Tolerance, as a concept, plays a crucial role in the field of architecture. It exists at the intersection of two opposing forces: the contingencies of context and the autonomous production of the designer. Architects who understand this balance seek to create a tangible expression within their work that acknowledges both aspects. In the design process, the details are where this balance is achieved, and it is here that the architecture is created.
Historian Kenneth Frampton describes this relationship as being suspended between what a detail "is" and its appearance. The architect must design details to accommodate the reality of equipment, humans, materials, and site. These realities create literal gaps that are left to "reality," which we understand as tolerances. While the architect may not be able to control every aspect of the construction process, designing with tolerance in mind allows for a building to be created on site.
Loblolly House - KieranTimberlake
Architects such as SHoP, Kieran Timberlake, and Frank Gehry are known for their particular insight into tolerance. They understand the nature of this concept and seek to maintain control over the parameters of variability inherent in the design of construction through details. Tolerance, in their work, is tied to tectonic expression, where the parts and what lies between them facilitate the whole.
Fulbright University Vietnam - SHoP Architects
In conclusion, the importance of tolerance in architecture lies in the balance between the contingencies of context and the autonomous production of the designer. Tolerance allows for the creation of architecture that acknowledges the realities of construction while maintaining control over the design process. Architects who understand the nature of tolerance, like SHoP, Kieran Timberlake, and Frank Gehry, are able to create tectonic expressions that achieve this balance and result in successful built objects.
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