Navigating Between the Material and the Digital

Multisensory teaching in architecture

Abstract

The evolution of spatial representation in architecture has been transformed by the advent of computing. Digital platforms have enabled designers to accurately represent space in 2D and 3D dimensions, integrating visual and temporal elements. In education, physical-digital models have become effective pedagogical tools to represent and manipulate architectural spaces. In this context, it immerses students in design through technological environments, facilitating graphic exploration and mastery of digital tools. Students acquire skills to build 2D and 3D models, optimising spatial production and communication with digital systems. This work highlights the pedagogical advantages of physical-digital models in spatial education. They allow a synchronic and diachronic investigation of space, facilitating the comparison of scales and variables, and the drawing of conclusions. The methodology is structured in three blocks: CAD systems and construction of 2D objects, 3D modelling and printing, and concepts of infoarchitecture and post-production. The teaching combines theory and practice in workshops, promoting autonomous development. These models become research tools that enrich the understanding of architectural space, contributing to collective knowledge for generations to come.