Change is a reliable constant. Constant change calls for strategies in managing everyday life and a high level of flexibility. Architecture must also rise to this challenge. The architect Richard Buckminster Fuller claimed that “A room should not be fixed, should not create a static mood, but should lend itself to change so that its occupants may play upon it as they would upon a piano (Krausse 2001).” This liberal interpretation in architecture defines the ability of a building to react to (ever-) changing requirements. The aim of the project is to investigate the flexibility of buildings using evolutionary algorithms characterized by Darwin. As a working model for development, the evolutionary algorithm consists of variation, selection and reproduction (VSR algorithm). The result of a VSR algorithm is adaptability (Buskes 2008). If this working model is applied to architecture, it is possible to examine as to what extent the adaptability of buildings – as an expression of a cultural achievement – is subject to evolutionary principles, and in which area the model seems unsuitable for the 'open buildings' criteria. (N. John Habraken). It illustrates the significance of variation, selection and replication in architecture and how evolutionary principles can be transferred to the issues of flexible buildings. What are the consequences for the building if it were to be designed and built with the help of evolutionary principles? How can we react to the growing demand for flexibilization of buildings by using evolutionary principles?

Our built environment consists of spaces, buildings, and cities that are subject to ever-changing social, economic, ecological and cultural demands. The demand for high quality living space is becoming ever more significant for densifying urban areas. When lifestyles, modes of working and recreational activities intertwine, new concepts on all scales must follow. Consideration of resilience of all kinds is becoming an important part of planning. It requires typologies with resilient characteristics, which can also take on new tasks perhaps not yet known of today. This paper recognises such a typology in the hybrid. Hybrids possess a variety of characteristics and benchmark parameters. A code inherent in them renders them capable of reacting to various situations and differing requirements. Depending on its constitution and purpose, the hybrid code affects a variety of architecturally relevant, environmental levels, namely district, neighbourhood, building, unit, components, infrastructure and processes. “Hybridisation” describes the process of the deliberate application of this code on all levels (“design and injection”), albeit also its decoding, i.e. activation of processes of change. In this way “new genetic alliances” are created, in which differing hybrids interact. By offering advanced adaptability through HYBRIDisation, buildings become resilient to change and allow for diverse modification and development throughout their lifespan, resulting in improved learning ability. This paper explores strategies of HYBRIDisation and the consequences for the interlinked levels to enable hybrid and resilient levels of environment.

Strata property - ownership of apartments or townhouses consisting of private and commonly owned building components and areas - was established in Switzerland in 1965 and since has become very popular. But, well-needed retrofit work of these buildings is often postponed and long-term retrofit strategies are rarely considered. However, the low retrofit rate must increase to meet the global energy goals. Interviews and workshops with relevant actors showed that missing financial means are not the key issues for the low retrofit rate. Major challenges arise from a broad set of issues, such as difficult processes, unclear responsibility, insufficient communication, missing building information or underestimation of the commonly owned building components. “Luzerner Toolbox” provides eight folders that address the key clusters of challenges. Central to this toolbox are Excel-based tools, which transform accurate technical and financial information into a visual format. An ample diagram illustrates the remaining lifetime of the building parts and a graph relates upcoming retrofit costs and the annual payments into the contingency reserve fund with a forecast of the contingency reserve fund. As such, these tools assists in scheduling appropriate retrofit measures and establishing a balanced financial planning. But, various actors have reported that the retrofit timetable is too complex to be used in management firms. Feasibility studies and further research of their specific needs and work processes are needed to refine the tool accordingly. In a further study, interviews with management firms and architects are conducted to determine the key factors of a useful tool.

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