From Atomism to Assembly: Regenerative Architecture for Building Change

From Atomism to Assembly:

Regenerative Architecture for Building Change

Building Change (BC) Community of Practice (CoP)

March 13th, 2025

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Introduction: Beyond Reductionism

Contemporary challenges facing our built environment require a new approach:

Climate change
Resource depletion
Housing crises
Social inequity

Our proposal: An Assembly-Based Framework that transitions from atomistic perspectives to a holistic, integrated view of architecture

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Earth as Our Client

"We believe that the Earth is Architecture's Client. This brings with it long-lasting responsibilities—environmental, social, and cultural."

—Shelley McNamara and Yvonne Farrell, Grafton Architects

Beyond Professional Codes of Conduct

Expanding architectural ethics to recognize our responsibility to:

Future generations
Non-human species
Geological systems
Cultural heritage

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The Atomistic Legacy

Ethical Limitations

Origins

Democritus and Leucippus (5th century BCE)
Reductionist worldview
Breaking complex systems into components

Architectural Implications

Environmental impacts externalized
Social consequences ignored
Cultural contexts separated
Short-term horizons prioritized

"Atomistic thinking produced a 'disenchanted world' where ethical considerations were increasingly separated from scientific and technical knowledge."
—Isabelle Stengers

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Scale, Perception, and Knowledge

Erwin Schrödinger

Physicist, Trinity College Dublin

"What is Life?" (1944) - Public lectures delivered at Trinity College

Key insight: "Why must our bodies be so large compared with the atom?"

Our perception and knowledge creation depend on existing at a scale where statistical laws emerge from atomic chaos—where patterns become stable enough to form the basis of thought.

This insight is fundamental to our Framework's multi-scale approach to architecture:

The atomic scale: Material properties
The human scale: Perception and experience
The ecological scale: Building-nature interactions
The planetary scale: Collective impacts

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Assembly Index: A New Metric

Sara Walker

Astrobiologist & Physicist

"Life as no one knows it: The physics of life's emergence" (2022)

Assembly Index: "The minimal history of physically possible, recursive operations that must occur for an object to appear in the universe"

Critical threshold at 15 assembly steps:

Below 15 steps: Abiotic processes (non-living)
Above 15 steps: Exclusively produced by living systems
Measurable using molecular spectrometry

Architectural applications:

Historical awareness of materials
Information visibility
Selection accountability
Biotic boundary recognition

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EMERGY Analysis

"Starting with the Sun"

Concept

EMERGY (spelled with 'm'): Total energy used in making a product, including:

Direct energy inputs
Indirect energy inputs
"Work of nature" in generating resources

"Plants have their most powerful supply of 'negative entropy' in the sunlight."
—Erwin Schrödinger

Architectural Ethics

Comprehensive accounting
System boundary expansion
Quality differentiation
Deep time awareness

Reveals hidden environmental costs in seemingly "sustainable" materials

Solar energy → Ecological processes → Materials → Building → Lifecycle → Decomposition

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Constructor Theory and Ethical Possibility

Chiara Marletto

Theoretical Physicist, Oxford University

"The Science of Can and Can't" (2021)

Constructor Theory asks: "What tasks are possible, what transformations could happen, and why"

The "farmer game" analogy: Creating the conditions that make growth possible

Architectural implications:

Heritage as possibility space, not static preservation
Public space as constructor for diverse interactions
Adaptive reuse as ethical imperative
Resilience as counterfactual capacity

Reframes buildings as systems that enable certain transformations while preventing others

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Knowledge Creation and Paradigm Shifts

David Deutsch

Physicist, Oxford University

"The Beginning of Infinity" (2011)

Problems are soluble through the creation of new knowledge

Decimal Thinking

Incremental improvements
Optimizing existing approaches
Staying within existing paradigms

Order of Magnitude Thinking

Fundamental paradigm shifts
Creating entirely new possibilities
Reimagining systems themselves

"It is inevitable that we face problems, but no particular problem is inevitable. We survive, and thrive, by solving each problem as it comes up."

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Beyond "Spaceship Earth"

Implications for Architecture

Deutsch critiques Buckminster Fuller's "Spaceship Earth" metaphor as limiting:

Spaceship Earth Problems

Implies finite resources
Suggests central control
Focuses on resource management
Neglects knowledge creation

Assembly-Based Alternative

Knowledge allows resource transformation
Distributed intelligence
Focus on possibility, not limitation
Regenerative rather than conservationist

Architectural implications:

Design for ongoing evolution and adaptation
Create systems that enable future transformations
Focus on possibility rather than constraint
Incorporate all species as co-creators, not just passengers

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Lineage Assembly and Multi-Species Justice

"Unifying matter and computation, as we do in assembly theory to explain life, also has the implication that we should unify biology and technology as manifestations of the same fundamental process: selection on what gets to exist."
—Sara Walker

Buildings as participants in evolutionary processes involving multiple species:

Designing for biodiversity
Recognizing multi-species communities
Considering evolutionary impacts
Supporting ecosystem services

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Comprehensive Architectural Analysis

The Comprehensive Architectural Loads Framework

Newtonian Approach

Static measurements
Discrete components
Fixed properties
Limited temporal scope

Lagrangian Approach

Tracking through time and space
Historical pathways
Dynamic relationships
Extended temporal scope

The Lagrangian approach enables architects to fully understand the ethical consequences of their decisions

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Integrating Technical and Ecological Systems

Ecological Shearing Layers

Extending Stewart Brand's shearing layers model to include ecological systems:

Site: Geographical setting, geology, hydrology
Structure: Foundation, load-bearing elements (50-100 years)
Skin: Exterior surfaces, envelope (20-30 years)
Services: HVAC, electrical, plumbing (7-15 years)
Space Plan: Interior layout, walls, floors (3-7 years)
Stuff: Furniture, appliances (months to years)
+ Ecosystems: Microbiomes, plant communities, animal habitats
+ Bioregion: Watershed, climate, biodiversity networks

"The simplification of natural ecosystems for human use has led to dramatic losses in biodiversity."
—David Tilman

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Applications to Contemporary Challenges

Climate Action as Ethical Imperative

Finding Joy in Climate Action (Venn diagram):

Things you are good at
Things the climate crisis needs
Things that bring you joy

Climate action through architecture requires:

Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Adaptation: Creating resilient buildings
Carbon sequestration: Actively removing carbon
Just transition: Ensuring equitable solutions

"The building sector is the single largest contributor to global warming and must be a key focus of mitigation efforts."
—Edward Mazria, 2030 Challenge

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The Housing Crisis as a Justice Issue

Image credit: Housing project example

Assembly-Based Framework reframes housing as:

A fundamental human right
An ecological intervention
Part of complex lineages
A system capable of transformation

Balancing multiple ethical obligations:

Right to adequate housing
Environmental impact
Cultural appropriateness
Economic accessibility
Community integration

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Universal Design as an Ethical Imperative

Beyond technical compliance to fundamental principles of dignity and inclusion:

Key Principles

Inclusive entry points
Adaptable spaces
Perceptual diversity
Intergenerational equity

From Traditional to Assembly-Based

From compliance checklist to design philosophy
From designing for to designing with
From exception to integration
From static to adaptive

Universal Design should be understood not merely as a set of technical guidelines but as a political and ethical practice that challenges normative assumptions embedded in architectural thinking.

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Heritage as Dynamic Lineage

Traditional Approach

Static preservation
Original state as ideal
Past-oriented
Expert-driven

Assembly-Based Approach

Ongoing lineage
Multiple potential futures
Past-present-future integration
Community-engaged

Constructor theory helps us understand heritage in terms of what transformations are possible while maintaining cultural significance

"Heritage is not fixed in the past but continually recreated through interaction between past, present, and future."
—Rodney Harrison

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Implementation: Fulfilling Architecture's Ethical Potential

Virtual-Physical Integration and Ethical Experience

Virtual Space Qualities

Teleporting
Overlap
Synchronous/asynchronous connections
Accessibility across distance

Integration Challenges

Maintaining embodied experience
Preserving sense of progression
Creating meaningful place
Ensuring ethical interactions

Assembly-Based approach integrates physical and digital realms by:

Leveraging strengths of both domains
Maintaining integrity of embodied experiences
Revealing underlying systems that would remain obscured
Enhancing adaptability of designs

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Educational Implications for Ethical Practice

Transforming architectural education requires:

Transdisciplinary curriculum
Systems thinking skills
Deep time awareness
Computational modeling
Ethical reasoning
Cultural sensitivity
Practical application

Integration of technical, ecological, social, and ethical knowledge in architectural design

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Student Perspectives

The First-Year Experience

The first year of architectural education represents a critical period of exploration:

Systems thinking
Fine arts
Design (graphic and 3D)
Academic literacy
Climate studies
Information and communication technology
Ecology
Environmental and building physics

Students discover their unique interests, strengths, and potential areas of contribution through diverse foundational experiences

"Ecological architecture embodies both a philosophy and a moral choice, rather than merely a stylistic element."
—Celadyn & Celadyn

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Finding One's Voice

Pathways to Specialization

The first year serves as a platform for students to:

Discover what excites and motivates them
Explore different perspectives
Experiment with various approaches to problem-solving
Identify areas of interest and strength

As students progress, they follow pathways that align with their:

Design innovation interests
Environmental stewardship values
Technological integration skills
Social impact goals

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Fostering a Transdisciplinary Community of Practice

The diversity of experiences and perspectives cultivated during the first year lays the groundwork for:

Collaboration across disciplines
Innovation through diverse perspectives
Problem-solving through complementary skills
Mutual respect and shared learning

Particularly important for addressing complex challenges:

Climate change
Housing crises
Social inequity
Biodiversity loss

A supportive educational environment encourages risk-taking and builds the resilience needed for professional practice

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First-Year Foundation

Building Perceptual Frameworks

Jay Randle's pedagogical approach builds "discriminatory skills" through sequential stages:

Texture analysis: Understanding surface character through tactile engagement
Light as form-revealer: Exploring how light presents form to vision
Form analysis: Developing rigorous analytical frameworks
Representational translation: Creating drawings as "instructions"

"I was looking for a way to begin that pre-supposed the least possible, then built from there based on shared in-class experiences."
—Jay Randle

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Form of Surface Analysis

Analysis of compound curvature creates "assembly literacy"—the ability to perceive how complex forms emerge from simpler components:

Drapery: No compound curvature
Hand (palm): Some compound curvature
Bell pepper: Pronounced compound curvature

This approach is valuable for implementing the Assembly-Based Framework because it:

Develops direct experiential understanding of assembly principles
Creates tangible connections between physical experience and abstract representation
Builds analytical frameworks for understanding form as process rather than object
Cultivates multi-scale awareness

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Educational Case Study: The Maker Project

We are all Carbon based life forms

Workshop series on carbon bonds and Platonic solids exploring fundamental principles:

Abundance: Carbon's availability
Complexity: Carbon's four bonds enable intricate structures
Stability: Carbon bonds create durable configurations
Scale: From molecular to structural scales

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The Maker Project Implementation

The pedagogical approach embodies key aspects of the Assembly-Based Framework:

Multi-scale understanding: Experiencing Schrödinger's insights about scale
Assembly pathways: Understanding relationship between rules and forms
Tensegrity principles: Self-organizing stable systems
Material intelligence: Simple connections creating complex structures

Creates a "learning circle" environment where:

Traditional hierarchies dissolve
Knowledge emerges through collaborative exploration
Interdisciplinary thinking is modeled

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Complex Relationships

Types of relationships within our Assembly-Based Framework:

One-way: Dependency relationships (e.g., Atomic → Building)
Two-way: Symmetrical interactions (e.g., Urban ↔ Planetary)
Weighted: Varying importance connections
Emergent: Cross-scale patterns

Leads to emergent phenomena:

Clustered knowledge domains
Cross-scale integration patterns
Evolving dependency relationships
Communities of Practice formation

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Professional Responsibility and Systems Change

Assembly-Based Framework transforms architectural practice by emphasizing:

Lifecycle Stewardship: From conception through decommissioning
Adaptive Evolution: Over static models
Extended Responsibility: "Earth as our client"

IFTTT research innovation workflow:

Knowledge: Is this the best practice of common and corroborated knowledge?
Uses: If yes, share/deliver/disseminate. If not, research/innovate.
Roles: How do different stakeholders contribute?
Skill-sets: What competencies are needed?

"Architecture depends—it is always embedded in complex networks of social, economic, and ecological relationships that demand ethical consideration."
—Jeremy Till

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Building Communities of Practice

An Archipelago of Knowledge

Sustaining change through collaborative networks:

Archipelago of knowledge islands with connecting pathways
Transdisciplinary collaboration across all six schools
Shared resources and learning platforms
Integration of research, education, and practice

Islands in our archipelago:

Universal Design
Regenerative Systems
Multi-species Design
Climate Adaptation
Heritage Lineage
Housing Justice

The best thing about Building Change is how it brought us all together, forming seeds for a whole new shared knowledge creation

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Architecture's Ethical Horizon

The Assembly-Based Framework offers:

A paradigm shift from reductionist to assembly-based thinking
Integration of scientific understanding with ethical reasoning
Practical methodologies for addressing contemporary challenges
Educational approaches that prepare future architects for expanded responsibilities

Meeting the challenges of our built environment—climate change, resource depletion, housing crises, social inequity—demands nothing less than fundamental rethinking of:

What architecture is
What architecture does
Who architecture serves

"It is inevitable that we face problems, but no particular problem is inevitable. We survive, and thrive, by solving each problem as it comes up."
—David Deutsch

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Discussion & Next Steps

Key questions for our community:

What are the challenges we face in implementing resilient design in architecture education?
How can we effectively incorporate resilient design principles into the curriculum?
What support structures are necessary for fostering resilient design in architectural education?
How do we sustain and mainstream what we have achieved?
What are the policy & practice messages for architectural education support & regulation?

From Building Change (BC) to a special All Island Academy of Excellence in Architecture for humanity and all its inhabitants, human and otherwise

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Thank You

Questions & Discussion