Overview
This site is dedicated to my research on networks, particularly, social networking and its influence on the current practice of architecture.
Networked Egos v.1
Statement of Issue/Problem:
For centuries architecture has been both viewed and constructed as assemblages of static objects. As a result of today's ubiquitous technological influences and networked societies, architecture can now be seen as relational, process dependent and influenced by situations of a dynamic all of which are constantly changing. Forms can now be conceived from the initial phases of design as pieces that can be retrofitted to become part of a dynamic system that alters state over a period of time. From facades which can alter their presence based on sensing the environment, to mediated spaces which blur the boundaries of "the real" and "the virtual," a new typology in the field of architecture is now being created.
Statement of Significance of Issue:
By looking at this new architectural type and its brief history, this thesis will formulate and discuss some of these new concepts of "networked architecture." It will also address its impact on the relationships between architecture and society. More specifically, the research will look at the possibilities of creating physical architectural forms whose means of survival is dependent on online social networking data. A social network is a “social structure” interconnected by a set of nodes (individuals or groups) that are linked by one or more specific types of relations, such as interests and locations.
Method of Inquiry:
My endeavor will focus on issues including social networking sites, their layout, markup, interconnection, and dynamics.
The thesis is broken up into two parts, the first looks at ways which information on the web is visualized. The second part pursue a physical installation which addresses the dynamic nature of information and interaction within the information space.
For a specific period of time, analysis of the network structure through statistical data collection, diagrams and drawings. The data collected will be archived for use later on.
Using the data collected, abstract three-dimensional visualizations of a particular website (i.e. Myspace or Facebook) will be created. With the visualizations representing a social networking site, these articulations will then translate into blueprints for the conceptualization of architectural forms that engage users in a physical environment. These forms will ideally inherit qualities such as a "distributed meshwork" that can be characterized as an intelligent system that is "dynamic, distributed, flexible and interactive" emergent in the way networked societies interact.
Expected outcome:
These visualized forms will become scaled physical entities within the built environment. These entities will not be one single piece but a multitude of pieces that are distributed within either a single space or an entire city. Each of the pieces will have an identity of its own, while remaining reliant on the entire system to survive and evolve.