The Interface

Abstract

Due to the Internet, and more importantly its interfaces we carry, we have gained freedom to do whatever, wherever, whenever. All the fields of interaction with the Internet are called the Interface in this research. The Interface automates human actions. In many aspects of life, automation by the Interface has an impact. In this research, it is suggested that especially in our working life, the Interface affects us intensely. The labor-leisure dichotomy has become obsolete. Labor and leisure are not binary opposed anymore, but instead seamless concepts and therefore to be considered as one. This results in a new definition of the workplace, beyond the nineteenth century factory and twentieth century office building. The traditional company deterritorialized and humans reterritorialize into new labor-leisure assemblages, resulting in free and constantly fluctuating use of time and space. The activities done are what Simondon calls technical activities: creating new relations among heterogeneous entities, knowledge production, and lifelong learning. Humans no longer work for one company at one location, but they move extensively throughout the day, the week, the year.Their activities and collaborators differ simultaneously, too. It is concluded that an intelligent building complements and provokes accidents to enhance technical activities. A building should work with the Interface, rather than attempting to be it or set it self apart from it. This research is explored in a architectural project in Rotterdam Pompenburg. It is a "work building" that provokes collaboration an knowledge exchange by the users, potentials not offered by the Interface.