Design is the Plan Before
By definition a design is "a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is built or made." By way of this thinking, Set In Stone does very little design day to day. As a fabrication studio our job is primarily to bring the ideas, designs and dreams of others to fruition. Depending on the proposal, this process can be relatively simple and straightforward or incredibly in-depth and demanding. Tim Ingold is a social anthropologist who studies, writes and speaks on the process of making in terms of the artifacts that characterize societies. He has a whole host of fascinating theories and observations, but the one I would like to share today is his differentiation between “hylomorphic” and “morphogenic” design. His definition of hylomorphic design is to “impose forms internal to the mind upon a material world”. This pretty much sums up what architects and designers do everyday; imposing ideas on the material world. Morphogenic design is something more akin to the process of an artist or of a craftsman. Pablo Picasso famously said, "I begin with an idea and then it becomes something else." This is the morphogenic process. There is a dialog of sorts that happens with the material during the process of making that influences and perhaps completely changes the initial design and the eventual outcome. This "dialog" only happens during the process of working with a material in its full materiality. So much of the "material" we work with these days has been processed to such a point to meet industry standards that a true “dialog” with it is near impossible. But that is another conversation. Often times this conversation devolves into a debate of which is the better way. But this misses the point entirely. There is no better way. There is merely a differentiation, not a question of quality. Actually, maybe there is a better way? What would/could it look like to bring the hylomorphic and morphogenic closer? How would a project be changed (for better or worse) to bring the craftsman in before the design is complete? Or before the design hits a snag? How would things go if the craft and material wasn't just used to fulfill an idea, but also influence it? What does it look like when the actual making/building process determines, or at least influences the final product? I have no answers. I tend to think that there shouldn't be any definitive answers. But the questions are the point. The conversations that ensue are what is important. Thanks again for your time.
Here is some more information if you are interested…
Some More Worthy Distractions:
Religious spaces and architecture has always intrigued me. How do you go about ushering the human spirit into a sacred space or unveil something more than the material world around us? I enjoyed this article about Gottfried Böhm’s Religious Architecture. And not just because it is all concrete. - metropolismag.com
Is mandatory composting the answer? This is a very interesting look into the success of and reason for South Korea’s composting program. Warning: this is a lengthy article.- newyorker.com
In such a visual profession such as design or architecture this is a good reminder that words do matter and that being able to talk about our projects well is a skill to be developed.- lifeofanarchitect.com
And of course, the obligatory modern cabin… sorry, I am such a sucker for these.- fieldmag.com
Who We’re Loving on Instagram…
There is so much to love on this feed. It is more focused on interiors than the architecture itself, but it is full of moody lighting, opulent textures and deep color palates. It may not be your taste, but it is interesting. - @alexpwhite