ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Alessandro Armando and Giovanni Durbiano's Theory of Architectural Design

publication · 2026-05-05

In their 2017 publication "Teoria del progetto architettonico" (Carocci), Alessandro Armando and Giovanni Durbiano introduce a perspective on architectural design that prioritizes social processes and objective conditions over the individual creativity of architects. They make a distinction between architecture and architectural design, characterizing design as a process involving documents, their exchange, and specific geographical changes. The theory underscores performativity, suggesting that legitimacy stems from social structures rather than mere talent. Documents are likened to "time bombs" that initiate effects, while narratives help to resolve contradictions. Politically, design is regulated by a disciplinary framework (Michel Foucault) and becomes mandatory once sanctioned. Architects create foundational documents that influence discourse, integrating semiotics, documentality, Actor-Network Theory, and linguistic pragmatics, perceiving projects as "sociotechnical" entities.

Key facts

  • Alessandro Armando and Giovanni Durbiano published 'Teoria del progetto architettonico' in 2017 with Carocci.
  • The theory distinguishes between architecture (material world) and architectural design (architects' specific action).
  • Design is defined by three elements: ontology (documents), action (exchange of documents), and geography (unique transformation of space).
  • Legitimacy of design comes from social and institutional forms, not the architect's subjective creativity.
  • Documents function as 'time bombs' that produce chain effects over time.
  • Narratives (after Jerome Bruner) help compose contradictory claims in transactions.
  • Design is inscribed in a disciplinary system (Michel Foucault) of laws and norms, becoming obligatory when approved.
  • The architect's role is to produce primary documents and set the discourse order.
  • The theory integrates semiotics, documentality theory, Actor-Network Theory, and linguistic pragmatics.
  • Projects are 'sociotechnical' objects combining symbolic and bureaucratic functions.

Entities

Artists

  • Alessandro Armando
  • Giovanni Durbiano
  • Jerome Bruner
  • Michel Foucault

Institutions

  • Carocci
  • Scuola IMT Alti Studi Lucca
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Italy

Sources