Affordances of Architectural Typology (2024)

“Affordances of Architectural Typology" is a concept for design-driven research that explores and advancessustainable design strategies aimed at resilient building structures but are inherently architectural in nature. Asmaterial compositions, buildings mediate between forms and functions across different timescales. Considering the“shearing layers” of a building, the primary structural system can last for hundreds of years, while non-bearing walls,surfaces, furnishings, and specific uses are more temporary. This temporal disparity creates a gap that architectsbridge “designerly”—using techniques of abstraction to envision past and future forms of inhabitation and alteration,revealing the building’s fundamental character, or type. A resilient structure aligns closely with its type, a formalstructure or organizational notion that imparts a recognizable order upon architectural elements. This alignment isevident in historical buildings where load-bearing elements, building volume, and rooms structurally overlap,allowing for centuries of diverse uses and adaptations. However, with modern, energy-intensive buildingtechnologies and the separation of the building envelope, this alignment becomes rare. Thus, transforming modernstructures convincingly requires greater interpretation and self-determination in design.This paper examines the affordances of architectural typologies in two directions, reflecting the authors’ expertise.First, affordances are viewed as extensions to the notion of type in architecture, illustrated with reuse projectsdemonstrating that beyond meeting specific functional requirements, aiming for typological clarity is key to re-establishing architectural quality and providing flexibility for future transformations. Second, for an innovativeapproach in resilient architectural design, there is a need to update the post-functionalist critique around the notionof ‘type’ as an epistemology of the architectural discipline. This renewal involves reusing and recycling both theknowledge and the materiality of buildings. Understanding and leveraging architectural typologies can lead to moresustainable and adaptable design practices by embracing the inherent flexibility within the temporal layers ofbuildings. Architects can create structures that honour their historical significance while being capable ofaccommodating future needs by respecting typological essence and innovating within its framework to fosterresilient architecture that is both timeless and adaptable.