This thesis examines how designs based on a conjunction between craft and digital techniques may offer new possibilities for an architect or designer in contemporary practice. How is it relevant that what initially appear to be two distinct approaches to designing and making can be introduced to each other and coalesce to form a constructive attitude of mutually borrowed logic? The thesis champions the crafting of innovative design and the incorporation of digitally derived procedures that allow for globally efficient dissemination and malleability. Such procedures have occupied the practice of architecture and design for some time, giving rise to the current sobriquet of a 'post-digital age'. I propose that at this point in time we can usefully speculate on the relationship between physical making and computer-based production. Too often the stylistic overtures popularly attached to the terms 'digital' and 'craft' narrow our perception of what each term may encompass and how they are likely to manifest. Traditionally, digitally derived design practice is attributed the efficiency of a mathematically precise mode of operation - an oscillation between zeroes and ones that produces a universal logic of smoothly rendered forms. By contrast, 'craft' is often cast into the realm of amateurish making, complete with mistakes, dropped stitches, fingerprints or other traces of human fault that are understood as being charming in the context of handmade human endeavour yet fall short when measured against 'serious' artistic categories that include architecture, design and fine art. This thesis seeks to move beyond such accepted and somewhat polarised positions. First, the thesis offers clearer and more dynamic definitions of the terms 'craft' and 'digital', seeking the ability for each to hold fast to the inherent merits of their particular logic while also finding productive opportunities to integrate with each other. Second, the thesis examines how crafted production can combine with digital tools to offer a useful direction for contemporary design practice. Case studies of contemporary architects' and designers' works are drawn on to illustrate and make observations on the different relationships that the selected practitioners have discovered in their projects, all of which conjoin the conception and manifestation of digital craft. The case studies vary in scale from fabric and furniture production to large-scale installations of significant spatial effect, to entire architectural projects. The range is useful in discussing how the concept of digital craft in architecture can be re ad from various perspectives. This reflects the numerous ways in which digitally created design is used to realise crafted results and is mindful of the fact that architectural processes often follow technological innovation first practiced at more intimate scales such as in industrial design. It is also interesting to compare the idea of the more intimately scaled relationship that craft has traditionally held with architectural practice. Finally, the thesis will speculate upon future developments for the conjunction of digital craft in architecture and design, and will pose several questions for further discussion.

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[EN] In the first half of the 20th century, Mexico, India and Egypt, embarked in a process of cultural self-affirmation that will live its mark in their national architecture. These three countries are placed in regions with an architectural heritage for thousands of years that, unfortunately, they have been disrespected during the Western occupation. Far from a change taking place, the blind faith in Western culture made them embrace the international style that hardly could be accepted by the lack of technical adequacy and scarcity of economic resources. Against this background, three figures emerged that are the purpose for this study: Hassan Fathy, Juan O'Gorman y Balkrishna V. Doshi. These architects present parallel lives; located obstinately against the century of the specialization and committed to acting as a guard of the local traditions. These architects will try to achieve answers to the questions of architectural identity suitable to their new nations. An identity which modernity is based on the local tradition and the technology adapted to the level of development of their countries and appropriable for their beneficiaries. The study tries to demonstrate the degree of affinity of their discourses, despite the apparent distance of their homelands. We will focus on the strategies to confront those common problems that they found in the course of their works. These strategies will form a common catalogue of architecturally applicable solutions in developing countries who try to reach the benefits of globalization without giving up their cultural roots. / [ES] En la primera mitad del siglo XX, México, India y Egipto, se embarcaron en un proceso de autoafirmación cultural que tendrá su eco en la arquitectura nacional. Se trata de tres estados asentados en regiones con una herencia arquitectónica de miles de años que, lamentablemente, había sido denostada en una lucha de poder durante la ocupación occidental. Lejos de producirse un cambio, la fe ciega en occidente les hizo abrazar un estilo internacional que a duras penas podía ser aceptado por la falta de adecuación técnica y carestía de recursos económicos. Ante este panorama, surgieron las tres figuras que son objeto de estudio: Hassan Fathy, Juan O'Gorman y Balkrishna V. Doshi. Estos arquitectos presentan vidas paralelas; ubicadas tercamente a contracorriente en el siglo de la especialización y empeñadas en actuar como centinelas de las tradiciones locales. Los tres arquitectos tratarán de lograr respuestas a las cuestiones de identidad arquitectónica dentro de sus naciones embrionarias. Una identidad cuya modernidad se base en la tradición local y la tecnología apropiada al nivel de desarrollo de sus países natales y apropiable por sus beneficiarios. El estudio pretende demostrar el grado de afinidad de sus discursos, pese a la lejanía aparente de sus países de origen. Se incidirá sobre sus estrategias para afrontar aquellos problemas comunes que se encontraron en el ejercicio de su profesión. Estas estrategias configurarán un catálogo común de soluciones arquitectónicas aplicables en países en vías de desarrollo que pretendan alcanzar los beneficios de la globalización sin renunciar a sus orígenes. / [CAT] En la primera meitat del segle XX, Mèxic, Índia i Egipte, es van embarcar en un procés d'autoafirmació cultural que tindrà el seu ressò en l'arquitectura nacional. Es tracta de tres estats assentats en regions amb una herència arquitectònica de milers d'anys que, lamentablement, havia estat injuriada en una lluita de poder durant l'ocupació occidental. Lluny de produir-se un canvi, la fe cega en occident els va fer abraçar un estil internacional que amb prou feines podia ser acceptat per la falta d'adequació tècnica i carestia de recursos econòmics. Davant aquest panorama, van sorgir les tres figures que són objecte d'estudi: Hassan Fathy, Juan O'Gorman i Balkrishna V. Doshi. Aquests arquitectes presenten vides paral·leles; situades tossudament a contracorrent al segle de l'especialització i obstinades a actuar com a sentinelles de les tradicions locals. Els tres arquitectes tractaran d'aconseguir respostes a les qüestions d'identitat arquitectònica dins de les seves nacions embrionàries. Una identitat moderna basada en la tradició local i la tecnologia apropiada al nivell de desenvolupament dels seus països natals i apropiable pels seus beneficiaris. L'estudi pretén demostrar el grau d'afinitat dels seus discursos, malgrat la llunyania aparent dels seus països d'origen. S'incidirà sobre les seves estratègies per afrontar aquells problemes comuns que es van trobar en l'exercici de la seva professió. Aquestes estratègies configuraran un catàleg comú de solucions arquitectòniques aplicables en països en vies de desenvolupament que pretenguin aconseguir els beneficis de la globalització sense renunciar als seus orígens. / Artola Dols, S. (2015). VIDAS PARALELAS: HASSAN FATHY, JUAN O'GORMAN Y BALKRISHNA DOSHI. Paralelismos y divergencias a través de sus obras y teorías sobre arquitectura en el contexto postcolonial [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/59435 / TESIS

This thesis uses the lens of building technology to examine cultural exchange and its relationship to the building crafts. By focusing on masonry vaulting in India, my research brings together two worlds – one that shines light on the variety of innovative masonry shell construction techniques that exist in the county and another that seeks to evaluate the scope of tile vaulting, an over 600-year old Mediterranean building technique, within India’s evolving building crafts culture. This thesis is organized in three parts: PART ONE Tile Vaulting and Relevance Today | A Brief History of Masonry Shells in India Part one introduces tile vaulting’s unique principles compared to other vaulting traditions while contextualizing its relevance to present day India. A survey of varied masonry vaulting techniques and modules, endemic and imported, practiced across India is presented against the backdrop of what is a predominantly reinforced concrete-based construction industry. PART TWO Modules, Methods and Motivations The second part of this research comprises case studies that include some of India’s most iconic buildings such as the Villa Sarabhai by Le Corbusier, the National Institute of Design by Gautam Sarabhai and Sangath by B.V. Doshi, each of which employed innovative construction techniques for its vaults. The production and use of the enigmatic ceramic fuses in India is examined for the first time alongside their indigenous cousins: burnt clay tubes. Together with Muzaffarnagar vaulting, the case studies reveal cultural motivations for architectural expression and production in postcolonial India. PART THREE Prototypes | Comparatives | Limitations & Extension of Research Part three presents five tile vaulting prototypes in India constructed with local artisans to gain understanding of its cultural reception, assess effective transfer of skills and potential internalisation. Recommendations for tile vaulting’s potential uptake into mainstream architectural production is evaluated by comparing findings against prevalent building methods and by contextualizing current architectural trends and social policy. Limitations and scope for extension of research are also discussed.