Longue Durée - A matter of time
C.M. Hein (TU Delft - History, Form & Aesthetics)
F.L. Hooimeijer (TU Delft - Environmental Technology and Design)
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Abstract
The existence of a long-term past impacts present and future design through the existence of built spaces and long-standing formal or informal institutions. The concept of path dependencies, developed in the political sciences as part of the concept of historical institutionalism (Sorensen 2015, 2017), highlights the role that decisions of the past have on decisions for the future. This impact is particularly significant when it relates to structures that require extensive investment and are designed to last for a long time. The concept of the Longue Durée, introduced by Fernand Braudel (Braudel, 1968), emphasises the relationship between natural conditions and human interaction, creating specific geographies. The concept supports an approach based on understanding earlier typologies and development patterns. It allows for contextualised understanding and avoids uninformed copying and pasting of designs from the past into current cities. It allows designers to identify critical junctures in previous decades and understand the underlying political, social, and cultural contexts of contemporary redevelopment. This influence across time is particularly strong when it has been solidified into concrete or built into extensive and expensive infrastructures, including for water management or ports.