New Materialism: Dynamism in Architecture Professor Jonathan Massey Final Thoughts Dinçer Savaşkan
When we look at the historical references to the term of “organicism”, it is really hard to come up to conclusion in theory that is consistent or relevant to each other. Some of the architects use the term for vernacular architecture while the others use it for infinite space, ecology, sustainability, etc. However nearly all of the concepts center around the relationship between the nature and architecture. This relationship has been the main inspiration since the beginning of the architectural theory. When we think about this way the term organicism still stays short and problematic to include all these relationships.
As I have researched on my first paper, nature - architecture relationship is still a big influence for contemporary architectural discourse. One of the concepts that I believe brings a fresh and new way of methodology for architectural practice is the “new materialism”. I share the same excitement of Sanford Kwinter when it comes to the materialism. New materialism suggests a solid theory in terms of evaluating and realizing the digital architecture that derives from algorithms and parameters. While the architectural forms become more sculptural and dehumanized, new materialism and diagram systems create
SavaĹ&#x;kan | New Materialism: Dynamism in Architecture 2 a new way of evaluating these computer-generated forms in terms of contextual, environmental or social perspectives. Architectural form is shifting from Euclidian forms to non-Euclidian topological forms. And topological forms have potential to create dynamism in architecture that establishes non-hierarchical relationships that engages through programmatic and spatial devices. Hybridization of Euclidian spaces through superimposition/ juxtapositions creates in-between spaces that can accommodate flexible programs. This approach can begin to reconsider questions of figure-ground contextualism. No longer creating a figure-ground separation, a continuous and reversible dialogue between the architectural space, form, structure and the viewer.