Architecture on Digital Flatland: Opportunities for Presenting Architectural Precedence

The importance of precedent-based learning in architecture is well recognised by education researchers. Therefore, attention needs to be paid to the sources of building information and their presentation. This paper provides an overview of a research project that deals with the delivery of information of notable buildings specifi cally on computer screen for the purpose of accessibility to the wider public in general, and architectural students in particular. The paper highlights the critical need to reassess the effectiveness of current available publications. Apart from their traditional print format, architectural publications of design precedents are also swiftly advancing into the digital platform. This platformis potential to contribute to in-depth learning within the discipline has to be explored and exploited. This paper describes an illustrative prototype digital interactive system that explores the potential of visual content and digital capabilities to showcase and present architecture on digital “flatland.i It adopts Murcutt, Lewin and Larkis, The Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre in New South Wales, Australia for the model, while outlining the aims, process, and considerations for its implementation. Finally, it reports on a general assessment of responses from a focus group.