Digital Diagram: Diagram Functioning As "Abstract Machine" In Architectural Design

"Diagram"is the main instrument both in contemporary architectural discourse and practice, while the domestic discourse still has some misunderstanding about"diagram". This paper begins with articulating the concept of"diagram", introducing the origin and development of the theory of diagram and its historic applications. At the end, introduce a series of experimental designs which were aimed to explore the possibility that diagram could bring into architectural design.Peter Eisenman claimed that diagram is historically understood in two ways: as an explanatory device and as a generative device. This paper talks much about the generating function of the diagram, the concept of which was endowed by G·Deleuze and M·Foucault. When used as an explanatory device, the diagram functions to represent some latent relationship or organization. In the history of architecture, when new diagram emerged, it always meant some transformation in the representation. From the 1970s, pioneered by Eisenman's automatism, there was a desire to be free from representation. Diagram became their best instrument. Deleuze defined it as: Abstract Machine, neither Visible nor Articulable, which enables both visible structure and articulable content. Deleuze set forth this concept by giving an example: the work of Francis Bacon (painter). In the architectural field, we can find similar attempt in Peter Eisenman's and Rem Koolhaas'work.Influenced by the Complexity theory and the computer science, contemporary avant-gardes developed their own working method, merging Deleuze's diagram concept with digital technology. In this way they redefined the diagram to be topology, simulating environment and genetic algorithm, which contains generative possibilities. Inherit much from their work, we defined a set of"Digital Diagram"design method, and in order to try out the feasibility of this method started a series of design experiments. The process include: 1. Site analysis: To obtain relative parameters 2.Set up parametrical model. 3. Visualize the model to a 3D configuration. These three steps linked logically, repelled all subjective opinions, making the project a self produce process.In the end of the paper, a conclusion is drawn out to claim that although the diagram method being explored so far has its own limitation, undeniably, the method has bring architectural design into a whole new field. It will leads to a great expansion in our architectural knowledge.