The Archive as a Dynamic Entity: an Interactive Concept Map for Architectural Projects

Abstract

The concept of an archive has undergone considerable evolution over time, transforming itself from a simple repository of memory into a dynamic and versatile tool capable of actively interacting with society. From a place for storing information organized chronologically or by type, the archive has become an essential cultural, political, and social resource for research and knowledge. This transformation reflects a profound change in the archive, which is now conceived not only as a means of recovering historical memory, but also as an operational basis for contemporary design.
In this context, the proposal for a dynamic and interactive archive enhanced by artificial intelligence offers an innovative perspective. Designed as an online portal, these archives offer a fluid and multifaceted exploration experience, accessible through two-dimensional and three-dimensional modes. Users can dynamically navigate within a 3D virtual space, interacting with 20th-century architectural content, presented both in high-resolution digital form (2D) and as three-dimensional models, accessible via virtual reality or desktop.
The archive uses complex algorithms and artificial intelligence to adjust the layout of the works within the 3D environment, creating variable configurations based on specific parameters, such as keywords or search areas. With the help of a simple activator, it is possible to switch between 2D and 3D views, revealing further aesthetic and exploratory possibilities.
This methodological approach, based on 2.0 interactions, also offers the possibility of integrating new technologies, such as augmented reality or crowdsourcing mechanisms, in the future. In this way, the archive could evolve autonomously, fueled by collective participation and artificial intelligence management, giving rise to a constantly expanding and self-organizing organism.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.34.2025.29