“You never change something by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”
Buckminster Fuller
TURNING OBSOLETE
Obsolescence reflects a loss of utility or value in architecture, often driven by changing societal needs and technological advancements. A building remains viable as long as it serves its intended purpose, but shifts in demographics, culture, and market demands frequently push structures into obsolescence. Today, technological advancements outpace the adaptability of physical spaces, creating a direct competition between the permanence of architecture and the fluidity of digital platforms.
Historically, architecture emphasized durability and utility, but the twentieth century marked a shift. Movements like Metabolism celebrated flexible, transformative spaces, while preservationists resisted the loss of historical structures. In modern cities, rapid urbanization has introduced guidelines that prioritize immediate needs over long-term adaptability, often resulting in structures that are outdated soon after completion. Despite this, obsolescence offers an opportunity to rethink and repurpose architectural programs. This thesis explores speculative approaches to extend the relevance of decaying typologies, addressing their role in rapidly evolving urban contexts.
MEMENTO MORI
Memento mori, a concept symbolizing the inevitability of death, finds its parallel in architecture through signs of decay: deteriorating materials, vacant spaces, and declining public use. While these markers often signify obsolescence, they can also present opportunities for renewal and reinvention. The Roman ruins, for example, are maintained as historical landmarks, while failed projects like Pruitt-Igoe were demolished to make way for better uses.
Decay is not a failure but a phase in the lifecycle of architecture, offering insights into designing for the future. Metabolism embraced the remnants of post-war architecture to inspire flexible urban solutions, while Japanese practices like the cyclical reconstruction of Shinto shrines reflect a cultural acceptance of impermanence. Memento mori in architecture highlights the potential for decay to guide adaptive strategies, ensuring that urban spaces remain relevant and functional.
Typological issue
The study of typologies emerged in the eighteenth century as a way to classify and address user needs in architecture. However, as cities evolve, typologies often fail to keep pace with societal and technological changes, becoming obsolete. Obsolescence occurs at varying rates depending on context, shaped by factors like land use, economic shifts, and automation. Peter Cowan likened obsolescence to a process of devaluation that can be temporarily mitigated through adaptation or rebuilding.
Automation and technological advances challenge traditional typologies. Post offices, for instance, have diversified their functions to counteract declining mail volumes but now face further disruption from digital platforms and drone deliveries. This thesis examines such patterns to understand how typologies can adapt to contemporary needs, proposing speculative designs that anticipate changes in urban and social fabrics.
selective obsolescence
Selective obsolescence focuses on identifying and reimagining elements of outdated structures to meet current and future demands. The evolving needs of society often drive spaces to transition from their original purposes, as seen in large homes converted for multi-family use or churches repurposed into theaters. These adaptations retain valuable characteristics of the original structures while addressing new functions, offering a balance between preservation and progress.
This thesis views selective obsolescence as a proactive approach to urban development. By intervening before structures fall into complete disuse, it proposes designs that prioritize flexibility and sustainability, minimizing waste and avoiding unnecessary demolition. Selective obsolescence underscores the importance of rethinking architectural spaces to ensure their longevity and relevance in an ever-changing urban landscape.