Conceptual and physical models for the course on History of Structures and Construction

Abstract

This article compares -from an analytical point of view- the use of a scale model and the scientific model in the works of the subject on History of Structures and Construction, using recent experiences in the subject on Computer Tools in Architecture. The scientific modeling of an object or phenomenon is a translation to a formal language that can be operated universally, where the model is a simplified representation of a complex entity or process. While the scaled model and the model represent parts and their relationships, the differences lie in the modes and in the specific translation techniques of the object under analysis. The dilemma that emerges is whether innovation requires a restructuring of the translation of the objects under analysis, and which of the two learning tools has more meaning for students, the scaled model or the model.