Table Of ContentPHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCE AND
ADVANCED COMPUTATION IN
ARCHITECTURAL THEORY
This book presents a new take on the evolution of digital design theories in
architecture from modernity to today, as they have been inspired both by con-
temporary philosophy and the emergence and access to advanced computation.
It focuses on how concepts of difference in philosophy transformed architectural
design theory and takes on even more significance with the introduction and
ubiquitous use of computers within the discipline, changing the architectural
design paradigm forever.
Beginning with a presentation of American Pragmatism’s push towards pro-
cess, the book continues on to Husserl’s influence on the modern movement,
mid-century phenomenology, post-structuralist Derridean exchanges with ar-
chitects, the Deleuzian influence on the smoothing of form and finally contem-
porary architectural references to speculative realism.
Analyzing the arc of design theory as influenced by philosophical and com-
putational logics, this book presents the transformation to contemporary de-
sign approaches that includes more biology, more data and more information,
moving from “less is more” to “From Less to More!” Philosophical Difference and
Advanced Computation in Architectural Theory is an influential read for students
and academics of architectural theory, computational design and related areas.
Jefferson Ellinger is an Associate Professor and Director of the Design Com-
putation program (DesComp) in the School of Architecture and an affiliation
faculty member in the School of Data Science at the University of North Car-
olina at Charlotte. Ellinger is a partner in Fresh Air Building Systems (FABS)
in New York, dedicated to researching and designing next-generation building
systems. Ellinger is founding partner of research design practice StudioLNGR,
and was a finalist in the MoMA PS1 Young Architects competition program.
PHILOSOPHICAL
DIFFERENCE
AND ADVANCED
COMPUTATION IN
ARCHITECTURAL
THEORY
From Less to More
Jefferson Ellinger
First published 2022
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 Jefferson Ellinger
The right of Jefferson Ellinger to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised
in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to
infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Ellinger, Jefferson, author.
Title: Philosophical difference and advanced computation in architectural theory : from
less to more / Jefferson Ellinger.
Description: New York : Routledge, 2021. | Includes bibliographical references and
index. | Summary: “This book presents a new take on the evolution of digital design
theories in architecture from modernity to today, as they have been inspired both by
contemporary philosophy and the emergence and access to advanced computation. It
focuses on how concepts of difference in philosophy transformed architectural design
theory and takes on even more significance with the introduction and ubiquitous use
of computers within the discipline, changing the architectural design paradigm forever.
Beginning with a presentation of American Pragmatism’s push towards process, the
book continues on to Husserl’s influence on the modern movement, mid-century
phenomenology, post-structuralist Derridean exchanges with architects, the Deleuzian
influence on the smoothing of form, and finally contemporary architectural references
to speculative realism. Analyzing the arc of design theory as influenced by philosophical
and computational logics, this book presents the transformation to contemporary design
approaches that includes more biology, more data and more information, moving
from ‘less is more’ to ‘From Less to More!’ Philosophical Difference and Advanced
Computation in Architectural Theory is an influential read for students and academics of
architectural theory, computational design and related areas”—Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021015418 (print) | LCCN 2021015419 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780367554286 (hardback) | ISBN 9780367554279 (paperback) |
ISBN 9781003193821 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Architecture—Philosophy. | Difference (Philosophy) |
Computer-aided design.
Classification: LCC NA2500 .E465 2021 (print) |
LCC NA2500 (ebook) | DDC 720.1—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021015418
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021015419
ISBN: 978-0-367-55428-6 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-55427-9 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-19382-1 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003193821
Typeset in Bembo
by codeMantra
For Amanda
CONTENTS
List of Figures ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xv
Introduction 1
1 Difference in Architecture 18
2 Reject Difference 31
3 Reductive Difference 53
4 Deconstructive Difference 73
5 Differentiation 95
6 Multiplicity and the Heterogeneous 121
7 Synthetic Difference 146
Bibliography 155
Index 161
FIGURES
2.1 Sullivan tower diagram 32
2.2 Husserl’s phenomenological method 39
2.3 A simulation of Gaudi’s hanging chain model 41
2.4 The loftsmen’s duck weights for physical splines 43
2.5 Thompson’s fish morphology 44
2.6 Le Corbusier’s Maison Dom-Ino 45
2.7 Palladio’s eleven villa plans with a potential Twelfth Ideal villa 47
2.8 Mies van der Rohe’s 50 × 50 house 48
2.9 Palladio’s eleven villa plans with a potential twelfth ideal villa
axonometric 49
2.10 Highlighted differences found in Palladio’s eleven villa plans
and the twelfth ideal villa with the difference rejected 50
3.1 Heidegger’s tool analysis 57
3.2 Postmodern collage 59
3.3 Diagram of Robert Venturi’s Vanna Venturi House 62
3.4 Diagram of Christopher Alexander’s Difference between a
Tree and City 65
3.5 Bézier’s curve 66
4.1 Tschumi’s Parc de la Villette 76
4.2 Structure of Language Bullseye 80
4.3 Example of a formal deconstructivist architecture diagram 83
4.4 Diagram of the procedure for Eisenman’s House III 85
4.5 Diagram of Peter Eisenman’s Wexner Center 88
5.1 Palladian differences 97
5.2 Representation of a differential equation 99
