Hernan Diaz Alonso introduces Mark Gage by discussing the vital issue of the production and autonomy of form in relation to digital conditions. Diaz Alonso describes the capacity to think beyond process and methodology that enables the creation of visionary architecture.
Gage explains the dominant activities of architectural education are diagramming and programming, creating an attitude towards form that does not involve creating but rather assembling. Gage goes on to discuss that architecture has the tendency to use the computer to maximize efficiency. While empowering this is dangerous because it demands architecture to focus primarily on efficiency and optimization whereas he believes architecture’s role should go beyond that territory. Gage explains that the critique of process is not a new topic. Gage uses William Blake’s critique of Newton as an example of how scientific materialism can impede bigger issues of aesthetics and affect.
Gage goes on to explain his work in relation to the sublime, incorporating ideas of vastness. For the National Library of the Czech Republic competition Gage wanted to create the sense of vastness by incorporating various horizontal references such as unobstructed horizontal views that would showcase the horizon.
