Concept Development of Megastructure

Abstract

Dictionaries often define “Megastructure” as “a very large multi-story building or complex” (Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 2022). Somebody who first encounters the term must value such a definition; although it does not reflect the actual meaning that architects attach to the term. In the mid-twentieth century, the concept of Megastructure in architecture and urbanism has been developed into a much broader sense. Even though the idea of visionary mega-movements such as Japanese Metabolism and the British Archigram has been abandoned since mid-70’s, it has remained as a progressive concept in the field of architecture and urbanism. Integrating the two architecturally contrasting conditions together, such as large/small, permanent/transient, Megastructure transforms the uncertainty to architectural design. Thus, it raises the question of indeterminacy and adaptability over time. Therefore, the research asks how differently or similarly the ascent and decadence of the Megastructure trend is perceived back then and now. The final question to ask is: whether the concept of Megastructure is still relevant in the twenty-first century in the field of architecture and urbanism.