Reading Response1, to:The Architectural Brain

The Architectural Brain (Mark Wigley, 2007)

The architectural brain is complex, adaptable, dynamic, and ever changing to meet the ongoing changes in all mediums. These mediums could be people, places or structures. Some are tangible whilst others only hint at being a reality, yet all are interconnected. Architecture exists in everything, and impacts all elements around and within itself.  

Reflecting on the historical changes within traditional architecture, these changes are evident in the continually emerging design changes throughout the progression of time. "Architecture could be seen as an agile, responsive, and evolving system like any other to be found in the natural world." 

Wigley is correct when he states "the techniques for classifying, organising, and even rationalising architecture became the actual form of the architecture..." showing the progression of thought, design, style and interpretation of the architectural process. When one reflects on the changes that have taken place over the last century, this is no more evident anywhere than in the style of buildings and their design and plans for use. Last century the focus was on buildings that would stand the test of time, intricate design, monuments to the men who designed them and to those that used them. Examples include our Parliament Houses, and Government offices of the past century. This century and the later years of last century have seen the emergence of works focussed upon use of space where the building becomes one with its environment , merging its uses aesthetics, and design with the broader world. (The Sydney Opera House, New Parliament House in Canberra). Wigley speaks of the “seamless merging” of elements. Architecture evolves and adjusts to meet ever changing needs and spaces. 

Wigley also explores the concept of patterns of interconnection, likening the architectural thought processes to that of electric circuits. These analogies cause the reader to readily reflect and comprehend the ideas Wigley proposes. “Design is understood as a form of thinking and the space of the architect’s studio is a space of pure thinking.” This is at the centre of the design process and indeed the architectural brain. He goes on to suggest that the architectural brain only adapts and changes at a rate consistent with ensuring the survival of the profession. “Likewise the architectural brain is devoted to the survival of the architect as a species and achieves its goal by minimising innovation but not entirely suppressing it.” It is here that I feel Wigley underestimates the creative growth in the work of architects. The uses, range of designs, and the array of planning processes clearly point to the ability of architects to adapt to ever changing needs. This is surely evidence of the architectural species maximising innovation and surely not suppressing it.