Architectural Philosophy Research Articles

The Will To Architecture: Kojin Karatani and Critics of the Traditional Metaphor of Architecture in Western Philosophy. Review of: Nadir Lahiji (2024). Kōjin Karatani’s Philosophy of Architecture. London and New York: Routledge. 180p.

The Will To Architecture: Kojin Karatani and Critics of the Traditional Metaphor of Architecture in Western Philosophy. Review of: Nadir Lahiji (2024). Kōjin Karatani’s Philosophy of Architecture. London and New York: Routledge. 180p.

СУЧАСНИЙ АРХІТЕКТУРНИЙ ПРОЦЕС ТА АКТУАЛЬНІ ЗАВДАННЯ АРХІТЕКТУРНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ

The article is devoted to the identification of the features of the modern architectural process and the establishment of actual tasks of architectural activity. Today's society, science, and practice are experiencing phenomena that radically change the approaches and paradigms of the architectural process. The paper highlights the contradictions in the theory and practice of architecture that need to be resolved; considers aspects of the modern ideology of architecture; develops certain provisions of the theory of the environmental approach, namely, the features of "understanding" design, the communicative component of architectural activity; emphasizes the interaction of various actors in the process of architectural activity, the dialogue of the architect with stakeholders. The author emphasizes the decisive role of the architect as an organizer and coordinator of the design process, the interpretation of the architectural process as a component of the overall socio-cultural process. The biggest shifts are taking place in the field of the environmental approach to architectural activity. Environmental issues, which bring people and their lifestyles to the forefront, give impetus to the development of architectural management and marketing. These changes in priorities have led to a problematic situation in the theory of architecture and opened up a new space of work: the identification and recording of environmental experiences and images, the production of these experiences and the management of this process. The environmental approach outlines the future trajectories of architectural work, the essence of which is the inclusion of the designer in the life of the population, the materialization of their own version of life processes, the identification of a set of specialized activities that support the ideology of social progress and cultural development. Scientific research and architectural practice should be based on the achievements of the philosophy of architecture, understanding of new value orientations, taking into account the differences and pace of social change, etc. There is a need to recognize the importance of such a factor as the subject of the architectural process. Changing the basic guidelines of the consumer of an architectural object requires ensuring at the design stage the possibility of transforming an architectural object in the process of its further operation, predicting the emergence of new functions and the formation of their new material shell. The article outlines the contours of scientific innovations in the field of architecture - the theory of architectural activity in the conditions of intersubjective interaction; suggests forms of correct introduction of the concept of "design subject", which is active in the architectural environment, into design practice and theory of architectural activity.

The Impact of Mathematical Logic and Philosophy in Contemporary Architecture

The Impact of Mathematical Logic and Philosophy in Contemporary Architecture

Minimalist Architecture and the Concept of Less is More: The Place of Hellenistic Cynicism in the Architectural Concept of Mies Van Der Rohe

Historically, cynicism as a philosophical movement started and soared in the Hellenistic period. Disquisition on cynicism concerning architecture and architectural philosophy has been relatively neglected. This article addresses cynicism, delving into the philosophy of the cynics’ lifestyle and beliefs vis-à-vis less is more (minimalism), which was an epigram adopted by Mies Van Der Rohe in his architectural designs and buildings. Standing on the shoulder of simplicity, as the common denominator between cynicism and minimalism, the authors create an intercourse between philosophy and architecture through the appraisal of the philosophy of the Cynics and the architectural works of Mies Van Der Rohe. This further buttresses the innate need for continual interdisciplinary research works to unearth and expound more interesting synergy in human architectural and philosophical experiences.

라카통&바살의 건축에 나타난 리질리언스 특성 연구

This study aims to investigate the characteristics of space through the architecture of Lacaton & Vassal and to analyze elements that enhance spatial resilience. By examining the architectural philosophy of Lacaton & Vassal, the study focuses on three remodeling projects in France to explore strategies and elements that strengthen spatial resilience. To achieve the research objectives, a reclassification of space resilience characteristics was conducted based on a review of previous studies on resilience, and criteria for analysis were established. This involved an in-depth analysis of the selected cases, comparing spaces before and after remodeling, and investigating five elements of spatial resilience in the remodeled spacesThis case analysis is expected to yield significant data, providing a theoretical foundation for remodeling methods to enhance spatial resilience in aging spaces in the future.

ISLAMIC AND WESTERN HYBRID SYMBOLS IN CONTEMPORARY MOSQUE ARCHITECTURE IN INDONESIA'S REFORM ERA

In Indonesia, there is an ongoing trend toward a rise in modern mosque architecture without domes and traditional identity. Although contemporary mosque architecture is increasing in Indonesia and the world, the concept still generates debate among Islamic society and intellectuals. This study aims to analyze how the conception of symbols and meaning, the architectural style of contemporary mosques in the Indonesian Reformation Era can be accepted by society. The study method is qualitative, by applying library and research field studies. Procedure data collection using method interview, observation, and documentation. The objects of his research are the Assamawaat Mosque-Tangerang, Muhammadiyah PP A-Tanrim Mosque-Central Jakarta, Jami' Darussalam Mosque-Central Jakarta, Al Azhar Bekasi Mosque, Asmaul Husna Bekasi Mosque, Al Safar KM88 Mosque-Cipularang, Merapi Mosque-Jogyakarta, Al Ikhlas Mosque /Honeycomb-Sidoarjo's. This research applied the theory of Roland Bartes semiotic approach; the sacred and profane meaning, Charles Jenks theory to obtain the Symbol Theory of contemporary mosque architectural styles in the Indonesian reform era, and Sayyed H Nasr for Philosophy of Islamic architecture. The findings and results of the study are Contemporary Mosque Architecture in Indonesia, Symbolizing the Hybrid of Islam, and the West. So, Islamic and Western cultures live and develop well in Indonesia. I recommend the results of this research to architectural practitioners, academics, and the public to be applied to contemporary mosque designs.

ARCHITECT YO MING PEI. THE ART OF ARCHITECTURE OF MUSEUM BUILDINGS

Famous Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei was born in Guangdong, China in 1917.He traveled to the United States in 1935. Initially educated at the University of Pennsylvania, he continued his studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Bachelor of Architecture in 1940) and Harvard Graduate School of Design (Master of Architecture in 1946). I.M. Pei is widely praised for his bold design and clear geometric forms in his project. His career spanned 60 years and left many outstanding architectural works. I.M. Pei, revered as "the consummate master of modern architecture," his architectural philosophy was deeply influenced by modern art. During that era, New York City was known as the center of modern art. Among them, abstract expressionism, conceptualism and minimalism were on full display here. Many famous artists held grand exhibitions here and established their own studios. I.M. Pei spent most of his life in this place. When American modern art reached its peak in New York, many architects decided to use primitive forms to convey a concise and powerful artistic language, which also became their iconic design style. I.M. Pei's design philosophy is global. He emphasized: "In the architectural design process, there are three key aspects that require special attention: the first is the integration of the building with its environment; the second is how to handle space and form; and finally, from the user's point of view, to correctly solve functional problems. In this paper, the study analyzes the structural features of 12 architectural spaces of art museums designed by I.M. Pei in the context of the time line. It compares the similarities and differences in the spatial structure of the architecture of art museums built in the same time period as well as between different historical eras. The study focuses on analyzing the form and content of space and draws on the theoretical framework of contemporary architecture, namely the concepts of space within modernism. As a result of the analysis, two key characteristics of Pei's architecture are highlighted: sculptural and geometric.

Tornagrain: A New Town for the Scottish Highlands

This article discusses the history and architectural philosophy of the Tornagrain New Town near Inverness. Ben Pentreath’s practice has been involved in the development of Tornagrain since its inception and the early masterplan by DPZ and the landowner, Moray Estates, and is now responsible for executing the detailed masterplan and much of the architecture in this new settlement in the Scottish Highlands. Once complete, the town will provide at least 5000 new homes, new schools, community buildings, and commercial spaces, with a new high street. In 2023, eight years after the foundation ceremony, the town consists of 300 houses. In this article Ben describes the history and many of the challenges of the town’s development.

Professor Ahmet Hadrovic's Philosophy of Architecture

As a part of the Universe, man is, by himself, such a complex reality that, as long as he exists, he will not be fully 'explored'. Before the explicit elaboration of 'his philosophy of architecture', the Author will present a brief description of 'his life path', since he is convinced that it is the material for his philosophy. In this description, he used excerpts from his published book (2019) of philosophical content – “Man: something or nothing”. The author is convinced that the text presented in this work is only one view of man about man. It is true to the extent that the very existence of the Author is true.

ЛАТЕНТНІСТЬ ПРОТОДЕКОНСТРУКТИВІЗМУ В ПРОЕКТНОМУ КОНТЕНТІ ФРЕНКА ЛЛОЙДА РАЙТА

Analyzing the work of the most influential architects of the middle of the 20th century, including the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, it is possible to declare the presence of ideas at that time, which were later designed and prescribed by trendy deconstructivist architects in the nineties and early 2000s. In the middle of the 20th century, F. Wright continued to develop the principles of organicity in architecture, supplementing them with avant-garde aesthetics. Comparison of the graphic and three-dimensional morphology of buildings, methods and means of expression of the content of the master of architecture of the 20th century Frank Lloyd Wright during the extreme period of his work with the pattern of trendy deconstructivists leads to conclusions about the presence of the aesthetics of proto-deconstructivism in his author's philosophy. In his seventies, Wright experiments with the forms and graphic language of bricolage, which naturally transform into his philosophy of organic architecture. The objects proposed to be attributed to the period of proto-deconstructivism were created by Wright over a period of almost twenty years between 1937 and 1959. By its inner essence, the graphoplastic language of the projects was sharply avant-garde, so it was not always understandable for contemporaries. Architectural historian, critic and publicist Rainer Behnem, in the introductory article to his book "A View of Modern Architecture: The Age of Masters", which was published during the postmodern era of the 80s, states the following "... in the last five years of his career, Wright created the meanest projects an old man could create” (Banham, 1975). Apologists of 20th century modernism Mies van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, Le Corbusier and Frank Wright, about whom Rainer Behnem wrote, felt in advance the stylistic flow that formed together with the avant-garde current and was defined by postmodern deconstructivism. When analyzing Wright's projects from the point of view of the presence in them of the aesthetics of proto-deconstructivism, similarities with recognized characteristic patterns of architecture of this style are revealed. Wright's author's philosophy about the naturalness, that is, the organicity of architecture, was proto-deconstructivist and was formed in parallel with global metaphysical trends.

Prospects for the Philosophy of Architecture

Prospects for the Philosophy of Architecture

The idea of evolution in digital architecture: Toward united ontologies?

Humans have always sought to grasp nature’s working principles and apply acquired intelligence to artefacts since nature has always been the source of inspiration, solution and creativity. For this reason, there is a comprehensive interrelationship between the philosophy of nature and architecture. After Charles Darwin’s revolutionary work, living beings have started to be comprehended as changing, evolving and developing dynamic entities. Evolution theory has been accepted as the interpretive power of biology after several discussions and objections among scientists. In time, the working principles of evolutionary mechanisms have begun to be explained from genetic code to organism and environmental level. Afterwards, simulating nature’s evolutionary logic in the digital interface has become achievable with computational systems’ advancements. Ultimately, architects have begun to utilise evolutionary understanding in design theories and methodologies through computational procedures since the 1990s. Although several studies about technical and pragmatic elements of evolutionary tools in design, there is still little research on the historical, theoretical and philosophical foundations of evolutionary understanding in digital architecture. This paper fills this literature gap by critically reviewing the evolutionary understanding embedded in digital architecture theories and designs since the beginning of the 1990s. The original contribution is the proposed intellectual framework seeking to understand and conceptualise how evolutionary processes were defined in biology and philosophy, then represented through computational procedures, to be finally utilised by architectural designers. The network of references and concepts is deeply connected with the communication between natural processes and their computational simulations. For this reason, another original contribution is the utilisation of theoretical limits and operative principles of computation procedures to shed light on the limitations, shortcomings and potentials of design theories regarding their speculations on the relationship between natural and computational ontologies.

Duration and the Ontology of Japanese Architecture

Henri Bergson’s philosophy and Japanese cultural, aesthetic, and architectural traditions share an affinity regarding their view of reality as continuous change and the awareness of the vital impulses of life in all things. For example, these ideas are central to Buddhist and Shinto philosophies, for whom impermanence is an essential feature of the world. There are strong sympathies with Bergson’s duration, which has facilitated his reception in Japan. An understanding of Japanese aesthetics and philosophy of art can help illustrate and comprehend Bergson’s philosophy, and, in return, Bergson’s philosophy can reveal deeper understandings of the world and the environment we live in. This paper proposes to reflect on how duration manifests in Japanese aesthetics, particularly focusing on the philosophy of architecture and the built environment. I propose to analyze how architectural traditions in Japan interconnect with Bergson’s philosophy and how they might contribute to an architectural ontology of duration.

Exploring the role of parametric architecture in building design: An inclusive approach

One of the design challenges that architects and designers encounter during the creation and design stage of structural concepts is the parametric optimization of an architectural object's form. It is a very time-consuming and difficult process to evaluate a building's energy performance as a design consideration in the early design stages. To solve performance-related design issues, a number of tools and techniques have been created during the past few decades, primarily employing multi-objective optimization algorithms. The ability to dynamically control geometry and components using parametric modeling enables the designer to simultaneously evaluate several alternatives. The system research in the fields of architecture and urban planning aims to provide the energy efficiency of a design while enhancing its performance features. Theorists' perspectives have recently overlapped and diverged over how to strike a balance between technological capabilities and environmental factors in order to create an objective architecture in terms of performance that is unconcerned with form without content. All of these factors combined to create a modern architecture that is conceptually distinct from earlier tendencies seen before the advent of digital technology. In this paper, the relationship between the parametric architecture and environmental friendliness on building design has been explored. In order to analyze the theoretical study data, this research paper aims to elucidate the key elements of parametric architecture. This paper also reviews the utilization of cutting-edge implementation techniques, contemporary building materials and digital design approaches resulted from the parametric design in the growth of architectural philosophy.

르 코르뷔제가 제시한 4가지 구성의 개념과 주택 작품 분석

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the architectural form and spatial composition by understanding the concept of the ‘Les 4 Compositions’ presented by Le Corbusier and the house works pursued by him. Through sketches of the ‘Les 4 Compositions’ of the houses, his architectural concepts of the ‘Les 4 Compositions’ were examined how each of these concepts was applied to his architectural designs. Method: The concept of the ‘Les 4 Compositions’ were understood through analyzing his four house works. The First composition which each part is independently connected and the inside is projected to the outside corresponds to Villa La Roche. The Second composition which each part is compressed into a strict and pure cube corresponds to Villa Stein. The Third composition which free plan is composed through various volumes in the structure of the Dom-ino system corresponds to Villa Carthage. The Fourth composition which the advantages of each composition are polymerized corresponds to Villa Savoye. Result: The architectural form pursued by Le Corbusier contains his philosophy of architecture and how to solve it. The ‘Les 4 Compositions’ correspond to each independent and intellectual objective, and become a concept that can understand his architectural forms and theories.

THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION FOR THE STATE UKRAINIAN THEATER (1930)

Even although the International Competition for the State Ukrainian Theater (1930) did not result in any construction, it was a major landmark of Modernism in Ukrainian architecture. The competition received 144 entries from Soviet Union states and other countries, including four individual and one team proposals from Japan. Of these, Renshichiro Kawakita, a 29-year-old architect from Japan, was awarded the fourth prize and ranked higher than world-famous architects and designers like Walter Gropius, Norman Bel Geddes, and Hans Poelzig. This article deals with the modernist architectural scene in Japan around 1930 by introducing Japanese modernist architects’ applications to the competition. The structure of this paper is as follows: The introduction presents the four groups of applicants from Japan, and highlights the tense shipping deadline faced by Kawakita based on a retrospective by his collaborator. The main part points out that the proposal from Japan understood the organizer’s purpose to seek new ideas for theaters as cultural facilities for the proletariat via this competition, and designed it in line with that purpose. In this regard, Kawakita’s effective presentation in the drawings led to his prize. It also examines Kawakita’s architectural philosophy based on his comments after winning the prize. Kawakita praised functionalism and anti-aesthetics and believed that new architects should be engineers (rather than artists) with “inventor” nuances. This idea resonates with the international avant-garde ideas of the time in modernist architecture.

The Aesthetic Value and Artistic Philosophy of Chinese and Japanese Courtyard Architecture

The Aesthetic Value and Artistic Philosophy of Chinese and Japanese Courtyard Architecture

ANALOGI PEREMPUAN DALAM PERKEMBANGAN ARSITEKTUR VERNAKULAR DI SULAWESI SELATAN

In the vernacular architecture development, the female body size has been used as a basis for determining the room size in the building. The existing forms appreciation manifested in domain forms, space functions, materials, and ornaments. The female gender elements, both in terms of body anatomy and special room, are applied as a form of reflection the traditional identity house. One of the traditional houses that applies gender roles as an architectural philosophy is the Karampuang Traditional House which is located in Sinjai Regency, South Sulawesi. This study discusses the role of women as the basis for the philosophy and architectural symbolism of the Karampuang Traditional House. The analytical method used is descriptive analysis interpretation based on the architectural components found in the Karampuang house data. The results showed that complexity of female gender which cannot be separated from the nature of women and the history of Karampuang where the first person to build and prosper Karampuang is a woman. The use and placement of symbols on parts and ornaments of the house represents the female body anatomy. The female gender is more dominant in the traditional Karampuang house. Aspects based on gender in the Karampuang traditional house are influenced by the history believed by the community, and female gender elements both in terms of body anatomy, as well as a special room for women are applied in their traditional houses. In the context of preserving traditional houses and regional culture, especially in Karampuang, serious attention is needed both by the people themselves and by the government in an effort to protect, maintain, and maintain the uniqueness of Karampuang architecture.

Robert Venturi’nin ‘Las Vegas’ın Öğrettikleri’ Kitabı Üzerine Bir İnceleme

The aim of this study is to analyze; academician, architect and architectural theorist Robert Venturi’s groundbreaking books in the world of architecture;’Learning from Las Vegas’ and ‘Re-Learning from Las Vegas’, in terms of postmodern urban design. For this purpose, the study focuses onthe different dynamics of architecture and tries to reveal the effects and contributions of the local context to thearchitectural concept and urban design with the contradictions and complexities it creates. The study that dealswith the dynamics of architecture, apart from the space, in terms of local context via Las Vegas Boulevard; examines dynamics such as communication / symbolic / non-architect architecture. Hence, while referring to post-modernism, a period of pivotal architecture, he particularly focuses on ; Learning from Las Vegas; to explain how the Everyday urban landscape of Venturi’s Las Vegas Strip, emerged eclectically and quickly. In the article, the architecture of Las Vegas Strip, which was the beginning of post-modernism in the 1960s, has been discussed in terms of urban design and urban landscape, focusing on the reflections of symbolic (sign) architecture and eclecticism. The everyday design philosophy of the boulevard is examined. While discussing Venturi’s discourse on ‘what we need to learn from Las Vegas’, it is also intended to reveal why he actually praises everyday architecture. Venturi, who is a member of the advisory board of Princeton University's School of Architecture and Urban Design, clearly demonstrated the philosophy of architecture in the book "Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture" presented in 1966; Again for the first time in this work, he responded to Mies Van Der Rohe, who is known with the phrase "Less is more", with "Less is bore" (less
 boring). Therefore, in the study, the understanding of urban design that emerged in the post-modern period has been investigated through Venturi’s interpretations and works, and an analysis has been made on how architecture, a local context consisting of symbols and hangars has a wide impact in the world.

Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid and the value of Deconstructivism

The paper aims to compare and discuss the value of deconstructivism in today's society by choosing two famous architects, Zaha Hadid and Frank Gehry. From Zaha's Guangzhou Opera House, some relationships with the buildings around can be found, and their association largely illustrates the importance of flexible and unusual buildings. Moreover, Gehry has a strong inspiration for everything that happens horizontally, which is a perfect illustration of Zaha and deconstructivism. By analyzing his architecture philosophy and aesthetics, the indispensable part of deconstructivism can be understood with a clear view of how modern architects apply it to their designs.