Beyond Drawing: Algorithms, Scenarios, and the Ékphrasis of the Future City

The article analyses the evolution of representation tools in architectural design, from traditional drawing, to CAD to the information model in a BIM environment, to the integration of Visual Programming Environments (VPE). The article specifically focuses on the potential of the latter methodology and how VPEs can overcome the static nature of traditional representation. Through an algorithmic approach, VPEs make it possible to describe entire families of solutions, bringing them closer to the notion of èkphrasis. This approach is implemented here to manage the uncertainty and complexity of urban design, adapting to different conditions and approaching the needs of the ‘scenario-based design’ methodology. The paper describes the development of an algorithm that translates the design logic for defining urban-scale projects. This algorithm is applied to a case study in Turin, demonstrating how VPEs facilitat the definition of evolutionary scenarios and the tracing of a detailed ‘design history’. The article discusses limitations and opportunities of this approach, emphasising the role of design intuition. It concludes by highlighting future perspectives, with a focus on human-computer interaction and the impact of these methodologies in architectural and urban design.