Foam/ soup bubble

"They are completely defined by the motif of no isolation which is to say the foam cell shares with its neighbor the fact that it is separate from it- my walls are your walls." Peter Sloterdijk, Sphere Theory, 2009 The sphere theory is quite striking to me that it sets up the fundamental question of parametric design: what is the spatial quality of the form generated by the digital data? In the field of parametric design, most of data collected will be quantified for the digital analysis; even data includes cultural values and collective memories. Thus many critics challenge on the spatial outcome that is generated by these generic codes. It seems to me that theoretically, the parametric design is truly reflected by the surrounding factors, but those projects focus on the formal strategies and different programmatic approaches with a large empty space… If architect is a spatial sculptor, where’s the design then? I think it should not be just the concerning of the internal spatial quality but the exterior space as well, like the foam. The whole universe is the foam, which every bubble is connected to each other with sharing walls. That’s the reason for the parametric design to concentrate on the relationship between exterior and interior rather than creating a spectacular internal space. They are focusing on the “wall” but not the “empty hole”. Photo above: the topology and dimension of foams are volatile throughout their formation, however their specific formal characteristics, generated through the negotiation of pressure and minimization of energy persists. Photo by Roland Snooks. Reference: _ Peter Sloterdijk, Harvard Design Magazine No. 30, spring/ summer 2009 _ Jonathan D. Solomon, Emily Abruzzo, Eric Ellingsen, Model: 306090 books vol.11