Scarcity as Conceptual Framework

“If scarcity asks us to do things differently rather than to do the same thing with less, then the discourse of sustainability is shifted from measuring and technically refining the object to understanding the object within a wider and more complex set of dynamics.”

-Jeremy Till 

This statement provides a conceptual frame for what design is, or what it should be. Reality, however, dictates a much different outlook. Buildings are influenced by political, economic, cultural and environmental factors beyond our control that create a physical frame for the design – one which is much more tangible than the conceptual framework created by the idea of using scarcity to solve problems in a new way.

With only 9 days to build the Solar D house, time was scarce. So, rather than finely combing the existing physical framework of conventional construction for ways to slice time, we worked within a conceptual framework that accepts scarcity as a design tool to develop a new system that could meet the time constraints.

It’s about removing ourselves from the assumptions, identifying the intrinsically scarce factors and providing a different perspective in their solution. Why take time to purify salt water when  you can carry fresh water in a convenient container?

 

Scarcity, re: freshwater

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