Abstract
The essay reflects on the consequences the realization of absolute sustainability will have on housing tendencies in the global north and suggests addressing this matter by reassessing the distribution of power between the architect and the dweller. As a starting point, the essay will argue for a necessary critical revision of our current overconsuming housing standards if we are to stay within the leeway of an absolute sustainable housing practice. But how are we to achieve this? Are we to follow our instinct as architects to design cleverly thought minimalistic housing? And if so, how do we avoid misconceiving the dwelling as a machine and the dweller as a cog within this machine? To address these questions the essay will adopt the ideas of open building introduced by architect N. John Habraken. By dividing the construction of the structure from the matter of the dwelling, new and sustainable opportunities appear, however, entailing a shift in the power between the dweller and the architect. This is further examined in the Grand Parc social housing transformation in Bordeaux, France—a project resonating in multiple ways with the objectives of open building in both its architectural form and its initial participatory design process. Conclusively, the essay will argue how the idea of open building holds potential as a cradle for developing novel sustainable solutions in housing and, not as a solution itself.
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Petersen, T. (2023). Shifting the Power from Architect to Dweller—A Framework for Sustainable Housing?. In: Rubbo, A., Du, J., Thomsen, M.R., Tamke, M. (eds) Design for Resilient Communities. UIA 2023. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36640-6_22
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