Decentralized Participation and Agency in Digital Art and Architecture, An Exploration of Pixel and Voxel-Based Case Studies: Collaborative Objects and Cultural Production

This paper investigates the evolution of participatory approaches in digital architecture and art, from the early stages of Web 2.0 to the emerging Web 3.0 landscape. By examining three pixel-based projects - The Million Dollar Homepage, Reddit's r/place, and the Poietic Generator - the study highlights the diverse outcomes and potentials of collaborative creativity when different conceptual choices are made. Drawing insights from these projects, a case study is presented, extending the principles from 2D pixel-based projects to a 3D voxel-based framework for participatory digital architecture. This case study demonstrates the importance of strategic conceptual decisions in shaping the realization of collective forms and provides valuable insights into questions of authorship and open-ended design. As the paper looks forward to the integration of Web 3.0 and blockchain technologies, it speculates on the potential for decentralized participatory applications and the future of collaborative creativity within architecture and beyond. The paper ultimately advocates for a more open, inclusive, and collaborative approach to cultural production that values individual contributions, fosters local collaborations, and avoids the formation of power structures.