This project forms an exploration of the way in which architecture, as a discipline, might come to a distinctly architectural application of computational design techinques. In particular, it questions the external nature of these techniques to the field, and how the discipline might come to formulate its own critical technicity. This is premised on a systems-view of technical development, which highlights the importance of time and situatedness for any consideration of change, genesis or becoming. In order to then construct an architectural technicity that can grapple with the external character of technical development, I argue using the philosophy of technology of Gilbert Simondon and Stafford Beer’s management cybernetics that what is needed for this is a radical opening-up of the architectural process in the form of a democratization, to augment architecture’s capacity for producing alternate futurity. The design project continues from this with the formulation of a notion of an open architectural system. This is premised on the idea by that taking the passage of time into consideration in architectural interventions the social nature of the processes through which these interventions arise are made explicit: it is therefore an attempt at elaborating a design-, building- and organizational process that continuously engages with the system-environment that constitutes the proposed design location – a concrete plant on the outskirts of Amsterdam. The design is intended as a system that plugs into the existing system on site, gradually supplanting the concrete plant and using it to fashion a material landscape that functions as the substrate for an open residential cooperative. This material landscape is designed as a system that functions to support all processes and flows necessary for the maximization of freedom in architectural expression for the occupants of the site, with the intention of subverting market logic and financialization in Amsterdam’s housing system.

Society is stuck in daily routines, led by social norms and conventions. Often we are unaware of this, while life can be much richter if we would subvert from these routines every once in a while. These routines prevent us from seeing everything that there is. Our expectations need to be subverted.

Usually it is reserved for artists to make people look at the world differently. But precisely because architecture is much more common, much more everyday, than art, it is architecture that has the possibility to subvert our expectations and make our lives richer. In my research I’ve researched this moment, how you can do this, and how to apply this. 

I created a digital collection of more than 120 exemplary architecture and art projects. Each project was analysed and tagged on their effects on people, the senses and elements that were used and the type of project it is. Furthermore I tagged them on more binary aspects: size, placement, timeframe, kinetic, relation and color. This made it possible for me to easily analyse them further, sort and compare them with a few clicks.
From this collection I’ve found 8 methods how to subvert one’s expectations: confusion, curiosity, disruption, humour, imagination, play, provocation and wonder.

From the research I found that public space is good place for the subversion of our expectations. As it is a place where people adapt themselves most to social norms and conventions, but also a place where much freedom and beauty is to be found.
Furthermore I found that subverting ones expectations has a certain expiration date, after a certain while an intervention is not unexpected anymore. Thus it needs to be temporary.

As carrier and test site for these ideas, the design brief was a temporary public toilet. 
The toilet is located in the city center of Rotterdam, on Steiger, an expedition street; a back alley that is barely used. By subverting our expectations we become more aware of the public space surrounding us, and it motivates us to make use of it.

The public toilet is an experience in which almost all of the subversive methods are used. From spectator to participant, from the route towards the toilet to the actual peeing itself.
Your expectations will be subverted, your life will be richer, and the location will be activated.

This research project aims to identify and describe those qualities that contribute to an architectural response to nature’s phenomena, such as time (constant change) and space (Ma **), our spatial conception and experience, and our relationship with nature (En *). Often these qualities are present in the form of architectural elements and methods, composition of elements. Possibly this research develops tools based
on Japanese philosophical and architectural principles and notions in which emptiness and ephemerality play a key role.