OPENCUBE - An extension to existing open source construction system
(2025) ASEM01 20251Department of Architecture and Built Environment
- Abstract
- This project is essentially an extension of the Wikihouse Skylark construction library. However, it is extended through the lens of value reproduction within an open system—by extracting the fundamental logic and information of the original system and identifying its most basic meta-information. Based on this meta-information, new components are developed that remain compatible with other elements.
The theoretical foundation of the project is rooted in both relations of production and productive forces. On the side of production relations, the project focuses on the commodification and financialization of architecture, which lead to the commodification of architectural design and the labor of architects. Building on this, it analyzes... (More) - This project is essentially an extension of the Wikihouse Skylark construction library. However, it is extended through the lens of value reproduction within an open system—by extracting the fundamental logic and information of the original system and identifying its most basic meta-information. Based on this meta-information, new components are developed that remain compatible with other elements.
The theoretical foundation of the project is rooted in both relations of production and productive forces. On the side of production relations, the project focuses on the commodification and financialization of architecture, which lead to the commodification of architectural design and the labor of architects. Building on this, it analyzes how architectural design, when treated as a commodity, carries internal contradictions that inevitably result in inefficiency and the widespread impoverishment of architects.
In terms of productive forces, the project critically examines parametricism and the ideological basis of technological rationality that underlies it. It also explores how the development of such technologies further reinforces existing production relations. At the conclusion of the theoretical section, a synthesis of this critique of production relations and affirmation of the development of productive forces establishes the starting point for the project as a whole.
The final outcome of the project is presented through a 1:5 test prototype, completing an experimental cycle of the basic value reproduction process within an open system. (Less) - Popular Abstract
- This project extends the Wikihouse Skylark construction library by focusing on value reproduction within an open system. It extracts core meta-information from the original system to develop new, compatible components.
Theoretically, it critiques the commodification and financialization of architecture, exposing how design becomes inefficient and architects impoverished under capitalist production relations. It also challenges parametricism and the ideology of technological rationality, revealing how these "innovations" reinforce existing power structures. The project culminates in a 1:5 prototype that completes an experimental cycle of value reproduction.
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9197536
- author
- Zhang, Zhengyang LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- ASEM01 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Critical construction, Systemic critique, Design politics, Infrastructure of ideology, Autonomy vs. Control, Open-source architecture, Surplus value extraction, Platformization / Platform capitalism, Component compatibility, Prototype (1:5 scale)
- language
- English
- id
- 9197536
- date added to LUP
- 2025-06-12 09:30:37
- date last changed
- 2025-06-12 09:30:37
@misc{9197536,
abstract = {{This project is essentially an extension of the Wikihouse Skylark construction library. However, it is extended through the lens of value reproduction within an open system—by extracting the fundamental logic and information of the original system and identifying its most basic meta-information. Based on this meta-information, new components are developed that remain compatible with other elements.
The theoretical foundation of the project is rooted in both relations of production and productive forces. On the side of production relations, the project focuses on the commodification and financialization of architecture, which lead to the commodification of architectural design and the labor of architects. Building on this, it analyzes how architectural design, when treated as a commodity, carries internal contradictions that inevitably result in inefficiency and the widespread impoverishment of architects.
In terms of productive forces, the project critically examines parametricism and the ideological basis of technological rationality that underlies it. It also explores how the development of such technologies further reinforces existing production relations. At the conclusion of the theoretical section, a synthesis of this critique of production relations and affirmation of the development of productive forces establishes the starting point for the project as a whole.
The final outcome of the project is presented through a 1:5 test prototype, completing an experimental cycle of the basic value reproduction process within an open system.}},
author = {{Zhang, Zhengyang}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{OPENCUBE - An extension to existing open source construction system}},
year = {{2025}},
}