ABSTRACT
Chapter 3 endeavours to resituate the classical notion of Utility within an expanded field of use-related spatial practices. In doing so, it taps into Bernard Tschumi’s account of the variable relationships between the organisation of space, the allocation of functions and the passing of time in any work of architecture. These relationships are further unpacked through discussions on Anthony Vidler’s distinction of function and architectural type, as well as through the articulation of function, production and dissipation in Georges Bataille’s notion of Expenditure. In line with the methodology deployed in Chapter 2, these theoretical positions are situated within a space of possibilities with dimensions pertaining to – respectively – temporal development, functional alignment and productive economy. The exploration of the structural limits of this space brings forward Whitehead’s notion of Process as a suitable framework for the combinatorial conditions that are most distant from classical Utility. Whitehead’s work is aligned with recent discussions on non-linear systems developed by Manuel De Landa and Sanford Kwinter, outlining an architectural definition of Process as a dynamic, generative design platform. As a colophon, the last section of Chapter 3 presents a tentative taxonomy composed of three distinct process-oriented architectural design frameworks.
