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In April 2016 Manchester eScholar was replaced by the University of Manchester’s new Research Information Management System, Pure. In the autumn the University’s research outputs will be available to search and browse via a new Research Portal. Until then the University’s full publication record can be accessed via a temporary portal and the old eScholar content is available to search and browse via this archive.

Sustainable Architectural Design between Inscription and De-scription: The Case of Masdar City

Sharif, Ahlam Ammar Abdellatif

[Thesis]. Manchester, UK: The University of Manchester; 2016.

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Abstract

Name of University: University of ManchesterCandidate’s Name: Ahlam Ammar Abdellatif SharifDegree Title: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – ArchitectureThesis Title: Sustainable Architectural Design between Inscription and De-scription: The Case of Masdar CityDate: January 30th 2016

Layman's Abstract

The thesis aims to deconstruct the traditional dualities between design and use and blend the boundaries between them. It characterises design as a process that is complex, dynamic, and integral to other processes, such as use. The thesis utilises Latour's concept of the collective. Although this concept has been applied to architectural contexts in previous studies, this thesis expands the collective to include actors of use. The thesis elaborates on the inscription and de-scription of technologies inspired by Akrich (1992). It shows how the collective is shaped and reshaped through such processes. Building parallels with previous studies, it analyses the importance of fluidity and fluid actors in de-scribing technologies and reshaping the collectives. The thesis utilises the case of Masdar City, which has been designed in the UK by the architectural and urban planning firm Foster + Partners and implemented in the Middle East, specifically in the United Arab Emirates. The thesis focuses on its first developed stage represented by Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST). Based on a qualitative and inductive approach, the conducted research utilises interviews and site observations with the designers, users, and other main contributors. Through this approach, the thesis reflects on the concept of sustainability that is itself contested, changeable, and vague.The thesis concludes that sustainable design processes should be seen as continuous loops between design and use. In acknowledging this, it is further suggested that concepts such as the living laboratory, which support the adaptation of designs and learning from use, are adopted at the outset in architectural production.

Bibliographic metadata

Type of resource:
Content type:
Administered thesis
Form of thesis:
Traditional
Type of submission:
Doctoral level ETD - final
Thesis title:
Sustainable Architectural Design between Inscription and De-scription: The Case of Masdar City
Degree type:
Doctor of Philosophy
Degree programme:
Research Programme: Architecture
Publication date:
2016-05-10T17:25:48
Institution:
The University of Manchester
Location:
Manchester, UK
Total pages:
269
Abstract:
Name of University: University of ManchesterCandidate’s Name: Ahlam Ammar Abdellatif SharifDegree Title: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) – ArchitectureThesis Title: Sustainable Architectural Design between Inscription and De-scription: The Case of Masdar CityDate: January 30th 2016
Layman's abstract:
The thesis aims to deconstruct the traditional dualities between design and use and blend the boundaries between them. It characterises design as a process that is complex, dynamic, and integral to other processes, such as use. The thesis utilises Latour's concept of the collective. Although this concept has been applied to architectural contexts in previous studies, this thesis expands the collective to include actors of use. The thesis elaborates on the inscription and de-scription of technologies inspired by Akrich (1992). It shows how the collective is shaped and reshaped through such processes. Building parallels with previous studies, it analyses the importance of fluidity and fluid actors in de-scribing technologies and reshaping the collectives. The thesis utilises the case of Masdar City, which has been designed in the UK by the architectural and urban planning firm Foster + Partners and implemented in the Middle East, specifically in the United Arab Emirates. The thesis focuses on its first developed stage represented by Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST). Based on a qualitative and inductive approach, the conducted research utilises interviews and site observations with the designers, users, and other main contributors. Through this approach, the thesis reflects on the concept of sustainability that is itself contested, changeable, and vague.The thesis concludes that sustainable design processes should be seen as continuous loops between design and use. In acknowledging this, it is further suggested that concepts such as the living laboratory, which support the adaptation of designs and learning from use, are adopted at the outset in architectural production.
Keyword(s):
Thesis main supervisor(s):
Thesis co-supervisor(s):
Degree grantor:
Language:
en

Institutional metadata

University researcher(s):
Academic department(s):

Record metadata

Manchester eScholar ID:
uk-ac-man-scw:300787
Created by:
Sharif, Ahlam
Created:
10th May, 2016, 16:25:49
Last modified by:
Sharif, Ahlam
Last modified:
26th May, 2016, 09:30:10

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