Beyond the Parasite Metaphor: A Morphological Typology of Architectural Intervention

Parasitic Architecture represents a radical strategy for urban densification, yet the literature lacks a systematic morphological framework to analyze its physical relationship with the host beyond metaphorical descriptions. Addressing this theoretical gap, this study proposes an action-based analytical typology to classify these interventions. Adopting a purposive, case-based qualitative content analysis, the research examines fifteen documented cases in order to trace how each intervention physically engages its host. The findings identify five distinct morphological attachment strategies: Wedging, Perching, Clinging, Piercing, and Wrapping. These actions are synthesized into a matrix that relates the host interface to the specific spatial strategy of the parasite. Consequently, the findings indicate that these forms can be organized according to their primary morphological action in relation to the host. This study ultimately repositions the concept of the parasite from a critical metaphor into an operational grammar of architectural intervention, offering an analytical tool with potential applications in adaptive reuse and urban design.