Immutable elements: ancient issues new visions

Abstract

The theme of this abstract refers to the immutable elements of architecture. The investigation inquires the possibility of architectonic interpretation of immutable elements of design becoming a subject of synthesis and creation of new visions over the times. Despite all the contextual and cultural changes which may differentiate distinct buildings the architectural practice can basically be described as lying at the cultural and contextual root rather than providing a direct response to procedures and standards. The overall practice of architecture embraces a synthesis of a wide range of elements interpreted in different perspectives over different periods of history. The practice shapes specific responses transforming and adapting places, spaces, techniques and materials to different contexts. Throughout the paper, we intend to explore the responses to architectonic topics of architectural buildings. Specific responses to technical, material, context and cultural issues are subject of investigation. More specifically we will focus on the development and the final proposal of architectural designs. Analyzing and assessing the themes approached, the perspective establishes a triangulate between the implicit theory and practice. The appraisal of proposals will be assessed and reviewed assuming that thinking and doing establish a dialectical relation. Doing is intrinsically related with thinking either in testing, moves or probes of experimental action. Thus, reflection feeds doing and its results searching a dialectical process where thinking and doing reciprocally overlap boundaries. This paper points to reveal and expose the relation within the inner core of the architectural design. Evolution sketches, models and technical drawings are some materials to work with, on the construction of the essential concepts of the projects. This paper aims to explore the overlap of proposed interventions, in order to identify the dominant themes and reach a higher level of selfreflective practice. Once identified the character of the design, it is possible to clarify the architectonic immutable elements and establish the link to new visions of ancient issues. Once the development of an architectural design is involved in a nonlinear process, full of advances and retreats, characterized by ongoing interplay of factors involved in the development of project synthesis, the boundaries of each scheme will be defined by the specificity of context and form. The methodological hypothesis proposes the direct access to the author of the projects. This process enables to trace the evolution of the design scheme and the final proposal. This way we expect that it will be possible to enlarge the range of level of self-reflective practice.