The document discusses the challenges of designing architecture that accommodates changing values over time, outlining four key issues: operationalization, assessment, dynamics, and conflict of values. It suggests solutions such as demolishment, visionary architecture, and refurbishment for achieving value flexibility, emphasizing the importance of adaptability in design. The Rabo de Bacalhau apartments serve as an example of how shape grammar can enable customization, allowing inhabitants to modify their living spaces to align with evolving values.

1. Design for Value Flexibility
March 15, 2018
Pieter E. Vermaas
Philosophy, Delft University of Technology

2. The four issues in design for values
1. value operationalization
2. value assessment
3. value dynamics
4. value conflict

3. Design for values problematic in architecture
1. value operationalization
2. value assessment
3. value dynamics
4. value conflict
• Buildings and urban infrastructure have long life cycles
• Values and their meaning change over time
Even if architecture can design for current values,
the buildings and infrastructure need not meet future values

4. Architecture becomes outdated

5. Architecture should then be renewed

6. Solutions to value dynamics
• Demolishment: architecture with shorter life cycles
• Visionary: architecture for the predicted future values
• Refurbishment: architecture with value flexibility

7. Solutions to value dynamics
• Demolishment: architecture with shorter life cycles
• Visionary: architecture for the predicted future values
• Refurbishment: architecture with value flexibility
Adding to housing shape grammar systems for refurbishment

8. Rabo de Bacalhau apartments in Lisbon
Mid 20th century apartments designed for the lifestyle of that
time

9. Rabo de Bacalhau transformation grammar
A shape grammar that
• with an existing floorplan, and
• new requirements
gives a new floorplan meeting these requirements

10. Rabo de Bacalhau transformation grammar
A shape grammar that
• with an existing floorplan, and
• new requirements
gives a new floorplan meeting these requirements

11. Rabo de Bacalhau transformation grammar
In terms of values: a design tool for customisation that
• allows inhabitants to adjust their apartments to their values
• realises inhabitants autonomy
• violates the architects’ authority

12. Solution to value dynamics: values flexibility
• Demolishment: architecture with shorter life cycles
• Visionary: architecture for the predicted future values
• Refurbishment: architecture with value flexibility
Design for values with customisation:
architects can design housing for current values and give
inhabitants the means to adjusting housing to future values