The Architecture of Background Preserving spatial environment through flexible designing methods

Abstract

The design process is the procedure in which the architect seeks for one of acceptable solutions (that may be evaluated in an objective way), which he or she finds to be one of the best (what stands for subjective content). Achieving good quality in design is the most important in curriculum, however it often takes unique design process into consideration. As the subject is taught, students usually omit or ignore several important questions, like an impact of architecture on social life, meaning of architectural solution in urban or rural context as a result of long term relationship etc. The aim of the research is to define the term "Architecture of Background” and to implement new elements related to specified content in students' curriculum. The research has been made simultaneously in scientific and professional activities to verify the theoretical basis. Architecture of Background may become a definition for common architecture that composes most part of spatial environment people live in. The teaching focuses on several aspects: • understanding spatial context, • consciousness and responsibility relating to cultural and historical heritage, • understanding social needs and expectations, • working on function and form independently from each other. Structure of flexible designing method has been established to present the subject in methodical manner. Preliminary design data are taken from project guidelines, master plan and referential data. Architect uses or composes the definitions of spatial and architectural typology that refer to the site. Two definitions of vernacular and traditional architecture and their relationship to architectural concept are also developed. While comparing definitions with the concept itself, features are extended by contemporary ones, which reflect present utilitarian and esthetical expectations. Choosing final set of features determines further formal decisions. In the same time functional-spatial (FS) scheme is to be established in accordance with site parameters, e.g. plot area, soil conditions, access etc. Then detailed scheme is fitted to the chosen set of architectural features to create formal solution. To manage all problems and questions additional conditions are to be taken into account, namely the building code (law regulations), technical and technological conditions and others applicable. The idea of "the architecture of background” is meant to improve the quality of spatial environment by incorporating flexible designing techniques and methods. Students and professionals are both part of the research and first results are discussed in the paper. As one can observe common urban or rural landscape, one finds unified architectural forms filling the surrounding. These are mostly low quality, low budget and uninteresting solutions lacking proper planning and designing efforts. The scope of the research is to develop better architecture for buildings that compose the proverbial bricks, of which our world is built. Through "Architecture of Background” assumptions it is possible to implement new design techniques to develop so-called typical design and common design in flexible manner. This is to provide the inhabitants with variety of relatively high quality, low budget solutions and fit architectural objects into their environment – and also to establish these methods in students' curriculum.