This thesis examines architectural design in the light of the philosophical approach of Object-Oriented Ontology (OOO) and the concept of the hyperobject introduced by Timothy Morton. The key problem is to explore the limitations of traditional anthropocentric design, which considers materials and spaces as merely passive elements, subject to human use. The aim of the thesis is to show how the concept of the hyperobject transforms architectural practice to allow for an open, flexible and multifaceted coexistence of human and non-human entities in space.
The research specifically focuses on bamboo as an example of a hyperobject that, with its temporal dimension, global presence, invasive properties, and social, ecological and economic impacts, transcends anthropocentric perspectives and allows for a new understanding of architectural design. The aim of the thesis is to create a design framework that goes beyond purely human needs and to encourage architectural practices to acknowledge the autonomy of objects. In doing so, the thesis contributes to a different social understanding of architecture that no longer focuses solely on the exploitation of natural resources, but develops new strategies of coexistence, respecting non-human actors and natural and technical processes.
The methodological work includes a literature review in the field of OO and hyperobjects, empirical analyses of concrete examples (mainly bamboo) and a critical appraisal of existing architectural approaches. The results of the thesis point to the necessity of a radical redefinition of architectural design, moving away from anthropocentrism and emphasising the complex web of relationships that objects create independently of human perception. The concept of hyperdesign represents an alternative to traditional practices, as architecture becomes part of a wider ecological system in which space is shaped as an open network of equal human and non-human actors.
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