Material and Social Construction: A Framework for the Adaptation of Buildings

Abstract

This article is a formulation of a framework for understanding the nature of change, particularly climate change, as it applies to the scale of a building. Through an exploration of various scientific and social scientific literutre, the article positions the concept of adaptation as the appropriate mode for understanding and managing change. Through the classification of a duality of material and social construction in the ontological composition of a building, various lines of thought relating to adaptive capacity and adaptive cycling within systems theory are appropriated within an integrated framework for adaptation. Specifically, it is theorized that as buildings as objects are developing greater capacities for intergrated operations and management through artificial intelligence, they will possess an ex ante capacity to autonomously adapt in dynamic relation to and with the ex post adaptation of owners and operators. It is argued that this top-down and bottom-up confluence of multi-scalar dynamic change is consistent with the prevailing theory of Panarchy applied in social-ecological systems theory. The article concludes with normative perspectives on the limitations of systems theory in architecture, future directions for research and an alternative positioning of professional practices.

Climate Adaptation and Resilience Across Scales

“…That is why studies in socio-ecological resilience suggest that resilience in the built environment is fundamentally about people and systems, rather than property alone (Laboy and Fannon 2016). For example, Keenan points to the duality of buildings as material (object) and social construction (managers/users) as critical to understating the adaptive capacity to climate change (Keenan 2014). Similarly, Adger emphasizes increasing the ability of individuals, groups, or organizations to adapt to changes, and to implement adaptation decisions by taking action (Adger, Arnell, and Tompkins 2005).…”

Climate Change Adaptation Measures for Buildings—A Scoping Review

“…Frameworks for how to design resilient, climate-adaptable buildings are discussed by Basyyouni [42], Voskamp and Van de Ven [43], and Keenan [44]. The framework in [42] includes economic, social, environmental, and obsolescence factors, as well as a list of possible climate adaptation measures.…”