting the internal structure of the panel.

Stefan Gruber und Andrei Gheorghe, Pavilions im Semperdepot, Wien 2008

cut-out sheets

59

Shigeru Ban, Centre Pompidou Metz 2008–

workpiece-specific raw material

60

A quite recent development is the individual bending and glueing of gluelam beams to approach with the fiber direction of the wood the middle axis of the workpiece that is going to be milled.

Ringve Viewing Platform

Prof. Knut Einar Larsenuniversity projectTrondheim 2007

timber members, individually , individually trimmed, miter curts with 4-axis joinery machine

700 different parts

Camera Obscura

Prof. Knut Einar Larsenuniversity projectTrondheim 2006

individual timber members, miter cuts and flank milling with 5-axis joinery machine

16 different parts

Lecture Pods Semper Depot

Stefan Gruber, Andrei Gheorghe work stationsWien 2008

cross-laminated boards, parts nested on cut-out sheets; single bent orthogonal flank milling with milling center

7000 parts

Inventioneering Architecture

Instant Architektenexhibition platform2005

MDF-boards, parts nested on cut-out sheets; 5-axis flank milling

1000 parts

** *

61

This is a short overview of projects using the potential of information-tool-technology to different extents. I had the chance to support in different positions the projects marked with a star.

Austria Center Vienna

Christian Knechtlcongress centerWien 2008

gluelam beams; doubly curved milling on milling center

Metropol Parasol

Jürgen Mayer H.museumSevilla 2009

cross-laminated timber, individually cut; single curved orthogonal milling on 6-axis robot

Libeskind’s Futuropolis

Daniel LibeskindsculptureSt. Gallen 2005

cross-laminated timber boards, individually trimmed, miter cuts with milling center

2164 parts

Serpentine Gallery Pavilion

Alvaro Siza, E. Souto de Mouraexhibition pavilionLondon 2005

plywood boards, individually cut, orthogonal flank milling

427 different parts

*

62

The range of experiments and the positive mood in the wood industry are catching.

* *

Swissbau Pavilion

Professur Hovestadtexhibition pavilionBasel 2005

OSB-bords, parts nested on cut-out sheets, single curved orthogonal flank milling and miter cuts on milling center

1280 different parts

Zipshape

Christoph Schindlerconstructive principleZürich 2007

individually toothed panels, miter cuts with milling center

2 different parts

St. Loup chapel

Local architecture, SHELtemporary sacred spacePompaples 2008

cross-laminated timber boards, individually cut, miter cuts on milling center

92 different parts

Centre Pompidou Metz

Shigeru BanmuseumMetz 2009

cross-laminated timber boards, 5-axis milling on automated joinery machine

1790 individual parts

63

There are new approaches to bending, coffering, folding and braiding and it is exciting to watch which line the wood industry will take.

—conclusions—

64

Concluding I will make an attempt to sketch some lines through the history of timber construction: a conversion of tools, material characteristics, use of information and process design.

conversion of tools

hand-tool-technology machine-tool-technology information-tool-technology

for 2500 years for 230 years for 60 years

65

First of all, the clarity with which the three systems of production technology are represented with three different types of tools is striking; especially the adherence to principles once developed.

Despite of endless individual variations of the tool set, the basic shape of the axe is established for several thousand years, the circular saw for 230 years, and the NC-mill for 60 years.

anisotropic, inhomogeneous

isotropic, homogeneous


isotropic, homogeneous(enlargement of

components)

conversion of material characteristics

individual composition of raw material

66

In hand-tool-technology, the organically grown wood determined construction: Its anisotropic composition with a directional fiber direction and its inhomogeneity with knots and cracks were determining for the handling of wood.

The saw mills of machine-tool-technology allowed with help of glues to produce geometrically interchangeable profiles and panels. The characteristics of wood become predictable, controllable, classifiable and calculable.

In information-tool-technology on the one hand we are witnessing a continuation of homogenization; however with larger components of solid wood such as in gluelam beams and cross-laminated timber panels.

At the same time, there is a tendency towards an individual composition of raw material.

conversion of the use of information

descriptive normative operative


67

In hand-tool-technology, measuring was carried out mainly graphically and without the use of symbols. For distinctive identification of the parts with joint marks symbols were used, but only for distinction, not for calculation. In hand-tool-technology we can speak of a «descriptive use of symbols».

The use of symbols in machine-tool-technology is determined by a measurement system that serves as a base for defining tolerances and characteristics. In machine-tool-technology we can speak of a «normative use of symbols».

In its use of symbols, information-tool-technology is based directly on machine-tool-technology. Digital fabrication not only refers to defined measurement units, but as well to algorithms that make it possible to relate statements to each other. The gist of information-tool-technology is an «operative use of symbols».

material knowledge

product knowledge

information knowledge

conversion of process design


68

The three types of production interrelate and are based on each other. To control the technological level of a certain time it is necessary to acquire knowledge of the subjacent technologies. At the same time, the effort of preparation to control the links between those processes grows immensely.

Working with information-tool-technology implies a further growth of knowledge levels. For planning and realizing a building, knowledge in production technology is needed on materials, standardized products as well as the structure of the information to control the machines.

conclusions

• With help of the components matter, energy and information three different concepts of production technology are distinguishable both in architectural construction and formal appearance.

• Information-tool-technology (as we know it today) is based on the scientific definitions and assumptions of machine-tool-technology; in contrast to the natural sciences there is no paradigm shift.

69

Ich will mich auf zwei kurze Schlussfolgerungen beschränken:

«In der Fertigungstechnik lassen sich mit Hilfe der Kategorien Stoff, Energie und Information drei Konzepte unterscheiden, die sich in architektonischer Konstruktion und Erscheinung niederschlagen.»

quod erat demonstrandum; mit diesem Ziel bin ich in die Untersuchung gestartet und hoffe, dass ich dies nachvollziehbar zeigen konnte

«Die Informations-Werkzeug-Technik arbeitet mit den wissenschaftlichen Grundlagen der Maschinen-Werkzeug-Technik; es findet – im Gegensatz zu den Naturwissenschaften – kein Paradigmenwechsel statt.»

Es war für mich verwirrend, festzustellen, dass in der Fertigungstechnik mit Strukturen und Definitionen gearbeitet wird, die sich mindestens bis in die 1960er Jahre, wenn nicht sogar bis ins 18. Jahrhundert zurückverfolgen lassen. Insofern kann man Informations-Werkzeug-Technik als eine konsequente Fortentwicklung und Teil einer industriell-mechanischen Fertigung verstehen, die mit den an der Biologie orientierten Fragestellungen und Methoden im naturwissenschaftlichen Diskurs ab dem 20. Jahrhundert wenig gemein hat.

Information

Matter Energy

70

Or has he by way of the language caught the German mania for name-giving, dividing the Creation finer and finer, analyzing, setting namer more hopelessly apart from named […],tacking together established nouns to get new ones […]

Thomas Pynchon, Gravity’s Rainbow 1973

71

Thank you very much for your attention.

building as matter, energy and information. · 2010-03-30 · building as matter, energy and...

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