From Straight Lines to Spirals

Abstract

Francesconi proposes a model of analysis and design(ing) of an (advanced) cultural district, where the socio-economic value of the cultural initiatives in a territory is linked to the systemic interdependencies and to the multiple relationships among actors, activities, resources and competencies. The goal is twofold: on the one hand, to take into account empirical experiences and recent trends in organisational theory for analysis and designing, avoiding the extreme determinism which is ofen implicit in traditional ‘linear and sequential’ approaches (‘straight lines’). On the other hand, Francesconi aims to ofer a compass to whomever has to act concretely in situations of high organisational complexity, emphasising the importance of circularity, feedback and learning during the design process and bringing to mind the idea of iteration (‘spirals’).