Short answer
Designers should acknowledge and strategically incorporate inherent contingencies rather than solely striving for an idealized, 'clean' outcome.
- Field
- Classic Design
- Source
- University of the Arts London Research Online (University of the Arts London) (2007)
- Method
- Theoretical analysis and historical review
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Architectural design has historically strived to impose order and beauty, often by denying the inherent contingency and messiness of real-world contexts. This classic design research insight is drawn from a 2007 study published in University of the Arts London Research Online (University of the Arts London). Using Theoretical analysis and historical review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers should acknowledge and strategically incorporate inherent contingencies rather than solely striving for an idealized, 'clean' outcome.
Architectural Design's Struggle Against Inherent Contingency
Architectural design has historically strived to impose order and beauty, often by denying the inherent contingency and messiness of real-world contexts.
University of the Arts London Research Online (University of the Arts London) · 2007
Key Findings
- 01Architecture has a long-standing tendency to reject or minimize contingency.
- 02This rejection is linked to broader modernist impulses for order, social control, and cultural 'cleansing'.
- 03The denial of contingency extends beyond aesthetics to encompass social and cultural dimensions.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers should acknowledge and strategically incorporate inherent contingencies rather than solely striving for an idealized, 'clean' outcome.
How to apply
When developing design concepts, consider the unpredictable elements of the environment, user behavior, and societal shifts, and how the design can accommodate or leverage these.
Project actions
- 01When documenting your design process, reflect on moments where you encountered unexpected challenges or user behaviors (contingencies) and how you addressed them.
- 02Consider if your design aims for an overly idealized outcome that might not be achievable or desirable in a real-world context.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Provides a critical theoretical framework for understanding design's relationship with reality.
- +Connects architectural trends to broader societal and philosophical movements.
Limitations
It's hard to 'prove' that denying contingency is bad without specific case studies. The paper is more of a philosophical argument.
Reliability & validity
The validity of the argument rests on the coherence of the theoretical links drawn between architectural history, sociology, and philosophy. Reliability would depend on the consistent application of these theoretical lenses across different historical examples.
Think critically
If architects have historically denied contingency, what are the ethical implications of this denial, especially when considering social control and cultural cleansing?
Design Principles
"Design for inherent contingency: Recognize that context, use, and societal factors introduce unavoidable complexities; design solutions that can adapt to or embrace these complexities."
Understanding this tension between imposed order and inherent contingency is crucial for designers. It prompts a critical examination of how design decisions can either reinforce or embrace the complexities of use, context, and societal factors.
What This Means for Your Design
Designers often try to make things look perfect and ordered, but the real world is messy. This research says that trying too hard to get rid of the messiness can be a problem, not just for how things look, but for how they work in society.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to discuss the philosophical underpinnings of your design choices, particularly if you aimed for a highly ordered or 'clean' aesthetic, and then had to adapt.
- 2.Critically evaluate whether your design process adequately considered potential real-world complexities and user interactions.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights a historical tendency in design to strive for order and beauty by denying inherent contingency. While aiming for coherence is a valid design goal, this perspective suggests that an overemphasis on eliminating 'messiness' can overlook crucial real-world complexities, potentially leading to designs that are less adaptable or socially responsive. Therefore, it is important to critically examine whether design solutions are overly idealized and consider how to incorporate or accommodate inherent contextual factors.
Source
University of the Arts London Research Online (University of the Arts London)
Architecture and contingency
journal · 2007
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about architectural design's struggle against inherent contingency?
- Designers should acknowledge and strategically incorporate inherent contingencies rather than solely striving for an idealized, 'clean' outcome. Evidence: University of the Arts London Research Online (University of the Arts London) (2007).
- Why does "Architectural Design's Struggle Against Inherent Contingency" matter for design?
- Understanding this tension between imposed order and inherent contingency is crucial for designers. It prompts a critical examination of how design decisions can either reinforce or embrace the complexities of use, context, and societal factors.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers should acknowledge and strategically incorporate inherent contingencies rather than solely striving for an idealized, 'clean' outcome.
- What were the main findings?
- Architecture has a long-standing tendency to reject or minimize contingency.. This rejection is linked to broader modernist impulses for order, social control, and cultural 'cleansing'.. The denial of contingency extends beyond aesthetics to encompass social and cultural dimensions.
- What research method was used?
- Theoretical analysis and historical review.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2007 journal from University of the Arts London Research Online (University of the Arts London).
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing design concepts, consider the unpredictable elements of the environment, user behavior, and societal shifts, and how the design can accommodate or leverage these.
- What are the limitations?
- The paper's approach is theoretical and historical, offering a critical perspective rather than empirical data on design outcomes.