No. 6 - TECTONICS, TECTONICUS, TEKTON

What are tectonics and why are we interested in them? Many associate the word with the geological plates that shift under our feet. While those are inherently important, we’re not quite interested in tectonic shifts pertaining to the earth’s crust… at least not yet. Rather, we’re interested in the word’s original etymology:

tectonic (adj.) 1650, “of or relating to building or construction,” which can be derived from the ancient Greek term tekton “builder, carpenter, woodworker; master in any art (sculpture, metal-work, writing).” [1]

One can even take its etymology back to the Proto-Indo-European root teks- meaning “to weave,” also “to fabricate,” especially with an ax.

It is to our utmost disgrace that we have not yet mastered the art of fabricating with an ax, but it might in fact be a new goal of ours. For the time being, we would like to start simple, with garments... before someone hurts themselves.

In 1986, Robert Maulden wrote, "Tectonics in architecture is defined as the science or art of construction, both in relation to use and artistic design. It refers not just to the 'activity of making the materially requisite; construction that answers certain needs, but rather to the activity that raises this construction to an art form.'"