Futurism and Parametricism: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

Abstract

Many times the vertiginous technological progress which currently involves our society complicates the task of being able to analyse the origin of things. The aim of the present article is to try to embody how the incursion of the brand new digital tools surrounding us in the field of the architectural representation and conception has taken place. The origin of this phenomenon could go back as early as the beginning of the 1970s, when all the knowledge generated by Norman Wiener (1894--1964) about Cybernetics took roots in the most experimental architecture fields. Later, Deconstructivist architectural experiences were the breeding ground for the current trend that defends this matter, incorporating the tools and languages of the machine world into all architectural fields. Known as Parametricism, it would be interesting to ask oneself about the historical sources which lead to this new movement. Futurism and Parametricism, beside their references to technology, present some similarities. Taking into account their relatively historical closeness and analysing both movements in depth, it could be claimed that Parametricism theoretical framework is grounded on some features belonging to Futurism.