Some sort of a sponge-analogue architecture,

11 Apr, 2025

...absorbent so to speak.

The architect-writer's nature does not abhor an analogy, and so here then the sponge, a structure so structured that in its volume can be contained much more than could in its absence.

And the sponge-analogue architecture is in a sense of course all architecture, structure in space so allowing the containment of actors, activity and the activable in its absence impossible.

And some architecture is in a sense of course the anti-sponge-analogue, inherent in it repellence of all actors, activity and the activable beyond a narrow permissible range.

The sponge is well-worn analogy, with its characteristic capacity to absorb, a characteristic capacity that can manifest in a number of actual ways useful analogously.

The sponge and sponge-analogue may absorb such as a blow, or some other abrupt physical shock, without permanent consequence for its structural integrity.

The sponge and sponge-analogue may absorb such as a fluid (or some fluid-analogue), and so lend order and organisational structure to that which it contains, to that which without it would be formless puddle.

The sponge and sponge-analogue may absorb the prolonged application of pressure and regain its previous form on the pressure’s release, or suffer no permanent deformation.

In the absence of an absorbed may the sponge and sponge-analogue become dry and brittle, and break down and apart. If before breakdown the dry brittle sponge should absorb again then might it regain some of its previous integrity.

In absorption too is often an implicit countervalent release, and the ultimate sum of the two, the absorbed and countervalent, a residue. The sponge, the marine creature from which the analogy ultimately originates, absorbs water then releases it, only after taking from it as residue the nutrients it needs. The cleaning-aid sponge similarly releases that which it absorbs but owing to the nature of its usual use, assuming good function as intended, might rather gain such as a bacterial residue rather less healthy, agreeable or nutritious. This ill residue can be rinsed out again though, as can all unwanted residue be so rinsed out in the well-functioning sponge-analogue system.

In respect of architecture is all of the above analogy, and never more than that. Though there may well be for the structure of some of its constituent components, there seems little in the internal structure of a sponge useful as direct model for the organisation of buildings. Yet as noted, the architect-writer's nature does not abhor an analogy. Though an analogy may be conceit and contrivance, and here is most certainly so, good analogy nonetheless contains within it, and in relative measure person to person, a series and network of associations that may bring a greater understanding of the analogised, that may indeed open up and allow further, broader and deeper possibilities with those expanded networks of associations and understandings.

So this may actually be about the very utility of analogy in architecture, in writing about it, thinking about it and practicing it;

And it may be about sponges;

But it's definitely about architecture.

The worst of all architectures are those which constrain, disable and repel, so our above anti-sponge-analogue, wherein is repellence of all actors, activity and the activable beyond a narrow permissible range, wherein is constraint of action, wherein physical shock or the prolonged application of pressure will bring permanent deformation or catastrophic failure.

Among these are those near-future-obsolescent, and often is that obsolescence designed in and priced in. If that obsolescence is designed in, priced in and built-in then might it not be reasonable to say that this building is already essentially obsolescent? And of course if this building is soon to be useless even for its own expressed purpose then we can probably assume it already useless for any other.

The best of all architectures are those which allow, enable and attract, our above sponge-analogue, and them allowing the containment of actors, activity and the activable in their absence impossible, and at their best in their most.

These are the never-obsolescent, never to be useless for their expressed purpose, always amenable to others.

In the wash of life, of dwelling, and the ultimate sum of its two constituents, the absorbed and countervalent, is nurturing residue, nurturing the social life, the intellectual and physical life, the ecological life that's all life; and with the wash of life is the rinse of repair, the good and healthy system so healed, functionally self-healing.

So as the sponge, then might the building too be a structure so structured that in its volume can be contained much more than could in its absence.

We daresay of course it should be, and poor indeed the building that couldn't have this said of it, though if poor it would scarce be lonely.