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New Science, New Urbanism -- New Architecture? DRAFT The Order of Nature New Science, New Urbanism ‐‐ New Architecture? Conference Proceedings The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment 20 September 2004 © 2006 The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment, Michael W. Mehaffy, and the respective conference contributors. All rights reserved. Distribution of this draft or any material herein for individual or academic use only. All other uses only by permission. The Order of Nature New Science, New Urbanism ‐‐ New Architecture? Contents Overview Introduction Michael Mehaffy, Director of Education, The Prince’s Foundation….…….…..3 The Art and Science of the Public Realm George Ferguson, President, RIBA…………………………..…..………….……..6 Science, Quality and Emergence Toward a New Science of Qualities Brian Goodwin, Biologist and Author…………....…………..……………………8 Order, Emergence and the Self‐Made Tapestry Philip Ball, Consulting Editor, Nature…………….…………..……….…………13 First Panel Discussion Brian Hanson, Moderator……………………………………….…………………19 Toward a Science of Cities The Art of Urban Design: Growth From the Science of Space Bill Hillier, University College London …………………..……………………...27 Second Panel Discussion Brian Hanson, Moderator………………………………….………………………36 Two Views of Architecture The New Paradigm and The New Iconography Charles Jencks………………………………………………………………………46 Third Panel Discussion Brian Hanson, Moderator………………………………….………………...……62 Christopher Alexander’s New Paradigm Brian Hanson………………………………………………….……………………68 Final Discussion Michael Mehaffy, Moderator………………………………………………….….75 2 Introduction There were really two “new paradigms” contending with one another in this conference ‐‐ or so we asserted, and such was the logic of our design for the day’s discussion. One, the use of the new sciences as material to fuel dynamic new architectural expression – so well articulated by our friend Charles Jencks. The other was the usage of the new sciences to inform a more intelligent process of city‐making, and the role within it of methodology, pattern, precedent – all those things related to what Jane Jacobs called “the kind of problem a city is.” For all the fascinating new forms of iconic expression being produced by a new generation of architects – the blobs, terrafolds, Bilbao‐style computer forms and other innovative expressions in architecture – we think the lesson of this conference was more sobering, and served in its own way as a powerful critique. It reminded us that to meet the challenges of the future, architecture must be more firmly rooted in the real patterns of human activity. We also saw tantalising evidence that the new sciences offer promising new ideas and tools to improve the quality and sustainability of the human environment. George Ferguson, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, gave the introduction to the conference. He called for a broader leadership role for architects in meeting the challenges of the urban future. He welcomed a ʺnew conversationʺ between science and architecture ‐‐ not aimed at creating ever more dazzling technological solutions, but rather at understanding the patterns that work and donʹt work in our cities and towns, in order to improve them. ʺWhat I believe in most strongly,ʺ said Ferguson, ʺis that we should move forward with a much more thoughtful, analytical way of doing things. We have too often leapt into inspired solutions that have fallen flat on their face in only a few years. And an awful lot of what has happened in this country post 1945 comes under that description.ʺ He described fascinating new work in the neurosciences to understand how humans perceive beauty. ʺI think the more we can uses science to prove to the politicians, and to all of us, that there is a real tangible benefit to creating beautiful places, then I think the closer we will be to stop messing about with failed experiments. I think it is failed experiments that we have been suffering from for an awful long time.ʺ Brian Goodwin, a prominent biologist and former board member of the Santa Fe Institute for the Study of Complexity, pointed out that the new biology offers important lessons about how human building can integrate into the natural ecology. He noted that science can use a number of analytic and cognitive tools to identify quality in the built environment. Philip Ball, Consultant Editor of the journal Nature, discussed the role of science in architecture and urban planning. He described what he called a ʺphysics of societies,ʺ showing how patterns of movement and activity can inform a more robust approach to planning and architecture. Bill Hillier, Professor of Urban and Architectural Morphology at University College London, picked up that theme and described his extensive work in the morphology of movement patterns. His scientific analysis of the patterns of movement around Trafalgar Square in Londonʹs heart, 3 for example, informed the recent redesign that has resulted in a 16‐fold increase in use of the popular and thriving square. Hillier believes there is great potential for the regeneration of other places using such methods. ʺWe have to internalise this knowledge as designers, and try to, if you like, utilise the inevitable self‐organisation potential of cities.ʺ Hillier noted that the making of cities is both fully an art and fully a science. ʺThe art of urban design, as I firmly believe it to be, does rest on the foundation of the science of space.ʺ Charles Jencks, pioneer of postmodern thought in architecture, described a new ʺcreation mythʺ coming from the new cosmological insights of science, and reflected in the new iconic architecture. He sees this as the beginning of a ʺnew paradigmʺ in architecture. But he noted that the new architecture today is severely limited by the increasingly global corporate economy in which it operates, and that it is therefore increasingly remote from the local problems and challenges in much of the built environment today. He agreed with other panellists that the leading architecture has become a narrow fine art of ʺ50 people building for 5,000 people around the world.ʺ Other panellists joined in the critique of a global ʺnovelty architectureʺ that has increasingly become a marketing arm of globalisation, while increasingly ignoring local needs and complex characteristics. Several speakers reminded the audience of the pioneering work of Jane Jacobs, who criticised the architectural and planning approach of the day, and described the need for new scientific models for understanding and acting upon cities. Brian Hanson, architectural historian at London University, presented the recent work of the legendary architect and theorist Christopher Alexander. Hanson argued that Alexander incorporates and extends the lessons of ʺorganised complexityʺ going back to other pioneers like Jane Jacobs, and he uses these lessons not for exuberant artistic expression, but to improve the real quality of the human environment. His new magnum opus, The Nature of Order, argues that order in architecture does not have to imply top‐down political authority, but can ʺemergeʺ from the grass‐roots acts of many individuals in a building culture. His argument is firmly rooted in insights of the so‐called ʺnew sciencesʺ of complexity. Examples of his work show the successful results of this process in projects from the USA, Europe, Central America and Asia. Alexander later co‐led a ʺmaster classʺ on the detailed ideas of the new book, and his pioneering scientific work in architecture stretching over 40 years. He also described fascinating recent work in a new generation of so‐called ʺdynamic coding.ʺ The master class was attended by planners, architects and PhD students from the UK, Norway, Germany, France, the USA and Australia. A companion website for the conference is operated by the journal Katarxis, at http://www.katarxis3.com. A discussion forum is included at that website, and contributions are welcome. Proceedings of the conference are expected to be available through the Foundation in the spring. 4 Welcome Michael Mehaffy Good morning, and welcome to the Prince’s Foundation. We have a very full day, and a very fascinating day, I think, so we’ll go ahead and get started. Now in planning this conference we posed some questions that I’d like to suggest we consider as we go through the day today. You’ll see these in your delegate packs. • How, if at all, does this “New Science” ‐‐ and to what extent is it a “New Science” ‐‐ change our world view, our culture and our art? • What practical implications do these insights carry about the process of designing and building? Not just the ivory towers stuff, but what does is mean for all of us in this room that have careers and jobs and want to know how this is going to affect us? • What reforms does it suggest are needed a sustainable future? Beyond the representation of an art form, what does it mean? • Does it mean there is a new paradigm in any sense of the word? And if so, what does that mean? • Perhaps most important, what ‐‐ if anything ‐‐ can science tell us about the quality of the built environment, and how we can raise that quality? We’re pleased to say that joining us here to kick off the discussion, our first speaker, is George Ferguson, president of the RIBA. 5 The Art and Science of the Public Realm George Ferguson Thank you Michael. Well, I only regard myself as very much at the beginning of the conversation. So I’m not going to use any complicated words like “paradigm”. Anyway, The Art and Science of the Public Realm… I’m fortunate in having been involved in a project in Bristol that had one Richard Gregory as its client. R L Gregory wrote ‘the Science of Perception’ and was always a hero of mine at architectural school. He made me think about why we see things the way we do. What are those ingredients that make a place beautiful? What are those ingredients that inspire? I think all my life I’ve been trying to seek that.
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