Reciprocation

Abstract

If we recognize architecture as a built environment then we must also recognize it as a primarily static condition. Despite its affects on the present, architecture is primarily a response to the past. The past tense of the word “built” also implies this relationship and while buildings exist in the present, their conception remains in the past. The most change that any architectural project will endure is during the design process. Once built however, architecture transforms from a kinetic set of ideas to a static manifestation of form and materials. There is a distinct opposition between the static condition of architecture and the kinetic condition of its inhabitants. While buildings are not typically subject to change, people are in constant motion both physically and mentally. This relationship creates ample opportunity for people to become complacent to their environments especially compared to other circumstances. The impact of experience from even the most stimulating architecture will eventually begin to depreciate if its environment remains static and especially through constant interaction. This thesis aims to humanize the built environment by recognizing people as its primary subject and by reciprocating their kinetic condition. By challenging the built environment through the pursuance of a kinetic condition, architecture shall not only re-stimulate its inhabitants but also create a more symbiotic relationship between people and their environments.