Learn about craft, tolerance, and conflicting expectations
within a range of projects by Actual Architecture Co. and the student
design-build practice, FACT. There comes a time in any design process when the
designer must make a choice, “which type of craft is appropriate for this
project?” While there are many available paradigms of craft, each with a
preferred standard of tolerance in the final product, the choice is often
situation specific. “Custom-craft” is based on unique demands of an end user to
produce a bespoke product, “techno-craft” applies computer aided design and
fabrication to reduce cost and increase quality, and “farm-craft” is based on
expedience, pragmatism, but not necessarily aesthetic coherence. In all there a
question of resolution. Some projects require a high degree of precision and
refined workmanship, while for others cost, expediency, or available talent may
necessitate a looser approach. For example, fine furniture carries an expectation
of refined craft and precise tolerances while “stage-craft” – specifically, the
art of building stage scenery, requires a deliberately low degree of precision
because the work is to be viewed at a distance. In architecture, the craft
paradigm may vary between different aspects of the same project. Architecture
occupies an interesting position in this discourse - architects have a kind of
craftsmanship that defines how they work – disciplinary-specific design and
representational techniques - but they also engage other craftspeople to
realize our creations. Architects must select the category of craftsmanship
that is not only appropriate to the practical task at hand but also matched to
our cultural expectations as represented in the project.
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Wouldn't it be a good idea to create a course?