Appropriate Technology in Architecture. From Human Resourcefulness to Systemic Resilience

This article explores the evolution of "appropriate technology" in architecture, reframing it from a static collection of low-tech tools into a critical ethical and evaluative framework. Moving beyond anti-modernist nostalgia, the study traces the concept’s ideological foundations—from Gandhi’s advocacy for local autonomy and Schumacher’s "intermediate technology" to the "convivial tools" of Ivan Illich and the decolonial "pluriversal" design theories of Arturo Escobar. The discourse highlights a fundamental shift from technological determinism toward epistemological pluralism, emphasizing context-sensitivity, material frugality, and social equity. The theoretical framework is operationalized through the analysis of two contemporary architectural practices: Anupama Kundoo and TAMassociati. Kundoo’s work is examined through the lens of "human resourcefulness," where labor-intensive experimentation and material intelligence (such as ferrocement and terracotta research) transform construction into a participatory, pedagogical act. Conversely, TAMassociati’s practice illustrates a "systemic activism," utilizing climate forecasting and social infrastructure to address vulnerabilities in fragile contexts like Darfur. By comparing these distinct but complementary approaches—one rooted in the "abundance" of human labor and the other in data-driven, proactive climate adaptation—the article argues that appropriate technology is a radical redefinition of advanced design.