An approach to open source model on the collaborative construction in human civilization

Open source has gradually gained prevalence in the architectural industry in recent years. The earliest concept of open source has been observed in vernacular architecture. However, obvious discrepancies can be discerned between vernacular and modern architecture, such as the use of currency in acquiring resources for contemporary, the complex piping, wiring, and electrical machinery of the modern building, and the high specialization of modern society. A literature review and a case study approach were adopted in the present study to collate three models that were sequentially developed and implemented from the beginning of human civilization, specifically, the collaborative construction employed by the common people in traditional settlements, the general contractor and the Co-operative Housing adopted following the Industrial Revolution, and the organization of humanitarian architecture applied in modern society. These models were analyzed to determine resource acquisition methods, collaborative construction methods, and life collaborative methods. The present study also conducted a preliminary analysis to develop a feasible collaborative construction model for modern open source architecture based on existing construction procedures. The proposed model contains the following three features: (1) it is a sharing economy platform for architecture; (2) it incorporates non-professional collaboration to restructure a professioncentered construction process; (3) and it adopts a time dollar concept to create a system of service sharing.