Out with the Old & In with the New

I am in the process of further developing and refining my thesis through documentation in a form of a book and updating my thesis website. In order to maintain documentation of where I have been in relation to where I am going I am posting my older work (abstract, thesis statement, criteria, etc) to this blog.

Abstract (until 12-13-09)

Within the architectural discipline are a variety of dichotomies or juxtapositions which are typically treated and discussed as binary entities. This thesis seeks to utilize and expand the ambiguity that exists in specific architecture dualities, as they start to co-exist within the same space, to exploit a both~and condition through an understanding of the relationships between the two adjacent entities. The dualities that will be explored, both independently and in relationship to each other, are solid versus void, figure versus ground, and presence versus absence. Dualities as binary conditions ignore the underlying dynamics and therefore result in traditional spatial, cultural and philosophical relationships. A both~and condition will blur these relationships to reveal new entities and interstitial conditions.


Thesis Statement (until 12-13-09)

This thesis derives from the understanding that there are inherent natural dualities that exist within our natural world. One such duality is wave~particle. The understanding of light exhibiting two very different sets of properties was an important development in physics that resulted from quantum mechanics. The introduction of quantum physics and relativity marked a change in the our understanding of our world. Newtonian principles and Cartesian grids were no longer the only way to describe the world. Quantum physics revealed very strange ideas of how the world works. For example, Heisenburg’s uncertainty principle states that certain physical properties, such as position and momentum, cannot be known together to equal levels of precision. As the certainty of one property rises the certainty of the other property falls. This creates ambiguity throughout the whole spectrum of possibilities, where the middle contains both the same amount of ambiguity and information. Architecture throughout history has been a reflection of the philosophical, ideological, theological, and scientific understanding of its contemporary world therefore, it concludes that when there is a shift in world-view, architecture should become a tool in understanding and communicating the new ideas. Charles Jencks states, “When there is a change in the basic framework of thought then there has to be a shift in the architecture because this, like other forms of cultural expression, is embedded in the reigning mental paradigms.” The duality conditions in architecture have the opportunity to mimic this ambiguity that exist in dualities outside of the architectural discipline. The architectural dualities can create a interstitial condition that blurs the line between the two entities.

Understanding the both~and condition in architecture has been approached in several ways. Peter Eisenman uses de-authorship to create the interstitial condition. He removes himself from the direct design process by using an approach that produces architecture through the dialogue that arises from the combination of two diagrams. Similarly, Jeffrey Kipnia understands the interstitial condition by designing using two opposing approaches. He looks at the design process as the duality that can exist in architecture. This thesis seeks to produce a both~and condition through several approaches.

The term “both~and” lends itself to Boolean operations in digital modeling. Boolean operations process two or more entities through a relationship function: union, intersection, or difference. When dealing with geometries, these operations are very straightforward however, when applied to spatial conditions it starts to get complicated since Boolean operations work as a “or” condition being formed from a 0 or 1 language. Both~and also can describe an overlapping condition. What happens with two ideas, systems, dualities, opposites overlap each other? The result can be a simple sum of the parts that make the whole. This would be when the two entities never interfere or blend together. However, the result can also be greater than the whole which is what this thesis is seeking.


Criteria (until 12-13-09)

Interstitial - A successful blurring of a duality will occur when the result is not a side by side condition but rather produces a third condition. The in-between entity or interstitial condition.

Meshwork - Dualities set up hierarchical conditions where one element becomes the primary condition and the other element is secondary and supportive. A successful blurring will remove this hierarchy so the duality exists within a meshwork.

Simplicity - (not simpleness) maintains simplicity of program in order to explore and highlight the depths of the duality.

Variety of Scales - understanding of the duality will be achieved through a variety of scales that will allow the blurring to occur at multiple conceptual levels.

Synergy - The whole (or third condition from above) will be greater than the sum of its parts.