Tactile Futures

Delve into how architects are bridging the gap between time-honoured craftsmanship and high-tech design to uncover new possibilities for the built environment

- Yaiza Canopoli

From parametric design tools to the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), architecture appears to be moving in a digitised direction. Hand-drafted sketches and other ‘traditional’ design methods are becoming increasingly rare in the face of the convenience and precision of digital tools. On the flip side, many architects and designers find themselves drawn to a more ‘rustic’ approach, leaving these modern design tools untouched in favour of artisanal craftsmanship, raw materials and vernacular construction.

Where contemporary software and architectural innovation can doubtless speed up the design process and reduce human error by improving precision, low-tech architecture is still appreciated for its inherent sustainability, thoughtful localisation, and preservation of craftsmanship and culture.

These two approaches may appear to exist at opposite ends of the spectrum, but there is potential for them to complement and even enhance each other. Renowned architects and designers have been embracing a combination of the low-tech and the high-tech, including Kuala Lumpur-based Tan Loke Mun, principal of DrTanLM Architect, director of ArchiCentre, and founder of DTLM Design Group; Singaporebased Goy Zhenru, founder of Goy Architects; and Bali-based Elora Hardy, founder of Ibuku. Their groundbreaking projects meld tradition and innovation, uncovering new paths towards a more nuanced and sustainable future for the built environment.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

An architect’s arsenal of modern tools often depends on the typology of projects they undertake. Tan, for instance, points out that commercial and residential projects entail different considerations, with residential design usually requiring a more cost-efficient approach. He shares that design software assists the architect in executing a comfortable and functional home “without the need for high operating and maintenance costs”.