THE V I S I O N
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F T E UHN T EV U I RBR EUO I N OLM F T E N T
Our cities today are advancing at an unprecedented rate, and with these advancements come new systemic problems such as climate change, unsustainable urbanization and social inequality. We as a society assume that it is the role of the professionals of industries to solve these problems. However architecture as a profession has been experiencing a growing shift in priorities, as Alastair Parvin notes in his TED talk that “almost everything that we call architecture today is actually the business of designing for about the richest one percentage of the world’s population�1.
As argued by Koolhaas, contemporary architecture needs to move past the notion of the star architect as the needs of our times can no longer be controlled by a single profession2. Architecture needs to re-establish its place in our world and re-engage with the people it is serving. To democratize the built environment to its everyday users, relinquishing control of the profession from the elites. And to reconnect architecture to its past as a civic profession, such as theories of Laugier and his notion of the city as an organic form meeting the greater goals of society to change the future.
Alastair parvin on TED
“… There is a huge vacuum in serious design commentary, in which architecture, the most public of the arts, is losing touch with its public, and has less and less influence on how our communities are planned and designed.”3 – David Dillon
PRUITT IGOE - failure of large scale urban planning
Le Corbusier - vision of paris
FEZ MOROCCO - organic city planning at a human scale
ARCHIGRAM - Walking City
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JONAH - City of Distopia 5
OPEN SOURCE
the ope n source moveme nt In order to bring Open Source Architecture into context, the open source phenomenon needs to be understood from its origin which is in computer software development. Open source typically needs to satisfy two qualities, first it must be universally accessible via free licensing and the second is universal redistribution of this blueprint can be carried out by anyone. The pervasive idealism behind this movement is to create a collaborative effort which invites anybody to contribute and improve on a current program. The beginnings of this movement were in opposition to the notion of proprietary software owned by corporations and to enable a self-enhancing diversity of interactive communities. This movement has become one of the most potent cyber-phenomenon which is diverging into multiple fields developing the movements for their democratization3.
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e c r u o s n e p o e r u t c e t i h c ar
Knowledge is the prime commodity for a networked society of the future. As Dennis Kaspori notes in his article A Communism of ideas towards an open-source architectural practice, “concepts, ideas and images – not things – are the real items of value in the new economy.”4 There is a growing push for the reconceptualization of innovation in architecture beyond the stagnant field of professionals in industry. Carlo Ratti’s idea of Open Source Architecture is to allow for the integration of a range of users, which would redefines architecture as a collectively driven and open-ended activity 5. This leads on to a progression from the static monolithic products we have today to a network of information with perpetual feedback loops6. This is transcending the contemporary trend in architecture of collaborative efforts between various professions of the building industry to incorporate a diverse range of parties outside the industry.
this new entity which harnesses manpower on a global scale, would Open source manifesto by Carlo Ratti allows for real time editing 7
O p e n S o u r c e b r e a k s t r a d tii o n a l b o u n d a ri e s a n d r e v o l u ti o n zi e s
t h e w a y w e a d d r e s s e v o l vi n g p r o b l e m s
“This ideology makes Open Source one of the most potent cybercultural artifacts of the current era; a powerful metaphor in which multiple fields and disciplines negotiate the conditions and implications of their democratization.”7 – Vardouli Theodora
be able to readdress the problems the world is facing. 8
P R E C E D E N T S
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WIKIHOUSE
WikiHouse is an open-source data base of housing designs that allows users to build their own house from slot-together designs. Developing a collaborative platform for low-cost sustainable housing. The idea is to empower communities in residential construction without the requirement of specialized knowledge. The designs are interlocking components that can be milled using a CNC machine enabling universal access to users without the need for power tools. WikiHouse seeks to explore the potentials of opening architectural design to the global environment while lowering the threshold of house construction. This project is still in its infancy, having many limitations in regards to adaptability of built forms and in advancing to residential interiors8. However, the ideology of this project is to democratize the built environment to the public. It has the potential to revolutionize architecture by enabling a large percentage of the population to construct their own homes; seeking to address the issue of homelessness, while breaking the control of developers.
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WikiHouse New Zealand Exhibition
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BRICKSTARTER
There is an emerging trend for self-initiated crowd funding projects as it directly addresses a growing need of the community9. This process changes the role of the architect from selling a finished product, to selling the process of design itself, giving more avenues for innovation. These forms of projects also engage the community allowing them to learn about the process of development and while supporting their needs. Brickstarter aims to facilitate these bottom up initiatives by connecting the needs and desires of local communities with the resources and affordances of businesses and governments. This is in response to 21st Century problems which are dealt with by existing archaic institutions of the 19th Century. It proposes a platform of rapid networking through meetings, feedback sessions, planning proposals and for interested parties to donate time and skills to benefit their community. Another goal is to harness a collective of knowledge and experience of previous proposals and turn it into an investment for the future, instead of repeating mistakes of the past. The long term vision is to enable a more diverse public to not only have a voice, but to actively collaborate with existing institutions in shaping the city10. +POOL - Crowd funded pool project to clean the east river, New York
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Baana Skate Park - Community design response to address the issue of skating, Helsinki
“Today’s interventions often occur on the periphery, physically located at the boundaries of the city or in underutilized urban nooks, sometimes at the ill-defined edges of the legal system, often both.”11 – Boyer Bryan
Ravintolapäivä - Crowd Initiated pop up food carnival
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RESOURCES
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HeadCity Historically capital cities have tended to be master planned urban spaces, with complex symbolic meanings embedded in Historically capital cities have tended to be master planned the city’s spatial arrangement and form. Such grand plans may urban spaces, with complex symbolic meanings embedded in have been appropriate for societies of colonialism and empire, the city’s spatial arrangement and form. Such grand plans may but in today’s modern and complex societies, a different design have been appropriate for societies of colonialism and empire, process is called for. Headcity operates on the premise that the but in today’s modern and complex societies, a different design ‘ideal city’ is not determinable by one designer, or one team. process is called for. Headcity operates on the premise that the Rather, it is the agglomeration of the unique visions of the ‘ideal’ ‘ideal city’ is not determinable by one designer, or one team. of every individual that composes a society. The true capital city Rather, it is the agglomeration of the unique visions of the ‘ideal’ of the future then, is a concept – an aspiration for physical cities of every individual that composes a society. The true capital city to strive toward. of the future then, is a concept – an aspiration for physical cities to strive toward. Headcity is a physical simulation that allows players to influence and map the evolution of a hypothetical ‘capital’ city through Headcity is a physical simulation that allows players to influence time. Players are given the opportunity to represent various and map the evolution of a hypothetical ‘capital’ city through interest groups in society, each with specific goals. Through time. Players are given the opportunity to represent various player decision-making in a complex network of variable rules interest groups in society, each with specific goals. Through (involving relationships between space, resources, social interest, player decision-making in a complex network of variable rules and time), a diagrammatic representation of possible urban (involving relationships between space, resources, social interest, arrangements emerge. and time), a diagrammatic representation of possible urban arrangements emerge. Headcity is experienced as a turn based game that enables players to visualise and personalise the processes that govern Headcity is experienced as a turn based game that enables urban evolution. The scope of the game variables allows for a players to visualise and personalise the processes that govern range of processes, meaning that the game can either be played urban evolution. The scope of the game variables allows for a to mimic current urban typologies or can be altered to map range of processes, meaning that the game can either be played possible future typologies. The game therefore works in two ways. to mimic current urban typologies or can be altered to map Firstly, it can help to draw links between behaviours, rules and possible future typologies. The game therefore works in two ways. resulting forms. Secondly and more importantly – it helps players Firstly, it can help to draw links between behaviours, rules and envisage their ideal city, and how such a city could develop. resulting forms. Secondly and more importantly – it helps players Headcity thus proposes that the symbolic ‘capital’ city should be envisage their ideal city, and how such a city could develop. a concept – unique to each individual – an aspiration rather than Headcity thus proposes that the symbolic ‘capital’ city should be a physical place. It is both the head city, and a city in the head. a concept – unique to each individual – an aspiration rather than a physical place. It is both the head city, and a city in the head.
In 2011, a competition “Capithetical” was held to reimagine the capital city of Canberra and what a future capital city would look like. My team took on the premise that the ideal city is no longer a top down master planned city with complex symbolic meanings. Rather, it is seen as a collective of diverse stakeholders that form society and should be represented in its built form.
The project of HeadCity sought to be a physical simulation that allows participants to develop and influence the development of their ideal city. Through a process of decision making and a framework of developed rules, this project was able to develop diagrammatic representations of ideal urban arrangements. HeadCity proposes that the ‘capital’ city should become a concept which is unique to each individual, an ambition rather than a physical place. 14
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The entry sought to firstly draw links between societal preferences and behaviours of our built environment. And secondly to empower participants to envisage their ideal city and how it could develop through a mix of resources and negotiations. Through this competition and other such projects which are offered online such as Urbanology, this form of crowdsourcing which allows participants to share a common canvas and shape their dreams to reinvent the city as a better environment12.
Competition Exhibition
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Second life as a universal design platform
Studio Wikitecture
Studio Wikitecture is a project which is at the forefront of exploring the role of virtual reality in architecture. Beginning in 2006, Studio Wikitecture used the virtual world of Second Life to develop a collaborative platform which is able to both explore the design process of architecture and also provide a forum for discussion. As noted by Zepp Cahalane in his article on Studio Wikitecture, they seek to mimic the Wikiepedia model and develop a self-organizing network of collaborators which are separated by geographical distance13.
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“The goal was to create a unified entry for the competition that was created through the collaboration of many contributors. The benefit of this approach is that we were able to pool all of the great ideas each of us had, and create a ‘super-entry,’ if you will, that is the product of a large collaborative team.”14 – Ryan Schultz
WikiTree Recording various iterations and popularity
The process is moderated through a “wiki-tree” which records virtual building models and archives the various iterations allowing users to access the entire history of the design process. It also develops a discussion platform and a way of crowd sourcing opinions on the evolving design. Studio Wikitecture believes that the principles of design are universal and can be acquired through a number of channels and not restricted to a particular profession. This case study shows us the potential of a common platform which could be developed from our advancing technologies to better integrate the involvement of a wider scope of people. 17
OPEN SOURCE REALITY
“Its results are never just one, nor even a collection of top-down solutions, but rather the embodiment of essential truths by way of disciplined, highly inductive research.”5 – Dennis Kaspori
PUBLIC COLLABORATION Opening the field of architecture to open source design enables a self-evolving variety of production models, communication flows and interactive communities. The goal of this movement is to develop an inclusive design process for designers and users to work together in a whole new way. The big difference of what open source could bring is the sheer scale of collaborative efforts possible. The resultant process does not merely enable collaboration of various parties but is enriched by this process15. Taking advantage of the collective potential of the people across the world to achieve innovations of a whole new level.
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EMPOWERING USERS The idea is that system feedback through an automated network of spaces is supplied by crowd sourcing developing accurate and expansive real time information. Personalisation would replace the current model of standardisation, as spaces respond to individual needs. This feedback would also improve architecture as a product, providing post occupancy evaluation from users. It also enables the development of a new building industry which has a bottom up approach of collective ownership. The wider goal would be to revolutionize the traditional hierarchy of monopolization of the built environment, offering a collective potential for ownership of the built environment16. However, this system proposes a utilitarian stance on the shaping of our built environment as the desires of the many would take preference over the desires of the few.
“This is not merely a radicalized version of form follows function but a strategic re-ordering of priorities within the profession.”17 – Open Source Architecture.net
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RISK & QUALITY MANAGEMENT An issue with Open Source Architecture is the degree of quality and risk management. Due to the difference in liability risk of architecture and software development, Open Source Architecture has to develop new guidelines for this process as the failure of a building could result in a high degree of losses18. This however can be the new role of architects by becoming the quality coordinators of the open source design process.
An idea to re-imagine a world designed for the people and by the people forming
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the built environment that represents the collective aspirations of society.
LICENSING Much of the existing open source examples currently use the Creative Commons license which allows for the free distribution of information to anybody. However, the contributions between each party also becomes an issue when this process seeks to become a viable business. A way of measuring contribution against rewards needs to be developed. This though can already be seen in other open source models such as Kickstarter which measures the amount of contribution and provides a significant reward in return for their investment. The difference for open source architecture is the measurement of quality instead of quantity.
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CO NC LU SI O N
THE V I S I O N
This manifesto seeks to present a proposal towards the future of architecture which embraces the emerging possibilities of technology. A vision through the open source movement to combine the possibilities of democratization with innovation to contribute to the larger discourse of architecture. An idea to re-imagine a world designed for the people and by the people forming the built environment that represents the collective aspirations of society. From the precedents, existing efforts show the convergence of two fundamental aspects of open source potentials; which are the collaboration of skills and expertise, with the provision of a more user integrated approach. As seen in Studio Wikitecture open source would enable the notion of a virtual design process in which users are transformed from consumers to producers dissolving the boundaries between professionals. As seen through the crowd sourcing models, Open Source Architecture would be able to shape a more diverse built environment which addresses individual needs.
Keystone Project - which looks at the emerging possibilities of Second Life in architecture19
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“A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which Humanity is always landing.” 20 —Oscar Wilde
This vision however, does not propose the extinction of architecture as a profession, but indicates the changing role of an architect to become part of a collective intellect that can better address the developing needs of 21st century issues. The democratization of design stems from past ideas of unfulfilled utopias but is reinvigorated by the potent influences of the Open Source metaphor. The understanding of architecture now needs to proceed from wishful thought to actuality21.
The greater vision seeks to create a democratized community that surpasses geographic borders and is empowered to influence the built environment. This community through a unified platform, would have free access to a database of knowledge from a collective of professions and experience. And this new entity which harnesses manpower on a global scale, would be able to readdress the problems the world is facing.
Utopia Forever - a collection of concepts from architecture, city planning and urbanism that look beyond restrictions20
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B I B I L I O G R A P H Y
1 Parvin Alastair (2013), ‘Architecture for the people by the people’, accessed on 13th Sept 2013, from http://www.ted.com/talks/alastair_parvin_architecture_for_ the_people_by_the_people.html 2 Koolhaas R., Mau B. - OMA, ‘S, M, L, XL’, The Monacelli Press 3 Ivy Robert (2010), ‘The Design Vacuum’, accessed on 15th Sept 2013, from http:// archrecord.construction.com/community/editorial/archives/1007.asp 4 Kaspori Dennis (2006), ‘A Communism of ideas towards an open-source architectural practice’, accessed on 2nd Sept 2013, from http://www.rixc.lv/ram/en/public02.html 5 Ratti Carlo (2011), ‘Open Source Architecture’, accessed on 4th Sept 2013, from http://www.domusweb.it/en/op-ed/2011/06/15/open-source-architecture-osarc-.html 6 Hunting Eric (2013), ‘Possibilities of Open Source Architecture, accessed on 11th Sept 2013, from http://p2pfoundation.net/Possibilities_of_Open_Source_Architecture 7 Vardouli Theodora (2012), ‘Open Architecture: Democratizing – Innovating?’ http:// openarchitectures.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/open-architectures-democratizinginnovating-in-progress/ 8 Hunting Eric (2013), ‘Possibilities of Open Source Architecture, accessed on 11th Sept 2013, from http://p2pfoundation.net/Possibilities_of_Open_Source_Architecture 9 Bryan Boyer, ‘Brickstarter and Discussion of future crowdfunding for architects’, Mark Magazine 10 McGuirk Justin (2012), ‘Brickstarter: crowd-funding takes to the streets’, http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/aug/24/brickstarter-crowd-funding 11 Boyer Bryan and Hill Dan (2012), ‘Brickstarter’, SITRA 12 Ellard Collin (2012), ‘The City in the Palm of Your Hand: Mobile Technology and Crowdsourcing as Tools for Urban Design’ 13 Zepp Cahalane (2010), ‘Studio Wikitecture’, accessed on 15th September 2013, from http://timerime.com/en/timeline/387853/Studio+Wikitecture/ 14 Schultz Ryan (2008), ‘Studio Wikitecture - Crowd sourcing the architectural design process’, accessed on 15th September 2013, from http://www.gridworks.sl/ node/1 15 Haque Usman (2004), ‘Hardspace, softspace and the possibilities of open source architecture’, accessed on 10th September 2013, from www.usman.co.uk 16 Ratti Carlo (2011), ‘Open Source Architecture’, accessed on 4th Sept 2013, from http://www.domusweb.it/en/op-ed/2011/06/15/open-source-architecture-osarc-. html 17 Open Source Architecture (2008), ‘Open Source Architecture’, accessed on 5th Sept 2013, from http://www.opensourcearchitecture.net/ 18 Duncan Bain (2012), ‘Exploring the future of an open source architectural practice’, accessed on 5th Sept 2013, from http://duncanbain.com/research/blog/ page/3/ 19 Allen kate (2007), ‘Second Life @ RIBA ARCHITECTURE WEEK’, acessed on 30th October 2013, from http://archvirtual.com/2007/09/07/second-life-the-designmuseum-for-riba-architecture-week-2007-by-fraser-fonda-kate-allen/ 20 Klanten R., ‘utopia forever competition’, acessed on 30th October 2013, from http://www.dezeen.com/2011/04/07/competition-five-copies-of-utopia-forever-to-bewon/ 21 Theodora Vardouli (2012), ‘Open Architecture(s): democratizing =(?) innovating’ ht tp://openarchitectures.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/open-architecturesdemocratizing-innovating-in-progress/