Notes on the Adaptive Re-use of Program

McMorrough addresses the importance of program in the design phase of architecture today in “Notes on the Adaptive Re-use of Program” “Form follows function” is a phrase we’ve been hearing in the school and I agree with this idea as I believe that program is the content in architecture. He also addresses the idea of programmatic failure. Architecture must consider the users, context, and time (+future) when defining the program, and let building adapt with the program.

McMorrough says, “You begin with a program.” It’s been true all the time for my past studio projects as he states “it is the first thing you are given to start a project in school and the thing you wait on from a client in practice.” I think program is very important as it directly relates to the users/occupants of the building. Because of its relationship to users, we must consider program into design phase as early as possible. Now with thesis, we can choose a program, site, etc..and I think its’ the only opportunity to be able to do this, so I have to be very careful when choosing an appropriate program to fit my thesis and I think everyone needs to consider it profoundly as well.