Architectural Transobjects

This text examines architectural objects as porous, open, dynamic entities inseparably entwined with their contexts—hence, transobjects. Drawing from contemporary computational design practice and theory (Object-Oriented Ontology, Speculative Realism), we argue that architectural form exists in continuous flux, shaped by a confluence of material, environmental, and cultural forces. Our method, Cybermodelling, integrates microsensors into physical “smart” models as analogue-digital interfaces to facilitate spatiomateriality—the reciprocal interplay of spatial and material properties—within computational processes. As a hybrid tool, Cybermodelling captures spatiomaterial flux to generate “live” computational transobjects that remain in constant dialogue with context; in doing so, these objects become semi-autonomous and adaptive, capable of responding dynamically to site conditions and performance cues. As a physical (smart) modelling interface, the approach prioritizes craftsmanship—wherein human haptic intelligence, physical making, and tacit knowledge foster an intuitive appreciation of material idiosyncrasies and agency necessary to articulate and individuate transobjects. Beyond morphological transitions, this methodology recognizes the designer as an participant in an active network of human, environmental, and computational agencies. Ultimately, Cybermodelling illustrates how responsive transobjects both shape—and are shaped by—their contextual environments, offering an intuitive, materially grounded paradigm for computational design.