The Continuing of Organicism: An Enviro-Organic Form Integrating to the Built Environment.

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2017-05
Authors
Tran, Duc M.
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Architecture
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Humans have engaged nature as an ideal paradigm of form and function since time immemorial. Within the organic paradigm, architecture may be seen to constitute an organic relationship with nature in any climatic, cultural and social condition. Though often rejected in canonical modern architecture, organic forms have been manifested, in various forms, and with different purposes. Recently, some modern organic movements have emerged, such as those following principles of biomorphic form and bio-mimicry. Unfortunately, these movements often fail to more fully embrace organicism in the totality and depth of their relationship to the natural. Following D‘Arcy Thompson‘s On Growth and Form, this research aims at uncovering the key attributes of natural form, in order to allow the design of enviro-organic form. Such form is defined as one that opens to the natural world, facilitating the making of architecture that sustains human life and nature today and in the future. In order to carry this out, the research offers graphic and analytic tools that help aid understanding into what organic architecture is, and how we can undertake a design process leading to enviro-organic form. The research concentrates on the analogies between architectural form and natural forms. The outcomes are, to paraphrase D‘Arcy Thompson, explained by the, ―equilibrium resulting from the interaction or balance of forces.‖1 Natural forms result from the fitness of the resolution of inside and outside living forces. Similarly, architectural organic form, as embodied in indigenous or vernacular architecture, result from integrating 1 D‘Arcy Wentworth Thompson, ―Introductory,‖ in On Growth and Form (Cambridge: University Press, 1942), 16. 3 environmental and socio-cultural forces. Because architecture must adapt to cultural and social changes, human built environments are argued to be functionally more complex than those made by animals, as seen for example in a bird-nest, spider-web, or ant-hill. Since vernacular architecture is largely shaped by instinct, and in response to specific local place and culture, vernacular forms are not typically suited to be applied directly to the needs of contemporary culture. Geometry is proposed as the medium for historical examination of the incidental analogy between nature and organic architecture, for the rational fitness of integrating between natural principles and architecture disciplines, and for the selective transformation of enviro-organic forms that promise to more fully integrate the works of humans into the natural environment.
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organicism, enviro-organic form, analogy, natural fitness, rational fitness, socio-cultural forces, environment forces, transformation, nature environment, built environment
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