Week Three : Further Ideas

Having explored thoroughly lifestyle drivers for our sustainable future I tried to take a step forward and imagine an architectural context for this society. A line from this week's reading was my springboard; "among buildings as within them, differences of pace are everything". To consider buildings in a time-laden way is an interesting proposition and to be honest not something I had ever considered in-depth. To focus particularly on Brand's notion of human souls at the very end of the hierarchy as servants to our stuff. I would raise the question, that with the emergence of a generous and collaborative lifestyle will this end of the spectrum slow? And what is the implication of this change of pace upon the entire system?

To explore these questions further I considered the concept of slow architecture. So much of design is about pace, about investigating and understanding the question, yet speed has infiltrated architecture. The dominance of aesthetics and status have overrun the eternal nature of design. Space has become consumable. In contrast slow design is about designing for people, it is local, responsible, sustainable and mindful and I believe it is a notion aligned with the outcome of our imagined future. 

According to Brian, O Brien of Solearth EcologicalArchitecture

"Slow architecture might then be summed up by the following principles:
Patience, Craft, Sensuality and Materiality, Specificity, Delight, Contentment.

It would be the creation, appreciation, and enjoyment of all that is careful, that is textured and that stimulates the senses - and the sense of time, in buildings. Slow architecture would ‘enslow’ our senses, our thoughts, our movements and actions. It would add to the delight of our day by deepening a sense of being here; being present and being grounded-through the way the building has been created, is used, and ages".

Applying this notion of slow architecture then to my established future scenario. I came up with a few ideas for a more physical outcome. Below are a brief summary of each.