Freeland Livingston
Rejectstoration
Indigeneity, Computation, Aesthetics
This thesis is aiming to explore Native American architecture by referencing mono-cultural geometry found in traditional and contemporary Native American art and design to create contemporary practices of architecture. Native American peoples have long had a rich history of art and design cultures which is evident in the profound pieces of textiles, jewelry, fashion, ceremonial items, and art spanning across the United States. Utilizing this body of referential material, these art and design practices can proliferate within contemporary architecture for Native peoples, expanding the rich cultural aesthetics to architecture. The referential works themselves are embedded with centuries of cultural symbolism of life and spirituality, giving aesthetics meaning identifiable by Native peoples. The referential body of work can be described as algorithmic in process and aesthetics as displayed by repeating patterns, geometries, and recursive elements. In thinking of Native American art and design algorithmically, computational methods can be used to create architectural processes that are influenced by heritage algorithms to create contemporary visions of Native American architecture.