Matias del Campo
Apophenia describes the phenomenon of
perceiving meaningful patterns or connections in random or meaningless data,
such as seeing faces, figures and structured patterns in clouds. The term was
coined by Klaus Conrad in 1958 who defined it as the “unmotivated seeing of
connections”
The main task of the Apophenic studio is
to oscillate between control (Maya), and uncontrolled Pattern generation
(Processing)which allows for pattern recognition. In the last decade the prevailing
computational design paradigm was defined by the desire to control the
output; by the means of parametric modeling tools the level of control
has surpassed every expectation. This course however explores novel,
alternative paths in order to find new opportunities within the computational
realm for architectural expressions, slightly on the outside of the control
paradigm, the course oscillates between modeling and coding in order to create
moments of randomness which allow for apophenic reading of the results. The
studio will be exposed to a new technique which allows for a stringent flow of
information between Maya and Processing.
Within this universe of thought the
generation of the articulation is substantially out of the control of the designer.
The studio will explore how subtle changes in code can create multiplicious
variation in the result. The results are scrutinized for their potentiality in
terms of architectural proto-conditions: Enclosure, compartmentization,
aperture and circulation and the relations of these elements to each other. The
explorations then are casted into architectural prototypes which allow to
evaluate the architectural affect generated by this novel approach.
The transition from code to reality is
of utmost importance to evaluate the results of the studio. A constant flow
between modeling, coding and fabrication forms the main ecology of the studio
culture.
