As architectural theory undergoes a process of review and updating, there is a rejection of prevailing binary distinctions found both in common perception and in architectural education. Traditional dichotomies such as center versus periphery, the 'formal' versus 'informal' city, and design as a rigid technique versus construction as improvisation have been persistent architectural themes, with a history of ongoing debates. Despite the dominance of global northern perspectives on what constitutes good architecture or how it should be approached, reality consistently reveals itself to be more intricate, diverse, and multidimensional.

View of Rocinha (RJ) © Carlos Varela via Flickr
As architectural theory undergoes a process of review and updating, there is a rejection of prevailing binary distinctions found both in common perception and in architectural education. Traditional dichotomies such as center versus periphery, the 'formal' versus 'informal' city, and design as a rigid technique versus construction as improvisation have been persistent architectural themes, with a history of ongoing debates. Despite the dominance of global northern perspectives on what constitutes good architecture or how it should be approached, reality consistently reveals itself to be more intricate, diverse, and multidimensional.
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