In David Leatherbarrow’s book ‘Architecture Orientated Otherwise’ he argues for a change in approach to architectural theory and design, he argues that instead of thinking about “what the building is” we should first consider “what it does, defining the first by means of the second”(Leatherbarrow, (2009) pp. 43) a building defined through its acts or performances rather than its function.
In some ways I wanted to take Leatherbarrow’s idea of performances and not only consider them in the context of what the building or landscape does, but also what the user can do with the space, and question what the afforded performances of the user in the space are.
I applied this approach in the design of my landscape of social infrastructure. Instead of dictating the social function of the landscape, I wanted to evaluate how the spaces could perform both culturally and environmentally for the user, and in doing so providing resilience throughout the year. As water is the main element, component and material of this landscape, I began to investigate how water could perform in different ways and in different states to afford resilience to the community.
Water affords different performances in its different states, be it water itself, or ice or mist. The provision of water in different states at different times of the year can comfort people in various ways. Mist, for example, can cool the inhabitants of space during hot summers. Ice, on the other hand, can afford skating in the winter, promoting physical activity during cold depressing weather, when most of us feel more inclined to sit in front of the TV or to be hidden in a corner reading a book.
In some ways I wanted to take Leatherbarrow’s idea of performances and not only consider them in the context of what the building or landscape does, but also what the user can do with the space, and question what the afforded performances of the user in the space are.
I applied this approach in the design of my landscape of social infrastructure. Instead of dictating the social function of the landscape, I wanted to evaluate how the spaces could perform both culturally and environmentally for the user, and in doing so providing resilience throughout the year. As water is the main element, component and material of this landscape, I began to investigate how water could perform in different ways and in different states to afford resilience to the community.
Water affords different performances in its different states, be it water itself, or ice or mist. The provision of water in different states at different times of the year can comfort people in various ways. Mist, for example, can cool the inhabitants of space during hot summers. Ice, on the other hand, can afford skating in the winter, promoting physical activity during cold depressing weather, when most of us feel more inclined to sit in front of the TV or to be hidden in a corner reading a book.