Dissertation in the field of Building Design: Lic.Sc. Karin Krokfors

The dissertation examines the links between the spatial contexts of building and sustainable development.

Lic.Sc. Karin Krokfors will degend her dissertation Time for space - Typologically flexible and resilient space and the emergence of the creative dweller. on Friday 2 June 2017.

Opponent: PhD, prof. Jonathan Hill, The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London
Custos: prof. Anssi Joutsiniemi, Aalto University Department of Architecture

The discussion will be in English.

MORE INFORMATION:

This dissertation argues that the way space is produced today will endanger sustainable development in the long run. To deal with the deteriorating environment and with natural capital at risk, plus continual social change, we need to go much deeper into the roots of design and production paradigms, asking ourselves how we define housing and understand buildings as socio-spatial contexts.  The promotion of resilient development requires an increase in the lifespan of buildings by significantly advancing their potential to face the unpredictability of changing conditions.  The thesis establishes both theoretical as well practice-oriented links between the spatial contexts of buildings, and the long-term resilient development of societies and environment through the concept of typological flexibility. The concept highlights the need for a strategic dimension in design, which can emerge through space unit thinking. It promotes the self-organizing potential of buildings and understands them as living and “breathing” entities and as processes in evolutionary terms. The application of typological flexibility in buildings promotes multi-faceted socio-spatial innovations in the built environment. It also advances people’s potential to create all kinds of proactive wellbeing; new mental, social and even economic activity and capital. The thesis concludes that the spatial contexts as well as people’s possibility to affect their living conditions in a much more profound way than today are essential criteria for sustainability.

WELCOME!

The dissertation notice and the published dissertation are placed for public display at the Learning Hub Arabia (Hämeentie 135 C, 5th floor, room 570), at latest 10 days before the defence date.