The autopoiesis of architecture

V. 1. A new framework for architecture : Introduction: architecture as autopoietic system : Architecture as a system of communications ; A unified theory of architecture ; Functional vs. causal explanations ; The quest for comprehensiveness ; The premises imported from social systems theory ; Architecture's place within society

Architectural theory : The unity of architecture ; The evolution of architecture ; The necessity of theory

The historical emergence of architecture : The emergence of architecture as self-referential system ; Foundation and refoundation of architecture ; Avant-garde vs. mainstream ; Architectural research ; The necessity of demarcation

Architecture as autopoietic system: operations, structures and processes : Architectural autopoiesis within functionally differentiated society ; The autonomy of architecture ; The elemental operation of architecture ; The lead-distinction within architecture and the design disciplines ; The codification of architecture ; Architectural styles ; Styles as research programmes ; The rationality of aesthetic values ; The double-nexus of architectural communications: themes vs. projects

The medium of architecture : Medium and form ; The medium and the time structure of the design process

The societal function of architecture : Architecture as societal function system ; Innovation as crucial aspect of architecture's societal function ; Strategies and techniques of innovation ; Key innovations: place, space, field

Concluding remarks

Appendix 1. Comparative matrix of societal function systems

Appendix 2. Theses 1-24. V.2. A new agenda for architecture : The task of architecture : Functions ; Order via organization and articulation ; Organization ; Supplementing architecture with a science of configuration ; Articulation ; The phenomenological vs. the semiological dimension of architecture ; The phenomenological dimension of architectural articulation ; The semiological dimension of architectural articulation ; Prolegomenon to architecture's semiological project ; The semiological project and the general project of architectural order

7. The Design process : Contemporary context and aim of design process theory ; Towards a contemporary design process reflection and design methodology ; The design process as problem-solving process ; Differentiating classical, modern and contemporary processes ; Problem definition and problem structure ; Rationality, retrospective and prospective ; Modelling spaces

8. Architecture and society : World architecture within world society ; Autonomy vs. authority ; Architecture's conception of society ; Architecture in relation to other societal subsystems ; Architecture as profession and professional career ; The built environment as primordial condition of society

9. Architecture and politics : Is political architecture possible? ; Theorizing the relationship between architecture and politics ; Architecture adapts to political development ; The limitations of critical practice in architecture

10. Self-descriptions of architecture : Theoretical underpinnings ; The necessity of reflection theory ; Classic treatises ; Architectural historiography ; Architectural criticism

11. Parametricism: the parametric paradigm and the formation of a new style : Parametricism as epochal style ; The parametricist research programme ; Parametricist vs. modernist urbanism ; Elegance

12. Epilogue : The design of a theory : Theoretical foundation: communication theory vs. historical materialism? ; The theory of architectural autopoiesis as unified theory of architecture ; Notes on the architecture of the theory ; The theory as the result of contingent theory design decisions

Concluding remarks

Appendix 3. The autopoiesis of architecture in the context of three classic texts

Appendix 4. Theses 25-60