Contextual architecture

Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater was designed to emulate the site's existing natural features

Contextual architecture, also known as Contextualism is a philosophical approach in architectural theory that refers to the designing of a structure in response to the literal and abstract characteristics of the environment in which it is built.[1][2] Contextual architecture contrasts modernist architecture, which value the imposition of their own characteristics and values upon the built environment.[3]

Contextual architecture is usually divided into three categories: vernacular architecture, regional architecture, and critical regionalism[1] all of which also inform the complementary architecture movement.[4]

  1. ^ a b Bianco, Lino. "Lecture 9: Contextual Architecture: The Regional and the Vernacular". Academia.
  2. ^ Goldberger, Paul (1981-12-03). "Architecture: Buildings in Context". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
  3. ^ "Contextual architecture - Oxford Reference". www.oxfordreference.com. Retrieved 2019-01-18.
  4. ^ "Manifesto of Complementary Architecture (MOCA) – Complementary Architecture". 2015. Retrieved 2020-10-17.