The context of context

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the role of adaptation in architectural practice, both as an integral part of the design process and an identifiable quality in the final product. It questions context analysis for architecture, following a systematic approach with references drawn from robotics, biology and social studies. The approach is guided by the concepts and theories of cybernetics, in order to explore a plan to traverse the complexities and uncertainties of the contemporary city. Reassessing the construct of the architectural system, exploratory probing is conducted based on a review of contemporary literature and relevant examples from the architectural field that question the role and extent of context within these systems. In light of this, the relationships and connections of the system are reinterpreted and analysed through framed arguments exploring the potential of context as a computational platform for architectural systems, the emergent intelligence from being in the context, the perspective of the users in informing the system, and reflecting the multi-layered nature of architecture's responsibilities in the organisation of the system. On the basis of such arguments and the principles extracted from each, a plan for thinking and questioning adaptivity m architecture is proposed. This is proposed as a flexible layered theoretical methodology towards a more holistic approach to adaptivity in architecture, with addresses the socio cultural values as well as the technical and tangible values that pertain to architecture.