Mat-building
refers to an archetype where form is repeated, based on the characteristics of
a place and patterns of human movement. It’s grid-like structure changes with
respect to time, nature, and climate. It’s also used in spaces where efficiency
and sustainability are needed. Alison Smithson, from her 1974 article How to
Recognize and read Mat-Building, argues “the mat was intended to provide
flexibility in planning for a range of functions over time, this assuring its
own longevity.”
