This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Regional and Urban Design Committee and Committee on Design .
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This is an expansion of the essay, "Examining Architecture" published on my blog in October, 2010. I won't repeat the essay but include it by reference and location at:
http://wmhosack.blogspot.com/
In the previous version of this essay I focused on the architectural process, but I should have mentioned that the current process primarily involves tactical decisions. This effort is undertaken to accomplish the strategic plan of others. This strategic plan is often based on a policy of land speculation and profit that seems to transcend political dogma in all nations. It is a tradition that is as old as our presence on this planet. Instinct tells us we must take, hold, develop and defend land to survive; but instinct has not adapted to success. The old formula is now pushing the limits of an artificial Built Domain into the world of a Natural Domain it cannot replace. This is because shelter is an essential element of survival. It must expand with growing populations and resource demand, but it is an artificial intrusion into a more fundamental source of survival. We have found a similar situation in nature and have named successful solutions "symbiotic", but have ignored the importance of this example. We can all debate who gave us this lesson as a gift, but it's irrelevant. However we arrived and however we have learned, we have been given the opportunity to survive against tremendous odds based on our ability to adapt, and we ignore this gift at our own peril.
Symbiotic survival is a global policy decision. It requires that we establish balance between the Built Domain and an irreplaceable Natural Domain that will decide our level of success. There is no greater challenge. Medicine, for instance, will become irrelevant if we fail, which is entirely possible given the diversity of opinion and hubris involved.
The Built Domain is composed of the Shelter, Movement, Open Space and Life Support Divisions. Shelter is a catalyst that is served by the other three divisions. Shelter means survival, but it must be constructed within a limited Built Domain whose boundaries protect the presence of the Natural Domain. This means that we must define these limits and learn more about the relationship of intensity to open space within them if we are to protect our presence and quality of life. If the policy is "symbiotic" and the strategy is "city design", the tactics of architecture will determine if we succeed in the field - and this is where issues are resolved.
Strategy is found at all levels of decision-making, but can be confused when the level of decision is not recognized. "Examining Architecture" emphasizes the tactical level of architectural decisions. I'm not sure of architectural policy and it does not appear to be organized to pursue the advanced research and education required for city design; but there is a need to enter the Symbiotic Period of civilization, and architecture is qualified if it chooses to mobilize in response to the challenge.
When symbiotic policy and city design strategy are considered, the architectural team expands to include a host of allied professions and sciences who must collaborate on strategy and invent tactics once they agree on policy. At the present time our policy thinking is linear as each pursues separate objectives. The key to a symbiotic future, however, is organic thinking that correlates external influences with internal response. Architecture grows in the garden created by city design and both must represent an organic strategy designed to achieve a symbiotic future with an irreplaceable natural host. The challenge is getting there and the obstacle is policy agreement and strategic planning. Together we have, and can invent, tactical ability but we need leadership determination. I can't help but believe that this will be a major challenge for the 21st century.
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Walter Hosack
Author
Walter M. Hosack
Dublin OH
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