Transmundane Architecture: Architectural Control Relationships Through the Lens of More-than-Human Onto-Epistemologies, Degrowth Practices and Occulture

Abstract

Architecture has traditionally focused on human-centred practices, emphasising control over construction processes and creating internal environments that separate humans from their external surroundings. The growing interest in posthuman theories introduces the concept of nonhuman agency into this predominantly human-centric field. This research seeks to explore the potential tensions between traditional design practices, such as architecture, and the impacts of nonhuman agency on associated design and construction processes. Building on experimental design research at the intersection of art, design and architecture, this research seeks to contribute to posthuman design discourse by critically examining the implications of occultural and degrowth themes through the design of a specific building located in the woods of Småland. The building is a method to explore the emerging design program of the research: human-nonhuman control relationships. The construction of the building allows me to carefully attend to the frictions which arise through architectural production. Different forms of nonhuman agents and agencies are recognised: material-energetic weathering agents, such as rain and snow; embodied agents, such as wasps and snakes; and infrastructural agencies where humans and nonhumans co-create within extensive more-than-human networks. Various design experiments are conducted to create a conglomerate of insights for analysis and reflection. Occultural themes, from theosophical, magical and Buddhist literature, help translate insights from the construction site into ficto-critical and speculative texts. The findings of the research emphasise that buildings and related architectural practices often function as tools for controlling nonhumans, reinforcing human-centric perspectives. To adopt posthuman ideas in architecture, it is essential to rethink traditional boundaries and employ dynamic, responsive design processes that engage with nonhuman agents. This shift fosters more inclusive and environmentally responsible practices. The research findings highlight the importance of identifying project-specific nonhuman agents involved in human-nonhuman control relationships within architecture, as well as recognising the types of agencies that are present. Furthermore, acknowledging the roles of the human subjects involved in more-than-human design networks is crucial. The research concludes with a redefined design program centred around the leitmotifs of control, care and adaptation, which can serve as a foundation for future architectural research exploring posthuman concepts in architecture.