What does it mean for architecture to improve?
Is architectural improvement something we actively strive for?
How can we see this happening?

After reading Alex Dent’s thoughts it started me thinking about architecture in terms of improvement. Improvement could be evaluated on many factors - including environmental efficiency, aesthetic/functional qualities, memorability, structural innovation - the list goes on. However, the one thing that doesn’t change is the fact that this is all in reference to architecture, which brings about questions of what its aims are.

As a fundamental fact architecture establishes some sort of relationship with the existing. This could be striving for a deep connection with surroundings, an imitation of the context or perhaps an utter rejection of its circumstances. Even if an existing building is completely knocked down and some arbitrary one put in place, architecture mediates or is responsible for the conversation between the new and the older.

With this in mind, architecture cannot help but be seduced by its location. Since the significance of architecture to humans lies in how it resides in the memories of people, and so, the location and context play a huge role in priming minds to perceiving a space. Needless to say, human perceptions of space are certainly not the same - it is this fragmentary collective of human experiences which brings about recognition for architecture.

People notice different things and while I’m on this point, this is just my two cents. I think it is a hard thing to truly ‘improve’ hypothetical architectural projects, let alone ones that work on actualised environments. Whilst we continue to evaluate existing architectural pieces in terms of its performance, architectural improvement has something moreso to do with the fact that process, representation and actualisation are are blurred in the practice of architecture. It is because of this intertwined practice that architecture remains as such an ambiguous practice that prefers to wander and explore opportunity, as opposed to finding the ultimate solution to a specific brief.

Perhaps architectural improvement therefore lies in how architectural process can become more adaptive and responsive to changing parameters. If architectural process can incorporate increasingly live-feeding information and sources of knowledge this opens realms for architects to respond.

The substance of architecture is something that continues to mystify and provoke my thought-flows. Questions of what it is to improve architecture are certainly not easy with post-modern meta-thinkings and evaluations that recognise the many facets or viewpoints from which architecture can be seen. If it is for one thing, I think this musing has confirmed for me that architecture is special, and that I am probably a special kid for being entranced by it.