Open Source Architecture: An Exploration of Source Code and Access in Architectural Design

Abstract

Open SOurce everythingIncreasing technological literacy, the popularization of hacking and do-it-yourself (DIY) and the growth of creative online communities have destabilized traditional models of design. The notion of "access" (to information, tools, designs, etc.) and models of production based on networks of collaborating individuals have become central discursive axes in diverse fields of human activity. These discussions are pragmatic, yet also vested with a utopian character, linking rhetoric of "democratization" and user empowerment to visions of decentralization and personal creativity.Free/Libre, Open Source Software (FLOSS) [1] exemplifies both a new model of production and a social vision [2], building on the emancipatory potential of non-hierarchical and egalitarian production where individuals and collectives can access, modify and distribute the technologies they utilize. Denoting both a pragmatic organizational model and an ideological position, the ideas and practices of FLOSS have now transcended the world of software and are gaining ground in the collective imaginary. The alleged Linus Torvalds quote "The future is open source everything" [3] has become the impetus for a common prospective endeavor.The growing wave of translations and interpretations of the tools, practices and concepts of FLOSS across different domains illustrates the evocative power of the phrase open source and its positive connotations as a brand. In most appropriations, the phrase drifts away from its initial meaning and functions as a metaphor that is used either to label existing practices or to motivate explorations of new ones. According to social scientist Dale Bradley, the cross-disciplinary use of open source operates primarily at a symbolic level. He argues that the phrase is used as a synonym for "open," to suggest a more horizontal, inclusive and participatory approach to design and production:

Follow the Open Source Road: Contemplating the Ethics of the New Information Ecology

“…(Gordon & Kittross, 2013, p. 109) To better understand the open source revolution, it is helpful to underscore the linguistic lineage of the most recognizable iteration of this social evolution-the open source software movement. As Vardouli and Buechley (2014) note, in the context of software, source code "is a set of instructions that can be executed into a software application" (p. 52). It seems logical that the "source code" referenced by the authors constitutes a metaphor that can be applied to other areas of our interconnected network of social and natural systems.…”

“…What's more, the guiding spirit of the open source movement, as an ethical framework, is itself inherently interdisciplinary. Vardouli and Buechley (2014) explain the initial ethos behind the open software movement argued that "freedom to access, share and modify software's source code should be a fundamental human right" (p. 51). Interestingly, the authors discuss how the alternative path to supporting open source software adopted a utilitarian approach, arguing the beneficial impact of opening greater amounts of information to greater amounts of the "public".…”

“…Interestingly, the authors discuss how the alternative path to supporting open source software adopted a utilitarian approach, arguing the beneficial impact of opening greater amounts of information to greater amounts of the "public". As the narrative put forth by Vardouli and Buechley (2014) suggests, the concept of open sourcing is rooted in the philosophical virtue of the public sphere.…”

URBAN OPEN SOURCE: Synthesis of a Citizen- Centric Framework to Design Densifying Cities

“…With the emergence of informality at the urban level, technological literacy at the architectural level, and participative culture among users, design is increasingly produced by a network of stakeholders. The relevance and practice of architecture and urbanism is moving from the sole authority of the designer to participatory equity of the stakeholders and users 11 . Furthermore, the Human Capital Theory of regional development posits that the Creative Class -the largest and fastest growing group of working individuals in the cities -values openness to diversity and opportunities to express their creativity over the physical attraction of malls, apartments, infrastructure and such.…”

L’architecture à l’heure du numérique, des algorithmes au projet

“…En logiciel, le code fournit un accès direct au produit, l'exécution sans équivoque étant l'un des piliers du libre accès. Pourtant, comme je l'ai démontré dans un article coécrit avec Leah Buechley 41 , tant que les architectes gardent des visions figées de la géométrie ainsi qu'un contrôle matériel des outils numériques, la réalisation des représentations architecturales laisse heureusement la place à des contingences matérielles et interprétatives. L'architecture en libre accès n'en continue pas moins de résonner et de provoquer l'enthousiasme -un écho des fantasmes de démocratisation et de déprofessionnalisation que les architectes ont projetés sur les technologies numériques vers 1970.…”