Sandra Reeves http://www.moveintolife.com/thesis-pattern.html
Rhizome is a philosophical term used to describe the relations and connectivity of things. The authors Deleuze and Guattari, have assigned this term “rhizome” referring to a relation like that of roots. They spread underground with no direction, no beginning, and no end. They are dispersed. It is opposed to the idea of a tree which has a starting point, and from there branches out in a predictable path.
When compared to the relation between things, a rhizome forms assemblages. An assemblage is a gathering and grouping of things.
D & G also talk about two planes of interaction. There is the plane of organization where things interact in a vertical form, with hierarchy and in a specific order where if one of its parts is missing, then the whole structure collapses. The second plane would be the plane of consistency. The rhizome takes action in this plane. It is a horizontal alliance with no specific direction where were all multiplicities that make part of it, interact with one another. Everything is connected in one way or the other, but in one plane.
To better understand the concept of rhizomatic connections, D&G have approached 6 principles.
The first principle, Connectivity, states that every part of the system is connected to another part in any possible way. Like in the real world, a person has a relation with another person who is connected to many more, hence creating a network.
Heterogeneity, the second principle, defines that a rhizome is a connection between things of different nature. The authors give the example of orchids with bees. Both interact in the reproduction system of the other, but each one belongs to a completely different environment.
The third principle is Multiplicity. As mentioned before, in a rhizome all the parts are connected to one another and then these to others, and these others to a greater number of others; as in a mathematical expression of n3. One is connected to three, these three to three other more and so on. It has no beginning or end.
Asignifying Rupture is the fourth principle of rhizome. It states that a rhizome can never be broken. If one of its parts is interrupted, it will continue in a different path, or be deterritorialized (change its function) but will always remain.
This concept brings up an idea of investigation. Relating to architecture and society, and similar to the concept of architecture and atmosphere, how do people react to a change of space? Whether it is changing or eliminating a part of their environment, or moving the people (deterritorialize), how do they embrace the change? Do they create their own atmospheres? Until what extent are they in control of this atmosphere? If society is a rhizome, then as suggested by the text, it will adapt to the change. We tend to believe it is an arborescent structure because of its organizational parameters, at the end, I believe every part of it has its own assemblage in a rhizomatic interaction.
Going back to the text and understanding the idea of rhizome, the last set of principles is Cartography and Decalcomania. Rhizome is like a map. You can enter at any specific point but you cannot trace it because it has no end.
In general, rhizome is defined as an interaction system applied to any division that follows no specific pattern or rules of organization.