Exploring Assembly Theory in Urbanism

 

As an architect, I've always been fascinated by how complex systems emerge from simple components. Recently, I've been delving into Assembly Theory, introduced by Prof. Lee Cronin, which provides a framework for understanding how parts assemble into complex systems. This theory has profound implications for urbanism and urbanization.

Assembly Theory, as detailed in the paper by Lee Cronin (He is a Prof. in Chemistry and I feel he is headed for a Nobel soon) and Abhishek Sharma, provides a framework to understand the emergence and evolution of complex systems from simpler components. The theory introduces the concept of the Assembly Index (AI), which measures the complexity of an object by the minimal number of steps required to construct it from basic building blocks. This approach allows for a quantifiable understanding of how complexity and selection emerge in physical and biological systems.

A few key points from their paper are:

1. Assembly Index (AI) that quantifies the complexity of an object by counting the minimal steps necessary for its assembly. This provides a measure to compare the complexity of different objects or systems.
2. Emergence of Selection: The theory bridges the gap between physics and biology by showing how “selection” (the Darwin one) processes can be understood through assembly. Thus, offering a new way to understand evolution and the origin of life.
3. Quantifying Complexity: By combining the Assembly Index with the copy number of objects, the paper introduces a new metric called "Assembly," which quantifies the amount of selection pressure required to produce a given ensemble of objects. This helps in understanding the distribution of complex objects in the universe.
4. Application to Biological Systems: The theory provides a formal approach to defining life by measuring the complexity and selection processes that lead to the emergence of biological systems from non-biological precursors.
5. Implications for Understanding Life: The ability to quantify the assembly and complexity of systems allows for a deeper understanding of how life and other complex systems evolve. This has implications for fields ranging from biology to artificial intelligence and beyond.

So, while all of these are reasons to celebrate his work and the exploratory space it creates for our thinking and understanding of life, it does also allow itself to be extrapolated into the study of other complex systems like urbanism.

As we ponder the intricate dance of urban growth, it becomes evident that cities, much like biological organisms, are products of myriad interactions and assemblages. Assembly Theory invites us to look beyond mere infrastructure and see the city as a living, evolving entity. What if we could decode the 'DNA' of our urban landscapes? By understanding the fundamental building blocks and the pathways of their assembly, we might uncover new ways to cultivate urban environments that are not just sustainable but also inherently resilient and adaptive. This perspective shifts our focus from isolated solutions to a more holistic understanding of urbanism, where every small change can have profound ripple effects, much like a single gene mutation can influence the evolution of a species. Could this approach lead us to uncover hidden synergies within our cities, sparking innovations that we have yet to imagine?

One of the most fascinating aspects of Assembly Theory is its illumination of emergent properties—phenomena that arise from the intricate interactions of simpler components, creating new, complex behaviors and attributes. When we delve into the emergent properties of complex assemblies, we uncover a rich tapestry of phenomena that define the very essence of urban life. Autonomy, self-replication, art, decay, and culture are not just byproducts of city life; they are the lifeblood that animates the urban organism. Cities have an uncanny ability to self-organize and adapt, much like living entities. They breathe, grow, and sometimes even decay, yet within this cycle, new forms of life and creativity constantly emerge. The spontaneous street art that transforms a mundane alleyway, the organic growth of a neighborhood that turns into a cultural hub, or the self-replicating patterns of innovation in tech clusters—these are the hallmarks of urban complexity. Each element, from a single piece of graffiti to a burgeoning startup, contributes to a larger narrative, weaving a dynamic, ever-evolving fabric of human experience. Could it be that by understanding these emergent properties through the lens of Assembly Theory, we might unlock new pathways to foster creativity, resilience, and sustainability in our cities?