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The common use of the conjunction
“and” in their respective titles is not a coincidence. I purposely try to broaden
and add depth to my understanding of architecture by drawing such connections,
even as some may seem incongruent or at best tangential upon first blush. A consistent goal of mine
has been to construct a narrative about architecture’s multifaceted nature,
to explore it holistically and from as many perspectives as possible in the
pursuit of greater truths.
I have long wanted to believe there
is an objective and all-encompassing formula or theory underlying the
production of architecture—essentially an architectural “theory of everything.”
I want to find a recipe for (in the words of philosopher Ken Wilber) a “radical
wholeness.” Perhaps Christopher Alexander has come closest to achieving this goal. He was notable for
articulating the “patterns of life” necessary to creating a sense of well-being
and connection to the natural world in the places where we live and work. I do generally
subscribe to Alexander’s vision of a living world and his notions of order and
wholeness in design. Nikos Salingaros is another thinker I know of who believes elemental rules exist
that govern generative patterns linking architectural and urban forms to human sensibilities.
Whether expressed as patterns or generative rules, it is the importance of
understanding the connections between elements within and without a design that
stands out. Fundamentally, architecture is intertwined with systems thinking.
The world is unimaginably
complex. Systems thinking emphasizes viewing systems as wholes rather than
merely the sum of their parts. Such an outlook—which is imperative if we are to
adequately tackle the immense challenges confronting our species—acknowledges
the existence of adaptive processes that evolve and change over time. In
architectural terms this means recognizing the interconnectedness of various
systems, whether natural or made by humans, so that architects can design
buildings that are harmonious with their surroundings and more resilient and
adaptable to changing conditions.
Many consider architecture to
be a discrete field of study. To the credit of the profession, architects tend
to think otherwise. This comes as a default condition, as architects are trained to see the big picture and most often charged with responsibility for organizing and
managing the overall production of a suitable response to a given design
problem. Architects are the generalists, while others on the design team are
necessarily more narrowly focused and ensconced within the silos of their respective
disciplines. Architects innately seek connections with and inspiration from the
greater context of human dwelling and life on this planet.
