PRAXIS
We believe that Architecture is a means of expressing thought through the language of space, light, tectonics and phenomenon. In our work we strive to use a language of architecture to express ideas and concepts that are relevant to our clients, their needs and programs. We believe firmly in process as the means for achieving successful architecture and work closely with our clients and end users to ensure a design process that is disciplined in relevance to program and budget. We also believe that buildings are not static structures but living creations that evolve over time and are required to cooperate within their context and ecosystem.Exploring an Architectural Dialectic
We acknowledge that if you read closely you will notice a disconnect in the beliefs articulated in the Praxis above. We state that we believe our job includes working to satisfy both clients and end-users, but when was the last time clients and end-users prioritized their goals in the same order? As Architects we profess a responsibility to provide design solutions relevant to both program and budget, but again, when have program and budget aligned themselves without effort?
In short, we find this type of disconnect to be a frequent if not universal component in the conception of Architecture. Where others see irreconcilable differences in managing this gap and attempt to eliminate it at the onset through subtractive-abstraction, we at Studio Twenty Seven Architecture believe there are opportunities available in maintaining a dialectic, or exchange of logical arguments throughout the process. We see opportunities to use these competing ideas as a means to discipline a program and add rigor to the design process. The energy generated by the competition of these competing ideas can fuel the process and propel the work forward. It can shift the Architecture beyond "apparent" boundaries to a final state far richer than any original conception.
Accepting the Closed System: Philosophy and Environmentalism
Establishing the concept of dualism and engaging in the dialectic process is not unique to the architectural process. It is fundamental to Western Thought. From classical Greek philosophy (Plato's ideals vs. Aristotle's classifications) to twentieth-century economics (government regulation vs. free markets), Western culture and thought have manifested themselves in an ongoing, often tense debate between competing ideas. This has led to the widespread use of the scientific method and rapid technological advances. It has led also to the growth of a pragmatic culture that adapts readily to a changed and changing environment.
The term "Sustainable Design" has emerged in the later quarter of the twentieth century to define a process that recognizes the finite nature of natural resources and the need to conserve expenditure. But Sustainable Design has always been a component of the artistic process. Many people now quantify it as a means to connect with an economic model, but as an expression of logic and efficiency, we believe it has always been essential to purposeful Architecture.