The digital turn in architectural science: investigating the epistemological, sociological, and practical impacts of computational design theory

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

Grounded in scientific methods governed by the laws of physics, architectural science has historically relied on deterministic building physics. However, the integration of computational design and simulation has initiated a digital turn. While these tools offer opportunities for performance-driven design they introduce theoretical disruptions. This paper investigates this evolution across three dimensions: epistemological, sociological, and practical. First, it identifies an epistemological shift, examining how algorithmic interfaces function as black boxes that alienate designers from physical laws while enabling complex optimizations. Second, it highlights a sociological shift, where the democratization of simulation tools repositions architects as hybrid data curators. Third, it reveals a historical paradox in the algorithmic legitimation of vernacular knowledge. Ultimately, by bridging these theories with contemporary practice the paper advocates for an open black box pedagogy. This approach synthesizes computational literacy with empirical experience, calling for a post-digital, regenerative architectural science.