Every Schoolboy Should Know that Patterns are Connecting Patterns and Threads are connecting Threads

Fanjasoa Louisette Rasoloniaina

École nationale supérieure d’architecture Paris-Val de Seine (ENSAPVS), EVCAU & ICT research labs, Université Paris Cité, France

The observation and use of the Environmental Genetic Code systemic matrix

This article traces the influence of Gregory Bateson’s thought on the construction of a new epistemological, didactic and praxeological framework based on the systemic analysis of the Swahili territory and community, the observation of the use of the Environmental Genetic Code (EGC) systemic matrix by Master students of the architectural project studio “Conjuring Social and Natural Catastrophes in the Post-Covid Area” at ENSAPVS, and the questioning of the EGC during the RSD10 workshop “Weaving a Collective Intelligence Systemic Design Tool.”

This set of studies allowed the consolidation of the EGC matrix by reinforcing the realisation of the relationships and communications between creatura and pleroma, thwarting the very principle of a border, of a hierarchy between reigns and even more fundamentally requestioning its notion, opening a perspective towards epigenetics and biosemiotics thresholding disciplinary boundaries and fully embracing the inter-trans-poly-disciplinarity or post-disciplinarity that suits the paradigm of Post-Normal Science that allows us to grasp uncertainty and formulate effective and reasoned conceptions that support the connection and reliance between systemic research, design, policy-making and activism.

Systemic thinking is one step, but ecosystemic thinking, designing, and acting is the ultimate phase to achieve, establishing a symbiosis between humans, their productions and environmental conditions embodying the ARMSADA principle, moving out of predation, domination framework and embracing a collaborative mode of operation and existence. The change in mind thought demands the integration of complexity and tentacular thinking; in this maze, the Ariane’s thread is the work of Gregory Bateson, who has paved the way and laid the groundwork for pragmatic ecological intelligence.

KEYWORDS: ecosystem thinking, morphological mapping, string figures, epigenetics, tentacular thinking

This paper was submitted following the symposium and editorially reviewed.

Peer reviewers identified the research as noteworthy and relevant to systemic design. The paper was presented and workshopped at the RSD11 research fishbowl →