Introduction
In spatial design and planning today, we constantly think in terms of the end product. The result of this approach is that after the end product, no new phases in spatial development follow. We may think one or two steps further, but that is usually as far as thinking about the future goes. We assume the landscape, building or spatial plan is finished and unchanging. It is hard to look beyond our own horizon.
Reality, however, is much different. End products are imaginary. After the completion of a landscape, garden or building there continue to be developments in, on and around it. In keeping up with that, the product loses its assumed status of unchangeability. All in all, a spatial project can never be an end product.
A parallel can be seen here with living organisms that are never finished and never stop developing. They adapt to changing circumstances and evolve. Organisms that cannot adapt, simply do not survive.
We would like to bring this evolution to spatial design too. This can be done by designing a spatial development process instead of an end product. We try to give direction to spatial design using a set of parameters, without forming a clear picture of the final result in advance.
How can evolutionary processes be designed?
How can evolutionary processes be designed?
Evolutionary processes in biology have a primary structure enabling them to evolve. Translating this into spatial design means that the structure i.e. the genes of the spatial organism must be well defined. The spatial design must be genetically suited for change.
In addition, evolutionary processes have a number of intrinsic characteristics that also have to be designed in spatial processes to enable the spatial organism or system to survive in the long run.
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