On-site Participation for Proto-architectural Assemblies Encompassing Technology and Human Improvisation: “Fish Trap” and “Orchid” Architectural Interventions

This research investigates the notion of builders’ on-site engagement to physically build architectural interventions based on their demands, spatial requirements and collaborative improvisation, enhanced with the principles of uniqueness and bespoke solutions previously explored in computational models. The paper compares and discusses two physical installations as proto-architectural assemblies testing two different design and building approaches: the top-down predefined designers’ scenario contrary to bottom-up unpredictable improvisation. It encompasses a building strategy based on the discrete pre-cut components assembled by builders themselves in situ. The paper evaluates both strategies in a qualitative observation and comparison defining advantages and limitations of top-down design strategy in comparison with decentralised bottom-up building system built by the builders themselves. As such, it outlines the position of a designer within the bottom-up building processes on-site. The paper argues that improvisation and builders’ direct engagement on-site leads to solutions that better reflect human needs and lower-tech building principles incorporated can deliver unpredictable, but convenient spatial scenarios.