Staceys Blog: Week 8

Context theory: is the theory of how environmental design and planning of new development should relate to its context. When decisions have been taken they are implemented by means of lands use zones, zoning plans and environmental assesments. A number of context theories set out principles for relationships new designs and the existing environment.

Context Definition: the parts of the environment (physical, environment, historical, etc.) that surround something such as a word, passage, or work of art and can throw light on its meaning

Context refers to a set of circumstances that surround a particular event or situation. This may take into account different aspects such as social, political or cultural influences.
Examples are:

Political Context: Reflects the environment in which something is produced indicating its purpose or agenda. Often political messages are intended to persuade one way or another. Knowing who created the message and what their relationship is to others reflects how you interpret that message.

Social Context: The environment of people that surrounds something's creation or intended audience social context reflects how the people around something use and interpret it. The social context influences how something is viewed.

In definition context refers to a set of circumstances that surround a particular event or situation, which takes into account different aspects such as social, political or cultural nfluences.

Political context reflects the environment in which something is produced indicating its purpose or agenda. Often political messages are intended to persuade one way or another. Knowing who created the message and what their relationship is to others reflects how you interpret that message.

Social context involves the environment of people that surrounds something’s creation or intended audience social context reflects how the people around something use and interpret it. In short, context is the environment in which something relevant exists or happens. The relevancy changes with time, as something could be relevant in the past but it may not be relevant in the future.

Specifically in regards to Architecture, an architect needs to understand the environment or context in which the project will be designed and built. If the idea is to design a project within certain parameters such as financial, cultural, and environmental then they have to design to fit this context. For example a building that may not fit the right context or may not be in the right environment would be a building that is made from completely different material to other buildings in the same area. Furthermore a religious or cultural building may not be in the right environment. This would lead to it being built in the wrong context.