Between specificity and openness: How architects deal with design-use complexities. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stam, Liesbeth; Verbeek, Peter-Paul; Heylighen, Ann
• Is Part Of: Design studies. Volume 66(2020)
• Page Start: 54
• Page End: 81
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: architectural design -- case study -- design knowledge -- design process -- design-use relations; Design -- Periodicals; 745.405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.destud.2019.11.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0142-694X

Abstract

Abstract: Design-use relations are complex: architects influence social outcomes through design without having control over them. Making this complexity explicit during design is important, but difficult. Promising is work on human-technology relations in science and technology studies (STS) and philosophy of technology. With an eye to connecting this theoretical work to design practice, we study what architects already do: how design-use complexities figure during design processes and how architects deal with them. Based on a case study of the design competition for a new media building, we show two lines of reasoning in architects' anticipation of use: specificity and openness. In doing so, we aim to provide insight into when, where and why they can benefit from STS and philosophical theory. Highlights: - Anticipating use entails a continuous testing of solutions between specificity and openness. - To foster particular social outcomes architects develop specificity into their designs. - To deal with the unpredictability of use architects aim to create open designs.