The “Editorial – Open Source Architecture” in Domus 948
discusses the emerging procedures for design, construction and operations of
buildings through open source architecture. This new procedure is made possible
through a collaboration of amateurs and experts working together. “…producing
recipes for everyday buildings – is another form of early lo-fi open-source
culture, optimising technologies for building.”1
This way of working eliminates the hierarchy of client
architect occupant, giving everyone an equal share. This method is praised in
the editorial, however, it seems illogical to allow an expert in the field so be
‘de-ranked’ and placed with those who know little to nothing about the project
in the long run. However, open source architecture allows for mass
customisation as well as personalisation, replacing the standardisation of
housing and other structures in architecture. Buildings are able to be modified
accordingly to each individual’s needs, creating different and unique buildings
from the same base plan. Essentially, enabling sharing and collaboration in
designing kinetic or smart environments that tightly integrate software,
hardware and mechanisms.
New economic models open up new modes of project initiation
and development via programs such as “Kickstarter” and “Sponsume”, “destabilising
the traditionally feudal hierarchy of client/architect/occupant.”2 Although
open source allows people to work together, standards are vital to a smooth
operation and collaboration. This addresses issues of hardware compatibility
between the interface and those designing across the network.
These standards can become a negative factor, restricting
designers and others from participating due to lack on inadequate software
and/or hardware. By working in such a dense group, design creativity can be
diluted when such numbers are involved which is why I don’t see open source
being successful in large projects.
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