Daniel Kaplan - Portail documentaire du Ministère de l'Ecologie

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Design
The fact that design has been characterized by
an arrow pointed from virtual to physical space,
does not imply that the latter is seen as being simply
impacted upon, leave alone determined by virtual
space. Design rather means a search for new spatial
(planning) concepts, inspired by ICT.
Since we set out earlier on a search for new
spatial planning concepts [Drewe, 1988], some
progress has been made [Drewe 2000b]. The
findings to date can be summarized as follows.
ICT constitutes a paradigm challenge that still
meets with resistance from practitioners. This is,
among others, related to the fact that there is no
direct link between ICT and spatial structure and
that the spatial impacts of the new technology still
involve a high level of uncertainty.
The main challenge is how to organize
complexity in contrast to existing spatial concepts.
Organized complexity means thinking in terms of
multiple options rather an either/or solutions.
Networks are the central concept, in line with
the urbanism of networks, which is based on
network thinkers in the history of urbanism as
opposed to the mainstream of zonal thinkers. The
network urbanism encompasses all kind of urban
technology networks to which ICT is just the most
recent addition. ICT and urban form is no longer an
abstraction. There are emergent concepts such as
the integrated metropolis. There are also quite a few
classics that can provide a source of inspiration for
the 21 st century. But the emerging pattern language
of electronic connections must tie in seamlessly to
the pattern language for physical connections.
A design studio has been created, dedicated to
the “Network City” : http://www.networkcity.nl The
approach adopted is one of design-oriented
research aiming at possible futures as design can
Paul Drewe
demonstrate and visualize what could be. The
future urban agglomeration is one of the test-beds.
An integrated planning of land use and urban
technology including ICT- needs to be developed.
And urban ICT initiatives are to be stimulated as reallife
experiments. There is a wide range of possibilities.
Of special importance are those initiatives that target
the least-connected citizens to prevent them from
“falling through the net” [Drewe, Fernandez-
Maldonado and Hulsbergen, 2001].
Conclusion
As said before, ICT constitutes a paradigm
challenge that meets with resistance from practitioners
such as urbanists or spatial planners,
specialized in physical space. Yet it cannot be denied
any longer that the non-physical information space
or virtual space is expanding rapidly. This even gives
rise to hypes, myths and misleading (spatial)
metaphors.
Exploring the interactions of the physical and
virtual space is a course of action midway between
extremes. Visualization is closest to the traditional
trade whereas online planning/ design is already
much more demanding. Both interactions start
from the more familiar physical space.
Moving to virtual space interacting with
physical space, analysis and design (as they have
been defined here) require a considerable dose of
innovativeness. In particular design the creation of
new spatial concepts inspired by ICT is vital in
reasserting the grounding powers of the traditional
art of physical design.
If ICT is not taken seriously and not dealt with
professionally by practitioners, at the end of the day,
Kohlhaas will be proven right in calling urbanism “a
bastion of the denial of reality”.