Natural Intelligence: Criticizing Architecture in the Digital Age

Abstract

We are currently living in the post-fourth industrial revolution era where digitalism and machine learning dominate our everyday ecology. Within architectural education, students are developing different digital techniques to express their projects in terms of plans, sections, elevations, and 3D models. Yet, with all this advanced level of information, there is a gap when it comes to critical thinking. This paper aims to put forward the foundational steps towards analyzing and criticizing architecture with the addition of a human perspective to consider the natural surroundings’ intelligence in the design morphology, materiality, and fabrication that is subject to digital infrastructure. The objective is to highlight the students' cognitive skills reinforced with digital thinking as a way to move further steps ahead of the trending market.