Extending the Role of the Architect in Flanders’ Residential Environment

Abstract

How can we conceive of the role of the architect in processes of communal dwelling? What are the differences compared to more traditional architectural practices? First of all, this paper situates the notion of communal dwelling as a possible answer to social issues that challenge both the various policy levels and future residents. In order to grasp the difference with the traditional practice, communal dwelling is then characterized as a social practice. This in turn demonstrates a new understanding of the role of the architect, for which we use existing concepts to describe it. These concepts both put into perspective and specify the architect’s role, as he or she ends up as ‘just one’ ‘actant’ in a complex network, albeit an important ‘actant’: a mediator. The architect’s way of mediating and translating complex sets of information was tested during a design workshop with culturally acclaimed Flemish firms.