Decoding the Context.
Scales and Parameters of Analysis
Decoding the Context.
Scales and Parameters of Analysis
Contributor(s): Anda-Ioana Sfintes (Editor), Florina Tufescu (Translator)
Subject(s): Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Architecture, Essay|Book Review |Scientific Life, Bibliography, General Reference Works, Book-Review
Published by: Universitatea de Arhitectură şi Urbanism »Ion Mincu«
Keywords: architectural education; contextual analysis; design methodology; interpretive frameworks; spatial parameters; analytical diagrams; site exploration; architectural pedagogy; contextual dimensions; reflective practice;
Summary/Abstract: This volume, as well as those that will follow, aims to put in writing notions that not only define the considered objective as a substratum in architectural education but also invite further exploration and reflection, in search of a personal but well-informed approach. The introductory chapter explores what a context means and what defines it, opening new perspectives through the lists of dimensions and parameters that could be researched. Their role is to illustrate what we mean when we say that there is much more to be drawn from a context and to spark intrigue and curiosity about searching for the relevant parameters and discovering how various parameters and the links between them lead to a particular interpretation of a situation. The diagram drawn on the basis of this chapter can become an instrument, to be used both in the studio or by each student trying to discover new lenses through which to look at a site.
- E-ISBN-13: 978-606-638-402-5
- Print-ISBN-13: 978-606-638-401-8
- Page Count: 204
- Publication Year: 2025
- Language: English
Decoding the Context. From a First Reading to an Informed Design
Decoding the Context. From a First Reading to an Informed Design
(Decoding the Context. From a First Reading to an Informed Design)
- Author(s):Anda-Ioana Sfintes
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Architecture
- Page Range:1-23
- No. of Pages:23
- Keywords:contextual analysis; architectural meaning; relational networks; design intervention; interpretive frameworks;
- Summary/Abstract:If we regard built space as an element in the vast network of elements that define the realities within which our lives unfold (from unmediated physical reality to imagined realities), the idea of decoding context becomes all the more exciting and inspiring. So we take up the problem of understanding the elements, the relationships, the role played by each element within the network, aware that any intervention will have an impact on other elements, bringing changes, however small or significant, to the system. Any architectural object, whether actually built or at the design stage, transforms, or sets out to transform, its context. This chapter will present the idea of context in the broader sense, covering not only the presence of architecture in actual physical reality but also, for example, architecture defined through meanings, whether individual or collective, that are attributed to it by its author or by users (actual or potential). The directions from which context investigations can begin, the types of approaches and the perspectives can be extremely varied and they can all lead to noteworthy results. My intention is to encourage context explorations that are as in-depth, nuanced and fully assumed as possible by offering a broad view, supported by explanations and examples.
Enigma: A Guide to Decoding Context
Enigma: A Guide to Decoding Context
(Enigma: A Guide to Decoding Context)
- Author(s):Andra Panait
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Architecture
- Page Range:25-49
- No. of Pages:26
- Keywords:context as code; architectural interpretation; urban palimpsest; socio‑spatial dynamics; contextual decoding;
- Summary/Abstract:Context is not just history or urban texture; it is also a code. A hidden system shaping what is built, how people live, what gets forgotten and what is reinvented. The problem? Many architects treat it as a static data sheet rather than a living equation that requires interpretation and rewriting. This chapter draws a parallel with the Enigma machine, a system whose unbroken code once seemed to dictate the course of war. When Alan Turing deciphered it, the course of history shifted. Architecture works the same way: spotting an old building and calling it “historic” isn’t enough. You need to understand why it exists, how it came to be, and what happens if you intervene. Decoding context means seeing the invisible – social rhythms, past traces, economic tensions, daily behaviours. The context transforms a city from a rigid set of rules into a living palimpsest.
Decoding the Context as Place Interpretation
Decoding the Context as Place Interpretation
(Decoding the Context as Place Interpretation)
- Author(s):Cosmin Caciuc
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Architecture
- Page Range:51-61
- No. of Pages:12
- Keywords:urban analysis; contextual interpretation; phenomenological limitations; design methodology; place‑specific hermeneutics;
- Summary/Abstract:Many books are available today to provide us with methods for urban analysis, most of them guided by rational principles imported from the exact sciences, most probably because arguments for investments are usually based on communicative rationality. I do not dispute the fact that these books dedicated to site analysis represent fundamental theoretical and methodological contributions, already capable of providing well-argued answers to the current debate on decoding context: on approaches, strategies, evolution, relevant scales and levels of analysis, consequences in design and architectural education. Against the background of this professional tradition, I discuss two major phenomenological difficulties of the methods of decoding context and translating it into architectural language: the delimitation of context in interpretation and the limits of traditions in context analysis, based on predefined criteria and parameters. The highlighted difficulties suggest the need for a more flexible design methodology guided by place-specific hermeneutics.
Anthropological Methods of Decoding The Urban Context
Anthropological Methods of Decoding The Urban Context
(Anthropological Methods of Decoding The Urban Context)
- Author(s):Ruxandra Păduraru
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Architecture
- Page Range:63-81
- No. of Pages:20
- Keywords:anthropology‑informed methods; site understanding; user behaviours; socio‑cultural context; community‑oriented design;
- Summary/Abstract:Our projects would be better adapted to local urban contexts if the questions we asked ourselves and those we design for were the following: What do we know about this site? What does life look like in this space? How do different user categories want to live here? What kind of future do they want for their community? What are the current problems and how could we solve them? What connections exist to the past of the site? What value can we bring for citizens/society/vulnerable groups/city halls/companies/creative start-ups? The aim of this article is to discover together how methods inspired by anthropology can contribute to a better understanding of sites and of the specific contexts they are embedded in – whether this concerns a broader understanding of the behaviours of space users or of the wider social, cultural, political and historical context.
International Perspectives
International Perspectives
(International Perspectives)
- Author(s):Lilly Kudic, Rita Occhiuto, Adrian Phiffer, Giovangiuseppe Vannelli
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Architecture
- Page Range:83-107
- No. of Pages:26
- Keywords:context decoding; architectural analysis; academic perspectives; shared frameworks; interpretive coherence
- Summary/Abstract:Taking as a given that a context is something that must be decoded and that analysis is one of the tools used in this regard, we asked academics from international schools of architecture and urban planning to answer a few questions regarding the theme of this volume. The aim was that of uncovering both a common ground and various understandings, defined by relevance and coherence.
UAUIM Insights. Round Tables
UAUIM Insights. Round Tables
(UAUIM Insights. Round Tables)
- Author(s):Authors Various
- Contributor(s):Anda-Ioana Sfintes (Editor)
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Social Sciences, Education, Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Architecture, Higher Education
- Page Range:109-125
- No. of Pages:18
- Keywords:architectural education; context decoding; studio methodologies; interpretive frameworks; design coherence;
- Summary/Abstract:Each studio at UAUIM has the freedom to pursue objectives of architectural education through diverse approaches and methods. Within a framework assignment and following deadlines that require the development of specific content up to the final submission of the project, each studio sets its own goals and, in doing so, may emphasize and frame certain steps or aspects in different ways. With regard to decoding context, the premise was that reading, analysis, synthesis and interpretation of a particular context, irrespective of the studio or its philosophy, should be transposed into the project, contributing to its foundation. The results, visible in the final work, may differ greatly depending on the overall project – its context, the issues addressed, the student’s personal understanding, the pursued scenario or vision and so on. However, the way different teachers approach context decoding in their studios is a subject worth exploring, and discussions on this topic can prove highly fruitful. Thus, as part of the Scholar Architect 2024 project, two round tables were organised to identify the fundamental aspects and strategies of context decoding employed by UAUIM teachers, regarded not only as a means of site analysis but, more importantly, as a way of understanding context (as defined in the first chapter of this volume). The lively discussions at both round tables – transcribed and adapted for publication – underline that, beyond differing didactic approaches and methods, the final architectural project is expected to demonstrate the existence of a coherent logical, narrative and visual thread, linking context decoding (as part of the research process) to the design outcome.
Studying the Contextual Nuances of a Site Through Particularities of Complex Systems
Studying the Contextual Nuances of a Site Through Particularities of Complex Systems
(Studying the Contextual Nuances of a Site Through Particularities of Complex Systems)
- Author(s):Andreea Diana Roman
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Architecture
- Page Range:128-147
- No. of Pages:19
- Keywords:contextual nuances; urban identity; socio‑economic layers; architectural systems; Zaandam redevelopment;
- Summary/Abstract:This paper examines the intricate relationship between a site’s contextual nuances and the systems that define its identity, functionality and evolution. Focusing on the Dutch city of Zaandam, it analyses how the current conditions of an environment are shaped by its historical, cultural and socio-economic layers. The findings highlight particularities of urban and architectural systems that contribute to the continuous production of meaning within the urban environment. The study emphasizes the necessity of addressing contemporary needs, which introduces an experimental dimension to the concept of a functional city. Such a city requires a delicate balance between maintaining a coherent representation of the existing urban fabric and incorporating the individualisation of new developments, an idea I applied in the project for the redevelopment of the city centre in Zaandam.
The Creative Potential of Urban Interstitial Spaces
The Creative Potential of Urban Interstitial Spaces
(The Creative Potential of Urban Interstitial Spaces)
- Author(s):Patricia Stan
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Architecture
- Page Range:148-165
- No. of Pages:20
- Keywords:interstitial spaces; urban memory; architectural intervention; Bucharest urban fabric; context decoding;
- Summary/Abstract:This paper argues that interstitial spaces can be considered a positive element with development potential for the urban structure, which can be activated through creative use based on the recovery of urban memory and traces of the past. The proposed approach highlights the multiple values of urban interstitial spaces, considering them analytically for innovative architectural interventions so as to maximise and capitalise on their ability to reinterpret the context and the urban past. Starting from observations on the old urban fabric in the central area of Bucharest, which possesses numerous examples of spaces resulting from the various historical transformations of urban form, the study presents a method for identifying interstices and discusses their creative valorisation through the integration of educational and cultural functions. My project – the Art and Design Education Centre – shows how the potential of interstitial spaces is taken up in the design process through the step-by-step decoding of the elements of the urban context.
From Uncomfortable Past to Cultural Future
From Uncomfortable Past to Cultural Future
(From Uncomfortable Past to Cultural Future)
- Author(s):Alexandra Müller
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Architecture
- Page Range:166-183
- No. of Pages:18
- Keywords:industrial heritage; urban regeneration; adaptive reuse; contextual analysis; architectural intervention;
- Summary/Abstract:The conversion of industrial heritage sites has played a vital role in urban regeneration in the last decade, albeit faced with challenges like balancing historical preservation and contemporary functions. This paper investigates the relationship between theoretical research and architectural design by exploring how the theoretical framework of the dissertation influenced the development of the diploma project. Using qualitative research methodology and case studies, the study sought to identify different strategies of intervention in the conversion of industrial sites with uncomfortable historical narratives, which preserve their cultural and architectural significance. This paper aims to emphasize the importance of contextual analysis in developing sensitive and sustainable design solutions by illustrating how adaptive reuse can transform industrial sites into vibrant, inclusive and dynamic urban landscapes.
Annotated Bibliography
Annotated Bibliography
(Annotated Bibliography)
- Author(s):Anda-Ioana Sfintes
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Architecture, Essay|Book Review |Scientific Life, Bibliography, General Reference Works, Book-Review
- Page Range:185-191
- No. of Pages:8
- Keywords:annotated bibliography; contextual relevance; architectural analysis; theoretical frameworks; design parameters;
- Summary/Abstract:Each chapter of this volume is accompanied by its own references that can also be regarded as invitations to explore, in greater detail, the topics brought into discussion. Nevertheless, this annotated bibliography has the role of showcasing and reviewing a diversity of books as resources to be used in the endeavour of approaching specific context-related topics that are of particular interest to each reader. The variety of theoretical, conceptual or applied perspectives presented in each of the titles listed below reflects the complexity of the parameters addressed both individually and in combination. Applied in specific contexts, the parameters translate into layers of understanding, through reading, analysis, synthesis and interpretation of the data uncovered, and they have the potential to lead to well-guided design outcomes. This bibliography reiterates some of the books referenced in previous chapters, which are considered fundamental and/or instrumental in architecture and urban planning analysis, and it also adds others that expand on certain dimensions and parameters or explore them through different lenses, emphasizing contextual relevance as a key requirement.
