Is Architecture the Blueprint or the Building?

Is architecture the blueprint or the building?

When we talk about “architecture,” specifically digital architecture, what exactly are we talking about?

Software architecture? Data architecture? Cloud architecture? What’s the difference?

With traditional building architecture, we have a blueprint and a resulting structure. Is this a fair analogy for digital architecture?

If we follow that thinking, what are the “blueprints” and “structures” in digital architecture?

If a blueprint for a building serves a dual purpose in the design and ongoing maintenance of the structure, what’s the digital equivalent?

Can we even “see” the digital structures we create and maintain?

Is the design process as critical for digital architectures as it is in the physical realm?

Are what we call “artifacts” the digital equivalent of a blueprint for a building?

What artifacts do we employ in the design and maintenance digital architecture?

Are these artifacts a means to describe the architecture, or are they the architecture in themselves?