LES 6: Adaptable projects
1. Introduction
Life has only one constant, change, designing for change supports life.
adaptable projects => adaptability refers to the design of a project and
structures that can be easily modified to meet changing needs and conditions.
2. Place and identity
The identity of the neighbourhood is unique
Since early times, the spirit of the place was worshipped. The place where
they built was considered unique.
The genius Loci – Christian Norberg Schulz
Genius loci = the spirit of a place
Reinforce place identity => avoid non-places
=> restore or reinforce
Design the future, look to the past and learn from the past
3. Create positive space
Design space for vibrant and resilient places.
It’s not the space intake of a project that counts, but the increase in common
space for living places, such as nature, water and the residents
• From zero space to positive space
=> more common space
Ursula school by Tom Thys and Adinda Van Geystelen
Smart design => reduce the footprint of a building => more space for
nature, water infiltration or for walking or sitting under a tree. The higher
building is more compact and frees up space. Primarily for the trees that
would otherwise be cut down.
The green and meadows: meadows also good example of positive space, a
meadow was often a flood zone of rivers. This zone was kept clear of
buildings. Today these zones are under stress. They were bought up and
built on. The houses now stand in flood zones.
Protect greenfields => building stop/building shift
Stop the suburbs => remove houses, remove industry?
Re-use of space and old buildings
Increase the density => make space for nature, water, people
Think high density => lower the footprint
Density in relation to build environment = different meanings
In architecture and town planning: 2 categories of measurements are
used for physical density:
- Population density: number of individuals or households per given
area
- Building density: the ratio of building structures related to plot
surface.
,4. Space and change
Your project is open for change, it supports live.
The story of a project starts with designing and building. As the story unfolds,
changes and modifications occur.
Change is life, it’s essential for growth and progress. It can be positive or
negative. By embracing change and seeing it as a chance for growth, we can
overcome our fears and limitations and achieve our full potential.
Change is life and life is constant change.
Design for change => adapt and anticipate change, create open living systems
Skip the program, design spaces and scenario thinking
Arrowstreet =>
research on the impact
autonomous cars and
ride sharing will have
on the future design of
parking structures.
Dom Ino: you can fill it in how you want
Bel sozietat für architektur
Structure: most important
decision
Shearing layers of change – Stewart Brand
Concept based on work of ecologists and
systems theorists.
Idea: there are processes in nature,
which operate in different timescales
and as a result there is little or no
exchange of energy/mass/information
between them. Brand transferred this
intuition to buildings and noticed that
traditional buildings were able to adapt
because they allowed "slippage" of
layers: i.e. faster layers(services) were
not obstructed by slower ones(structure).
Concept of shearing layers => architectural design
principle => layers allow maximum adaptability.
, Case study:
- Quantum building Gent – EVR architecten
Goal was to create a building that attracts
attention through its façade and a perfect
working environment. 3 areas: 2 office
buildings and a glass atrium => H shaped
floor plan.
Site is eternal => reinforce the site
Structure 100yr-400yr = assembly and disassembly
Structure = grid + open plan + cores
Skin 30-60yr = an autonomous layer
Services 5-30yr = accessible for
maintain
Space plan 5-20yr = scenario
planning, the future is open
Open for many functions
Stuff 5-15yr= movable + light +
change
Social = everyday – well-being – commons – the
people
Use all the layers of change
5. Be prepared for a circular future
A smart project can last for 400 years
Life is full of change, which is why it's smart to tailor a building to life. As a
result, users are not fixated in an overly rigid environment that complicates
their future plans. A project can allow for change and movement at any
point in time. The timeline of a project is a circle that keeps moving.
A circular future
Different time layers make it possible to maintain, change or renew each
layer individually. A layered design allows change and also circularity
Let’s compose buildings: The time layers work very well when we design
buildings with as many repetitive components as possible => we need to
standardize more.
Mosard stands for “modular open system for architectural design” =>
instrument for compatible design, construction and living.
Madaster data platform: registers data on all materials and products that
are used in a building or infrastructure object.
1. Introduction
Life has only one constant, change, designing for change supports life.
adaptable projects => adaptability refers to the design of a project and
structures that can be easily modified to meet changing needs and conditions.
2. Place and identity
The identity of the neighbourhood is unique
Since early times, the spirit of the place was worshipped. The place where
they built was considered unique.
The genius Loci – Christian Norberg Schulz
Genius loci = the spirit of a place
Reinforce place identity => avoid non-places
=> restore or reinforce
Design the future, look to the past and learn from the past
3. Create positive space
Design space for vibrant and resilient places.
It’s not the space intake of a project that counts, but the increase in common
space for living places, such as nature, water and the residents
• From zero space to positive space
=> more common space
Ursula school by Tom Thys and Adinda Van Geystelen
Smart design => reduce the footprint of a building => more space for
nature, water infiltration or for walking or sitting under a tree. The higher
building is more compact and frees up space. Primarily for the trees that
would otherwise be cut down.
The green and meadows: meadows also good example of positive space, a
meadow was often a flood zone of rivers. This zone was kept clear of
buildings. Today these zones are under stress. They were bought up and
built on. The houses now stand in flood zones.
Protect greenfields => building stop/building shift
Stop the suburbs => remove houses, remove industry?
Re-use of space and old buildings
Increase the density => make space for nature, water, people
Think high density => lower the footprint
Density in relation to build environment = different meanings
In architecture and town planning: 2 categories of measurements are
used for physical density:
- Population density: number of individuals or households per given
area
- Building density: the ratio of building structures related to plot
surface.
,4. Space and change
Your project is open for change, it supports live.
The story of a project starts with designing and building. As the story unfolds,
changes and modifications occur.
Change is life, it’s essential for growth and progress. It can be positive or
negative. By embracing change and seeing it as a chance for growth, we can
overcome our fears and limitations and achieve our full potential.
Change is life and life is constant change.
Design for change => adapt and anticipate change, create open living systems
Skip the program, design spaces and scenario thinking
Arrowstreet =>
research on the impact
autonomous cars and
ride sharing will have
on the future design of
parking structures.
Dom Ino: you can fill it in how you want
Bel sozietat für architektur
Structure: most important
decision
Shearing layers of change – Stewart Brand
Concept based on work of ecologists and
systems theorists.
Idea: there are processes in nature,
which operate in different timescales
and as a result there is little or no
exchange of energy/mass/information
between them. Brand transferred this
intuition to buildings and noticed that
traditional buildings were able to adapt
because they allowed "slippage" of
layers: i.e. faster layers(services) were
not obstructed by slower ones(structure).
Concept of shearing layers => architectural design
principle => layers allow maximum adaptability.
, Case study:
- Quantum building Gent – EVR architecten
Goal was to create a building that attracts
attention through its façade and a perfect
working environment. 3 areas: 2 office
buildings and a glass atrium => H shaped
floor plan.
Site is eternal => reinforce the site
Structure 100yr-400yr = assembly and disassembly
Structure = grid + open plan + cores
Skin 30-60yr = an autonomous layer
Services 5-30yr = accessible for
maintain
Space plan 5-20yr = scenario
planning, the future is open
Open for many functions
Stuff 5-15yr= movable + light +
change
Social = everyday – well-being – commons – the
people
Use all the layers of change
5. Be prepared for a circular future
A smart project can last for 400 years
Life is full of change, which is why it's smart to tailor a building to life. As a
result, users are not fixated in an overly rigid environment that complicates
their future plans. A project can allow for change and movement at any
point in time. The timeline of a project is a circle that keeps moving.
A circular future
Different time layers make it possible to maintain, change or renew each
layer individually. A layered design allows change and also circularity
Let’s compose buildings: The time layers work very well when we design
buildings with as many repetitive components as possible => we need to
standardize more.
Mosard stands for “modular open system for architectural design” =>
instrument for compatible design, construction and living.
Madaster data platform: registers data on all materials and products that
are used in a building or infrastructure object.
