Trace

verb
1 find or discover by investigation
2 copy by drawing over its lines on a superimposed piece of transparent paper.
noun
1 a mark, object, or other indication of the existence or passing of something
2 a line or pattern displayed by an instrument using a moving pen or a luminous spot on a screen to show the existence or nature of something that is being investigated.

trace as urban graffiti by renowned urban artist Blu

I have been fascinated by the concept of trace for sometime now. This is not necessarily a pursuit of archeology but rather a need to experiment with implementation. How can the concept of trace be exhibited in an architectural project?

The most obvious expression of trace is preservation or movement over a long timeline. There have been many writings that have already successfully explored this topic, especially this long-winded gem about “The mathematics of preservation and the future of urban ruins”. Manaugh begins his argument that urban systems such as overpasses be deemed worthy of architectural preservation, this quickly segues to the infamous work of Albert Speer in his Nazi-Super city of Germania. His article expresses trace in the monumentality of built work and the resonating presence of previous generations. Rome is a perfect example, or the fallen walls surrounding old Montreal. But what about making trace constant, fluctuating and resonant?



I have always been inspired by the work of Richard Long, who is famous for creating art within the environ he is currently a part of. A true critical regionalist, he will make sculpture with rock, sticks or even the trace of his walk. Paths are created behind his continuous and tenacious wake. This idea of trace seems more attune to what I want to accomplish as a concept of architecture. Though Long worked very hard to define his intervention, the essence of his medium will always overtake his previous presence. As if his graffiti “Dick Long was here” will eventually be erased and scattered.

In a couple of previous projects I attempted the idea of trace. Most of the sites began with a base condition, a tabula rasa, and were transformed on a temporal scale by the implementation of my designed architectural system. Planes were moved, removed, repositioned, replaced, inverted, collapsed, extruded, extended, scaled, rotated and most importantly; recorded. The user could see how the site had changed and will change over time. I love mobile, even robotic, architecture. But if there is no recording of previous actions then what is the point?
an image from a studio project that attempted to show continuous site arrangement + displacement over a week

How do you record the movement of forms? Are these new traces inhabitable? Does the architectural system of movement and trace cycle?

I am still very new to this concept which I am sure is a popular one, so please steer me to any resources that I could use to elaborate and implement this concept.