The Analytic Hierarchy Process: A New Approach to Deal with Fuzziness in Architecture

Abstract

A degree of “fuzziness” accompanies complex architectural problems. The concept of fuzziness can be compared to the hierarchy of the nervous system. Three types of fuzziness can be isolated: instantaneous, ongoing and long term. In this paper, the need for the development of a conceptually simple framework to analyse hierarchical complexity is recognised. Before such a framework can be developed, one should be aware of some of the associated problems, for example, that deductive thinking is not innate but learnt. This article proposes that the Analytic Hierarchy Process (A.H.P.) provides a satisfactory means of generating a framework for hierarchical complexity of fuzziness as it can simultaneously cope with the intuitive, rational and irrational. The Analytic Hierarchy Process is outlined and an example of its possible application supplied.