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The Virtual ArchitectureIntroductionKen Sakamura

Leonardo da Vinci and many other architects were and are faced witharchitecture that could not be created with various information while the plan

was being decided upon - in other words illusional architecture. What are thedifferences between buildings that end up only as a sketch, and buildings that

are actually built?

There are many differences. There are also designs that are physicallyimpossible to achieve: these belong to pure fantasy. There are also designswhich though physically possible to achieve, do not overcome legal problems.Conversely, there may also be designs which although physically achievablehave little charm as architecture, and there may be designs which despitehaving sufficient charm and ability to be built, were not built because fundscould not be obtained. Some designs may have not been in favor with the powers

that be at the time, while some may have been avoided for religious reasons.

A deeper understanding of architecture may be obtained by looking at thearchitecture of this world and the next that was not actually built, rather

than looking at architecture that was actually built. With this in mind, the Virtual Architecture Exhibition was planned. However, in the course of time this exhibition develops towards an exhibitionplan that gives a general view of the relationship between architects andcomputers.

Computers make the impossible aspects of architecture possible. The mostdirect example is improving the capacity of computers in constructioncalculations. It is no exaggeration to say that computers have played a partin all recent breakthroughs brought about by new construction materials andnew construction methods.

A more indirect example is the impact of computers as a tool for theconceptions of architects. Using computers, it has become possible to handle

drawings freely not as incomplete two-dimensional images, but in theircomplete three-dimensional form. This has allowed architectural ideas to startto be made public which have complex multiple dimensional curved planes andwhich could not be brought together on paper. Thoughts and conceptions areoften restricted by tools. In other words, the computer has changed thearchitects framework of thought itself.

Now the boundary between conceptions and realization is beginning to be brokendown by computers. In the field of architecture, virtual reality technology is

currently being used to walk through and review the interiors of buildings

before they are constructed. However, technology which allows multiple users to participate and mutuallyuse virtual spaces using networks are no longer the realms of science fiction,

but are now becoming reality. That being the case, people will soon be able to

gather to carry out business, education and relaxation in virtual space. Whenthis happens, the design of such spaces in which people gather and mutuallyuse and help achieve the objectives may well enter the scope of architecture.

In such a virtual world such as that found within computers, it is also

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possible to achieve buildings that are physically impossible. Mutuallyconnective architecture that bulges that escape the constraints of gravity and

overcomes the constraints of Euclidean geometry.In this freedom which may also be described as complete, there are likely tobe differences between virtual buildings that end as conceptions, and virtualbuildings that are actually achieved and account for space on the network.

The original planned keyword "difference between the possible and theimpossible," is definitely one perspective for the understanding ofarchitecture. However, this "difference" is changing thanks to the advent ofthe computer. That being the case, making "the difference between the possible

and the impossible" a keyword, entails targeting the relationship betweenarchitecture and computers.

Buildings are now created first on the computer. All buildings, includingthose actually achieved, are now "virtual architecture."

Architecture that could not have been achieved without computers. Architecturewhose concept itself may be described as being made possible by the computer,and which would not have even been considered in the past. We will displaysuch architecture using a variety of display methods, including displays using

computers, while at the same time displaying the computer technology utilized

in such displays. By staging such a three-dimensional exhibition with thekeyword "the differences between the possible and the impossible" inarchitecture, we will attempt to depict what architecture is, the impactdevelopments in computer technology have had on architecture, and what thefuture holds for architecture.

Therefore, the decision was made to exhibit the Virtual ArchitectureExhibition in a two-part structure. The theme of the first part is "VirtualArchitecture as Illusional Architecture," and the theme of the second part isthe more general "Virtual Architecture as Architecture which has a StrongConnection with Computers."

Fortunately, the theme of the relationship between architecture and computersseems to be a theme of great concern to architects, and our calls were able to

secure the support of architects at the forefront of their field in both Japanand overseas. Thanks to these architects this special exhibition was anextremely interesting exhibition which brought together the most dynamicaspects in the world of architecture today. We are sincerely thankful for this

support.