Das Kapitel untersucht das Konzept der Mikrolandschaften innerhalb der architektonischen Materialität und betrachtet sie als komplexe Texte, die kulturelle, historische und soziale Narrative verkörpern. Durch Anwendung linguistischer Theorien, Semiotik und räumlicher Syntax wird aufgezeigt, wie architektonische Texturen die umfassendere Kulturlandschaft widerspiegeln und als Speicher für Erinnerung und Identität dienen. Der Text untersucht die Entwicklung architektonischer Narrative durch technologische Innovationen wie 3D-gedruckten Beton, die den Design-to-Fabrication-Prozess neu definieren und neue kulturelle Pfade kodieren. Sie unterstreicht die Bedeutung eines multidisziplinären Ansatzes für das Verständnis des Zusammenspiels zwischen Kunst, Technologie und Umwelt und bietet einen umfassenden Rahmen zur Interpretation und Würdigung der reichen, vielschichtigen Bedeutungen innerhalb der architektonischen Materialität. Das Kapitel schließt mit der Betonung des Potenzials aufstrebender Technologien und kollaborativer, inklusiver Praktiken bei der Gestaltung einer Zukunft, in der architektonische Innovationen harmonisch mit dem kulturellen Erbe verflochten sind.
KI-Generiert
Diese Zusammenfassung des Fachinhalts wurde mit Hilfe von KI generiert.
Abstract
The cultural landscape generates from the interference of tangible and intangible components, and is transformed by human civilisations with the stratification of memory and knowledge evolution. Working on the cultural landscape, we can interpret its stratified topography as an intricate overlapping of signs that can be decoded, thus identifying the territory's quality and revealing the significance of a place. The identity of a place lies in the cultural traces and consists of the process. Observing the landscape through the lens of our culture is inevitable, and the landscape reflects ourselves, our traditions, and our memories. At a different scale, by observing the detail of any architectural artefact surface, we discover a micro-landscape with signs and memories of the process defining its identity. As in a cultural landscape, the micro-landscape becomes a system of permanences and mutations. Through its materiality, the evolutionary and metamorphic stratification of the micro-landscape embraces and protects the sense of memory of the cultural landscape. This study and understanding of materiality's micro-landscapes originate from the recent technological development of 3D-printed concrete (3DPC). The research investigates the potential of innovative architectural language by exploring the textures and patterns as the foundation for building a future memory. By encompassing the entire design-to-production process, the research explores the articulated micro-landscape of 3DPC residing in technological and material-related innovations as well as fabrication process redefinition. A new meaning of landscape makes its way, revealing a new integral approach to design production that gives architectural and cultural value to technological development.
1 Introduction: Reimagining Micro-Landscapes
As a systemic approach in Architectural Design, the exploration of ‘micro-landscapes’ within architectural materiality, viewed through the prism of memory and cultural landscape, emphasises the interdependencies of art, technology, and the environment and the need for cross-disciplinary methodologies.
The underlying assumption of reinterpreting landscapes as texts is a notion inspired by various disciplinary insights ranging from geography to linguistics. Traditional perspectives often see landscapes as purely natural, non-artificial entities. However, at the urban scale, a cultural landscapes is a complex amalgamation of tangible and intangible elements shaped by human civilisations.
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Our approach further explores the idea of landscapes as ‘texts’ enriched by layers of history and cultural significance. Here, linguistic theories (Chomsky, 1957; Austin, 1962), semiotics (Saussure, 1916; Barthes, 1972), spatial syntax (Hillier and Hanson, 1984), and the concept of the palimpsest (Corboz, 1998) provide a multi-layered framework. This theoretical underpinning allows for ‘reading’ landscapes as physical spaces and repositories of meaning, symbols, and cultural narratives (Dall'Asta, 2012). It prompts a re-evaluation of landscape elements in terms of syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and their dynamic interrelations, mirroring language's structural, contextual, and meaning-making aspects.
Extending this analogy to architectural textures, the paper posits that observing the texture of a wall or any architectural surface is analogous to observing a landscape. This metaphorical shift leads to the discovery of ‘micro-landscapes’ within material textures, mirroring the macro-landscape in the embodiment of signs, memories, and processes.
In conclusion, this work explores the understanding of materiality's micro-landscapes in architecture through the narrative of paradigmatic stories and technological innovations like 3DPC. It aims to open a reflection into new architectural languages, understanding their textures and patterns as foundational elements for building future memories. This paper aspires to deepen our understanding of landscapes and architectural materiality as complex, multi-layered texts that reflect and shape human experience and cultural identity by interlacing diverse theoretical frameworks.
2 Methodology
This research adopts a primarily qualitative methodology, underlining theoretical exploration to investigate the complex relationship between material textures in architecture and the concept of micro-landscapes. Moreover, the investigation methodology emphasises the importance of a theoretical foundation across linguistics, semiotics, spatial syntax, and landscape theory. It acknowledges that a deep appreciation of architectural values necessitates a cultured understanding beyond the reach of those without specific cultural backgrounds, reflecting themes prevalent in modern architectural theory and restoration.
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The methodology is two-sided: it interprets architectural textures as texts filled with meaning, requiring a discerning eye to decode. It critically analyses how theoretical frameworks enrich our understanding of architectural materiality as a dynamic medium conveying collective memory and identity. Incorporating case studies illustrates these theoretical insights in practice, demonstrating how specialised knowledge unlocks architectural narratives, blending physical appreciation with deeper cultural and theoretical comprehension.
3 Theoretical Framework: Interpreting the Landscape
The interpretation of landscapes transcends ordinary observation, containing a rich display of linguistic, semiotic, spatial, and cultural elements. This research explores the complex layers of landscape interpretation; it reflects on how these diverse disciplines collectively enhance our understanding of landscapes, not just as physical entities but as dynamic texts abounding with meaning and cultural significance.
3.1 Linguistic Analogies in Landscape Interpretation
Exploring landscapes through linguistic concepts offers a renewed perspective on understanding our environment. This approach involves applying linguistic principles like syntax, semantics, phonology, and discourse analysis to interpret landscapes beyond their physicality, revealing their rich, layered meanings.
Syntax, as introduced by Noam Chomsky (1957), provides a framework for analysing how landscape elements are arranged. It suggests that similar to sentence structure in language, landscapes have an inherent ‘grammar’ that organises paths, trees, and buildings (Chomsky, 1957). Kevin Lynch expanded on this, showing how spatial arrangements guide our interactions and perceptions within a landscape (Lynch, 1960).
Semantics interprets landscape components as words with meanings influenced by cultural and historical contexts. For instance, a river could symbolise a boundary or a life source, depending on its context (Saussure, 1916). This semantic view highlights how landscapes convey varied meanings based on their elements and settings.
Pragmatics, relating to J.L. Austin's theory (1962), focuses on how the context and personal experiences of an observer shape their interpretation of landscapes (Austin, 1962). It underscores the subjectivity in understanding landscapes, where personal and cultural backgrounds significantly impact perception. The landscape is how humans return to their naturality (Levi-Strauss, 1949). We inevitably observe the landscape through the lens of our culture (Ritter, 2001).
Phonology in linguistics parallels landscape aesthetics, as per Roman Jakobson's work (1941), which examines the aesthetic impact of landscapes (Jakobson, 1941). Visual rhythms and patterns within a landscape, like the repetition of shapes or contrasting textures, contribute to its overall aesthetic and emotional appeal, similar to how sounds in language create meaning.
Morphology, as explored by Leonard Bloomfield (1933), relates to how landscapes evolve, shaped by natural and human influences (Bloomfield, 1933). This process is equated to the formation of words in a language, where landscapes transform by adding, altering, or removing their morphemes, the smallest units of meaning.
Discourse analysis interprets larger landscapes as coherent ‘texts’ (van Dijk, 1985). This approach analyses how different landscape parts come together to form encompassing meanings, enabling a comprehensive understanding of how various landscape components interact and contribute to the overall narrative.
Using linguistic analogies in landscape interpretation reveals a multidimensional understanding of our environments. By viewing landscapes as languages, we gain deeper insights into their composition, evolution, and meaning, highlighting their significance as dynamic texts saturated with cultural, historical, and social narratives.
3.2 Semiotic and Spatial Syntax Theory in Landscape Analysis
Landscape analysis, enriched by semiotic theory, spatial syntax, and historical perspectives, offers a multidimensional framework for understanding the intricate relationship between human culture and the physical environment. Drawing on the foundational works of Saussure (1983) and Barthes (1972), landscapes are interpreted as systems of signs within a communicative framework. Elements within the landscape symbolise cultural, historical, and societal values, reflecting dynamic messages and narratives (Dall’Asta, 2012).
Complementing this, the concept of spatial syntax, as posited by Hillier and Hanson (1984), examines the spatial arrangement of environmental elements and their impact on human behaviour and social interactions. This analytical lens reveals how the configuration of paths, vegetation, and structures influences movement and experience, proving instrumental in urban planning and design for creating functional spaces.
Moreover, landscapes are perceived as cultural and historical texts, echoing Jackson's (1984) perspective that landscapes symbolise stories and meanings beyond their physical appearance. They serve as palimpsests, continuously rewritten with layers of historical and cultural significance. This view recognises landscapes as repositories of collective memory and identity, where each modification adds to the evolving narrative of the place.
Integrating linguistic analogies, semiotic theory, spatial syntax, and historical analysis, this interdisciplinary approach provides a comprehensive framework for understanding landscapes. It underscores landscapes’ role as complex texts that communicate and embody rich cultural, historical, and social narratives, emphasising their significance in reflecting and shaping human experience and cultural identity.
4 Architectural Materiality: From Macro to Micro-landscapes
In the journey from the macrocosm of landscapes to the microcosm of architectural textures, a metaphorical shift is essential to explore the intricate relationship between these two realms. This transition invites us to view the texture of a wall or any architectural surface not just as a physical attribute but as a micro-landscape rich in process, identity, and memory, echoing the broader landscape.
The criteria defining the creation and transformation of modern macro-landscapes are mainly related to environmental considerations, services efficiency and financial strategies, generally leaving the established architectural typologies and design process untouched.
A different set of criteria applies to micro-landscape, which includes technical and technological developments. Techniques, new materials and new technologies become the actual dimensions of a conscious innovative design-to-fabrication process, and are the keys for the creation and interpretation of new architectural micro-landscapes.
4.1 Micro-landscapes: Reading Materiality as Text
The observation of architectural textures through the lens of landscape interpretation reveals a microcosm analogous to the broader cultural landscape. This approach considers architectural surfaces as dynamic fields of interconnections, where layers of materiality narrate tales of history and memory (Dall’Asta, 2012). Just as we interpret landscapes as complex texts filled with cultural, historical, and social narratives, architectural textures offer a similar narrative depth. In this imaginative experimentation, the materiality of architecture becomes a system of Continuity and discontinuity, permanence and mutation, echoing the evolutionary and metamorphic stratification of larger landscapes.
This micro-landscape perspective in architecture is parallel to observing a cultural landscape. It involves identifying a dynamic field of interconnections, where each layer contributes to the overall narrative. Architectural surfaces tell stories of events and memories through the textures and patterns of materials, linking them to the broader context of cultural and historical landscapes.
4.2 Architectural Materiality and Digital Encoding of Memory and Identity
Exploring micro-landscapes in architectural materiality extends beyond aesthetic appreciation. It investigates how materials protect and convey the sense of memory, linking the physicality of a place to its cultural and historical context. This concept aligns with systemic approaches in architectural design, where the interplay of art, technology, and environment is crucial.
In this context, architectural materiality is interpreted as a text, narrating paradigmatic stories and reflecting the evolutionary journey of its environment. This perspective aligns with the view that every material texture, pattern, or design element in architecture is a repository of memory, embodying a unique identity and process (Dall’Asta, 2012).
This metaphorical shift from macro-landscapes to micro-landscapes in architectural materiality facilitates a comprehensive understanding of our built environment. It opens up a process for exploring new architectural languages, where textures and patterns are not mere design elements but foundational components that build future memories and cultural narratives. The exploration of materiality's micro-landscapes through this lens aims to deepen our understanding of architecture's role in reflecting and shaping human experience and cultural identity.
Every artefact with architectural value shows traces of the time and cultural environment in which it was conceived and built, as well as the designer's original intention: this value can be decoded and interpreted using different registers, from the materials used to the clever and delicate use of light and shadow interacting with the architectural surface. This type of micro-landscape is easy to interpret even from non-experts, and generates the intuitive fascination about a building or its aura.
In many cases, however, decoding the micro-landscape in all its cultural and technical dimensions becomes more difficult, and the real value can only be fully appreciated by those in the industry.
Fig. 1.
Félix Candela, Virgen Milagrosa, Mexico City – Ceilings. Photo by the author.
The micro-landscape of the ceiling of the Virgen Milagrosa (Fig. 1), for example, narrates about Candela’s experimentation on reinforced concrete ruled surfaces, reflected in the use of linear wooden laths in the construction of formworks, a visible trace and a memory of his iconic style, but also of his pioneer work on shells and lightweight structures.
The materiality of micro-landscapes in its cultural significance is the result of a variety of production processes and a skilful final assembly, resulting in a diverse and distributed sets of masteries, standards and technologies. The adoption of a digitally enhanced design-to-fabrication process (Di Marco and Dall'Asta, 2024) is redefining the way a micro-landscape is encoded.
The traditional micro-landscape, with its recognisable materiality, immediately transpires and triggers memories of ancient methods and knowledge, of hard work in the production of materials and their assembly on site, memories made of necessary imperfections that constitute the real added value of the micro-landscape itself as they recall its humanity and cultural belonging.
The cultural dimensions of the modern micro-landscape inevitably include mastery of digital design tools and use of digital fabrication technologies, in line with the principles of Industry 4.0 (Suleiman et al., 2022; Khorasani et al., 2022). The spectrum of cultural values contained in the micro-landscape becomes wider and more difficult to read and decode due to the complex knowledge and skills required (Di Marco, 2018).
A disruptive moment in the evolution of construction is happening with the application of 3D printing to the AEC Industry, a digital design-to-fabrication process radically changing the definition and encoding of the micro-landscape (Di Marco and Dall'Asta, 2023).
3D printing unifies the traditionally separated moments of production and assembly of semi-finished products in one single construction step, while computational design becomes the main design method, allowing for the consideration and simulation of the inevitable complexity of modern design. Differently from what happened before its invention, the 3DPC micro-landscape is digitally encoded from the beginning.
Computational design allows for considering non-geometric information in the design process (materials properties, stress analysis and simulation), which in turn allows for predicting the optimised layout of materials during the 3D printing process. Apart from shaping the general form of the object, this process informs the orientation of the 3D-printed layers, constituting the most visible feature of the 3DPC micro-landscape.
Fig. 2.
Layers in a double-curvature 3DPC acoustic barrier. Photo by the author.
The layering (Fig. 2) can be decoded using different registers – aesthetic, function, performance – and narrates the story of how the architectural element was conceived, designed, prepared and fabricated; in the case of structural elements, it also shows how the element works. The macro level interacts with technical and technological innovations at the micro level, fostering and being empowered by innovative design-to-fabrication processes and redefining architectural typologies.
The advent of 3D-printed concrete (3DPC) emerges as a technological beacon integrating computational design with material innovation, not only invigorating architectural language but also redefining the cultural imprint within architectural narratives.
3DPC textures, viewed as rich texts, reflect a dynamic interplay of continuity and mutation, linking tangible structures with intangible (digital) cultural narratives. Far from being merely aesthetic, these textures serve as memory and identity, encapsulating evolving cultural trajectories.
5 Conclusions and Further Development
In this paper, we've navigated the complex interplay between architecture, memory, and cultural landscapes, spotlighting the profound role of micro-landscapes in architectural materiality. By decoding architectural textures as narrative texts, beyond their mere physical attributes, we've uncovered the historical, memorial, and identity-rich strata inherent in our built environments.
Looking forward, the fusion of emerging technologies with architectural innovation beckons a future ripe with potential. This meld promises not only a refinement of the design-to-fabrication process but also a richer understanding of cultural and historical narratives deeply ingrained in architectural fabric. The path forward is one of collaboration, uniting the expertise of diverse disciplines to weave a complex tapestry of memory, identity, and resilience within our built spaces.
Incorporating this intricate understanding of materiality into architectural education empowers future architects, fostering a balance between heritage and innovation. Moreover, involving communities in the design narrative promises a more inclusive, culturally resonant architectural practice. As we stand at the threshold of a new era marked by digital transformation, the exploration of materiality's micro-landscapes becomes imperative, paving the way for an architectural future where memory, identity, and innovation intertwine in a harmonious narrative.
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