Synergy of Contexts in the Creative Shaping of the Spatial Structure of the Housing Environment on the Example of the Experience of a Design Studio

This paper emphasises that the use of a broad context related to several levels of complexity: relational (concerning the spatial structure of the project), design (involving the use of knowledge and information concerning the complexity of the project) and didactic or procedural (referring to the stages of the design procedure) is an important element of the design process of the housing environment.

The researchers present a design approach developed in the author’s urban design studio. By acting according to the proposed ‘braid’ model, achieving a so-called ‘satisfactory’ design solution in city shaping is possible. The model synthetically illustrates the mechanism of the design process and its critical elements, indicating that the essence of urban design is to exploit the interdependence of the three mentioned contexts. They significantly influence the originality and quality of design solutions in creating the living environment – especially in the creation phase of the spatial structure model.