From mathematical truth to a crisis of trust. Architectural visualisations and visual (dis)trust

The development of computer-generated visualisations over the past 50 years appears to have followed a trajectory typical of most new technologies. The 1980s and 1990s marked a period of experimentation aimed at achieving photorealis­tic effects – marked by hope and futuristic visions on the one hand, but also by concerns about preserving the role of the architect-artist on the other. The development of CAD software facilitated architects’ work, addressing challenges related to scaling and marking corrections. In the system of neoliberal capitalism, patterns have stabilised, resulting in the proliferation of architectural offices and the reinforcement of the role of investor-developers. A photorealistic style of visualisation, portraying an aestheticised reality, has become the dominant model, in line with the trend of so-called capitalist realism, while also reflecting a current crisis of trust in images. However, alternative solutions can be found, such as a return to architectural drawings, exemplified by Paweł Floryn, or provocative approaches, as seen in Łukasz Wojciechowski’s non-commercial visualisations illustrating an alternative history. The history of visualisation and its relationship to architectural illustration are examined here through the lens of visual trust, with a particular focus on the architectural milieu of Wrocław – a city with a strong tradition for new technologies, architectural drawing, and a spirit of contestation.