Issue Editors: Sky Lo Tian Tian, Marc Aurel Schnabel
ISBN: 978-94-93329-51-5
Currently, the role of design and its significance is being drowned in gimmicks, as digital technologies Philosophical Grounding – Beyond Digital Gimmickry now play a significant role in shaping the behaviours, performances and standards of societies, communi- ties, organizations and individuals (Denning & Tedre, 2019).
That stark observation, opening the call for Cubic Journal Issue #8, frames the dilemma of twenty-first-century computation. Digital technologies have woven themselves so completely into contemporary practice that it is now possible, and alarmingly common, for...
Rapid urbanisation in China has led to urban villages, presenting challenges in spatial governance and renewal. Advanced digital and parametric methodologies can extend beyond traditional building-focused strategies to address public space vitality and resident demand issues. However, their effectiveness in capturing and responding to intricate spaces and individual needs within urban villages remains underexplored. This study investigates how mixed reality (MR) in experiential design systems can revitalise urban villages. We review existing literature and design projects using digital...
Photogrammetry, the process of producing detailed 3D models using photographs, is an indispensable tool in heritage conservation and construction due to its capacity for documentation. It can benefit professionals across various fields of design and computation to efficiently generate digital renditions that can be used for documentation, dissemination, education and entertainment. This paper describes a feasible and cost-effective workflow for creating and processing high-quality photogrammetry-based models and a series of workshops that introduce architecture students and researchers...
After an era of rapid development, Hong Kong has reached a critical juncture at which urbanisation is saturated and in urgent need of transition. Hong Kong’s freshwater resources are in a state of scarcity due to its small geographical size, limited surface watersheds, ageing building services and extensive reclamation. Under the guidance of the Sustainable Development Goals, planning for the utilisation of Hong Kong’s existing resources and the introduction of emerging technological tools provide development opportunities for the experimental remodelling of Hong Kong’s freshwater...
This paper explores three innovative high-rise building design concepts to enrich urban environments by enhancing human perception, integrating cultural heritage and promoting sustainability. Runxin Fu’s ‘The Perceptual Condenser’ disrupts typical spatial experiences through composite wall systems and angled shear walls, encouraging active exploration and improving the human experience in vertical environments through Structuralism. Shiyao Feng’s ‘The Landscape City’ integrates elements of traditional Chinese shanshui gardens and paintings, using masking techniques and spatial contrasts...
As architecture faces demands for adaptability, transformable design offers vital strategies for dynamic spatial configurations. This research explores the integration of knitted textiles with transformable scissor grids to create collapsible architectural walls. By utilising the elasticity of knitted materials, the project optimises expansion and retraction of the surface membranes, enhancing adaptability. Digital simulations are used to predict the textile behaviours and informed he material development and patterning. The final design incorporates two offset scissor grids, adding...
The integration of digital print matrix technologies with traditional printmaking practices presents both opportunities and challenges in contemporary art production. This paper explores the potential and limitations of digital print matrix technology, demonstrating its ability to enable artists to create intricate designs, iterate quickly and blend digital and analogue approaches. Artists can generate innovative forms, patterns and textures by integrating computational design and algorithmic approaches. While these technologies offer new creative possibilities, they also raise important...
This study explores the integration of emotional resonance and interactive experience in design and proposes a systematic framework that combines affective computing, multisensory design and ethical considerations. Grounded in emotional design (Norman 2004) and affective computing (Picard 1997), this framework is validated through case studies in smart home systems, emotional support interfaces and interactive pet care. The findings indicate that emotion-aware design significantly improves user engagement (32% increase in smart plant care interactions) and fosters ethical reflection (41%...
Currently, most crime prevention efforts focus on social services, such as behaviour correction and resocialisation, with limited emphasis on the role of social support systems for rural women. Although the proportion of crimes committed by women is not significantly high, such crimes inflict deep harm on families and society. This paper aims to design and study an intelligent shelter system for rural women to address their support needs in the face of family and social problems and to indirectly prevent the occurrence of crime. Based on case studies of rural women offenders and an...
In South China’s Greater Bay Area, an idiosyncratic low-tech sound emanates, primarily from mechanical impeller aerators – air propellers used in local fish farms. The author’s creative approach integrates audio recording, soundscape mapping, computational analysis and translation across media with performative reinterpretation by singers, resulting in a museum gallery installation. This method, presented as computational transcoding, utilises technology to listen with a difference. An interdisciplinary theoretical framework is applied to demonstrate that computational and vocal...
Architecture is undergoing a new digital turn prompted by the use of artificial intelligence, which has sparked both enthusiasm and concern—particularly regarding the notion that computers may replace architects. However, the repositioning of architects provides an opportunity to incorporate a new modus operandi with new forms of production. This paper proposes an alternative approach for human–computer interaction within the framework of discrete architecture – a topical production model for building components. The study relies on a collaborative and forward-thinking approach rather...
Cinematic composition plays a pivotal role in creating compelling visual storytelling and evoking emotional impact in filmmaking. With the emergence of game-engine-based filmmaking, directors can now explore and evaluate cinematic designs within a real-time 3D virtual environment. However, achieving creative outcomes remains a challenging task, as filmmakers must navigate vast 3D spaces and carefully manipulate virtual cameras to achieve their vision.Existing automated systems often fall short, producing either context-insensitive results or overly conventional designs that fail to...
Exploring emerging approaches at the peripheries of design towards resilient futures in a post-Anthropocene world
Issue Editors: Krity Gera (Royal College of Art, London) and Ashley Hall (RCA)
Read more about Call for Papers: Cubic Issue #10 – Peri-pheral Design