‘Hand and Machine’ Exhibition Explores Architects’ Shift From Analogue to Digital Practices

The Hands and Machines exhibition at the National Museum of Art, Architecture, and Design in Oslo, Norway, teaches visitors about the evolution of architecture. There will be a remarkable shift in architectural expression from analog to digital between 2008 and 2023. With the world's crises and technological advancements as their backdrop, architects traversed a path that redefined drawing, community involvement, and social relevance.

The Shifting Landscape: 2008 Financial Crisis as Catalyst

In addition to causing financial hardship, the 2008 financial crisis made architects reassess their lives. "Hand and Machine" highlights how architects turned back to analog techniques to cope with the fallout, encouraging group projects, community engagement, and a renewed emphasis on the local area.

Hand and Machine: A Fusion of Digital and Analogue

Joakim Skajaa, architecture curator at the National Museum, describes the exhibition's premise as a convergence of digital and handcrafted approaches. Capturing the essence of this fusion, the showcased architectural drawings blur the lines between traditional and modern methods. The exhibition's design, featuring immersive floor prints and abstractly arranged photographs by Max Creasy, offers visitors an intimate glimpse into architects' studios, emphasizing informality and playfulness.

Exploring Architectural Responses to Society

"Hand and Machine" brings together around 40 Norwegian and international architectural firms, united by a critical stance against the aesthetics derived solely from computers. The exhibited works from 2008 to 2023 manifest a deliberate departure from the early 2000s rendered architectural drawings, emphasizing seemingly hand-drawn and analog aesthetics. The drawings serve as a canvas for architects to express their craft and perspectives on politics, economics, and the climate crisis.

Aesthetic Turns Post-2008 Crisis

By tracing the architectural turn in response to the 2008 financial crisis, the exhibition prompts contemplation on aesthetics and methodology. The selected period represents a time of experimentation and reflection, where architects grappled with questions about their role in society, building designs, materials, and societal impact. The drawings become windows into these unresolved queries, sparking a larger discussion about the profession's trajectory.

A Diverse Array of Architectural Voices

Architectural firms featured in the exhibition include Atelier Adam Nathaniel Furman, Dyvik Kahlen Architects, Gartnerfuglen Arkitekter, Hesselbrand, Sam Jacob, LCLA OFFICE, OMMX, Point Supreme, Philipp Schaerer, Vardehaugen & Arkitekt, and more. Their varied experiences and specialties contribute to the rich tapestry of the exhibition, showcasing a spectrum from established practices to emerging talents.

Hand and Machine: A Question of Coexistence

Rather than framing manual and digital drawings as adversaries, "Hand and Machine" paints a narrative of coexistence. The exhibition acknowledges that most architects have traversed both realms, living in digital environments while preserving the tangible expression of hand-drawn elements. It challenges the rigid separation of analog and digital, inviting viewers to witness the emerging crossbred, ubiquitous, and evolved form.

"Hand and Machine" invites visitors to embark on a journey through architectural storytelling. The exhibition reflects on the profound shifts architects experienced in response to global crises, technological advancements, and the evolution of societal norms. The significance of manual drawings is not presented in opposition to digital tools but is celebrated as an authentic, unique, and essential part of architectural expression.