Rethinking the Diagram: From Mechanism to Affective Surfaces

Abstract

In architectural history, the diagram is framed as a productive mechanism enabling the
spatial formation of thought. Deleuze’s reading of the diagram as a fluid, operational surface
and Vidler’s definition of it as a temporal, abstract machine expand the concept beyond
conventional representation. Today’s architectural landscape and contemporary urban issues
emphasize the affective components of urban experiences within this theoretical framework,
such as intensity, tension, and memory. This paper introduces the concept of affective
diagrammatic surfaces, arguing that the diagram evolves beyond organizing formal relations
into a critical surface that reveals the affective registers embedded in spatial encounters. The
evolving role of the diagram is discussed in this paper in line with key theoretical precedents
within architectural discourse. The methodology is based on a critical literature
review and theoretical analysis. Ultimately, the paper proposes a contemporary theoretical
framework that repositions diagram theory within an affective context and highlights its
relevance for interpreting spatial experience.