New Materialism: Dynamism in Architecture Professor Jonathan Massey Final Thoughts Dinçer Savaşkan

When we look at the historical references to the term of

“organicism”, it is really hard to come up to conclusion in theory that is

consistent or relevant to each other. Some of the architects use the term

for vernacular architecture while the others use it for infinite space,

ecology, sustainability, etc. However nearly all of the concepts center

around the relationship between the nature and architecture. This

relationship has been the main inspiration since the beginning of the

architectural theory. When we think about this way the term organicism

still stays short and problematic to include all these relationships.

As I have researched on my first paper, nature - architecture

relationship is still a big influence for contemporary architectural

discourse. One of the concepts that I believe brings a fresh and new way of

methodology for architectural practice is the “new materialism”. I share

the same excitement of Sanford Kwinter when it comes to the

materialism. New materialism suggests a solid theory in terms of

evaluating and realizing the digital architecture that derives from

algorithms and parameters. While the architectural forms become more

sculptural and dehumanized, new materialism and diagram systems create

Savaşkan | New Materialism: Dynamism in Architecture 2

a new way of evaluating these computer-generated forms in terms of

contextual, environmental or social perspectives. Architectural form is

shifting from Euclidian forms to non-Euclidian topological forms. And

topological forms have potential to create dynamism in architecture that

establishes non-hierarchical relationships that engages through

programmatic and spatial devices. Hybridization of Euclidian spaces

through superimposition/ juxtapositions creates in-between spaces that

can accommodate flexible programs. This approach can begin to re-

consider questions of figure-ground contextualism. No longer creating a

figure-ground separation, a continuous and reversible dialogue between

the architectural space, form, structure and the viewer.