theory in architecture

1. Theory in Architecture ARCH 5395

3. 1. Context: A Historical Perspective* B. The recent history of architectural theory can be summarized in terms of four broad periods: Renaissance/ Baroque, 1450 � 1700 Premodern, 1750 � 1880 Modern, 1910 � 1960 Postmodern, 1965 � present

4. 1. Context: A Historical Perspective* C. A comparison of the four periods in architectural history as viewed with respect to the four issues affecting them can demonstrate the nature of theory in architecture. (See Table 1 in the Reference Material)

5. 2. Characteristics of Theory A. History and Theory are closely related and have always been essential to the study of architecture. Theories are general statements dealing with what architecture is, what it should do, and how best to do it. History deals with theories, events, design methods, and buildings.

6. 2. Characteristics of Theory B. Theories are helpful to architects in making choices and decisions Establishes a procedure Orders decisions to make them useful

7. 2. Characteristics of Theory C. Theories in architecture are less rigorous than scientific theories which are analytical in nature and require rigorous proof. D. Architecture Design is synthesizing in nature Assimilates and integrates a wide variety of elements in new ways Suggests directions but cannot guarantee results - Pruitt Igoo Housing Project, St. Louis, Mo. - Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

8. 2. Characteristics of Theory E. A symptom of the speculative character of theory in architecture is the tendency for theoretical statements to be manifestos employing evocative language Louis Kahn � � The nature of space is the spirit and will to exist a certain way.� Robert Venturi � �Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture�

9. 3. What Architecture is A. Theories about what architecture is are concerned with identifying key variables such as space, structure or social process which should generate the form and character of a building. B. Theories often take the form or rely on analogies i.e. organic or machine-like, etc. Analogies provide a way to organize design tasks in a hierarchical order. Analogies employ what is most important or pertinent to that analogy

10. 3. What Architecture is Some recurrent analogies employed in theory to explain and direct architecture 1. Mathematical Analogy � geometry and numbers as a basis for architecture, in tune with a universal order - golden section - Greek orders - numbers theories of the renaissance - Modular (Le Corbusier)

11. 3. What Architecture is 2. Biological Analogy a. Organic � focuses on the relationships between parts of a building or between the building and its site b. Biomorphic � focuses on growth processes and movement capabilities associated with organisms.

12. 3. What Architecture is 3. Romantic Analogy a. evocative � uses associations or exaggeration to elicit an emotional response. b. associations can refer to nature, the past, exotic places, primitive things the future, childhood, etc. c. exaggeration or excess can intimidate, frighten or awe through the use of contrast, excessive stimulation, unfamiliar scale or forms.

13. 3. What Architecture is 4. Linguistic Analogy a. grammatical model � architecture is composed of elements (words) that are ordered by rules ( grammar and syntax) that allow people to understand what a building is trying to communicate i.e. Greek orders. b. expressionist model � building as a vehicle for the expression of the architects attitude toward the building i.e. Saarinen�s Dulles airport conveying flight in its form. c. semiotic model � a building is a sign a sign that conveys information about what it is and what it does i.e. Robert Venturi�s ducks vs. decorated shed.

14. 3. What Architecture is 5. Mechanical Analogy Buildings are like machines. They should express only what they are and what they do, i.e. �A house is a machine for living� Le corbusier

15. 3. What Architecture is Problem Solving Analogy Assumes that environmental needs can be solved through careful analysis and deliberate procedures. It includes three stages: Analysis Synthesis Evaluation

16. 3. What Architecture is 7. Adhocist Analogy Buildings should respond to the immediate need, using materials readily available without making reference to an ideal. Eames House, Charles and Ray Eames �Ugly and Ordinary� Robert Venturi

17. 3. What Architecture is Dramaturgical Analogy Human activities are often characterized as theater, and so the built environment may be seen as a stage in which people play roles and buildings become settings and props. Corporate America Plaza d� Italia, Charles Moore, et. al.

18. What Architecture Should Do Theories about what architecture should accomplish are concerned with identifying the goals that the designer and the building should satisfy. They are not concerned with a way of seeing buildings or interpreting them, but with their purposes. These generally take two forms: General Goals Relationships Between Built Environment and Other Phenomena

19. What Architecture Should Do B. General Goals � statements about the task of architecture. 1. Vitruvius made the earliest widely known goal statement for architecture which is paraphrased to depend on, �Commodity, Firmness and Delight. 2. Development of social sciences in 19th. And 20th. Centuries brought about a view of buildings as social, technical, economic, psychological organizations. 3. Current and future changes in peoples relationship to the environment require will require a building to respond to energy efficiency and its impact on the environment.

20. What Architecture Should Do Relationships Between Built Environment and Other Phenomena Two central concerns are addressed in these type of goal statements They represent a dilemma in architecture in their contradictory nature.

21. What Architecture Should Do 1. the first concern of these type of relational goals is that architecture should satisfy the technical requirements of buildings. a. logical structural systems b. appropriate materials, construction methods and costs c. regional and contextual in design

22. What Architecture Should Do 2. The second concern is that architectures primary purpose is social in nature i.e. that the building is a background and support system to enhance ongoing life processes. a. a receptacle for the flow of life it serves b. it must be flexible and adaptive to human concerns

23. What Architecture Should Do Other Goal statements 1. Occur in response to specific needs of a period 2. Short term responses that do not direct action over a long term 3. Function to correct and redirect attention to current pressing needs a. Le Corbusier in the 1920�s saw a need to revise the prevailing conception of housing and its production. b. Operation Breakthrough of the 1960�s attempted to redefine the way buildings, and particularly housing, was constructed.

24. How To Design A. Theories about how the architect should go about designing are concerned with identifying appropriate methods of operation. - usually directed toward the assurance that buildings will accomplish particular ends

25. What Architecture Should Do B. Concerns of Theories 1. Participants � relationships of individuals and groups during the design process. a. private inspired act of an individual vs. logical effort of a team of professionals. 1) Walter Gropius attempted to integrate both views. 2) complexity of the building process is likely too much to be understood and guided by an individual. b. inclusion of user groups and others.

26. What Architecture Should Do B. Concerns of Theories 2. Procedures: where does the designer begin? What decisions should control or generate the design?

27. What Architecture Should Do B. Concerns of Theories 3. Typically there are two underlying methods or structures for proceeding: a. inductive � begin with the details. Through accretion, the details, or partial solutions, finally add up to a built form. b. deductive � design procedures begin with an overall intention or idea about the build and let the details grow out of that central theme. c. seldom is one method used exclusively, but it is usually evident which one governs.

28. What Architecture Should Do C. Priorities 1. Problems in architecture are typically complex in nature: a. technical � structure, mech., etc. b. social � users c. aesthetic, ecological, political 2. Some theories establish priorities: a. find the essence of the problem and let that be the controlling factor. - Mies Van Der Rohe � �Form follows function�. b. there is an underlying element that needs to be expressed in structure and form before embellishment is added.

29. What Architecture Should Do D. Other Theories : Assert that the design process should take the form of a dialog Each concern is considered and allowed to affect the others in a iterative (repetitious) process It is doubtful that true equality can be realized.