Anachronisms of Digital Fabrication in Architecture: Some Questions of Relevance

This paper takes a critical look at some of the anachronisms of digital fabrication (manufacturing) technologies in architectural discipline. The author raises questions of strategy, economy, societal impact, curricula, relevance, scale, innovation and affordability. The author observes that the late adoption and appropriation of digital fabrication technologies in architecture are anachronistic. By bringing these anachronisms to our attention, the paper hopes to enable constructive action to be taken in education, practice and research of digital fabrication technologies in architecture