Functionalism Rendering
B. Witczak (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
J.P.M. van Lierop – Mentor (TU Delft - Theory, Territories & Transitions)
C.H.E. van Ees – Mentor (TU Delft - Education and Student Affairs)
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Abstract
“Functionalism rendering” explores the evolving relationship between social change and the principles of functionalist architecture within the domestic environment. It poses a question whether the spatial ideals established in the early 20th century—rooted in standardisation, mass production, and efficiency—are still relevant to the multifaceted needs of 21st-century users and if this change in society should also be reflected in architecture.
The exemplary developments created in interwar period embodied the ideals of modernist architects seeking to shape a new society through architecture. One of those developments, used as a research case study, was WUWA (Wohnungs- und Werkraumausstellungin) built in 1929 in Breslau (currently Wrocław, Poland). Today, nearly a century later, these homes remain in use, providing a unique opportunity to examine how the functionality of domestic spaces and user behaviours have evolved over time.
Combining architectural analysis with sociological theories—including Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs and Barker’s “Behaviour setting theory”—the research investigates the impact of societal transformation, technological integration, and shifting family structures on domestic spatial use. Site observations, floor plan comparisons, interviews with current residents, and historical research, allow for both spatial and behavioural insights into the evolution of “functional” housing and neighbourhood.
Research suggests that functionalist design ideals, once based on assumptions of a “standard user,” no longer adequately reflect today’s diverse and changing domestic realities. Contemporary homes increasingly demand flexible, multipurpose spaces that accommodate a wider range of uses within the same or sometimes even smaller space. This shift underscores the importance of designing spaces that are adaptable, inclusive, and able to respond to ongoing change.
The redefinition of functionality is essential and often subjective. The contemporary version should embrace temporality and social complexity rather than resisting them and imposing certain standards. These insights inform the next stage of the project—a design proposal for a contemporary reinterpretation of the WUWA development, focusing on today’s evolving and diverse lifestyles. By reimagining domestic spaces as an adaptable tool for social living, the research positions architecture as an active agent in shaping resilient, connected, and human-centered environments for the future.