Synchronic typologies: Working, living, and innovating

Abstract

The demand from employers for remote-based work is increasing rapidly in many economies. Taking into account this dramatic change, the social question is not– to what extent automation and augmentation of human labor will affect current employment numbers, but rather under what conditions the global labor market can be supported towards a new equilibrium in the division of labor between human workers, robots and algorithms (World Economic Forum, 2021: 49). The equivalent architectural question is: To what extent can the design of the built environment support these trends while also supporting the well-being and resilience of societies?

The architectural response to this question and to the growing demand for integrating industrial uses with other uses is developing a new type of project, known as synchronic typologies. This type of project simultaneously supports residential and industrial uses (Hatuka et al., 2020). Synchronization, unlike mixed-use, supports different operations existing and functioning in parallel, in the same built space, without interfering with each other and while optimally sharing resources. These include, but are not limited to, land utilization, service facilities, infrastructure systems, integrated living work and office spaces, and diverse mobility options. The synchronic typology is based on several principles: optimal management and use of land resources, integration of housing and work (not necessarily by the same users), reducing the daily commute and dependence on private vehicles, and using the built area during all hours of the day. As a whole, synchronic typology is a new prototype that expresses the principle of integration.

The industrial uses in the synchronic typologies can range from light industry, designer-maker, storage space, logistics depots, or artist work spaces, to commercial and community uses. Spatially, these projects may be structured around open or covered yards or be serviced from the street. Their size may range from multiple smaller maker units of 10 or 15 square meters to a single unit of c. 1,000 square meters or even more (Beunderman et al., 2018).

This presentation will focus on synchronic typologies as an evolving, emerging form of urban development.