Architecture in the age of digital representation: Space as a photogenic and homogenized object of consumption

Abstract

Digital representation tools transform not only how architectural projects are presented but also how architectural form is produced and evaluated. Contemporary architecture, shaped by render aesthetics, the economy of visual appreciation, and digital circulation networks, increasingly turns space into a field interpreted through representation.

This study critically examines the effects of a digital representation-oriented design approach on architectural form, energy performance, and spatial experience. The weakening of the relationship between form-related decisions driven by digital aesthetics and functional, environmental, and contextual criteria is addressed as the main problem.

The research adopts a qualitative approach based on theoretical literature on digital representation, architectural form, and the relationship between form and energy, together with selected architectural examples from different scales and contexts. The analyses show that transparent, fluid, and iconic forms idealized in digital representations often correspond to increased energy consumption, higher maintenance costs, and spatial comfort problems under real conditions.

Despite differences in geography and building typology, similar environmental and spatial issues recur in the examined examples. This situation indicates a structural production logic shaped by digital representation aesthetics rather than isolated design preferences.

This study contributes to architectural literature by demonstrating that digital representation functions not only as an aesthetic preference but also as a design driver influencing environmental performance and sustainability. By reconsidering the relationship between architectural form and energy performance, the study provides an analytical ground for discussing the environmental and ethical responsibilities of architecture in the age of digital representation.

Keywords: Digital Representation, Architectural Form, Render Aesthetics, Energy and Raw Material Use