Reciprocity – Architectures of Exchange

Reciprocity is the practice of exchanging things with others for mutual benefit, to aid one another in self-interest or in solidarity, to give as well as to receive, and to invest in and improve conditions, situations and relationships.

For architecture, reciprocity helps to remind us that the functioning of our world relies on the presence, assistance, and positive actions of other people. Reciprocity is an important social norm that informs human behaviour and aids our wellbeing. It promotes sociability and encourages people to work together - foundational requirements for the viability of our towns, cities and landscapes.

When reciprocity is absent, however, instead of companionship there is isolation; instead of generosity there is greed; and instead of responsibility there is destruction. These behaviours speak to imbalance and injustice such as the ongoing devastation of habitats in pursuit of resources, urbicide as acts of war, politically-driven policies of austerity, manufactured housing crises, Grenfell, RAAC, and the steady, ongoing erosion of public assets and the common good.

Reciprocity provokes us to think about the world at large, to reflect upon our conduct towards the environment and the symbiotic relationships between human and non-human life. Reciprocity, too, creates opportunities to enhance equity between people, organisations and communities through asymmetric exchanges of power, labour, resources and lived experiences.

So, what might architectures of exchange look like? With architecture intrinsically tied to capital and resource consumption, how might the imagining of more reciprocal forms of practice authentically support sustainable development via progressive shifts in values, ethics, and working conditions? What exchanges could we re/develop with the natural world - to re/contextualise our land, building, and industrial cultures with the living biosphere? How might communities with disparate conditions across culture, geography and space, say, find common ground and opportunities for mutual aid and reciprocal exchange?

We invite you to imagine, collaborate and exchange with generosity, curiosity and open minds in a spirit of reciprocity for the Architecture Fringe Festival 2025!

The Architecture Fringe Festival 2025 will take place 06-22 June 2025 across Scotland and further afield. See you there!

Register to take part and get involved here.

Read our 'How to Take Part' guide here.