A Proposal for imitation Phenomenon in Architecture: Meme Patterns and Architectural Precedent Story Concept

Abstract

Designing with the help of precedents' knowledge and constituting a new knowledge cannot be defined as a mere copy in architecture. This process is natural and creative imitation matter of fact in terms of mimesis notion. The imitated knowledge is not a final product; it is in a situation that is transferred, in motion, it is regenerated and it forms recurrently according to the paradigm that it is in. Therefore, a research, which considers precedent knowledge and its imitation, should consider also the transforming processes of the knowledge and its media, rather merely focusing on precedent or knowledge. Memetics theories, which are also grounded on evolutionary epistemology approaches, can provide expansions in precedent knowledge research in architecture, because the multi-dimensional and related knowledge layers that are implicit in architectural precedent can be imitated associated with the features of the media that the information is gained. In this article, there is an approach on the relation of precedent's information media with meme notion and precedent knowledge. Accordingly, two-layered research is done in order to look through the architectural precedent knowledge. First, meme notion in design and design studies approaches are discussed in order to establish architectural precedent knowledge layers. Afterwards, with a sampling from the digital media that present architectural products, the information's transferring type and the feature of the knowledge in the media is analysed. Consequently, the knowledge-layers that an architectural product can have in terms of precedent are defined. The patterns that are established by the knowledge-layers are defined as Meme Patterns and called as Architectural Precedent Story: Finally there is an evaluation, which considers that the story re-established everytime makes a conceptualization and creates an imagination in mental representation.