Cognitive Activities in Architectural Design

The advent of the digital age has opened up a new dimension at the intersection of human cognitive capacity and the architectural design process. This chapter explores the impact of information retrieval on architectural design by introducing the Design Information model. It looks at the specifics of the information retrieval process. The chapter proposes knowledge construction as a theoretical basis for information retrieval in architectural design. It discusses general information-seeking behaviors observed in the literature and puts them into perspective with the specificities of the design process. The chapter focuses on the current state of research into information retrieval in architecture. It examines the crucial role played by tools in the design process. Similarities with knowledge generation can be found in Gero's function behavior structure ontology. Parametric design is a prime example of the changes taking place not only in digital tools, but also in thinking processes.