Revaluating Architectural Economics
Welcome to the 21st century, where profit is dubbed the law of the day in our rat race to reach the ever-tantalizing idea of modernity. It is here that Alastair Parvin pulls the reigns and calls us to question the fundamental economics of architecture and the ultimate design paradox- who exactly are we designing for as architects?
The question disarms us in its simplicity- Where along the lines did we convert the rote learned dog-eared mantra of form follows function into form follows finance? Why have we confined innovation in design in the hands of the elite 1% alone?
Parvin proposes to close the accessibility gap between what is dubbed as innovative and cater to clients beyond the 1%. In his video, Architecture for the people and by the people, he calls for a focus on empowering regular citizens to design and build solutions to cater to their own needs rather than being reliant on bankrolling patrons who can afford to commission them. Wikihouse, an open-source construction kit, may be just what is needed to make Parvin’s ideas of inclusivity in architectural design a reality.
Parvin’s Proposal Towards A Social Economy
To shift assets such as skills and tools from the hands of the monetary economy into the social economy, Parvin elaborates upon using open-source software to build upon open-source hardware solutions, including freely shared downloadable blueprints that are accessible to the masses. 3D printing is an excellent resource to help expand and build upon these blueprints. He elaborates upon the idea of making machine components for 3D printers and CNC machines using existing 3D printers, thereby making technology more accessible to the ‘amateur’ public. 3D printing provides time, skill, and cost-effective solutions to the masses looking to shape their immediate environment. By open-sourcing design solutions, Parvin challenges the idea of the ‘one solution fits all’ module propagated by the manufacturing industry and opens the pool for innovative designers across all walks of life.
Understanding WikiHouse
Wikihouse, Parvin’s brainchild, is a library of freely sourced 3D models that can be downloaded by anyone in the world and linked via SketchUp (owing to its accessibility). The design blueprints available can be modified according to individual needs and are comprehensive for materiality and instruction. Numbered cutting files can be generated for each project which can be later exported and printed according to project scale for fast and easy construction.
For The People, By The People: The Democratic Right To Build
The idea that the common masses should have a say in their immediate built environment is by no means a new one. The sentiment is aptly summed up by Enrique Penalosa, “A city reflects a society’s value, and a city also creates values, it creates a way of life”. Who better to determine the values and focus of our urban landscape than those it is built for? Parvin emphatically expands upon this idea and emphasizes prioritizing the need for design thinking rather than simply erecting buildings for the sake of it. He proposes an interesting perspective of how architects have lost sight of their primary role as innovative solution providers while pandering to the idea of constructing buildings alone. Innovative solutions do not necessarily have to be the most complicated solutions. He aptly explains, citing an example of a Victorian high school with hallway congestion problems resolved through the simple introduction of an efficient network of school bells rather than opting for a major renovation rehaul.
Parvin sums up his argument eloquently in the following, “We’re moving into this future where the factory is everywhere. And, increasingly, that means the design team is everyone”. The idea that design solutions are provided for people rather than provided by people is redundant. He elaborates that open-sourcing design doesn’t automatically mean that everyone is a designer or should be enforcing design strategy (as numerous of us having fallen victim to ‘ingenious’ local contractors can verify). It’s a means of providing greater equality in an opportunity to design rather than reaching a design consensus.
Towards The Future
Parvin’s ideas of inclusivity in architecture and pushing the boundaries of what it means to innovate in design are inspirational to both students and professionals in the field alike. Ultimately, inclusivity only goes as far as you take it, for projects like Wikihouse to be successful in the long run there is a need for diversity in solutions offered. A lot of the current blueprints available are favourable to predominantly American/British based construction materials and templates and would not be lasting or successful in the context of other areas, such as South Asia, owing to vast differences in vernacular construction techniques, climate, and culture. It is our responsibility as architects to diversify the social sphere of architecture and empower the masses to the extent that we are capable of. Parvin’s videos certainly provide food for thought and help re-evaluate the existing network of the industry that we have become a part of today.
References:
- Parvin, A., 2022. Architecture for the people by the people. [online] Ted.com. Available at: <https://www.ted.com/talks/alastair_parvin_architecture_for_the_people_by_the_people?language=en#t-465800> [Accessed 21 January 2022].
- Radio Hour, T., 2022. NPR Cookie Consent and Choices. [online] Npr.org. Available at: <https://www.npr.org/transcripts/449200894> [Accessed 21 January 2022].
- Stott, R., 2022. Video: WikiHouse co-founder Alastair Parvin at TED2013. [online] ArchDaily. Available at: <https://www.archdaily.com/379597/video-wikihouse-co-founder-alastair-parvin-at-ted2013> [Accessed 21 January 2022].
- Wikihouse.cc. 2022. WikiHouse. [online] Available at: <https://www.wikihouse.cc/> [Accessed 21 January 2022].
