The Red Queen Hypothesis Chemotaxic stigmergic systems and Embodied Embedded Cognition-based strategies in architectural design Paolo Alborghetti 1 , Alessio Erioli 2 1 none 2 Università di Bologna 2 http://www.unibo.it/docenti/alessio.erioli 1 paolo.alborghetti@gmail.com 2 alessio.erioli@unibo.it The Red Queen Hypothesis is a research project on parasitic architecture, developed as a case study application of knowledge inherited from the fields of stigmergy-based systems, swarm intelligence and Embodied Embedded Cognition. The project aims to provide a possible answer to the increasing demand for the redevelopment of abandoned post-WW2 buildings in northern Italy, proposing an alternative to preservation logics in through strategies based on intrusion, adaptation and growth focusing on the relationships between different systems (host/parasite) and innovative fabrication techniques. Implementing such approach in a non-trivial way entails enabling access to increasing degrees of complexity and self-organization in the computational design approach while keeping the whole process coherent throughout its unfolding.The case study is an abandoned factory in Bergamo (which has become an urban landmark for a socially intricate community) a multi-agent system based parasitism strategy was implemented as design process for its transformation and reuse as spaces for community and cultural expression. Keywords: Stigmergy, Multi-agent systems, Architecture, Computation, Parasitism "Well, in our country," said Alice, still panting a little, "you'd generally get to somewhere else-if you run very fast for a long time, as we've been doing." "A slow sort of country!" said the Queen. "Now, here, you see, it takes all the running you can do, to keep in the same place. If you want to get somewhere else, you must run at least twice as fast as that!" Carroll, L. - Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, chapter 2 INTRODUCTION AND PREMISES The Red Queen hypothesis is an hypothesis in evolu- tionary biology that derives from the dialogue re- ported in the introductory quote which proposes that the struggle organisms face in order to adapt, evolve and spread is not just aimed to gain repro- ductive advantage, but it's also a basic prerequisite for survival while facing similarly evolving opposing organisms in an ever-changing environment. These Generative Design- Parametric Modelling - Volume 2 - eCAADe 32 | 97