Data, Information or Design: New Ways of Conceiving the Value of Architecture in the Global, Digital Age

In the 21st century, architectural work is arguably becoming more concerned with numerical data and spreadsheets attached to design models. A possible conjecture is that increased quality and quantity of digital information will produce higher-value buildings. Such assumptions are tested in this chapter. The transition from analogue to digital, as the term transition suggests, is full of demands for different kinds of data as a means of improving the information available to designers and managers. Yet, there has been little assessment of whether all the inputs to the design process can be digitised in this way and whether valuable nuances could be excluded. The challenge is how to engender and balance - beauty, cultural identity, functionality, efficiency and usability within the digital environment. The perception that, with a few clicks, architecture can be produced could be undermining the design quality. Case studies from around the world contribute to the debate.