From Stone to Simulation

This chapter examines the historical progression of architectural tools, emphasizing their epistemological impact on design thinking and authorship. It begins with the embodied practices of prehistoric and classical construction, where design and making were inseparable, before tracing the gradual abstraction introduced by geometry, linear perspective, and the Renaissance separation of architect from builder. The narrative follows the development of descriptive geometry, mechanical drawing devices, and the rise of standardized representation, leading to the invention of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) in the mid-20th century. CAD is presented not as a digital replacement for drawing but as a transformation in epistemology, shifting architecture toward computational abstraction and parametric thinking. The chapter then analyzes Building Information Modeling (BIM) as a further step, redefining design as an information-rich ontology and enabling simulation, integration, and lifecycle management. Finally, the rise of parametricism is discussed as a methodological revolution, moving from static representation to algorithmic variability and adaptive systems. The chapter concludes by situating these evolutions as precursors to today’s AI-driven design, where tools actively participate in reasoning, simulation, and generative exploration.