Hybridity is Dead. Long Live Hybridity!

In present cities, escalating land values and the growing pressure on developers to optimize the utilization of built areas are changing the way architects engage with projects in urban environments. Architectural ideas are now more likely to be driven by density, diversity and intensity of uses in order to revitalise urban centers. Some of the forms and ideas put forward by the Modern Movement failed to deal with urban engagement by imposing a segregation and rationalization of architecture which resulted in the alleged death of cities. The notion of hybridity has been blamed for the decline of Modernism and has been held responsible for some of its extremes. The thesis proceeds to explore the potential, and re-emergence, of hybrid architecture to create invigorating synergies between programs.