The notion of âarchitectureâ is a social construct; as a consequence, architectural relevance is constructed, contested, and constantly redefined through the lenses of society, politics, and culture. In the assessment there can be shared criteriaâlike structural innovation, material integrity, or functionalityâbut even these are interpreted through cultural lenses. Architecture, as distinct from construction, is what, at a given historical moment and in a given context, a group of individuals recognises, and assumes, as such.
In the context of FAR, however, architecture and construction cannot be separated: FAR is concerned with the construction of efficient architecture, interpreted as a framework for social activities and a rival investment, as much as it is interested in the architecture of construction, i.e. the industrial system that enables spatial ideas to reach sound built fruition.
The expression “landscape of production” suggests a broad, dynamic view of how productionâof goods, services, media, knowledge, etc.âis organized and distributed across different spaces, systems, and contexts. It implies that production is not just a technical or economic process, but also one shaped by geography, politics, culture, and technology.
Innovation is a deliberate move from established practices aimed at creating discernible value/benefits. The change occurs within a given context and for the interest of specific sets of individuals, groups or organisations. Whether as a response to the emergence of a definite problem/need or as the outcome of a systematic search for improvement, innovation entails overcoming structural and/or contingent constraints at material and/or symbolic level and implies the production of the (measurable/provable) evidences of its appropriateness, including the actual possibility of its successful, eventual dissemination.
The notion of innovation cannot be limited only to products and processes of a technical nature but must be extended to the other dimensions of the prefigured and then constructed object, from the typological to the aesthetic.
Sustainability is not merely the capacity to endure or persist over time; it is the dynamic and ethically charged practice of aligning human activity with the ecological and social boundaries of our planet in ways that are regenerative rather than extractive, plural rather than singular, and future-facing rather than fixated on immediate gain. It calls for a radical rethinking of growth, value, and progressâeschewing short-term efficiency in favor of long-term resilience, interdependence, and justice. Sustainability resists being reduced to a checklist or a green label; instead, it embodies an ongoing negotiation between economic ambition, environmental limits, and social equity. It asks not just what can be sustained, but who gets to sustain, and for whom.