Towards an ecology of tectonics. The need for rethinking construction in architecture.

Abstract

The global resources situation and the climate crisis are amongst the biggest challenges faced by mankind today. In the years to come, these issues will no doubt have an influence on societal evolution, on urban and rural land development, and how we define our cultural identities. These and related issues will have a major impact on the design of buildings. Equally important in terms of its impact on architectural quality is the challenge posed by the continuous growth of industrialisation. The move from craft-based construction methods to computer-controlled production processes now used in industrialised manufacturing has resulted in an "assembly architecture" that no longer depends on the locally available materials, on local building traditions or on the specific physical context. In this book, ideas, design principles and practices that relate to tectonics in architecture are explored, and a series of themes are discussed in relation to various concepts of ecology. Ecology is, in this case, defined in its widest sense, which includes the cycling of resources, systems of social organisation and the environmental context. Tectonics - a concept with a long tradition in architecture and architectural theory - is comparable to ecology. It relates to the design and assembly of structural elements, and implies a holistic approach to materials, to construction technology and to the design of structures. It is more than merely an instrumental strategy: it extends into the poetic, which elevates it to the status of a cultural practice. With a collection of 13 essays by academic experts and practicing architects the book provides the first comprehensive representation of contemporary tectonic thought and practices in architecture.