Form follows technology is probably not what you think. It is not about design technology, or the technology that Architects use in their daily practice. Design technology refers to the various software and hardware tools that Architects use to conceive, develop, document, or manage their designs. No, the writing here is not about new design tools or new aesthetic forms.
It is also not about construction technology, or the technology used in the process of building. Construction technology refers to all the various materials, assemblies, equipment, systems, and processes that Architects and Contractors use in the actual building of things. I might step into some discussions about this, but it is not the focus.
Instead, this Substack focuses primarily on what I am calling end-user technology (ET), which is the technology du jour in both professional and personal use. With the term ET, I am specifically referencing the business technology (BT) used to drive building operations (e.g., IT, security, and building management systems) and the consumer technology used by people in their daily lives (e.g., smartphones, Google Maps, and the e-scooters in your neighborhood).
In the aviation industry where I work, designing for (not with) ET (most of which is digitally-native) is perhaps one of the most important design skills one can have as an architect. This is because ET drives almost every aspect of airport operations today and is a primary source of design innovation. It is also complex and can be a major disruptive factor in architectural design, architectural form, and the built environment in general. From one perspective, technology drives architecture.
From another perspective, technology has always driven architecture, even when you reference architecture’s mythical origins as told by Vitruvius. Technology is the means through which we as humans and a society get better, and so mastering the technology of today and assimilating it into our everyday lives is an inherent part of architectural thinking and practice.
However, having the skills to properly manage, innovate with, and integrate technology into architectural design is something that doesn’t get taught — it is learned on the job. As technology gets more complex and the digital world becomes our primary mode of experience, having the proper skills to master technology in design today is essential. I think it may even be necessary to keep architects from becoming obsolete.
In this context, I think I can help teach some of these skills, so I am going to write some things here that are hopefully useful to other architects and designers, as well as anyone involved in new development and capital improvements, especially at airports. This will include writing about technology, design thinking, new mental models, design innovation, airports and aviation, new building typologies, and maybe some other seemingly random things.
I’ll try to stay on task, but more importantly, I’ll try to make it worth your time. In any case, welcome to Form Follows Tech.