Reframing Descriptive Geometry in the Digital Era

Abstract

The relationship between descriptive geometry and architecture is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by both the increasing complexity of contemporary architectural demands and the evolution of digital tools. Each technological era – from traditional descriptive geometry through 2D CAD, 3D modelling, computational design, to emerging AI approaches – has fundamentally altered the way geometry is accessed, conceptualised, and manipulated. These transformations have led to the development of new cognitive frameworks for spatial thinking. This article examines this transformation through two complementary analyses. First, it investigates how different technological eras have redefined the medium through which architects engage with geometry, focusing on how these shifts in medium have transformed cognitive mechanisms from projection-based reasoning to algorithm-based thinking and, more recently, to natural language interaction. Second, the article identifies descriptive geometry's evolving roles in contemporary architectural practice, research, and education, revealing both invariant principles that persist regardless of technological mediums and new geometric competencies required by contemporary architectural challenges. The analysis demonstrates that descriptive geometry represents not a fixed operational methodology but
an evolving framework for spatial reasoning that transcends specific technological implementations. This contributes to the ongoing dialogue about geometric literacy in the computational age.