Open Source Architecture
Posted on January 11th, 2004 in musings and
Open source architecture is an intriguing idea (which seems to have been building some momentum in recent years, if a google search is any indication). In a recent article “A Communism of ideas: Towards an open-source architectural practice” Dutch architect Dennis Kaspori briefly examines two “open source” models, the first being (most obviously) the practice of open source code in software development. The second model comes from a tiny but potent little book by Nicolas Bourriaud entitled Postproduction in which the author examines recent notions of cultural re-use, recycling, and sampling within contemporary art practice. Kaspori interprets these two models as they might apply to a viable (read socially pragmatic and economically sustainable within the market system) practice of architecture. In this scenario, architecture takes on a participatory character in terms of who contributes to the design process, but the buildings themselves become part of an evolutionary process as well – much like software, buildings are built then debugged, then developed further, then reconfigured and so on. Of course open source architecture isn’t implemented on a large scale, but rather grows out of small test projects in appropriately sized and committed communities.
Another obvious model is the “copyleft” method of licensing intellectual property (see creativecommons.org) whereby the general public is granted extended rights to duplicate, distribute, remix, and display creative works. Copyleft Architecture explains how such a model may apply to architecture.
