Why, Barriers, and Strategies for Enhancing Architectural Creativity in the Design of Industrial Buildings (Case Study: the Qazvin Caspian Industrial Estate)

Goudini, Javad

Why, Barriers, and Strategies for Enhancing Architectural Creativity in the Design of Industrial Buildings (Case Study: the Qazvin Caspian Industrial Estate)

Document Type : Origional Article

Author

Javad Goudini

Assistant professor of architecture department, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran.

Abstract

Background and Objective: Creativity is widely recognized as one of the fundamental qualities of architectural design and remains a primary concern for architects. Nevertheless, it appears that creativity has received comparatively little attention in the design of industrial buildings. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the reasons, barriers, and strategies for enhancing architectural creativity in industrial building design. To this end, it evaluates formal and technical innovation as two observable manifestations of architectural creativity in industrial buildings.
Methodology: This study adopts a mixed-method research approach based on secondary data analysis. The quantitative section utilizes survey data from a previous study on the architecture of 63 industrial buildings located in the Caspian Industrial Estate, where the formal and technical characteristics of each building were documented through field observation. The qualitative section draws upon findings from an earlier study concerning the nature of the architectural design process in industrial complexes. Subsequently, logical reasoning and comparative analysis of these datasets were employed to examine the underlying reasons, barriers, and potential strategies for improving creativity in the architectural design of industrial buildings.
Results and Findings: The findings indicate that the use of innovative architectural forms has not been a major concern for either designers or owners of industrial buildings. Although technical innovation was found to be relatively more prevalent than formal innovation, it has been largely confined to the use of modern materials and prefabricated construction methods, with little extension to structural innovation. The industrial nature of these projects, its restrictive influence on architectural creativity, the limited application of innovation to broader technical aspects, and the repetition of stereotypical design patterns constitute the principal barriers to enhancing creativity in industrial architecture. Based on these findings, the study proposes several strategies for promoting architectural creativity in the design of industrial buildings.

Keywords

Architecture

Creativity

Innovation

Form

Construction

Industrial units

Qazvin

Subjects

Regional & Urban Spatial Organization

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