What are the criteria’s that distinguishes ‘Informal Architecture’ from ‘formal Architecture’?

What characteristics distinguish ‘Informal Architecture’ from ‘formal Architecture’?

             Any form of architecture is related to human behaviour. The occupants of the structure and the way they feel comfortable to use that structure are the basics necessities of architectural design. Various other criteria’s also play crucial role in shaping the structures. But shaping or sculpting the form is something really aesthetic. Often informality is distinguished by its aesthetic appearance. But at times that’s the only point of informality which is visible, or over the surface enough to be noticeable. The root of it lies in human behaviour or let’s say deep in the Psychological experiences and the way in which these experiences get manipulated during the course of life. Memories that turn into subconscious decisions in the course of time. In order to better understand criteria’s or characteristics one should understand the scenarios that develop the situations needing decisions by the use of subconscious choices. The outcome of this behaviour is activity and the by-product is commodity. Judging these commodities with the set parameters of the society or the rules, which set guidelines to view any particular commodity in a particular manner, segregates it in various categories. As generally considered anything that is on the positive side of these categories is formal and the one’s which are on the negative sides are informal. Yet there are different thoughts about it some question if some particular commodity is formal or informal and some call it as very subjective matter. On the other hand, some question the characteristics that segregate them, such as ‘are the so-called grid systems of rules and regulation right way of living? Viewing the same criteria’s from various parameters gives rise to such questions. But the answer is a subjective matter. Trying to come to a common conclusion or to find the justification and to learn from that, one would need understanding the root cause and the chain reaction that got this to this point. So that with time we could evolve. Deciding and coming to conclusion that one is right or other is wrong is something that can be done only in scenarios where another grid of rules are to be made. The organizations architectural principles should be carried forward and embodies within the criteria. The criteria will then be used for formal and or informal technology ‘tender’. The architect can drive the criteria from informal architectural criteria’s as informality is not something that has not been designed but it’s something that came out of the natural tendency to evolve and break the monotony.

          From the very existence of the human species we have learned from the situations and the scenarios. In Hindu philosophy, considering a need to keep a record of the experiences and the things learned out of them, ‘Vedas’ were written as a record of experiences. This was considered as a guideline for the future generations to behave in a particular manner. Rather than making them as rules it was a necessity that people follow particular tasks at particular time so that humans and nature can live in harmony and humans can still be a part of the cycle. This system was basically made in order to bring order in the way humans were living, which is considered as formalising. Being hard to transfer the exact meaning to the common people who would ask for the clarification at every instance, various gods and their various methods of prayers were made. For Instance Ganesh the god with elephant head as a symbol of harmony and the god of knowledge, generally prayers to this god are offered during the Indian mid-monsoon. The reason behind this is so that the ingredients necessary for the prayer are all weeds from the farms which are obstruction for farming. Once you remove them from farms and offer them to god the farms are clear of weeds and ready for farming. Hence the actual meaning is hidden behind the idea of God, so no clarification is to be given at all the times. Also once the offerings are decomposing, they were supposed to be dumped in the river so the process of decomposition and deposition of decomposed matter on the bank can create a fertile soil at the banks. The ideas that explained the way of living was the formal way of living but with time and western influence and western education somehow the new or modernised formal state of living came into existence. This reduced the contact with the actual knowledge that was written in the Vedas. The half knowledge of the Vedas and just following by observing gave the lifestyle was not correctly followed and eventually is leading to destruction of the nature. This can be considered as informal way of behaviour from Vedas point of view and also from the Environmental point of view. The criteria’s that are considered as formal in western civilization are considered as informal. Following any one particular way of behaviour makes the other as informal behaviours. This is something that can be considered in similar situation in architecture. Cities with modern way of housing high rise structure are aesthetically good looking structures and the layout makes it look organised but slums which aesthetically not so good looking and are made out of waste materials always tend o be noticed as informal. Yet they are considered comfortable living place for humans and a solution to cheaper housing. Though they tend to have only few aspects that can be considered as informal and can be sorted with basics of knowledge. As we understand that we know that Initial informal architecture show the following characteristics during development:

•   Processes are ad hoc and localised, some architecture development processes are defined in the formalisation of business processes a uniform method of development or the same technology do not apply success depends on the efforts of team members.
• Architecture development processes are not formally documented.
• Limited awareness of team management or the need for participation in the development.
• A small number of team members involved in the development of the architecture.
• Limited possibility of modifying documentation referring to architecture development by dispersed teams, limited communication about development processes of architecture and methods to improve these processes. 
•  Safety aspects if architecture development are available and defined ad hoc.
• Lack of or insignificant strategic planning. Lack of growth of the architecture development team, no (full) compliance with the existing standards.  

             The Formal or informal models can be explained as, Informal models do not respect rigorous formalism. They are often free images, media for ideas, or spontaneous means if communication. There are various degrees of informality. An interesting comparison between Brasilia and Caracas can be made, although these two cities appear to be in complete contrast took into account the existing culture of the characteristics of the locale, whilst Brasilia was founded on the basis that its location had no culture as the site was empty. However both cities have experienced similar patterns of urban and architectural resistance.

             In order to investigate the formal characteristics of these settlements it is important to expound some definitions and differentiations that will help us understand the logic behind their spatial organisation. Brazilian cities are organised in many layers, not all of them informal. All buildings are supposed to comply with building regulations and follow the municipal code according to which building need to have a registered architect or engineer responsible for their design and construction and the builders need to have proper employment documents and social security. This exactly follows the pattern that says that one should follow the rules of Vedas, in short formal way of living according to time and scenario. One can conclude that personal intensions or profit frame can always determine the informal or formal behaviour. Personal intensions are given a choice by basic logic and the selection made during that logic should set the criteria under that circumstance as informal or formal but yet we tend to see the outcome after a huge interval in a different circumstance and scenario. This could break the barrier of formal and informal and make everything informal in different aspects. And hence we could say that informality is a part of formal system that exists in the society at different levels. In everyday life scenario there are so many irrational activities which seems to be a part of formal task but yet are differentiated in the informal criteria, also the other way round. The fine line that differentiates informal from formal is hardly noticeable, yet it exists. For better understanding of the subjects and to find solutions for any problems or judge which one is correct at what levels there

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  Things we consider as inforal already exists in both the so called formal settelments.

  
  
  
  
  is a need of separation between formal and informal architecture. The characteristics or criteria’s that defines any behaviour or architecture also differentiates it from others. Understanding from the basics, these characteristics which are defined as features or qualities that belong typically to a person, place, or thing and serving to identify it and the criteria defined as a principle or standard by which something may be judged or decided, will give the better understanding of the subject. Also finding the root of formal and informal, each will open the necessary data to trace the path back to the existing condition and understand where things exactly the scenarios started making a statement. Where did they get the definition by which we know them now? As quoted by, William Shakespeare ‘To be or not to be’ that is the only question’ can be modified into To be formal /informal   or not to be formal/ informal that is the only question.
  
  
  
  
  Bibliography:
  
  
  ·         Guide to Enterprise IT Architecture
  By Col Perks, Tony Beveridge
  
  
  ·         Advanced Modelling of Management Processes in Information Technology
              By Zdzislaw Kowalczuk, Cezary Orłowski
  
  
  ·         Modeling Enterprise Architecture with TOGAF: A Practical Guide Using UML
              By Philippe Desfray, Gilbert Raymond
  
  
  ·         Rethinking The Informal City: Critical Perspectives from Latin America
              Edited by Felipe Hernandez, Peter Kellett, Lea Knudsen Allen
  
  
  ·         The Routledge Companion to Urban Regeneration
              By Michael E. Leary, John McCarthy
  
  
  ·         Shastra asa sangte (Indian language :Marathi book)
              Purvardha and Uttardha