Early Development (2015-2020)
Philosophy
Sharon Chang's work on future architecture is deeply influenced by Luis Barragán and Buckminster Fuller. Her philosophy centers on the notion of elevated beauty in complex systems design:
"Humanity creates beauty when individuals develop the capacity to respond, with reverence and intelligence, to all living and nonliving systems’ complex interdependence. In practical terms, such beauty manifests in the pursuit of collective wellbeing and shared prosperity. It requires the authentic integration of one’s inner world and society’s changing dynamics."
She further defines elevated beauty as "experiencing life with a profound appreciation of our connections to one another and to the worlds within and around us."
The starting point of future architecture is a personal journey to architect one’s self with intention and rigor. When an individual experiences elevated beauty as defined in this context, their capacity to improve the quality of their relationships will increase, therefore establishing a foundation for healthier cultural, political and socioeconomic systems.
Frameworks
INE: Imagination, Narrative and Embodiment
The interplay of imagination, narrative and embodiment (INE) determines how well we can design and build regenerative systems that foster collective wellbeing and shared prosperity. In this context, imagination is defined as how we understand the actual and potential world; narrative is defined as how we communicate that understanding, which is embedded in individual and collective identity; and embodiment is defined as how we experience that understanding through mind-body integration.
SRM: Story, Rule and Money
Story, rule and money can be used as interdependent forces to affect any culture-based system. Story shapes identity; rule defines relationships; money facilitates exchange. The interactions between these primary forces become exponentially more complex as society expands in size and diversity.
ACD: Agnostic Contextual Design
Agnostic Contextual Design prioritizes context over method. This framework also favors condition over solution. In order to design for emergent complexity, shifting context is observed and evaluated on a regular basis to determine appropriate interventions. Design responds to changing conditions instead of fixed relationships between problem and solution.
5C: Curiosity, Curation, Coordination, Commitment, Creation
Five skillful means (curiosity, curation, coordination, commitment, creation) can be connected to the five elements (air, fire, water, earth, ether) to achieve self-actualization and group cohesion. This framework provides intangible building blocks for deep transformational work.
Praxis
Evolving future architecture pedagogy includes five pillars of practice:
Speculative Narrative: aims to expand collective imagination
Systems Dynamics: aims to understand/leverage complexity in systems for regeneration
Community Commerce: aims to design community-oriented growth strategy
Personal Transformation: aims to cultivate individual development
Group Cohesion: aims to build capacity for co-creation
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