Affordances of Architectural Typology

“Affordances of Architectural Typology" is a concept for design-driven research that explores and advances sustainable design strategies aimed at resilient building structures but are inherently architectural in nature. As material compositions, buildings mediate between forms and functions across different timescales. Considering the “shearing layers” of a building, the primary structural system can last for hundreds of years, while non-bearing walls, surfaces, furnishings, and specific uses are more temporary. This temporal disparity creates a gap that architects bridge “designerly”—using techniques of abstraction to envision past and future forms of inhabitation and alteration, revealing the building’s fundamental character, or type. A resilient structure aligns closely with its type, a formal structure or organizational notion that imparts a recognizable order upon architectural elements. This alignment is evident in historical buildings where load-bearing elements, building volume, and rooms structurally overlap, allowing for centuries of diverse uses and adaptations. However, with modern, energy-intensive building technologies and the separation of the building envelope, this alignment becomes rare. Thus, transforming modern structures convincingly requires greater interpretation and self-determination in design.