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What do we mean by building function?

Hillier, B.; Hanson, J.; Peponis, J.; (1984) What do we mean by building function? In: Powell, J.A. and Cooper, I. and Lera, S., (eds.) Designing for building utilisation. (pp. pp. 61-72). E & F.N. Spon Ltd: London, UK. Green open access

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Abstract

Scientific approaches to architecture usually avoid the issue of building form, preferring to focus on function. But how can there be a theory of function without a systematic analysis of the key architectural variable of form? A theory of description is required. In this paper it is argued that such a theory can be built through the analysis of spatial form in buildings. Then once spatial form is describable in terms of a descriptive theory, a more powerfully scientific - and architectural - understanding of function is possible. The argument draws on several pieces of research carried out by the authors and their students, but focusses eventually on various types of medical building in order to illustrate certain general principles.

Type: Proceedings paper
Title: What do we mean by building function?
ISBN-13: 9780419134701
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
Language: English
Additional information: E & F.N. Spon is now part of Taylor & Francis. This publication contains transactions of a seminar sponsored by the Science and Engineering Research Council's Building Sub-Committee, The British Council, and the Design Research Society, held at Portsmouth Polytechnic, School of Architecture, 1st-3rd, September, 1983.
UCL classification:
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of the Built Environment > The Bartlett School of Planning
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/15007
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