Over the years, the evolution of architecture and design practices framed itself as either a response or an action. In some cases, architecture could express itself as a response to actions. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the response is a reaction to something that happened. On a parallel line, actions are defined as doing something to deal with a problem or matter. By the late 1960s, responsive architecture – as a term, started to appear and was coined by Nicolas Negroponte, whereas architecture as an action is wider and more common. On one hand, treating architectural blocks in terms of colour, material, texture, functionality, and structure in an adaptive way based on the environment, and users, is a response. On the other hand, designing a public space could be an example of actions in architecture to solve the problem of social integration in communities.
Architectural Actions
Across the continents, several examples emphasise the role of Architecture as an action to solve vital problems. The Nqib Ikan Village in Indonesia, The Qinmo Village Project in China, and The Esperanza Project in Ecuador are three projects expressing how action in Architecture is accomplished (Luo, 2012).
The use of local materials and human resources in The Esperanza Project led to its success in 2009. First constructed with concrete as a long-term solution to existing problems, after the completion and success in 2009, the design team came back once again in 2011 to extend the project to having communal areas next to the school (Al Borde).
The main concept of Qinmo Village in China is to mix both education and agricultural practices to create a sustainable framework. Collaborations between educational and governmental institutions led the village to be self-sustained by helping the citizens rely more on their gained toolkit and local resources rather than moving to nearby cities for decent work (Lin).
Finally, After the earthquake of 2006 of Nqibikan Village in Indonesia which led the village to massive demolitions, the reconstruction was based on integrating citizens in the phase. This was achieved by considering them the only workers and teaching them the reconstruction techniques to be resilient and able to rebuild the village alone (Prowato).
Architectural Responses
Actions are not the only face of architectural practices. Architects and designers can promote projects as responses to environmental responsibilities. Architects always deal with carbon emissions, materiality, and heat reduction by using passive or active design strategies. This responsibility revealed numerous sustainable norms such as zero-energy buildings, near-zero-energy buildings, thermal comfort, and green architecture. The passive wave of architectural responses focuses on the natural elements to promote a sustainable building, similar to The School of Environment and Design in Singapore.
Accommodating the school of architecture and design, this project holds three passive design strategies: Operable facades for cross ventilation and daylight, a raised building that frees up the ground and allows cooling and shading techniques, and a hybrid cooling system mixing tempered air and ceiling fans (Verma, 2023).
Architects express their socially responsive designs in different manners and layouts taking into consideration social responsibilities as pillars while designing. A social architectural project is only considered successful when meeting needs. Architectural designs that achieve societal development and social responses are based on engagement, freeing the barrier, and locality (WTA). One of the most successful projects in promoting social responsibilities is The Superkilen designed by BIG in Denmark. The social responsibility of this project is revealed through two interrelated features. First, 99 elements from 59 countries were added to the project reflecting the diversity of the neighbourhood – citizens are from different nationality origins! Second, the project features three coloured zones each one has its own user experience and a unique mixture of countries’ cultures and identities (DA).
The Relation Between Actions and Responses
Even though both terms have different definitions, they are related in a structured manner: Rebuilding a project affected by an earthquake is an action. However, social and environmental responsibilities will be taken into consideration in the rebuilding process. Things will be more focused and explicit while restoring or renovating ancient structures. Architects focus on the fusion between ancient structures and modern approaches. For example, arches of bygone eras are reflected in the modern period in very innovative matters. Cultural heritage and architectural practices lighten social norms and values as inspirations for sustainable building practices (Archova, 2024).
Over the years, the evolution of architecture and design practices framed itself as either a response or an action. In some cases, architecture could express itself as a response to actions. The role of architecture has evolved in the past two years either as actions to solve problems, or responses to social, environmental, and cultural challenges.
From actions to economic, educational, and natural problems, to cultural heritage passing through social and environmental challenges, architecture will remain always and forever the cure.
References:
Luo, C. (April 2, 2012). Ten Examples of Architecture As A Collective Action. Shareable. [Online]. Available at: https://www.shareable.net/ten-examples-of-architecture-as-a-collective-action/
Al Borde. Esperanza El Cabuyal, Ecuador. Architecture in Development. [Online]. Available at: https://architectureindevelopment.org/project/136
Lin, J. Qinmo Village Project. Architecture in Development. [Online]. Available at: https://architectureindevelopment.org/project/197
Prowato, E. Nqibikan Village Reconstruction. Architecture in Development. [Online]. Available at: https://architectureindevelopment.org/project/123
Verma, S. March 10, 2023. Passive Design Architectural Examples Around The World (2024). Novatar. [Online]. Available at: https://www.novatr.com/blog/passive-design-architecture-examples
WTA. Social Architecture. [Online]. Available at: https://wtadesignstudio.com/practice/social-architecture/#:~:text=These%20are%3A%20engagement%2C%20barrier%20free,harmonious%20pace%20for%20societal%20development.
Superkilen: Captures The Diversity of Nørrebo. Culture. [Online]. Available at: https://dac.dk/en/knowledgebase/architecture/superkilen-2/
Archova. January 5, 2024. What Is The Role of Cultural Heritage In Architecture? Archviz. [Online]. Available at: https://archovavisuals.com/what-is-the-role-of-cultural-heritage-in-architecture/
