The Concept of Sufficiency in Architecture
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Abstract
Sufficiency (phophiang) is a cultural term that Thai people are familiar with and understand through the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy (PSE). Beyond its use as a national development policy, the principle has also been widely applied to various sectors, including architecture, hence the term "sufficiency architecture (SA)." However, SA has not been adequately studied over time. This article aims 1) to present a study of the concept of sufficiency and its application to architecture, 2) to expand on its meaning and proposes a definition of SA, and 3) to identify the design factors of SA. This study utilized a qualitative approach within a conceptual research framework. A non-systematic literature review of diverse sources was conducted, followed by thematic analysis to extract key conceptual principles or components that could be synthesized to further define the design factors of SA. The study revealed that sufficiency is a universal concept and a sustainability strategy that overlaps with the PSE. Although its roots differ, they share three common goals: well-being, social justice, and ecological balance. Applying the concept of sufficiency to architecture serves as a strategy for managing existing buildings to their full potential, avoiding new construction and reducing unnecessary resource consumption. In this study, sufficiency is used as a conceptual design approach. SA is defined as "architecture that adequately meets architectural basic needs, using space, materials, and energy resources in moderation, and constructed appropriately for the context." This is reflected in the synthesis of design factors, comprising three architectural formation factors: basic needs, personal condition, and context, guided by the sufficiency factor, namely, enoughness, moderation, and appropriateness, respectively. To achieve each goal and achieve sufficiency architecture, a diverse range of architectural knowledge and design strategies are required. This study presents design factors that are an important part of the sufficiency architecture design framework.
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References
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