Gordon Pask: exchanges between cybernetics and architecture and the envisioning of the IE

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to study a series of exchanges between cybernetics and the arts, focusing on Pask's lifelong envisioning of the so-called information environment (I.E). It follows the author's previous PhD dissertation which was concerned with the exchanges between systems research and architecture; Gordon Pask et al.; and a couple of outstanding architectural projects related to systems and computation. Design/methodology/approach -This paper was mainly supported by archival research of Gordon Pask's Archive (held at the time by his daughter) and Cedric Price's Archive (held at the Canadian Centre for Architecture); supplemented with interviews and bibliographical research (research was made possible by a FCT grant -POCI 2010). Findings -The paper details and discusses exchanges between the fields of cybernetics and the arts; and it focuses on Pask's lifelong exchange with architecture and the manifestation of his ideas in this field. One highlights, among others, Pask's exchanges within the British milieu and the AMG during the 1960s and 1970s; the seminal manifestations of his main C2 achievement -the Conversation Theory -in the field of architecture; and his later architectural performance.Research limitations/implications -The previous primary archival research conducted at Pask's daughter house, is being expanded by the author through use of new material. Originality/value -This paper is intended for historians of sciences and the arts. It briefly overviews Pask's well-known main works and, in addition, it includes reference to some rare little-known materials.

Adaptive human bodies and adaptive built environments for enriching futures

“…In architecture and design literature, built environments that can use computation to adapt to the occupants' needs have been discussed (Furtado Cardoso Lopes, 2009). For example, built environments that could monitor space usage and rearrange walls, turn supporting systems ON and OFF to save resources, and use light to guide occupants and sound to communicate back with occupants in charge of maintaining the built environments.…”

The Architect as a Social Designer: The Fun Palace Case

“…He was, for example, very active on the Cybernetics Committee chaired by Gordon Pask, which actually engaged in social design. Pask, a famous cybernetician (Frazer 2001;Lopes 2009), acknowledged Price's leading role as a social designer, and on a number of occasions encouraged Price to think of himself as a social engineer (Frazer 2001;Lobsinger 2000aLobsinger , 2000bMathews 2007a, 75).…”