Culture of construction two archives /,one practice
bui lding research materials records
Master builders, with an all-encompassing knowledge of construction, gained through a life spent in apprenticeship and practice, were the original architects. Etymologically, architect derives from the Greek arkhi : chief + tekton : craftsman; much removed from our contemporary understanding of the role of the architect designer as the mind, but not the muscle, behind every building. Even today, the dwellings and residential landscapes of the global majority are designed through building, by tradespeople, competent amateurs and the collective efforts of communities. Designs evolve and unfold within an iterative culture of construction, and adapt to the limitations of their geographical, ecological, social and economic context, long after people take up residence. By necessity many of these practices have a low impact, even a regenerative effect, on their surrounding natural environment. The rise of industrial production of the built environment across the world is seeing the demise of such adaptable, light-touch practices at a time when we need them most. Conventional modern construction has developed in response to an ever-increasing demand for predictable efficiency and ‘quality’. As the ultimate goal of property development, the elimination of financial risk for investors is sought through a homogeneous culture of standardised procedures, conservative over- specification of materials and just-in-time production. Building materials and components are created at scale in digitised and
mechanised systems, with little regard for the environmental and social consequences of their production and transport via global supply chains. Waste is an inevitable by-product of such a hurried and linear industry, where there is no time for the inevitable, unpredictable delays and mistakes that arise when operating in the context of a living planet. The human construction worker is an inefficient instrument of the system. An alternative to this indifferent, growth- oriented model of construction where profit is centralised, might aim to reclaim the process of building for the purposes of a more ecologically sustainable and socially just pluriverse of global communities. It could consider the local landscape of any site by designing and working with materials procured, transformed and applied with the least movement, processing, additives and layers. Through every material and operational choice an opportunity to create positive ecological impact and to improve social and personal outcomes for all those involved can be seized. As the central autonomous agent in this process the builder is in a position of both giving and receiving those benefits but is also pivotal as the keeper and conveyor of its culture and methods. Construction that is flexible and responsive in nature, based on observation and practical experience requires a different approach to learning and translation of knowledge, and therefore archiving. It is instructive to think about what archives of building might already exist. *
Arch-ive investigates the books that have been influential to leading urban practitioners. It aims to showcase architects’ relationship with books and the way in which they utilise, interrogate and display architectural resources.
arch-ive.xyz
Building on the Built is a platform which aims to promote the topic of architectural work connected with existing structures and, more specifically, to look at work that might challenge the way in which work on existing structures is approached today. Building on the Built focusses on work that celebrates an alternative to pure architecture, work that is evolving, mongrel and collaborative with time. www.buildingonthe- built.org Local Works Studio , established in 2017 is a partnership between a landscape architect and a building craftsman. We are makers and thinkers who design places with people. We are optimistic, collaborative, creative and inquiring. We draw on a wide network of trusted collaborators and specialist consultants to help deliver projects.
This is an excerpt from a longer interview recorded by Loretta Bosence, of Local Works Studio. It is published in Building on the Built, describing Arch- ive Editions, an irregular publication that focusses on the books that have influenced architectural disigners, that they refer to, and use in practice. The full interview can be found here: www. buildingonthebuilt. org/archive- archive-edition-3- excerpt
localworksstudio.com
Local Works
Brick prototype by Local Works Studio
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on site review 48 :: building materials
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