Copy Paste

Book excerpt: New! A new face! A new style! Worldwide, there is talk of a cult of novelty. This is also true in architecture, where architects compete against each other in terms of innovation and originality. The Why Factory does things differently, and in Copy Paste, it explores the possibilities of copying in architecture. What are the really original ideas in architecture? Isn't it better to ask what someone adds to the existing repertoire and then to evaluate that? In science, it is common to define originality in that respect. This type of attitude seems to be a taboo in architecture. So now the time has come to stop this obsessive pursuit of unique authorship. The Why Factory brings together diverse viewpoints on the dilemma of copying in architecture, along with the ethical and legal obligations. This book contains a versatile guide to copying, and explores the potential by means of a broad set of scenarios with the help of various tools.