Made to Measure

Abstract

Most often the design of a building is thought to originate solely from the mind of the designer. The architect’s vision focuses on a final product while the construction process is seen as a means of creating that product. Is the construction process simply a means to an end, or can the way we construct things directly influence the design itself? Current building processes have begun connecting design and construction through inadequate and possibly unintentional connections. The vast resources and technology available to our society today provide potential for a much deeper connection which designers and constructors must strive for. Construction techniques can influence the design through limitations of resources such as materials, labor, and technology. Aesthetic elements might be added to a design as a reflection of a building technique. The climate and location of a site can provide new options of construction that will enrich the presence of the project; however, is it possible that a more fundamental connection can be restored between making and designing? In their book Refabricating Architecture, Stephen Kieran and James Timberlake state, “Architecture requires control, deep control, not merely of an idea, but also of the stuff we use to give form to the idea.” (Kieran and Timberlake 29) Today, we live in a world that is driven by advancements in technology. Innovation in computers and everyday devices has changed the way people live their lives. Advances in communication technology have created worldwide trade networks and a global economy. Because of new computer aided design and manufacturing software, the aerospace and automobile industries have been completely reconfigured. The making of architecture is perhaps one of the last industries to be heavily influenced by these rapid improvements of technology. Some architects have experimented with the potential of mixing the art of building with technological capabilities; however, mainstream building processes continue to rely on conventional techniques of the out-dated assembly line model. Can technological innovation aid designers in the creation of an architecture that is superior in both form and function? Through deep research of case studies as well as empirical experiment, this thesis will seek to explore the potential advantages of utilizing mass customization in architecture. Special attention will be given to the way the design process and the role of the architect are evolving in response to the advancement of technology. This study will attempt to conduct design exercises that create an architecture that is both unique in form and efficient in economies of material and capital. In the process, this thesis will also investigate technology’s ability to make a building more flexible and sustainable.