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Gradual Stiffening

Opening context:
Structure Follows Social Spaces, Efficient Structure, Good Materials

Conflict

The fundamental philosophy behind the use of pattern languages is that buildings should be uniquely adapted to individual needs and sites; and that the plans of buildings should be rather loose and fluid, in order to accommodate these subtleties.

Resolution

Recognise that you are not assembling a building from components like an erector set, but that you are instead weaving a structure which starts out globally complete, but flimsy; then gradually making it stiffer but still rather flimsy; and only finally making it completely stiff and strong.

We believe that in our own time, the most natural version of this process is to put up a shell of sheet materials, and then make it fully strong by filling it with a compressive fill.

Closing context:
Good Materials, Box Columns, Perimeter Beams, Wall Membranes, Floor-Ceiling Vaults