Architecture and New Challenges/conceptual framework

literatuur leerboek Taxonomy

Architecture (Latin “architectura”, from the Greek “ἀρχιτέκτων – arkitekton”, from ἄρχων chief or leader and τέκτων builder or carpenter) is the art and science of designing buildings and other physical structures. Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and constructing space that reflects functional, social, and aesthetic considerations. It requires the manipulation and coordination of material, technology, light, and shadow. Architecture also encompasses the pragmatic aspects of realizing designed spaces, such as project planning, cost estimating and construction administration. A wider definition may comprise all design activity from the macro-level (urban design, landscape architecture) to the micro-level (construction details and furniture). In fact, architecture today may refer to the activity of designing any kind of system and is often used in the IT world. Architectural works are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art. Historical civilizations are often identified with their surviving architectural achievements. [1]

Lesson 1. Why good architects are necessary

Pencast^What? lecture: Architecture (01): Stakeholders and the architect  click here

• stakeholders
  • definition
    • description in Dutch: belanghebbenden
  • groups
    • sponsor / project owner
    • contractor
    • users
    • environment
      • people and organisations
      • site, topography
      • weather
      • surroundings (landscape, view, ...)
      • laws
  • problems and conflicts
    • concern
    • problem understanding
    • domain knowledge
    • language
• architect
  • tasks
  • education

Lesson 2. What one should understand before starting on a project

Pencast^What? lecture: Architecture (01): Focus, problem statement, conflicts  click here

• focus of architectural analysis Taxonomy/2. Methodology/Focus (architecture)
  • definition
    • in English
      • Rationality Square: Taxonomy/1. Quality/01. Rationality
      • Taxonomy/1. Quality/05. Focus (incomplete, sorry)
      • Taxonomy/2. Methodology/Focus (architecture) - a form to support focus analysis
    • in Dutch
      • Beweren en bewijzen/de zuilen/Artefacten/2. Focus
      • Architectuur/Leerboek in_wording#Focus
  • aspect
    • goal
    • fragment of reality
    • viewpoint
    • what is given?
• positions of stakeholders
  • definition
    • See Lesson 1. Stakeholders - problems and conflichts
    • Questionnaire (in Dutch): Architectuur/Leerboek in wording#Spanningeveld belanghebbenden
    • Architectuur/Leerboek in wording#Belangenverstrengeling
  • aspects
    • concerns
    • problem understanding, language, domain knowledge
    • exchangeability

Lesson 3. Building for Principles

Pencast^What? lecture: Architecture (03). Building for principles  click here

• Definitions in Dutch: Architectuur/Leerboek in wording#Deel I
• Tame construction and wicked building
  • Rationality Square revisited
  • Construction
    • Correctness by construction
    • Tame problems
  • Building
    • Why correctness by construction may not work
      • incomplete and wrong requirements / specifications
      • conflicting concerns
      • fragmented views, encapsulated solutions, horizon
      • no quality awareness
    • Wicked problems
      • Don't try to tame wicked problems! They may go wild.
        • EVEN IF STAKEHOLDERS WANT TO TAME.
      • Be aware of bucket-pump-hose-solutions
      • Always ask: Yes, but why?
      • Agile development
• Principles
  • Principles of the sponsor's organisation
  • from requirements to principles ("Yes, but why?")
  • General quality principles (next lesson)
• Buildings and rules
• The architect's principles

Lesson 4. Vitruvius' Three Qualities

Vitruvius is famous for asserting in his book De architectura that a structure must exhibit the three qualities of firmitas, utilitas, venustas — that is, it must be solid, useful, beautiful. (integrity etc.)

• Utilitas - is it useful?
  • Problems
    • invisible proliferiation
    • inconsistency
    • encapsulation
    • forgotten rules
    • bucket-pump-hose-solutions
  • Apporach
    • planning
    • caution, agile development
• Firmitas - is it solid / robust?
  • robustness
  • integrity
    • internal, local
    • external, global
  • sustainability, perishability
• Venustas - is it beautiful?
  • static appearance
  • dynamic behaviour
  • language
  • mathematical structure

Lesson 5. Human proportions

• physical (body)
• cognitive (rational thinking)
• perception (feeling)
  • image / corporate identity
  • respect
• cultural