FLEXIBLE ARCHITECTURE

Tanvi Sagar Gujar

VIVA School Of Architecture
tanvigujars@vivaarch.org

Abstract-

Buildings whose use, function, or location is meant to adapt to changing circumstances. This
architecture responds to change rather than rejecting it, adapts rather than becoming stagnant,
and is driven rather than immobile. It is a design style that is fundamentally multi-functional and
cross-disciplinary, and as a result, it regularly expresses new ideas and design problems of the
present. It is possible to understand the significance and applicability of flexible architecture to
current technological, social, and economic issues by exposing its foundation and the forces
influencing its development.
Examining the choices made during the design process to create culturally responsive structures
allows us to better understand the qualities of flexible architecture. It looks at what drives a feeling
of place and how historically rooted architectural styles have succeeded in producing architecture
that is actually adaptive. It investigates the impact that such a design can have within the various
levels of the built environment and links the qualities of flexible architecture to open building
concepts.

Keywords: Flexible, Responsive, Cultural, Adaptable, Architecture.

Introduction-
Humans are adaptable animals, we can move about at will, control items, and function in a variety
of settings. In evolutionary terms, there was a moment not too long ago when our ability to move
and adapt constituted the foundation of our existence. In fact, we owe our continued existence as
a species to these traits. It's possible that after a few thousand years of more or less stationary
living, adaptability is once again becoming a priority in human development. Technological, social,
and economic changes may even be forcing or at least encouraging a new way of life based on
global markets, the internet, and cheap, quick transportation.

The aspiration in this form of architecture is to aspire to a lightness of geometry and minimalism
where more and more ‘non-essential’ features are taken away in order to achieve a state of purity.
Ina wonderfully frank and perceptive statement It explained that although this created undeniable
beauty, at some point, it had become clear that it also meant that people would also be taken
away.
Therefore developed a parallel design route that had now taken precedence in the work - the
search for a fluid architecture that only becomes complete once people inhabit and use the
building.

Traditional architecture incorporates a variety of adaptive building shapes that can be used to
accommodate various climatic conditions. Because designers, builders, and users are frequently
the same individuals or closely related, local resources and knowledge are used to develop and
create buildings, which invariably result in better appropriate solutions than imported ones.
When designers' expertise and goals diverge from users' experiences and requirements,
inflexible design, particularly in developed societies, results in inappropriate, inflexible, and
hated architecture All structures are naturally somewhat adaptable; doors can be opened,
furniture can be moved, curtains can be pulled, and lights can be turned on and off. Although
designers attempting to freeze their process at handover have removed even some of these
freedoms (for example, environmental controls, opening windows, and movable furniture), these
flexible aspects are typically believed to be vital features that allow a building to operate. The
concepts adopted by proponents of open building policy acknowledge these constraints on
modern built environment design. Toyo Ito's assertion “Regarding his aspirations for his
architecture is closely related to one of the fundamental tenets of Open Building, which holds
that the creation of the built environment requires cooperation among many individuals with a
variety of skills”.

Flexible design has consistently been a part of human design work. The structures that shelter
our work and leisure activities while also meeting our spiritual and cultural demands have been
among the most advanced of our instruments. Astonishingly diverse solutions to this issue have
been developed as a result of the interaction of resourceful beings with diverse demands, and
upon close inspection, it becomes clear that there are very few universal constants in building
design. A wide range of regional variables affect building form, such as temperature, location,
resources available, culture, and society.

References- HEIDEGGER, M. 1993. Martin Heidegger, Basic Writings, ed.

Krell, D. 'Building, Dwelling, Thinking’ was first published in 1951.
London: Routledge

ITO, T. 2004. Toyo Ito/Under Construction. Architecture and

Urbanism, 2004:05, No.404, p.18

KRONENBURG, R. 2001. Spirit of the Machine: Technology as

an Inspiration in Architectural Design. London: Wiley-Academy