Variations: The Systematic Design of Supports (1976)

Variations - N. John Habraken, bookcover

A text book which spells out the design methodology developed by the Foundation for Architects Research (SAR)

SAR was set up to enable help architects design 'supports' or 'base buildings' to be filled in on the behest of user inhabitants. The idea of an open ended design turned traditional design procedures upside down. Mass housing was based on the single, standardized, floor plan to be repeated as many times as possible, preferably throughout the entire building. Once this floor plan was decided upon all participants in the process - consultants, contractors and sub - contractors as well as inspectors, could proceed in their own domain. Taking away the fixed floor plan of the dwelling unit was taking away the focus of the process of design realization. The core of the problem was one of evaluation. How could a client know that the support design, proposed by the architect, was indeed the best possible design? How could two alternative designs be compared if no floor plans could be compared?

SAR developed a method by which a link could be made between the actual base building and the range of floor plans it made possible. 'Basic variants' representing a base building's capacity could systematically be obtained using certain formal tools and concepts. Once available, the range allowed judgment and comparison.

The uses of this method is explained in this book and illustrated with many examples in a step by step exposition.

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