Abstract
Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD) has produced three types and three generations of CAAD researchers, teachers and practitioners. The three types – CAAD inventors, implementers and users – benefit from the constantly improving computer technology. The three generations – CAAD pioneers, trendsetters and educators are in a more difficult situation as the attitude towards, and the knowledge about, Computer Aided Architectural Design in the general public and in the professional community is unstable. To explore the impact of CAAD on physical reality and to discover future challenges, it is useful to look at the pioneers of CAAD, as they often combine in one person the characteristics of the development that occurred afterwards. Tom Maver is one of the premier examples. The paper presents thoughts on CAAD teaching and research and contrasts them with the professional reality at ETH, in order to explore the impact of CAAD on the physical reality.
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