The Historical Pertinence of Parametricism and the Prospect of a Free Market Urban Order

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The Historical Pertinence of Parametricism and the Prospect of a Free MarketUrban Order

Patrik Schmacher! "ondon #$%&

Pblished in' The Politics of Parametricism! (i)ital Technolo)ies in*rchitectre

+dited b, Matthe- Poole and Manel Sh.art/ber)! 0loomsbr, *cademic!Ne- 1ork #$%2

Introdction

To respond to manifest societal trends! i3e3 technolo)ical! socio4economic! andpolitical trends! is a .ital capacit, of architectre3 Ho-e.er this responsemst be an architectral rather than a political response3 (ebatin) politics-ithin architectre can onl, concern the identi5cation of manifest political

trends3 It can ne.er be political debate! i3e3 ne.er a participation in thepolitical contro.ersies themsel.es3 *rchitectre cannot sbstitte itself forthe political process proper and mst lea.e politico4economic inno.ations andthe elaboration of radical politico4economic alternati.es to the political andeconomic arenas3 *rchitectre has no capacit, to resol.e politicalcontro.ers,3 Political contro.ers, and acti.ism -old o.erbrden and e6plodethe discipline3 Ho-e.er! architectre can and mst respond to transformati.ehistorical de.elopments that become manifest -ithin the econom, and thepolitical s,stem3 7 *rchitectre can onl, react -ith s8cient nanimit, andcollecti.e .italit, to dominant political a)endas that alread, ha.e the realpo-er of a tan)ible political force behind them3 *rchitectral discorse mst

de.elop inno.ati.e architectral responses to these historical transformati.etrends3 This task raises the 9estion of the historical adapti.e pertinence ofthe .arios competin) architectral tendencies! and in particlar the 9estionof parametricism:s historical pertinence mi)ht be posed3

The political and socio4economic premises of parametricism are fond in thead.ancin) processes of post4fordist restrctrin)! )lobali/ation! marketliberalisation! and democrati/ation3 The methods of parametricism operate in



line -ith the demands of post4fordist ;e6ible speciali/ation and deli.erattendant economies of scope3 What is less clear is ho- the enhanced spatio4morpholo)ical orderin) ambitions of parametricism can be compatible -iththe tendenc, that rban de.elopment is increasin)l, dri.en b, market forcesin the conte6t of an erodin) pblic pannin) capacit,3 The resltant rban

disarticlation leads to the mch bemoaned lack of identit, and sense ofrban chaos of the )lobal <)arba)e spill= rbanisation3

The increasin) societal di.ersit, parado6icall, leads to -hite noise samenessrather than di.ers rban identities3% The imposition of .isal order thro)htop do-n plannin) is no lon)er economicall, .iable and in an, e.ent -oldblnt rather than re.eal the nderl,in) social comple6it,3 In the face of theproblem of disorientin) rban disarticlation parametric rbanism posits its.ision of the bottom4p emer)ence of a comple6 .arie)ated rban order-hereb, the di>erent )eo)raphical! climatic! indstrial and cltralspeci5cies of de.elopment sites become the startin) point for the self4

amplif,in)! path4dependent emer)ence of le)ible rban identities3 0elo- thearchitectral! disciplinar, preconditions of sch a scenario -ill be elaborated3

The theoretical startin) point of parametricism is ths the acceptance of theper.asi.e historical socio4economic trends of post4fordist restrctrin)!)lobali/ation and market liberalisation! inclsi.e of market4led rban land4seallocation! and the ea)erness to en)a)e the challen)es these trends pose forarchitectre and rbanism:s adapti.e inno.ation! challen)es that architectreand rbanism so far failed to meet3

"ocatin) architectre:s speci5c criticalit,! the false pretence of ?politicalarchitectre:

The stance of parametricism is sharpl, critical of crrent architectral andrban desi)n otcomes3 Ho-e.er! parametricism:s stance is implicitl,

a8rmati.e -ith respect to the )eneral societal @social! economic andpoliticalA trends that nderlie the critici/ed rban otcomes3 This implicita8rmation is a necessar, condition of professional en)a)ement -ith socialrealit,3#The crrentl, fashionable concept of a <critical= or <political=architectre as a spposed form of political acti.ism mst be repdiated asan implasible phantom3

The notion of a political architectre has transformed from a tatolo), to an



o6,moron3 In pre4Modern times! fortresses! palaces and other maBormonments -ere constitents of the political s,stem as -ere reli)ion! the la-and the econom,3 In Modern times! architectre and politics ha.e becomeseparate atopoietic fnction s,stems3 This raises the 9estion of theirproper relationship! their mtal obser.ation! en)a)ement and adaptation3

The paradi)matic e6amples from the earl, %C#$s and the late %CD$s that)i.e meanin) to the notion of politicall, en)a)ed architectre -ere born inthe e6ceptional condition of social re.oltion @or pendin) social re.oltionA3(rin) sch periods e.er,thin) is bein) politici/ed' the la-! the econom,!edcation! architectre! and e.en science3 The atonom, of the fnctionalsbs,stems of societ, is temporaril, bein) sspended3 (rin) normal timesarchitectre and politics are separated as atonomos discrsi.e domains3

The, are atopoietic fnction s,stems -ithin a -orld ci.ili/ation that is no-primaril, ordered .ia fnctional di>erentiation3 Representati.e democrac, isthe form the political s,stem tends to take in the most ad.anced states

-ithin fnctionall, di>erentiated -orld societ,3 Representati.e democrac,professionali/es politics and re)lari/es the channels of political in;ence!ne)otiation! and collecti.el, bindin) decision makin)3 The speciali/ed! -ell4adapted channels of political commnication absorb and bind all politicalconcerns3 *rt! science! edcation! architectre etc3 are released from thebrden of becomin) .ehicles of political a)itation3 The more this s,stemconsolidates! the lon)er this di.ision of labor -ithin societ, -orks! the morefalse and ot of place rin)s the pretence of ?political architectre:3 The termhas become an o6,moron 4 at least ntil the emer)ence of the ne6tre.oltionar, sitation! -hen a ne- socio4political phea.al re4politici/es all

aspects and arran)ements of societ,3 *t that sta)e 4 -ithin the throes of a)enine social re.oltion 4 -e can e6pect the @temporar,A melt4do-n of thesedistinctions and their nderl,in) di>erentiation3 Then -e are no lon)erconcerned -ith politics in the operationall, de5ned sense that this termcrrentl, denotes3

Until then it is certainl, not architectre:s societal fnction to initiate orpromote political a)endas3 Those -ho feel that a radical politicaltransformation of societ, is a prior condition of an, meanin)fl architectralproBect and therefore -ant to debate and resol.e political 9estions mst doso -ithin the political s,stem3 Onl, there can the, reall, form sstained

political con.ictions and test the po-er of their ar)ments3

The concept of a ?critical: or ?political: architectre is either de to thedelsion that the re.oltion has arri.ed or an ata.ism that dreams abotsmall ?brotherhood: st,le societies -ithot the fnctional di.ision of societalrealms that characteri/es contemporar, -orld societ,37 This desire tocollapse s,stemic distinctions that order societ, 4 like the desire for theata.istic fsion of architectre! econom, and politics 47 leads to-ards



totalitarianism3E

The distinctions bet-een architectre! art! science! econom, and politics arere;ectin) the historicall, speci5c! crrent orderin) of societaldiscorsespractices3 The failre to nderstand and reckon -ith these

distinctions leads to self4defeatin) proBects3 7 *ltho)h philosophers or self4st,led acti.ists mi)ht -ish to abolish or re4mi6 these cate)ories! societ,reinforces these distinctions dail,3 While philosoph, ho.ers abo.e thesedomains nbondedl,! real acti.ists and professionals are bond b, them!and for )ood reasons' societ, can this -a, parallel process a mch morecomple6 and accelerated e.oltion .ia the coe.oltion of atopoietic!fnctional sbs,stems that stimlate each other:s e.oltion -ithot bein)sbBect to a sin)le master4discorse3 The e.ol.ed comple6it, of -orld societ,and the -orld di.ision of labor cannot tolerate de4di>erentiation3 (e4di>erentiation -old impl, a cripplin) loss of prodcti.it,3 Holisms break atthis comple6it, barrier! as the catastrophic e6periences of #$th centr,

totalitarianism demonstrate3 *ctors -ho -ant to act e>ecti.el, need to kno--hether their proBect is an art proBect! a sociolo), proBect! a political proBect!or a desi)n proBect etc3 This is a condition of e>ecti.e action in #%st centr,-orld societ,3

To be an e>ecti.e! the inno.ati.e architect does not re9ire an, e6plicitpolitical position3 Indeed! the statin) of political preferences and a8liations-old be inappropriate -ithin a professional conte6t! Bst as -e -old not-ant to be bothered b, the political position of or doctor or la-,er3 Thisprofessional attitde of restrictin) one:s commnication to the domain ofrele.anc, of one:s competenc, is a necessar, re9irement of competentcommnication toda,3 To .iolate this social norm amonts to the abdication of one:s social role as professional and implies the termination of the intendedcommnicati.e ne6s3 It is clients that take responsibilit, for the @potentiall,contro.ersialA political stats of proBects3 The political meanin) of the proBectis attribted to the client3 *ltho)h a proBect mi)ht be contro.ersial! the factthat it can )o ahead at all implies that it is in principle consistent -ith thepre.ailin)! le)itimate constittion of societ,3 In this sense it is b, defalt-ithin the bonds of ?mainstream politics:3

*ltho)h the political mteness and implied mainstream position posited

here is per.asi.e in practice! it is not ade9atel, re;ected in or e6plicittheoretical re;ections3 Here the idea predominates that the architect sholdbe ?politicall, critical:! and not Bst ac9iesce in the client:s a)enda3 It is oftensaid that the architect shold assme a role and societal responsibilit, thatreaches be,ond the client:s interest to take into accont all stake4holders andto re)ard the pblic interest at lar)e3 The client:s merel, ?commercialinterests: are deemed problematic @despite the fact that in an ad.anced!mone,4mediated societ, all life interests take the form of <commercial=



interests! and this incldes the architect:s o-n li.elihoodA3&

In or ad.anced democratic societies the architect is onl, ans-erable to hisclient! and it is the client -ho is obli)ed @b, political impositionA to take carethat all stakeholder:s interests considered politicall, rele.ant are reco)ni/ed

and -ho instrcts the architect accordin)l,3 That all le)itimate interests aretaken into accont is the client:s! the planner:s! and ltimatel, the cort:sresponsibilit,3 Within the )i.en le)al and political constraints the marketre)lates the pro)rammatic allocation of land resorces to the e>ecti.el,demanded social ses! as anticipated b, entrepreners3 *rchitects interpretthese contents spatiall, and formall, < .ia spatial or)anisation and formalarticlation < to allo- the ;orishin) of those speci5c social life4processesthat the client or hostin) instittion -old like to host! and to simltaneosl,safe)ard the interests of all those stakeholders the client has instrcted himto consider3 *n, frther self4appointment of the architect as ?)ardian of thepblic interest: -old be delsional! arbitrar, and simpl, nprofessional3

Parametricism! andidate +pochal St,le for the #%st entr,

It is important to e6plode the delsional pretence of a <critical architectre=

in order to clear the .ie- and path to-ards .iable architectral ambitionsthat can make a real contribtion to the pro)ress of -orld ci.ili/ation! in line-ith the discipline:s speci5c competenc,3 If -e architects )ain a realistic)rasp of architectre:s real domain of competenc, and ths its speci5ccriticalit,! -e can become indeed .er, ambitios3 Here is a realistic ambitionthat is likel, to be cro-ned b, per.asi.e sccess' the total make4o.er of theph,sio)nom, of the )lobal bilt en.ironment and the -orld of artefactsaccordin) to the principles of parametricism3 Is this aimin) too hi)hJ Not atall3 Think back to the 0ahas of the mid4t-enties3 (id not -hat the,de.eloped then deli.er a total make4o.er of the ph,sio)nom, of the )lobalbilt en.ironment and the -orld of artefacts in the #$th centr,J There isnothin) that escaped the 0ahas: thrst in the #$th centr,3 Toda,:s reachof the )loball, inte)rated desi)n discorse is mch more per.asi.e and itstrends disseminate more rapidl,3 More than e.er! the totall, of -orldprodction has to pass thro)h this needle:s e,e of a discrsi.el, determineddesi)n paradi)m3 +.er,thin) that is made is bein) desi)ned b, a desi)nerand ths b, a participant of or )lobal desi)n discorse 3



Of corse! this total spatio4morpholo)ical make4o.er is onl, a part of totalsociet,3 This make4o.er has to co4e.ol.e -ith the parallel processes ofchan)e in -orld econom,! -orld science! technolo),! -orld politics etc3 etc3

The ambitions of parametricism pdate the ambitions of the modernmo.ement32

The ke, historical cate)or, that moti.ates and calls for parametricism:s takeo.er from modernism is ?post4fordist net-ork societ,: as distinct from theprior era of fordist mass societ,3 In ?The *topoiesis of *rchitectre: theathor has elaborated a theor, of st,les -ithin -hich the concept of epochalst,les implies a historical ali)nment -ith societal @socio4economicA epochs3*rchitectre emer)ed from tradition bond bildin) as di>erentiated!consciosl, inno.ati.e! theor,4led discipline in the Renaissance andad.anced7 4 in co4e.oltion -ith the other societal sbs,stems like science!

the econom,! politics etc3 that started to be di>erentiated at the same time< .ia the pro)ression of epochal st,les3 @Postmodernism and(econstrcti.ism are transitional rather than epochal st,les! transitionalepisodes bet-een Modernism and Parametricism! like *rt No.ea and+6pressionism -ere transitional st,les on the -a, to Modernism3A Theepochal location of parametricism can be sccinctl, characteri/ed b, thefollo-in) table'

0ildin)*rchitectre

Societ,Socio4+conomic epoch

tradition4bond bildin)

medie.al .ernaclar

fedalism



Romanes9e

fedalism

transition

Gothic

fedalism K risin) cities

architectral histor,' epochal st,les

Renaissance7

earl, captialism cit, states

0aro9e

mercantilismabsoltism

Neo4lassicismHistoricism



bor)eois capitalism! nations4states

Modernism

fordisminternational socialism

Parametricism

)lobal! post4fordist net-ork societ,

Fi)3 % +pochal ali)nments of st,les

Parametricism is .alid and .ital -hether post4fordist socio4economic

restrctrin) proceeds -ithin a social democratic or a liberal @or e.enlibertarianA political frame! Bst as modernism -as compatible -ith bothcapitalism and socialism in the #$th centr,3D On both side of the iron crtainmodernist architectre had to adapt to the respecti.e political and economicconditions3 The essential characteristics of modernism sr.i.ed thesedi.er)ent adaptations3L In the same -a, parametricism:s historicalpertinence -ill ha.e to pro.e its robstness -ith respect to the particlar andpotentiall, di.er)ent adaptations that )lobal post4fordism -ill en)ender inthe political realm in the di>erent parts of -orld societ,3

Fi)3# Medie.al to-n Fi)3E Palmano.a! Renaissance Fi)3& hatea deersailles! 0aro9e



Fi)32 "e orbsier! ille Radiese! %C#& Fi)3D aha Hadid *rchitects! IstanblMasterplan! #$$L

Parametricism is the contemporar, st,le that is most .i)orosl, ad.ancin) itsdesi)n a)enda on the basis of comptationall, a)mented! parametricdesi)n techni9es3 It is a -ide4spread paradi)m and )lobal mo.ement -ithincontemporar, architectre that emer)ed and )athered momentm drin) thelast %2 ,ears3 The athor is an acti.e participant in the ad.ancement of thismo.ement .ia teachin) arenas like the ** (esi)n Research "ab and .ia the

desi)ns and bildin)s of aha Hadid *rchitects3 The mo.ement! the onl, trl,inno.ati.e direction -ithin contemporar, architectre! has b, no- s8cientl,demonstrated its capacit, to credibl, aspire to become the ni.ersall,reco)ni/ed best practice approach to architectral and rban desi)n )loball,3Parametricism is read, to make an impact' to transform the ph,sio)nom, ofthe )lobal bilt en.ironment and the totalit, of the -orld of desi)nedartefacts! Bst like modernism did in the #$th centr,3

*s conceptal de5nition of parametricism one mi)ht o>er the follo-in)

formla' Parametricism implies that all architectral elements andcompositions are parametricall, malleable37 This implies a fndamentalontolo)ical shift -ithin the basic! constitent elements of architectre3Instead of the classical and modern reliance on ideal )eometrical 5)res!strai)ht lines! rectan)les! as -ell as cbes! c,linders! p,ramids! and@semi4Aspheres! the ne- primiti.es of parametricism are animate @d,namic!adapti.e! interacti.eA )eometrical entities7 7 4 splines! nrbs! sbdi.s!particle4sprin) s,stems! a)ent based s,stems ect34 as fndamental?)eometrical: bildin) blocks for d,namical compositions that can be made toresonate -ith each other @and -ith conte6tal conditionsA .ia scripts3

In principle e.er, propert, of e.er, element or comple6 is sbBect toparametric .ariation3 The ke, techni9e for handlin) this .ariabilit, is thescriptin) of fnctions that establish associations bet-een the properties ofthe .arios elements3 Ho-e.er! altho)h the ne- st,le is to a lar)e e6tentdependent pon these ne- desi)n techni9es the st,le cannot be redced tothe mere introdction of ne- tools and techni9es3 What characteri/es thene- st,le are ne- ambitions and ne- .ales7 4 both in terms of form and in



terms of fnction 47 that are to be prsed -ith the aid of the ne- tools andtechni9es3 Parametricism prses the .er, )eneral aim to or)ani/e andarticlate the increasin) di.ersit, and comple6it, of social instittions and lifeprocesses -ithin post4fordist net-ork societ,3 For this task parametricismaims to establish a comple6 .arie)ated spatial order3 It ses scriptin) to

la-fll, di>erentiate and correlate all elements and sbs,stems of a desi)n3 The )oal is to intensif, the internal interdependencies -ithin an architectraldesi)n as -ell as the e6ternal a8liations and continities -ithin comple6!rban conte6ts3 Parametricism o>ers a ne-! comple6 order .ia the principlesof di>erentiation and correlation3

This )eneral .erbal and moti.ational de5nition of parametricism can andmst be complemented b, an operational de5nition3 It is necessar, tooperationalise the intiti.e .ales of a st,le in order to make its h,pothesestestable! to make its dissemination s,stematic so that it can be e6posed toconstrcti.e criticism! incldin) self4criti9e3

The operational de5nition of a st,le mst formlate )eneral instrctions that)ide the creati.e process in line -ith the )eneral ambitions and e6pected9alities of the st,le3 * st,le is not onl, concerned -ith the elaboration ande.alation of architectral form3 +ach st,le poses a speci5c -a, ofnderstandin) and handlin) fnctions3 *ccordin)l,! the operational de5nitionof parametricism comprises both a formal heristics! establishin) rles andprinciples that )ide the elaboration and e.alation of the desi)n:s formalde.elopment and resoltion! as -ell as a fnctional heristics! establishin)

rles and principles that )ide the elaboration and e.alation of the desi)n:ssocial fnctionalit,3

For each of these t-o dimensions the operational de5nition formlates theheristics of the desi)n process in terms of operational taboos and do)masspecif,in) -hat to a.oid and -hat to prse3 *t the same time theseheristic desi)n )idelines pro.ide criteria of self4criti9e and continosdesi)n enhancement3

Operational de5nition of Parametricism'

Formal heristics'

Ne)ati.e principlestaboos'



a.oid ri)id forms @lack of malleabilit,A

a.oid simple repetition @lack of .ariet,A

a.oid colla)e of isolated! nrelated elements @lack of orderA

Positi.e principlesdo)mas'7

all forms mst be .ariable and adapti.e @deformation informationA

all s,stems mst be di>erentiated @)radientsA

all s,stems mst be interdependent @correlationsA

Fnctional heristics'

Ne)ati.e principlestaboos'

a.oid ri)id fnctional stereot,pes

a.oid se)re)ati.e fnctional /onin)

Positi.e principlesdo)mas'

all fnctions are parametric acti.it,e.ent scenarios

all acti.itiese.ents commnicate -ith each other

The a.oidance of the taboos and the adherence to the do)mas deli.erscomple6! .arie)ated order for comple6 social instittions3 These principlesotline path-a,s for the continos criti9e and impro.ement of the desi)n3

The desi)ner can al-a,s increase the coherence and intricac, of hisherdesi)n b, in.entin) frther .ariables and de)rees of freedom for the



compositions: primiti.e components3 There is al-a,s scope for the frtherdi>erentiation of the arra,s or sbs,stems that are made p b, the elementalprimiti.es3 This di>erentiation can be increased -ith respect to the nmber of .ariables at pla,! -ith respect to the ran)e of di>erences it encompasses and-ith respect to the 5neness and di>erential rh,thm of its )radients3 There is

al-a,s frther scope for the correlation of the .arios sbs,stems at pla, inthe mlti4s,stem set p3 Ultimatel, e.er, sbs,stem -ill be in a relation ofmtal dependenc, -ith e.er, other sbs,stem! directl, or indirectl,3 Thenmber of aspects or properties of each sbs,stem that are in.ol.ed in thenet-ork of correlation mi)ht be increased -ith each desi)n step3 Frtherthere is al-a,s the possibilit, @and often the necessit,A to add frthersbs,stems or la,ers to the @e.er more comple6 and intricateA composition3*lso' it is al-a,s possible to identif, frther aspects or featres of the@principall, nlimitedA rban conte6t that mi)ht become an occasion for thedesi)n to re)ister and respond to3 Ths the conte6t sensiti.it, of the desi)ncan be increased -ith e.er, desi)n step3 Ths the heristics of parametricismdirect a traBector, of desi)n intensi5cation that is in principle an in5nite taskand traBector,3 There is al-a,s a frther possibilit, pshin) p the intensit,!coherence! intricac, @and beat,A of the desi)n3 *s the net-ork of relationsti)htens! each frther step becomes more elaborate! more in.ol.ed as all theprior sbs,stems and their traBectories of di>erentiation shold be taken intoaccont3 *rbitrar, additions sho- p conspicosl, as alien disrption of theintricate order elaborated so far3 +ach additional element or sbs,stem thatenters the composition at a late! hi)hl, e.ol.ed sta)e challen)es thein)enit, of the desi)ner! and more so the more the desi)n ad.ances3 Thecomple6! hi)hl, e.ol.ed desi)n assmes more and more the a-e4inspirin) air

of a 9asi4natral necessit,3 Ho-e.er! the desi)n remains open ended3 Therecan be no closre3 The classical concepts of completeness and perfection donot appl, to parametricism3 Parametricism:s comple6 .arie)ated order doesnot rel, on the completion of a 5)re3 It remains an inherentl, opencomposition and desi)n traBector,3

In the perspecti.e of architectre! and speci5call, in the perspecti.e ofcontemporar, parametric desi)n! contemporar, societ, is a .ast panopl, ofparametricall, .ariable e.ent scenarios37 This formla spells the pro)ramdimension of the bilt en.ironment in terms of the parametricist paradi)m3So far parametricism has primaril, focssed on formal correlation! thecorrelation of formal4spatial sbs,stems3 Ho-e.er! it is pertinent to e6pandparametricism:s ke, concept of correlation to inclde form4fnction relations!i3e3 incldin) the correlation of the patterned bilt en.ironment -ith thepatterns of social commnications that nfold -ithin it3 This is meanin)flbecase the same comptational techni9es that operationali/e the conceptof formal correlation can no- be applied to form4fnction correlations3



Ho- is this possibleJ

The fnctional heristics of parametricism as de5ned abo.e propose toconcei.e of the fnctions of spaces in terms of d,namic patterns of socialcommnications! i3e3 as parametricall, .ariable! d,namic e.ent scenariosrather than static schedles of accommodation that list fnctionalstereot,pes3 It has no- become possible to model the fnctional la,er of thebilt en.ironment and ths incorporate it into the desi)n process3 This ismade possible b, comptational cro-d modellin) techni9es .ia a)ent4basedmodels3 Sch models reprodce or predict collecti.e patterns of mo.ementfrom the a))re)ation of indi.idal a)ents presmed to na.i)ate theiren.ironment accordin) to de5ned rles3 Tools like <Mi*rm,= or <*[email protected] as pl)ins for Ma,aA! or <Massi.e= no- make beha.ioralmodellin) -ithin desi)ned en.ironments accessible to architects3 *)entmodellin) shold not be limited to cro-d circlation ;o-s! bt sholdencompass all patterns of occpation and social interaction in space3 Thea)ents: beha.ior mi)ht be scripted so as to be correlated -ith thecon5)rational and morpholo)ical featres of the desi)ned en.ironment! i3e3pro)rammed a)ents respond to en.ironmental cles3 Sch cles or tri))ersmi)ht also inclde frnitre con5)rations as -ell as other artifacts3 The ideais to bild p d,namic action4artifact net-orks3 olors! te6tres! and st,listicfeatres! that to)ether -ith ambient parameters @li)htin) conditionsAconstitte and characteri/e a certain territor, mi)ht in;ence the beha.ioral

mode @moodA of the a)ent3 Since the ?meanin): of an architectral space isthe @nancedA t,pe of e.ent or social interaction to be e6pected -ithin itsterritor,! the ne- tools allo- for the re4fondation of architectral semiolo),as parametric semiolo),3 This implies that the meanin) of the architectrallan)a)e can enter the desi)n medim @di)ital modelA3 The semiolo)icalproBect implies that the desi)n proBect s,stemati/es all form4fnctioncorrelations into a coherent s,stem of si)ni5cation3 * s,stem of si)ni5cationis a s,stem of mappin)s @correlationsA that map distinctions or manifoldsde5ned -ithin the domain of the si)ni5ed @here the domain of patterns ofsocial interactionA onto distinctions or manifolds de5ned -ithin the domain of

the si)ni5er @here the domain of spatial positions and morpholo)ical featresde5nin) and characteri/in) a )i.en territor,A and .ice.ersa3 The s,stem ofsi)ni5cation -orks if the pro)rammed social a)ents consistentl, respond tothe rele.antl, coded positional and morpholo)ical cles so that e6pectedbeha.iors can be read o> the articlated en.ironmental con5)ration3Q



* Uni5ed St,le ar)ed for -ithin a Uni5ed Theor, of *rchitectre

The athor @-ho ori)inall, coined this term in #$$L#$$QA ar)es thatparametricism is the onl, trl, inno.ati.e direction -ithin architectre and

shold be promoted as the onl, credible candidate aspirin) to become theni5ed epochal st,le for architectre! rbanism and all the desi)n disciplinesfor the #%st centr,3 This thesis is bein) ar)ed for -ithin a comprehensi.e!ni5ed theor, of architectredesi)n @the theor, of architectral atopoiesisAthat is embedded -ithin an o.erarchin) theor, of societ, @"hmann:s socials,stems theor,A3C

larit, and nit, of a)enda are necessar, preconditions for e>ecti.ecollecti.e action%$3 Sch clarit, and nit, mst not be based on preBdice ora simplistic -orld .ie-3 The -orld -ithin -hich architectre mst tr, torede5ne its role and a)enda seems mch more comple6 and ncertain thanthe -orld in -hich architectral modernism made its mark 2$ ,ears a)o3Man, ha.e come to belie.e that this -orld is too fra)mented and contestedto allo- for a ni5ed collecti.e architectral a)enda analo)os to the modernmo.ement3 This scepticism -ithin architectre coincides -ith the )eneraldistrst for )rand comprehensi.e theories in philosoph, and the socialscience since the crisis of Mar6ism as -ell as of de.elopment andmoderni/ation theories in )eneral3 The %CL$s e6posed the nai.et, of thosetheories: e6pectations of )lobal indstriali/ation! democrati/ation! thee6pansion of )eneral social -elfare! and the smoothin) of bsiness c,cles .iademocratic re)lation and central steerin)3 The -orld had become a rather

more comple6 and npredictable place3 This ne- condition -as re;ected inthe ne- theoretical sophistication of post4strctralist philosoph,3 Ne- loopsof theoretical re;ection7 4 the re;ection pon lan)a)e! discorse! adience!instittional interests etc3 47 circmscribed and relati.i/ed the sbstantialclaims that mi)ht still be made in social and cltral anal,sis3 Ho-e.er! theabilit, to na.i)ate the ne- cltral comple6ities -as accompanied b, arelati.ist stance that -as sceptical to-ards attempts at o.erarchin)theoretical s,nthesis3 So there is no comprehensi.e post4strctralist theor,of contemporar, societ,3 Instead -e -itness a proliferation of perspecti.esand areas of std,3 *t the same time modernism in architectredesi)n )a.e

-a, to a plralism of st,les and approaches3Ho-e.er! the increased comple6it, and di.ersi5cation of social phenomena!more than e.er! nfolds -ithin a sin)le inte)rated social -orld3 Ths thereremains7 4 more than e.er 47 the possibilit, @and necessit,A of a ni5edtheor,! a theor, that is mch more comple6 than earlier theories and thatincldes the ne- post4strctralist insi)hts and loops of re;ection3



There is indeed sch a social theor,! a theor, that can cope -ith this ne-le.el of comple6it, and ncertaint,3 This is Niklas "hmann:s theor, of?fnctionall, di>erentiated societ,:! embedded in his ?social s,stems theor,:based on comple6it, theor, and the theor, of atopoiesis3 M, ni5ed theor,of architectre 7 is e6plicitl, bildin) on "hmann:s theor, and can be read

as a ne- component -ithin his theoretical s,stem3

Man, ha.e come to belie.e that the plralism of st,les and perspecti.es thatemer)ed in the %CL$s and %CQ$s is an inherent and ine.itable characteristicof or epoch! and that a )loball, shared architectral a)enda analo)os tothe modern mo.ement is no lon)er possible3 *)ainst this stands the fact thata )lobal con.er)ence of desi)n research e>orts has )athered s8cientmomentm -ithin the architectral a.ant4)arde o.er the last %2 ,ears tomake the emer)ence of a ne- ni5ed paradi)m and a)enda in analo), to

modernism plasible toda,3 Si6 ,ears a)o I proposed a name for thismo.ement7 4 parametricism 47 and started m, attempts to smmari/e itsno.el featres! methodolo)ies! and .ales3 *s a committed participant I alsotried to e6plicate its rationalit,! ad.anta)es! and preliminar, achie.ements inthe li)ht of the crrent ?historical: condition' the )lobali/ed! kno-led)e4 andnet-ork societ,3 (e to the #$$Q 5nancial crisis and its economic aftermath< the )reat recession 4 the proliferation of parametricism has been mchslo-er than one mi)ht ha.e e6pected si6 ,ears a)o3 Ho-e.er! frtherpro)ress has been made in the mo.ement:s e.oltion from an @on)oin)Aa.ant4)arde desi)n research a)enda to a mo.ement -ith the strate)ica)enda of )lobal implementation across all scales and pro)rammecate)ories3 *t least this is the athor:s ambition3 Its .iabilit, is demonstratedb, the dramatic e6pansion of aha Hadid *rchitects in scale! scope and)lobal reach3%%

Is this ambition and claim to-ards the )lobal implementation of the ne-paradi)m not contradicted b, the di.ersit, of climatic! socio4economic! andcltral conditionsJ M, ans-er to this often posed 9estion is thatdi>erentiation and local adaptation is the .er, essence of parametricism3 Theabstractness and ths open4endedness of its )eneral heristic principles)arantee the adapti.e .ersatilit, of its soltion space3 While the -orld ismore di.erse and di>erentiated < across contries and continents as -ellas -ithin its me)a4cities < it also is more interconnected and inte)ratedthan e.er! so that talk of a sin)le -orld societ, becomes e.er more Bsti5ed3

Ths no re)ion! cltre or sbcltre can remain seclded from the mostad.anced! )lobal best practice architectral paradi)m3 This is alread, borneot b, the fact that in nearl, all contries of the -orld both proBects and



prota)onists of parametricism can be fond3

*s hinted at abo.e! parametricism is the onl, credible candidate for a ne-)lobal epochal st,le for architectre! rbanism and the desi)n disciplines

since modernism:s crisis and demise more than E$ ,ears a)o3 Its emer)enceso far is alread, a si)ni5cant fact of architectral histor,3 Ho-e.er! an a.ant4)arde st,le is an emer)ent! e.ol.in) discrsi.e phenomenon in -hich man,contribtors and .oices coalesce3 Its identi5cation! namin)! and theoreticale6plication is Bst one more discrsi.e e.ent -ithin its e.oltion3 This -as m,contribtion .ia m, -ritin)s since #$$Q and .ia olme % of m, treatise ?The*topoiesis of *rchitectre:3 olme % is sbtitled ?* Ne- Frame-ork for*rchitectre:%#3 It charts! rationali/es and historici/es -hat has beenachie.ed3 0, itself it does not ,et formlate a decisi.e! ftre orienteda)enda for architectre:s frther pro)ress3 The formlation of an a)enda for

architectre:s frther ad.ance and the attempt to p)rade the discipline:sintellectal and methodolo)ical resorces in order to meet the challen)esposed and to e6ploit the opportnities a>orded b, contemporar, ci.ilisation!this is the ambition of the #nd olme of m, treatise3 Its sbtitle reads ?* Ne-*)enda for *rchitectre:%E3

The ke, cate)ories in "hmann:s theoretical edi5ce are the concept ofcommnication and the concept of social s,stem3 Social s,stems are s,stemsof commnications3 This makes sense in a -orld -here all problems are no-

5rst of all problems of commnication3 World societ, is nderstood as thetotalit, of all commnications3 These commnications are self4or)ani/ed intoatopoietic%& s,stems primaril, accordin) to the principle of fnctionaldi>erentiation3 *ccordin)l,! m, theor, of architectre theori/es the disciplineof architectre as an e.ol.in) s,stem of commnications @discorseA thattakes ni.ersal and e6clsi.e responsibilit, for the inno.ation of the bilten.ironment! in fnctional di>erentiation to en)ineerin)! science! art! politics!la-! econom, etc3 The speci5c responsibilit, of architectredesi)n concernsthe socialcommnicati.e fnctionalit, @in distinction to thetechnicalen)ineerin) fnctionalit,A of the bilt en.ironment3 Spaces aretheori/ed as framin) commnications that fnction as in.itations andpremises for all the interactions that @are meant toA take place -ithin them3+ach territor,frame is embedded -ithin a s,stem of frames that can benderstood as a s,stem of si)ni5cation3

Societ, can onl, e.ol.e -ith the simltaneos orderin) of space3 The lifeprocess of societ, is a commnication process that is strctred b, an e.ermore comple6 and richl, di.ersi5ed matri6 of instittions and commnicati.e



sitations3 The bilt en.ironment orders and stabili/es this matri6 ofinstittions and makes it le)ible3 The inno.ation of the bilt en.ironmentparticipates in the e6pansion! di>erentiation and inte)ration of this net-orkof commnicati.e sitations3 The bilt en.ironment -ith its comple6 matri6 of territorial distinctions is a )iant! na.i)able! information4rich interface of

commnication3

Within contemporar, net-ork societ, @information societ,! kno-led)eeconom,A! total social prodcti.it, increases -ith the densit, ofcommnication3 ontemporar, net-ork societ, demands that -econtinosl, bro-se and scan as mch of the social -orld as possible toremain continosl, connected and informed3 We cannot a>ord to -ithdra-and bea.er a-a, in isolation -hen inno.ation accelerates all arond3 Wemst continosl, recalibrate -hat -e are doin) in line -ith -hat e.er,bod,

else is doin)3 We mst remain net-orked all the time to continosl,ascertain the rele.anc, of or o-n e>orts3 Rapid and e>ecti.e face4to4facecommnication remains a crcial component of or dail, prodcti.it,3 Tele4commnication cannot replace face to face and )rop commnication or thebro-sin) of a dense rban en.ironment3 The importance of the bilten.ironment frther increases as mobile tele4commnication nchains sfrom or desks and releases s into the space of the cit,3 The -hole bilten.ironment becomes an interface of mlti4modal commnication! and theabilit, to na.i)ate dense and comple6 rban en.ironments is an importantaspect of or o.erall prodcti.it, toda,3 Or increasin) abilit, to scan ane.er4increasin) simltaneit, of e.ents! and to mo.e thro)h a rapidsccession of commnicati.e enconters! constittes the essential!contemporar, form of cltral ad.ancement3 The frther ad.ancement of this.ital capacit, re9ires a ne- bilt en.ironment -ith an nprecedented le.elof comple6it,! a comple6it, that is or)ani/ed and articlated into a comple6!.arie)ated order of the kind -e admire in natral! self4or)ani/ed s,stems3

The cit, is a comple6! densel, la,ered te6t and a permanent broadcast3 Orambition as architects and rban desi)ners mst be to spatiall, nfold moresimltaneos choices of commnicati.e sitations in dense! perceptall,palpable! and le)ible arran)ements3 The .isal 5eld mst be rich ininteraction opportnities and information abot -hat lies behind the

immediate 5eld of .ision3

M, thesis is that the bilt en.ironment shold be concei.ed and desi)ned asa three4dimensional! ED$ de)ree! la,ered interface of commnication3 It cancommnicate the more the more becomes simltaneosl, .isible3 0t that isnot eno)h3 Its commnicati.e capacit, depends on the coherenc, of its



internal order so that -hat is .isible allo-s for inferences abot -hat isin.isible or not ,et .isible3 This depends on the consistenc, of its form4fnction correlations! so that a positional or morpholo)ical distinction ordi>erence makes a predictable di>erence in terms of e6pected socialinteraction pattern or social fnction3 Ths the bilt en.ironment:s

commnicati.e capacit, is enhanced the more the emplo,ed architectralorder and morpholo), is desi)ned as a coherent s,stem of si)ni5cation3

The Prospect of a Free Market Urban Order

*ll top do-n breacratic attempts to order the bilt en.ironment arebankrpt3 The e6periences of the last E2 ,ears indicates that -ithin the?postmodern condition: @post4fordist net-ork societ,A all political attempts to

inter.ene in spontaneos rban de.elopment processes 7 lead to -astefldistortions! dela,s! ndertili/ation! shorta)es and in;ated real estate prices3Onl, market processes can process the ne- di.ersit, and comple6it, ofinformation and )enerate the kno-led)e re9ired to deli.er land and realestate resorces reliabl, to prodcti.e and desired ses! a.oidin) -asteflmisallocations3 Ho-e.er! -hile laisse/ faire de.elopment can deli.er asociall, @marketA .alidated pro)ram mi6 and pro)ram distribtion! it seemsbond to prodce .isal chaos in the rban dimension3 This .isal disorder isnot onl, )l, and distractin)! it is disorientin) and ths compromises thesocial fnctionalit, of the bilt en.ironment3 The articlation of a le)ible

spatial order < the architect:s core competenc, 4 is itself a .ital aspect notonl, of the cit,:s li.eabilit, bt also of its economic prodcti.it,3%2

The 9estion is ths posed' Ho- can the .ital desire for rban order! le)ibilit,and identit, be reconciled -ith a free market that incldes an e9all,nrestrained artistic freedomJ In short' Ho- can entreprenerial and artisticfreedom lead to rban orderJ M, ans-er is t-ofold'

%3 Freedom and order can coincide in pri.ate plannin)3

#3 Freedom and order be,ond the bonds of pri.ate plannin) can emer)e .iathe discrsi.e con.er)ence of the desi)n disciplines to-ards a ne- epochalst,le' Parametricism3

*rond %CQ$ lar)e scale state planned and sbsidi/ed rban e6pansions.anished in the ad.anced economies and -ith it .anished the disciplines ofrbanism and ph,sical rban plannin)3 Plannin) -as hence4force con5ned tooperate ne)ati.el,! b, means of restrictin) pri.ate actors3 The disappearance



of rbanism is a moment in the crisis of modernism! itself bt a moment inthe crisis of Fordism nderstood as the era of the mechanical massprodction of a national consmption standard -ithin a planned or mi6edeconom,! nder the aspices of either socialist or social4democratic -elfarepolitics3 The last E$ ,ears since ha.e been marked b, the re4assertion of

market forces and )lobali/ation nder the aspices of neo4liberal politics3Since %CQ$ -e li.e in the era of a market4led post4fordist socio4economicrestrctrin)3 The re4admission of international market forces andentreprenerships! a reaction to the )rindin) %CL$s socio4economicsta)nation of economic inter.entionism and -elfare4ism! combsted -ith the.ersatile prodcti.e potentials of the micro4electronic re.oltion to nleash ane- socio4economic d,namic' the emer)ence of post4fordist net-ork societ,3"ife4st,le di.ersi5cation and the ne- di.ersit, in prodcts and ser.ices madeeconomicall, .iable b, the ne- desi)n and prodction s,stems en)a)ed inmtal ampli5cation3 The di.ersit, of ne- enterprises copled -ithacceleratin) c,lcles of inno.ation @made .iable b, the ne- technolo)ies ande6panded marketsA en)endered a mch di>erentiated and intensi5ed societalcommnication3 The planned decentrali/ation .ia mte! monotonos! /onedsatellite settlements separatin) sleepin) silos from indstrial estates -as nolon)er a .iable recipe for societal ad.ancement3 In terms of rbande.elopment this implied the retrn to the historic centres -ith indi.idalincisions as -ell as a dere)lated! laisse/ faire spra-lin) be,ond the bondsof emer)in) me)a4cities3%D 0oth tendencies can be described as forms ofcolla)e! the anti4thesis of planned or desi)ned de.elopment3 The reslt is-hat I ha.e called )arba)e spill rbanisation3 This mode of de.elopment iscertainl, better adapted to the ne- socio4economic d,namics than the

bankrpt! simplistic order of modernist plannin) and rbanism3 Ho-e.er! itprodces a disorientin) .isal chaos that compromises the .italcommnicati.e capacit, of the bilt en.ironment3 While the ne- di.ersit,and open4endedness of post4fordist social phenomena is bein)accommodated! the nre)lated a))lomeration of di>erences prodced the)lobal e>ect of -hite noise sameness e.er,-here -ithot allo-in) for theemer)ence of distinct rban identities -ithin a le)ible rban order3

Fi)3L Urban disarticlationdisorientation! Tok,o Fi)3Q di>erences collapse

into sameness

Fi)3 C (econstrcti.ism as aesthetics of rban colla)e! (3 "ibeskind! Micro4me)as! %CQ%



This phenomenolo)ical disarticlation of the emer)ent or)anisationalcomple6it, hampers the fll potential for comple6 social or)anisation andcommnication3 Social fnctionalit, depends as mch on sbBecti.e .isalaccessibilit, as it depends on obBecti.e ph,sical a.ailabilit,3 *rchitects sholdreco)ni/e this instrmentalit, of .isal appearances as a ke, moment of theircore competenc, and task3 Social cooperation re9ires that speci5call,rele.ant actors 5nd each other and con5)re -ithin speci5c commnicati.esitations3 This insi)ht moti.ates architectral attempts to articlate acomple6 .arie)ated rban order that allo-s for the intiti.e na.i)ation andorientation -ithin an information4rich bilt en.ironment that makes its richo>erin)s .isall, accessible3 That is the desi)n a)enda of parametricism andparametric rbanism3 There is no dobt that the ne- comptational orderin)de.ices like )radients! .ector 5elds! and the methods of associati.emodellin) and )eometric data45eld transcodin) allo- desi)ners to )enerateintricatel, ordered rban morpholo)ies -ith distinct identities that cold inprinciple make a mch lar)er amont of pro)rammatic informationperceptall, tractable3 Ho-e.er! the 9estion arises ho- this desiredincrease in rban order can be implemented in the face of a recedin) stateplannin) apparatsJ

One ob.ios -a, in -hich the .acm left b, state plannin) can be 5lled is

b, means of -hat mi)ht be called ?pri.ate plannin):! i3e3 b, a process-hereb, pri.ate de.elopment corporations or consortims nif, lar)er andlar)er de.elopment areas -ithin a coherent! market controlled rbanbsiness strate),3 This emer)in) phenomenon allo-s for the strate)ic! .ale4enhancin) )arnerin) and steerin) of pro)rammatic s,ner)ies! -hileremainin) continosl, sensiti.e and ;e6ible -ith respect to market and thsend4ser .alidation! i3e3 -ithot s>erin) from the ri)idities and blocka)esthat hamper state e>orts sbBect to all4too slo- political and breacraticprocedres! ideolo)ies and rent4seekin) special interest )rops3 <Plannin)=for a comple6 societal d,namic is inherentl, ncertain and ths speclati.e3

The de)ree of ;e6ibilit, sch a plan shold ha.e is one more ncertainspeclation! a risk, bsiness that is bein) entrsted to entrepreners andin.estors -ith their o-n skin in the )ame! rather than to @essentiall,indi>erentA breacrats3 Pri.ate plannin) seems to ha.e a better prospect toscceed in this fast4pace! d,namic en.ironment -ithot central controls,stem3 Onl, market based decisions! )ided b, p4to4date price si)nals!ha.e a chance here to process the best rele.ant information and )aranteede dili)ence3 * s,stem of pri.ate plannin) 4 operatin) nder the market:s



selection pressre of pro5t and loss < can process the informationcondensed into price4si)nals in order to achie.e a rational! economi/in)allocation of rban resorces -ithin a coherent! s,ner)etic mi6 of most.aled ses3 It does so b, ali)nin) all .ital actor:s incenti.es -ith a relati.erban .ale4ma6imi/ation and ths most prodcti.e and desired end4ser

tili/ation3 The de)ree of territorial comprehensi.eness of sch s,ner),hntin) pri.ate plannin) e>orts is an empirical 9estion that can onl, beans-ered b, the nleashed market processes themsel.es3 So far -e canobser.e t-o rele.ant empirical facts -ith respect to this 9estion' 5rst! itmst be obser.ed that e.en the most atomi/ed market4based de.elopmentprocess! -here <plannin)= is con5ned to indi.idal isolated parcels!7 has afar hi)her de)ree of adapti.e pertinence -ith respect to post4fordist net-orksociet, and is )eneratin) more economic and rban .italit, than the state4planned rban e6pansions of ,ester,ear3 The second fact is that 4 -hileisolated insertions contine < -e can obser.e a tendenc, to-ards attemptsto mer)e and inte)rate parcels -ithin the historical centres and to-ardslar)er and lar)er pri.atel, master4planned de.elopment sites -ithin the -idere6panse of the )lobal me)a4cities -here de.elopment is concentrated3 In thissense pri.ate plannin) is on the rise and ths a>ords opportnities for .isalas mch as pro)rammatic inte)ration3%L

Is the de)ree of order that parametric rbanism aspires to possible be,ondthe le.el of inte)ration achie.able .ia pri.ate plannin)J More )enerall,' isrbanism at all possible in the face of free market d,namismJ(econstrcti.ism can be looked at as the aesthetic ideolo), of this rbanprocess of <)arba)e spill= colla)e3 "ike the mo.e from classical architectreto modernism! the mo.e from modernism to deconstrcti.ism and colla)edeli.ered an e6pansion of de)rees of freedom and .ersatilit, @toaccommodate a more comple6 societ,A that -as paid for b, a rela6ation orreBection of rles of composition! i3e3 of means of orderin)! and ths aresltant de)eneration of the .isal order3 Parametricism is the 5rst st,le thatdeli.ers frther de)rees of freedom and .ersatilit, in conBnction -ith asimltaneos increase in its orderin) capacit, .ia ne- compositional rleslike a8liations! )radients and associati.e lo)ics3 In principle all desi)n mo.esare no- rle based and ths -ith the potential to enhance the .isal order

and ths le)ibilit, of the bilt en.ironment in the face of an increasedcomple6it,3

Fi)3 %$ The simltaneos enhancement of freedom and order' in.ersion of



architectre:s entrop, la-

If -e look at the historical pro)ression of st,les -e 5nd that the last E$$,ears established -hat -e mi)ht call architectre:s entrop, la-' all )ains interms of desi)n freedom and .ersatilit, ha.e been achie.ed at the e6penseof rban and architectral order! i3e3 increases in .ersatilit, had to be bo)htb, a pro)ressi.e de)eneration of architectre:s orderin) capacit,3 Theincrease of de)rees of freedom established .ia the enrichment ofarchitectre:s formal4compositional repertoire -as the paramont criterion ofpro)ress in architectre:s prsit of matchin) the re9isite .ariet, of societalcomple6it,3 7 Order -as pro)ressi.el, eroded3 This lon) trend of a ne)ati.e

correlation of freedom and order can be re.ersed nder the aspices ofparametricism3 Parametricism o>ers the simltaneos increase in freedomand order and ths ina)rates a ne- phase of architectral ne)4entrop,3Parametricism:s radical ontolo)ical and methodolo)ical inno.ation translatesinto a massi.e leap in both dimensions of architectral pro)ress consideredhere! i3e3 it entails an nprecedented e6pansion of architectre:scompositional freedom and .ersatilit, and an nprecedented leap inarchitectre:s orderin) capacit, thro)h the deplo,ment of al)orithms andassociati.e lo)ics3 This re.ersal of architectre:s entrop, la-! this ne-orderin) capacit, or architectral ne)4entrop, is the critical factor in

architectre:s potential to halt the on)oin) rban disarticlation of the-orld:s bilt en.ironments3 Ho-e.er! this factor can onl, come into pla, ofparametricism achie.es he)emon, as the ni5ed! epochal st,le of the #%stcentr,3

The market process is an e.oltionar, process that operates .ia mtation@trial and errorA! selection and reprodction3 It is self4correctin)! self4re)lation! leadin) to a self4or)ani/ed order3 Ths -e mi)ht presme that theland se allocation and ths the pro)rammatic dimension of the rban and

architectral order is to be determined b, architectre:s pri.ate clients -ithina market process that allocates land resorces to the most .aled ses3Ho-e.er! in the absence of st,listic and methodolo)ical coherence -e cannote6pect the nderl,in) pro)rammatic order to become le)ible as a spatio4morpholo)ical order3 For this to happen -e mst presme a he)emonicst,listic and methodolo)ical paradi)m that has the .ersatilit, and orderin)capacit, to translate the social order into a comple6 .arie)ated spatial order3* shared paradi)m o>ers the prospect of coherence across mltiple athors



-orkin) for mltiple clients3 No controllin) hand needs to be prespposed! nopolitical enforcement3 *ll that is re9ired is the frther discrsi.econ.er)ence of a ni5ed st,le that can deli.er the combination of .ersatilit,@freedomA and order3 The onl, .iable candidate for the ne6t he)emonicepochal st,le is ths parametricism3

Fi)3 %% Parametricism' omple6 arie)ated Order .ia mlti4athor coherence!Stdio Hadid! 1ale Uni.ersit,! #$%E

Neither a he)emonic Postmodernism! nor a he)emonic (econstrcti.ismcold o.ercome the .isal chaos that allo-s the proliferation of di>erences tocollapse into )lobal sameness @-hite noiseA3 0oth Postmodernism and(econstrcti.ism operate .ia colla)e! i3e3 .ia the nconstraineda))lomeration of di>erences3 Onl, Parametricism has the capacit, tocombine an increase in comple6it, -ith a simltaneos increase in order! .iathe principles of la-fl di>erentiation and mlti4s,stem correlation3 Onl,parametricism can o.ercome the .isal chaos and -hite noise sameness thatlaisse/ faire rbanisation prodces e.er,-here3 Parametricism holds ot the

possibilit, of a free market rbanism that prodces an emer)ent order andlocal identit, in a bottom p process! i3e3 -ithot rel,in) on political orbreacratic po-er3 The .ales and methodolo)ical principles ofparametricism are prone to prodce path4dependent! self4amplif,in) localidentities3 Its ethos of conte6tal a8liation and ambition to establish orreinforce continities allo-s for the de.elopment of ni9e rban identitieson the basis of local conte6ts! topo)raph,! climate etc3 Parametricist orderdoes not rel, on the niform repetition of patterns as Modernist rbanismdoes3 In contrast to 0aro9e or 0ea6 *rts master4plans! Parametricistcompositions are inherentl, open ended @incompleteA compositions3 Theirorder is relational rather than )eometric3 The, establish order and orientation.ia the la-fl di>erentiation of 5elds! .ia .ectors of transformation! as -ell as.ia conte6tal a8liations and sbs,stem correlations3 This neither re9iresthe completion of a 5)re! nor 4 in contrast to Modernist master4plans 4 theniform repetition of a pattern3 There are al-a,s man, @in principle in5nitel,man,A creati.e -a,s to transform! to a8liate! to correlate3 Parametricismths holds ot the prospect of a free market rban order3 The fnctional@pro)rammaticA dimension of this ne- rban order is bein) deli.ered b,



client4entrepreners competin) and collaboratin) -ithin the instittionalframe-ork of the )lobal market process' neo4liberalism3 The formal @spatio4morpholo)icalA dimension of this order can be deli.ered b, architectscompetin) and collaboratin) nder the aspices of a shared! discrsi.el,instittionali/ed! )lobal best practice paradi)m' parametricism3

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The Historical Pertinence of Parametricism and the Prospect of a Free Market Urban Order

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