(RE/DE) CONSTRUCTIONS IN ARCHITECTURE

The processes of globalization and its implications for architectural design in specific localities were discussed with some success at the previous LIVENARCH (LIVable ENvironment ARCHitecture) conference (2007). In order to take the discussion of the globe vs context conflicts a step forward, the organizers of LIVENARCH IV have decided to focus the discussion on the traditional social constructs that are at a risk of being transformed haphazardly and those transformations implications for urban and architectural constructions.

To yield the gist of the conference a succinct definition of the word construct might be helpful; a "social construction or social construct is any phenomenon "invented" or "constructed" by participants in a particular culture or society, existing because people agree to behave as if it exists or follow certain conventional rules… The idea of Berger and Luckmann's "Social Construction of Reality" was that actors interacting together form, over time, typifications or mental representations of each other's actions, and that these typifications eventually become habitualized into reciprocal roles played by the actors in relation to each other. When these reciprocal roles become routinized, the typified reciprocal interactions are said to be institutionalized. In the process of this institutionalization, meaning is embedded and institutionalized into individuals and society - knowledge and people's conception of (and therefore belief regarding) what reality 'is' becomes embedded into the institutional fabric and structure of society, and social reality is therefore said to be socially constructed." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_construction)

Change and transformation of social constructs and physical constructions over time are inevitable. If, however, the processes of change are not maneuvered in the direction of the desired goals and objectives of a society they may lead to a sense of loss and to what appear to be undesirable futures for the arts, architecture and the whole cultural, social and biological environment. If social constructs fail to adapt to the modern world or are too stubborn to incorporate the new impositions they decay, then the whole fabric of society may well decay. What are the alternatives?

LIVENARCH IV will be a forum for the discussion of the topic of social constructs and physical constructions. The goal is to discuss a wide variety of social constructs that can be elaborated as constructions, reconstructions and deconstructions in architecture. The desire is to focus on the architectural consequences of the changes, purposeful or not, in social constructs.

CONFERENCE SUB THEMES

The conference theme as set out above is not well-structured. It is thus open to a number of interpretations that will lead to a variety of topics for discussion. We, the organizers, nevertheless, take the liberty to propose a set of very general themes and sub-themes for discussion at the conference. These suggestions can serve as propositions for possible contributions to LIVENARCH IV. They will also almost certainly lead to the final organization of the topics for discussion and the conference.

1. Constructions as society and individual:
   Review of theoretical foundations and frameworks of social constructs with respect to emerging concepts. Philosophical, ethical & social implications for architecture
2. Constructions as history and theory of architecture Review of meta-theories of architecture, arts and technology Integrative approaches, validated discourses
3. Constructions as architectural design methods and tools:
   i.e. Methods vs. approaches, guidelines vs. pleasure, etc.
4. Constructions as professional organizations Schools of architecture Architectural publications International institutes of architecture and architectural research Chambers of architecture, etc.
5. Constructions as "Constructions" Structural and constructional innovations Ecology and energy issues in advancing building technologies

Poster Session

Poster submissions in line with the conference theme are encouraged. Two standard sheets [100X70cm] are welcome. A team of key speakers and referees will be instituted as the jury in-situ for open discussions and evaluation. The first three of contributors will be awarded prizes of excellence to be determined by the chair and the jury.