Architecture comes with various verticals, so it can be about construction, the way people will use a building, or how it fits into a physical or social landscape. It’s not just about buildings and cities. At times, architecture can offer evidence concerning specific cases. By revealing evidence of war crime cases, architects become “detectives”, working with NGOs and human rights lawyers to uncover information. Architectural forensics has expanded and evolved into a sub-area of architecture. Still, educational institutions and vendors don’t yet offer studies in this discipline, except for the University of London. Even experts are still trying to figure out how to apply investigative aesthetics.
A Definition of Architectural Forensics and Its Implications
Architectural forensics can be defined as the process of deploying architectural techniques and technologies to develop evidentiary systems with respect to certain cases. It’s practically an investigation of the built world, whether in connection with crime and injustice or pinpointing the root cause of damage and deterioration in buildings. Architects inquire about the present via its spatial materialization. As a rule, they work in partnership with prosecutors, human rights organizations, and political/environmental justice groups. Attention must be paid to the fact that very few cases reach the courtroom. Even if architectural forensics is a relatively new discipline, there’s no shortage of architectural consultant firms offering specialized services.
Forensic Architecture was established in 2005 as a research project within the Centre for Research Architecture at Goldsmiths. Eyal Weizman, a British-Israeli architect, is the organization’s founder and director, and he’s also a Professor of Spatial and Visual Cultures. The work of Forensic Architecture is documented in the exhibition and book FORENSIS. Bones, ruins, toxic substances, landscapes, and the contemporary media are captured and represented. Needless to say, the work is gripping as far as the inventiveness, precision, and patience of the process and outcome are concerned. Architects must use their disciplinary tools to produce public truth. Weizman calls this process “architecture in reverse”.
Court Cases Account for A Small Percentage of Most Architects’ Work
At times, architects are invited to take part in criminal investigations to help identify evidence. Therefore, evidentiary discourse serves the emergence of modern architecture. As more and more conflicts take place in urban areas, homes, and neighborhoods, civilian casualties occur within cities and buildings. Architectural forensics uses architecture in three ways, namely, an object of analysis, a method of research, and a mode of presentation. It’s necessary to engage with architecture (and urbanism) in a world that’s struggling with conflicts in the form of state violence. The work of Eyal Weizman offers a solution for complexities and contradictions.
By taking advantage of 3D modeling or remote sensing, architects collect evidence of wrongdoings, and their findings are later elaborated on in court. People who have been physically or mentally injured because they fell victim to a violent crime have the right to justice. Speaking of which, if someone you know has been the victim of a crime (personal injury, loss from theft or property damage, medical expenses, etc.), the court must consider making a compensation. Please visit https://www.compensationcalculatoruk.co.uk/criminal-injuries-compensation-calculator/ to read more. Getting back on topic, most people relate architectural forensics to court trials, but as mentioned earlier, court cases account for a small percentage of architects’ work.
Forensic Architecture investigated Italy’s role in the drowning of refugees. By using surveillance data with an inverted logic and data technology, they succeeded in denouncing the human rights violations in the Mediterranean. In March 2011, several migrants sailed off the Libyan coast heading in the direction of Italy, but they never made it to the destination. Due to the inaction of state actors, only a small number of passengers survived. The investigation by the Council of Europe forced states and militaries to release data about the event, yet official information presented in response remains obscure and incomplete.
A Forensic Architect Holds Many Responsibilities Within the Development of a Construction Project
More often than not, forensic investigations involve solving pressing issues, such as determining if a building has problems that could affect a real estate transaction or acquisition. Not only can they help identify potential issues, but they also offer recommendations on how to solve them. For example, mold is growing on the walls. Building practices and materials have evolved at a rapid pace, so there are solutions, such as paper-faced drywall and plywood sheeting. There’s very little time to fix a problem before it exacerbates, and no one wants to be responsible for the mistake. It’s up to the architects to find out ways how a building can best maintain itself and prolong its life in a cost-efficient manner.
Every contact leaves a trace. An architect must apply the art and science of architecture during the investigation, determination of causes for deterioration, preparation of reports, and advisory opinions. They must reach an unbiased conclusion because they have a thorough understanding of construction standards and practices. Typical clients include all parties affected by failure or deficiency, such as individuals, corporations, or governmental agencies. Needless to say, technical competency is of the essence. In litigation, for instance, the witness must be an expert in order to testify their opinion regarding the evidence in the trial.
Conclusion
Architectural forensics takes a multidisciplinary approach to investigate instances of state violence and human rights violations. Although the main task is to establish incident causation and responsibility based on available physical evidence and scientific knowledge, at times, the architect remains in the background. The other side doesn’t even know their name. Architectural forensics collaborates with activists and media organizations, not to mention NGOs. Equally, architects can be employed to uncover construction, design, and/or maintenance deficiencies, helping mitigate difficulties. They have experience with a wide array of project types, varying in size, duration, and complexity.
The future is unwritten, so make your own mark. Soon enough, architectural practice will be counter-culture and drive change. To train the new generation of forensic architects, Eyal Weizman has set up a degree program at Goldsmiths, open to architects and those in other fields.
