Talk:Architectural theory
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[edit] Architecture Theory hierarchical tree
I understand that Architecture Portal is working hard in the definition of various styles (and thus theory in itself), but I feel that a logical, simple but deep hierarchical tree on architectural theory is required. This because Architecture is not a closed subject, there were and are many schools of thought and "traditions" of thinking, which correlate with past thinkers and philosophers. Without notes near me I can remember an Existentialist school, a Phenomenological school (please correct my typos if I make mistakes here, thank you), Structuralist, Post-Structuralist, etc etc, with many inspirers among who Nietzche is one of them. But there were a lot others, perhaps even some hundreds. And this is not a difficult information to acquire.
These people defend different definitions of architecture, and this is why is so important. These different perspectives should be available to the public the most concise and informative way possible. This also may explain the hot nature of the debate in the definition of architecture section, as people tried to post their own view of "what" architecture is really about, disregarding or injuring the posted views of others. This section could clear us up in that regard.
If I have time (not seeing it happen) I will try to post a suggestion of a tree when I have my books near me. Anyone help?
That sounds like a pretty major project, but a brief sketch would be pretty useful. It would be especially useful for "the public" and new students of architecture. In order to not make it reductive and stereotypical it would have to be pretty complex. Failing that, it seems that we could maybe add the more recent architectural theory readers to the bibliography. I am thinking of Michael Hays' and Kate Nesbitt, although there is also the Joan Ockman. My only other thought is maybe to structure it around major questions being asked in architecture, such as "what social responsibility does the architect have?" or "what is the best way to derive form?" or "what is the importance of process?" or "how does the building relate figure to ground?" or "what role does the detail play in architecture?". Things like that might be an easier and more fruitful way of explaining current debates in theory?
JoyKnoblauch 13:52, 11 October 2006 (UTC)
[edit] A bit off topic
The 20th century section seemed to me to be interesting but heading off topic, so I've drastically revised it but post the original below for info:
With the rise of science and modernisim in the 20th Century, the issue of Determinism came to the fore. If "we shape our buildings, then they shape us" (Churchill), then there are many ethical implications to every design decision. The ethos of the international style led to aims of using industrialised architecture to reshape society, as well as accommodating the new demands of motor transport and providing replacement dwellings for slum clearance in urban renewal projects while keeping densities high enough to avoid urban sprawl. The results of were often a social failure for various reasons, and by the 1960s there was increasing interest in responding to communities rather than crudely shaping them. Concepts of flexibility were explored, and ways of consultation were developed with the aim of involving communities in design input.
Jane Jacobs has considerable influence, and her work has been backed by environmental psychology statistically demonstrating that different building arrangements have huge effects on rates of violent crime, levels of mental health, community activity, physical wellbeing. Concerns about architects "playing god" led many debates, which have continued today (- for example to counter rising obesity, ought elevators to be located distant from car parking areas, and stairs far closer?). In practical terms, UK police are regularly involved in advising on ways to minimise crime at the design stage.
In the UK at least, the role of the architect in society was challenged from within the profession as a result of such discussion, and has continued to be challenged, with the government's Egan report (1990s) advocating that the architectural profession should focus on efficiency of output (streamlining design, like the automotive industry), rather than on any deep-set social role or agenda.
Hope that helps, .. dave souza, talk 10:50, 7 December 2006 (UTC)
