"It has no form, but it has structure."

"It has no form, but it has structure. Find its structure and form will come." - John Habraken

The discussion on John Habraken’s approach to design for flexibility intrigued me because it presents a new perspective on the relationship/roles between the architect and the user. Habraken gives agency to the users, granting residents the opportunity to shape and customize their own living arrangements. The architect supplies “the necessities” and general support for the construction while leaving the infill capabilities flexible and open to tenant modifications. This sense of adaptability is an attempt to increase the lifespan of the building, but it makes me wonder how residents can utilize this flexibility once the project is completed. How can the space continue to adapt to changing needs? In projects like these, there is also a delicate balance and negotiation between the rigidity of the frame and the tenant's additions. Without user participation, rigidity and uniformity prevail, yet without a systematized framework, a sense of disorder and chaos can take over.