Playing energy landscapes: re-connecting scales and empowering architecture

Abstract

The climate crisis has heightened the relevance of architecture due to its substantial impact on energy consumption and carbon emission. However, such relevance is conveyed by means of simply numerical values that are derived from data and communicated through digital tools that cannot be examined or questioned. They become labels that frequently serve to certify that a particular abstract objective has been successfully accomplished. Such landscapes of energies flatten out any distinctions between architecture and urban environments. The article describes the development of a simulation game that defies this prevailing pattern. The game alludes to the historical legacy of simulation games centered around ecology and economy, while adopting a lighthearted and exploratory attitude towards data and energy. By engaging in gameplay, the simulation experience allows users to easily understand its mechanics while also reconnecting the different dimensions of architecture and the urban environment.