The built environment as a complex system

The lack of a recognized theoretical disciplinary base for the built environment has been noted on a number of occasions. The field holds the promise of being interdisciplinary, but requires the development of a common epistemological construct. It has been proposed that a unified theory of the buil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of design & nature and ecodynamics 2017-01, Vol.12 (1), p.68-74
Main Author: Cloete, C E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Boundaries
Built environment
Complex systems
Complexity
Construction
Convergence
Curricula
Decision making
Design engineering
Domains
Environments
Epistemology
Modularity
Research methods
Social-ecological systems
Strategy
System theory
Systems theory
Taxonomy
Urban areas
Urban environments
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Summary:The lack of a recognized theoretical disciplinary base for the built environment has been noted on a number of occasions. The field holds the promise of being interdisciplinary, but requires the development of a common epistemological construct. It has been proposed that a unified theory of the built environment may require that the built environment be understood as a complex social-ecological system. It will argued, however, that the challenge is more fundamental; that development of an adequate model would require convergence of the ideas of interdisciplinarity and complexity, with concomitant epistemological as well as ontological considerations. The application of whole-system theory to the built environment is explored with special reference to the identification of boundaries and modularities in different domains and the implications for a taxonomy of the built environment. The development of a theoretical base for the field as a whole would facilitate axiological decision-making in the built environment and also inform both curriculum design and research strategy in the subject area.
ISSN:1755-7437
1755-7445
DOI:10.2495/DNE-V12-N1-68-74