The Autopoiesis of Architecture, Volume II : A New Agenda for Architecture

This is the second part of a major theoretical work by Patrik Schumacher, which outlines how the discipline of architecture should be understood as its own distinctsystem of communication.Autopoeisiscomes from the Greek and means literally self–production; it was first adopted in biology in the 1970s to describe the essential characteristics of life as a circular self–organizing system and has since been transposed into a theory of social systems. This new approach offers architecture an arsenal of general comparative concepts. It allows architecture to be understood as a distinct discipline, which can be analyzed in elaborate detail while at the same time offering insightful comparisons with other subject areas, such as art, science and political discourse. On the basis of such comparisons the book insists on the necessity of disciplinary autonomy and argues for a sharp demarcation of design from both art and engineering. Schumacher accordingly argues controversially that design as a discipline has its ownsui generisintelligence with its own internal logic, reach and limitations. Whereas the first volume provides the theoretical groundwork for Schumacher s ideas focusing on architecture as an autopoeitic system, with its own theory, history, medium and its unique societal function the second volume addresses the specific, contemporary challenges and tasks that architecture faces. It formulates these tasks, looking specifically at how architecture is seeking to organize and articulate the complexity of post–fordist network society. The volume explicitly addresses how current architecture can upgrade its design methodology in the face of an increasingly demanding task environment, characterized by both complexity and novelty. Architecture s specific role within contemporary society is explained and its relationship to politics is clarified. Finally, the new, global style of Parametricism is introduced and theoretically grounded. THE AUTOPOIESIS OF ARCHITECTURE 3 Contents 7 Introduction to Volume 2 13 6. The Task of Architecture 17 6.1 Functions 19 6.1.1 Functions versus Capacities 23 6.1.2 Substantial versus Subsidiary Functions 29 6.1.3 Tectonics 31 6.1.4 The Categorization of Function-types 34 6.1.5 Problem-types (Function-types) vs Solution-types (Archetypes) 36 6.1.6 Patterns of Decomposition/Composition 42 6.1.7 Functional Reasoning via Action-artefact Networks 44 6.1.8 Limitations of Functional Expertise 51 6.2 Order via Organization and Articulation 54 6.2.1 Organization and Articulation: Historical and Systematic 59 6.2.2 Architectural Order 64 6.2.3 A Definition of Organization for Contemporary Architecture 69 6.2.4 Complicated, Complex, Organized, Ordered 73 6.3 Organization 82 6.3.1 Relating Spatial to Social Organization 84 6.3.2 Territorialization and Integration 89 6.3.3 Systems, Configurations, Organizations 92 6.4 Supplementing Architecture with a Science of Configuration 100 6.4.1 Set Theory 100 6.4.2 Harnessing Network Theory 105 6.4.3 Excursion: Network Theory 111 6.4.4 A City is not a Tree 118 6.4.5 Space Syntax: Concepts and Tools of Analysis 124 6.4.6 Space Syntax: Theoretical Claims 137 6.4.7 From Organization to Articulation: Taking Account of Cognition 143 6.5 Articulation 146 6.5.1 Articulation vs Organization 146 6.5.2 The Problem of Orientation and the Problematic of Legibility 149 6.5.3 Articulate vs Inarticulate Organization 150 6.5.4 Articulation as the Core Competency of Architecture 151 6.5.5 Generalizing the Concept of Function 152 6.6 The Phenomenological vs the Semiological Dimension of Architecture 154 6.7 The Phenomenological Dimension of Architectural Articulation 157 6.7.1 The Perceptual Constitution of Objects and Spaces 159 6.7.2 Cognitive Principles of Gestalt-Perception 165 6.7.3 Parametric Figuration 177 6.8 The Semiological Dimension of Architectural Articulation 179 6.8.1 The Built Works of Architecture as Framing Communications 183 6.8.2 Analogy: Language and Built Environment as Media of Communication 188 6.8.3 Signs as Communications 193 6.8.4 Territory as Fundamental Semiological Unit 195 6.8.5 Saussure’s Insight: Language as System of Correlated Differences 201 6.8.6 Extra-Semiological Demands on Architecture’s Medial Substrate 205 6.8.7 Syntagmatic vs Paradigmatic Relations 208 6.9 Prolegomenon to Architecture’s Semiological Project 212 6.9.1 The Scope of Architecture’s Signified 213 6.9.2 The Composite Character of the Architectural Sign 218 6.9.3 Absolute and Relative Arbitrariness 222 6.9.4 Natural and Artificial Semiosis 227 6.9.5 Designing Architecture’s Semiological Project 234 6.9.6 Cognitive and Attentional Conditions of Architectural Communication 241 6.9.7 Speculation: Expanding the Expressive Power of Architectural Sign Systems 244 6.10 The Semiological Project and the General Project of Architectural Order 250 6.10.1 The Semiological Project in Relation to the Organizational and the Phenomenological Project 251 6.10.2 Relationship between Architectural Languages and Architectural Styles 256 6.10.3 The Requisite Variety of Architectural Articulation 258 7. The Design Process 263 7.1 Contemporary Context and Aim of Design Process Theory 266 7.2 Towards a Contemporary Design Process Reflection and Design Methodology 269 7.2.1 Method vs Process 270 7.3 The Design Process as Problem-solving Process 275 7.3.1 The Design Process as Information-processing Process 276 7.3.2 The Structure of Information-processing Systems 281 7.3.3 Programmes 284 7.3.4 The Task Environment and its Representation as Problem Space 289 7.3.5 Problem Solving as Search in a State Space 296 7.3.6 Planning Spaces 307 7.3.7 Heuristic versus Exhaustive Problem-solving Methods 310 7.4 Differentiating Classical, Modern and Contemporary Processes 323 7.5 Problem Definition and Problem Structure 330 7.5.1 Wicked Problems 331 7.5.2 The Structure of Ill-structured Problems 335 7.5.3 An Information-processing Model for Information-rich Design Processes 344 7.6 Rationality: Retrospective and Prospective 349 7.6.1 Rational in Retrospect: Observing Innovative Design Practice 353 7.6.2 Prospective Rationality 367 7.6.3 Processing the Three Task Dimensions of Architecture 370 7.7 Modelling Spaces 373 8. Architecture and Society 391 8.1 World Architecture within World Society 394 8.2 Autonomy vs Authority 397 8.3 Architecture’s Conception of Society 402 8.3.1 The Crisis of Modernism’s Conception of Society 406 8.3.2 Social Systems Theory and the Theory of Architectural Autopoiesis 408 8.4 Architecture in Relation to other Societal Subsystems 410 8.4.1 Architecture In Relation to the Economic System 413 8.4.2 The Economy and the Design-Principle of Economy of Means 414 8.4.3 Economic Conditions of Architectural Discourse 418 8.4.4 Architecture and Education 419 8.5 Architecture as Profession and Professional Career 422 8.5.1 Authorship, Reputation, Oeuvre 423 8.5.2 Centre-periphery Differentiation within Architecture 426 8.5.3 The Absorption of Uncertainty 430 8.5.4 The Architectural Design Studio as Organization 432 8.6 The Built Environment as Primordial Condition of Society 434 8.6.1 The Built Environment As Indispensable Substrate of Social Evolution 435 8.6.2 From Spatial Order to Conceptual Order 438 8.6.3 Beauty and the Evolution of Concepts of Order 446 9. Architecture and Politics 451 9.1 Is Political Architecture Possible? 452 9.1.1 Political Vacuum 453 9.1.2 Normal vs Revolutionary Politics 457 9.2 Theorizing the Relationship between Architecture and Politics 460 9.2.1 The Incommensurability of Architecture and Politics 460 9.2.2 Architecture Responds to Political Agendas – Three Scenarios 462 9.2.3 Service Provisions Between Architecture and Politics 465 9.3 Architecture Adapts to Political Development 471 9.3.1 Modern Architecture Calls on Politics 473 9.3.2 The ABC Group: Political Agitation Within Architecture 474 9.3.3 The Vicissitudes of Political Polarization 478 9.4 The Limitations of Critical Practice in Architecture 482 9.4.1 General Political Critique and Macro-political Ambitions 482 9.4.2 Architecture’s ‘Micro-Political’ Agency: Manipulating Non-political Power 484 9.4.3 Who Controls the Power-distributing Capacity of Design? 486 9.4.4 Public Competitions As Structural Coupling between Architecture and Politics 489 10. The Self-descriptions of Architecture 496 10.1 Theoretical Underpinnings 497 10.1.1 Reference as Self-reference 501 10.1.2 Levels of Self-reference 502 10.2 The Necessity of Reflection: Architectural Theory as Reflection Theory 508 10.2.1 Continuity vs Consistency 513 10.2.2 Categorical vs Variable Structures of Communication 516 10.3 Classic Treatises 521 10.3.1 Alberti’s De re aedificatoria 523 10.3.2 Durand’s Pr ́ ecis des lec ̧ons d’architecture -1 10.3.3 Le Corbusier’s Vers une architecture 580 10.3.4 The Autopoiesis of Architecture 604 10.4 Architectural Historiography 618 10.4.1 History of Architecture’s Autonomization and Internal Structuration 620 10.4.2 History of Architectural Styles as Responses to Epochal Shifts in the Societal Environment 622 10.5 Architectural Criticism 627 11. Parametricism – The Parametric Paradigm and the Formation of a New Style 629 11.1 Parametricism as Epochal Style 634 11.1.1 Historiographical Sketch: The Epochal Alignment of Styles 639 11.1.2 A Unified Style for the 21st Century 654 11.1.3 The Maturity of Parametricism 658 11.1.4 Polarized Confrontation: Parametricism versus Minimalism 660 11.1.5 Styles as Design Research Programmes 663 11.2 The Parametricist Research Programme 666 11.2.1 Conceptual Definition of Parametricism 666 11.2.2 Operational Definition of Parametricism: The Defining Heuristics of Parametricism 668 11.2.3 Genealogy of the Parametricist Heuristics 672 11.2.4 Analogies: Emulating Natural Systems 675 11.2.5 Agendas Advancing Parametricism 681 11.2.6 The Agenda of Ecological Sustainability 688 11.3 Parametricist vs Modernist Urbanism 692 11.3.1 Simple Order, Disorder, Complex Order 693 11.3.2 Implementing Parametricist Urbanism 698 11.4 Elegance 712 12. Epilogue – The Design of a Theory 722 12.1 Theoretical Foundation: Communication Theory vs Historical Materialism? 726 12.2 The Theory of Architectural Autopoiesis as Unified Theory of Architecture 731 12.3 Notes on the Architecture of the Theory 734 12.4 The Theory as the Result of Contingent Theory Design Decisions 738 Concluding Remarks 747 Appendix 3: The Autopoiesis of Architecture in the Context of Three Classic Texts 749 Appendix 4: Theses 25–60 754 References 760 Key Search Terms 771

This is the second part of a major theoretical work by Patrik Schumacher, which outlines how the discipline of architecture should be understood as its own distinct system of communication. Autopoeisis comes from the Greek and means literally self-production; it was first adopted in biology in the 1970s to describe the essential characteristics of life as a circular self-organizing system and has since been transposed into a theory of social systems. This new approach offers architecture an arsenal of general comparative concepts. It allows architecture to be understood as a distinct discipline, which can be analyzed in elaborate detail while at the same time offering insightful comparisons with other subject areas, such as art, science and political discourse. On the basis of such comparisons the book insists on the necessity of disciplinary autonomy and argues for a sharp demarcation of design from both art and engineering. Schumacher accordingly argues controversially that design as a discipline has its own sui generis intelligence – with its own internal logic, reach and limitations.

Whereas the first volume provides the theoretical groundwork for Schumacher’s ideas – focusing on architecture as an autopoeitic system, with its own theory, history, medium and its unique societal function – the second volume addresses the specific, contemporary challenges and tasks that architecture faces. It formulates these tasks, looking specifically at how architecture is seeking to organize and articulate the complexity of post-fordist network society. The volume explicitly addresses how current architecture can upgrade its design methodology in the face of an increasingly demanding task environment, characterized by both complexity and novelty. Architecture’s specific role within contemporary society is explained and its relationship to politics is clarified. Finally, the new, global style of Parametricism is introduced and theoretically grounded.

Whereas the first volume of this set provides the intellectual groundwork for Schumacher's ideas, the second volume addresses the specific, contemporary challenges that architecture faces. It formulates these tasks, looking specifically at how architecture organizes and articulates the complexity of post-fordist network society. This addresses how current architecture can upgrade its design methodology for an increasingly demanding task environment, characterized by both complexity and novelty. Architecture's role within contemporary society is explained and its relationship to politics is clarified. Finally, the emerging new style of Parametricism is introduced and theoretically grounded. v. 1. A new framework for architecture. Architectural theory The historical emergence of architecture Architecture as autopoietic system operations, structures and processes The medium of architecture The societal function of architecture v.2. A new agenda for architecture. 6. The task of architecture 7. The Design process 8. Architecture and society 9. Architecture and politics 10. Self-descriptions of architecture 11. Parametricism - the Parametric paradigm and the formation of a new style 12. Epilogue - the design of a theory. A major theoretical work by one of the world's leading architects that revolutionizes the application of current thinking on design. This second volume addresses the specific, contemporary challenges that architecture faces