What Gestures (Can We) Afford? On the Resourcefulness of Tectonics in Architecture and Engineering

Describing an ecological correspondence between animal and environment, the notion affordances stemming from the field of perception psychology marks a critical direction for addressing the increasing overconsumption of the built environment. The present chapter explores this direction by introducing gesture as a key concept in mobilizing the theory of affordances within the integrated field of architecture and engineering. Using tectonic theory to link the spatial capacities of construction to human body language, and hereby to perception and behavior, it is argued that gesture opens a potential toward clarifying the field of action of the architect-engineer related to that of improving the affordances of the built environment. In asking what gestures (can we) afford, the chapter situates this potential as a critical method in navigating a resourceful and ethical correspondence between that which we intend our constructions to afford and for whom, and the technical realities of how our constructions afford and with what resources.