Architectural Thinking Research Articles

On Science Fiction, Heritage Architecture and Other Demons

This conversation with Moira Crone was inspired by her science fiction novel The Not Yet. The interview opens with a question regarding the capacity of architectural heritage to carry past and present values, as well as our stories, and help us make sense of the world. With an emphasis on the historic French quarter in New Orleans, Crone explains why the preservation of the city’s most famous neighborhood was necessary for the plot and how in reality this preservation takes place. She discusses the difficult and cruel history of plantation homes in Louisiana, as well as moments in which the strict racial hierarchies broke down, creating possibilities for different ways of co-existence among its inhabitants. Crone unpacks her ideas about archetypical architectural spaces like the theater, and the subversive role it can play in contemporary or imaginative societies. The interview concludes with a discussion about science fiction’s connections to architectural thinking and the author’s creative process.

Bioinspired technology in society: Ethical and architectural innovations for sustainable development

This review study delves into the use of Biomimicry in sustainable architecture, examining its ethical, philosophical, and psychological implications. The paper explores different approaches to Biomimicry, the intersection of Biomimicry with sustainable construction technologies, passive cooling strategies, emulation of sustainable ecosystems, net-zero construction techniques, and innovative 3D-printed homes. The main aim of this study is to provide an overview of sustainable construction technologies and highlight Biomimicry's role in developing passive cooling solutions and sustainable ecosystems. Additionally, integrating Biomimicry principles into net-zero construction techniques emphasizes the potential of architecture to contribute to a carbon-neutral future. The paper also discusses how using Biomimicry in 3D-printed homes can help compensate for the need for rapid urbanization while being aligned with maintaining the planet's health. Synthesizing the impact of Biomimicry on sustainable architecture, emphasizing the ethical responsibilities of architects, and the broader philosophical implications of adopting nature-inspired design principles have been explored. The knowledge gaps found from this study inspire a paradigm shift in architectural thinking, promoting a balance between technological progress and a deep respect for nature, and a commitment to creating a sustainable and ethically responsible built environment.

The Conceptual Model Mediated by IVR and 3DP as a First Architectural Idea Generator

The first ideas generation of the architectural project has traditionally been carried out through sketches. Even though in recent decades models have also gained importance, their use is still restricted due to the time required to make them and their difficulty of realization when it comes to complex forms. This research argues that the use of concept models mediated by two disruptive technologies such as Immersive Virtual Reality and 3D Printing can foster the cognitive process of the ideation and configuration of the first architectural ideas. To demonstrate the hypothesis, a pilot study was conducted with 32 architecture students; 17 students created models manually and 15 used IVR and 3DP. Two observation sheets were used to collect information. The results show that in the process of generating ideas, the group that used the two technologies developed three of the four characteristics of the cognitive process better, being an undecided and slow process, then fast and continuous, and finally perceptual for reinterpretation. Also, both technologies complemented each other and favored the development of an intense, tactile, and phenomenological experience. Finally, regarding the model as a product, a better result was found in 3D-printed models in terms of two of the three characteristics, three-dimensionality complexity and materiality. It is concluded that these two technologies ideally complement each other as mediating tools for three-dimensional architectural thinking, making it possible to use the conceptual models as the first generators of the architectural idea.

From sign to inscription

This paper extends the author's work on inscriptions as a new theory of contemporary architecture. Using the concept of unary trait from Lacanian theory, the paper analyses two works of architecture. First, from the late 1970s, Peter Eisenman's project for the Cannaregio district of Venice is read as borrowing the form of the grid from Le Corbusier, enacting Lacan's unary trait. Eisenman's treatment of the grid is interpreted as evidence of poststructuralist thinking in architecture. Second, Atelier Deshaus's Riverside Passage in Shanghai is read as using the demolished fragments and existing retaining wall of a former coal storage wharf as architectural symptom. The architects' treatment of the wall and remnants from the demolition is, again, interpreted as evidence of poststructuralist thinking in recent architecture.

Design interiors with architectural design thinking

AbstractHow does architectural thinking make a difference in interior space? Is it just a formal difference? From two-dimensional decoration to three-dimensional space experience, this should be the biggest difference between the two. In simple terms, interior design pays more attention to decoration, while architectural design is basically functional design. If architectural thinking is applied to interior design, will it make the interior space more applicable, more scientific and more infinite? This paper combines a project of integrated architecture and interior design to interpret the infinite possibilities of architectural thinking in interior design. Several types and paradigms of architectural thinking in interior design are summarized.

A Modern Retrospective of Tradition: A Brief Introduction to Kengo Kuma’s Works and Architectural Ideas

Kengo Kuma is an internationally recognized Japanese architect today. His works and architectural thoughts are influenced by Japanese geography and cultural traditions, forming a school of its own in Japanese modern architecture. This paper takes Kengo Kuma as the research subject, combining the development trajectory of Japanese modern architecture for more than 100 years to analyze his architectural ideas and design thinking. Kengo Kuma integrates his understanding of traditional Japanese culture and art into modern architecture, by Kengo Kuma’s architectural thoughts and practices bring inspiration and enlightenment for Chinese architects as a path to explore connecting modern trends with traditional designs.

Rethinking fashion review with architectural fashion analysis method

Exploring the interplay between fashion and architecture, this article introduces architectural fashion analysis method, an original methodology for analysing fashion shows through an architectural lens. Focusing on the works of Prada and OMA/AMO, the study delves into the narrative power of space in fashion presentations, informed by theories from Roland Barthes and Adrian Forty, as well as the theoretical model of fashion spaces by McQuillan and Hansen. This approach highlights the underexplored but crucial role of architectural thinking in fashion critique. The article posits that employing architectural principles not only enriches the understanding of fashion but also paves the way for an insightful exploration of fashion’s digital dimension.

Ecological thinking in regenerative architecture: Relevance of abduction in ecoLogic Studio’s Deep Green research project

This article explores the connotations of regenerative architecture in the context of the Anthropocene, emphasizing the role of abduction on human cognition and its potential impact on innovation, especially when applied to a bio-cybernetic design method. The DeepGreen research project, developed by ecoLogicStudio in collaboration with the University of Innsbruck and the Bartlett UCL, serves as an exemplification of this method. The project combines biological and artificial intelligence to create an urban ecological infrastructure that integrates architectural and ecological systems. Centering on the DeepGreen project, this study discusses the creative potential and ecological embodiment of bio-cybernetic design protocols. It focuses on the mechanism of abduction in triggering innovative design solutions from a logical perspective, aligning with the principles of mind ecology at a cognitive level. The analysis suggests an innovative and ecological design thinking mode, asserting that regenerative architecture can encompass not only material aspects but also informational and spiritual dimensions. This approach ultimately promotes a holistic and harmonious urban environment. Furthermore, this research posits that the bio-cybernetic stance and the morphogenetic approach share commonalities with the holistic conception of nature and the ecological view in ancient Chinese Daoist philosophy. This contribution can potentially offer a contemporary interpretation of the Daoist principles of “Nature and Humans in One Unity (天人合一)” and “The Dao Imitates the Laws of Nature (道法自然).” Such an interpretation is deemed beneficial for addressing today’s concerns related to holistic, balanced, and harmonious urbanism. Henceforth, the study endeavors to facilitate discourse between Eastern and Western trends of thought, culminating in a cohesive yet heterogeneous regenerative approach.

Time as a Founding Factor in Architectural Thought

The research dealt with the concepts of time and architectural thought and the extent of the influence of Ideas derived from the element of time on the variation and differentiation of architectural movements and schools, by reviewing a group of vocabulary such as nostalgia, present, and looking forward to the future, the null of the present and immortality in architecture and the null or deferred future, and the study of the duration of its reflection on architectural thought to lead to the differentiation of each of the architecture of Mesopotamia, Classical architecture, Modern architecture, Post-modernism, and Autonomous architecture, Deconstruction architecture according to these terms. The problem of the research was the lack of clarity on the influence of the element of time and its role in the differentiation of architectural thought. The main goal of the research is to focus on the role of the element of time in the differentiation and uniqueness of architectural thought. As for the research hypothesis, it focused on emphasizing the role of thought that distinguishes time in the differentiation of architectural thought, which in turn guarantees the uniqueness of societies, and the most important finding of the research is that Classical architecture is distinguished by its interest in the principle of nostalgia, and that there are some trends in Contemporary Iraqi Architecture based on the principle of nostalgia represented by nostalgia for formal elements, and that modern architecture urged in most of its buildings nostalgia for the present.

Contradictions in the development of architecture science

The aim of the research is to study the formation of the ontological foundations of the science of architecture as an experience of its self-consciousness in the context of the evolution of spatial codes of cultural experience. The article considers contradictions of the modernist definition of architectural form, as well as the formation of the scientific discourse of architecture and the identity of architects’ professional thinking in general. The main hypothesis is based on the thesis that the freely historically unfolding evolution of architectural form is an objective experience of consolidating the self-consciousness of architecture as a text of its immanent expression and self-reference. The authors specify the limitations of the scientific functionalist discourse, which do not allow forming the internal basis for an autoreferential image of the architectural reality. Problematization of the ontological foundations of the science of architecture is a necessary link in the evolution of the methodology of architectural thinking and form making in post-industrial society.

Designing Tomorrow: AI and the Future of Architectural Design Process

This essay explores the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the field of architecture, focusing on the impact on design innovation, production processes, as well as the ethical implications arising from inherent biases within these technologies. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into architectural practices, it offers the potential to revolutionize the discipline by enhancing efficiency, creativity, and sustainability. This investigation delves into the history and evolution of AI in architecture, tracing their journey from early computational design experiments to their current applications in generative design and robotic construction, which exemplify the shift towards more innovative and sustainable architectural practices. Furthermore, the essay highlights the involvement of the INNEN research team in integrating AI into academic and research activities within and besides the curriculum. It delves into the ways in which AI technologies are reshaping the boundaries of architectural design and construction, emphasizing on practical applications of AI in architectural design in education and professional work. This analysis uncovers the profound possibilities of AI in formulating groundbreaking design approaches and construction methods, underscoring research's role in propelling architectural thinking and practice forward through the use of technology.

The Influence of Politics on Architectural Thought A Descriptive and Analytical Study of the Effect of Political Ideology on the Achieved Architecture (Berlin City as an Example)

The research investigates the political effect and its directions on the architectural thoughts and its achievements and how can this political system affect all fields of life in communities including architectural urban design. The problem of the research lies in the ambiguity effects of the ideological national directions of the Nazi Party on the architecture and urban design of the city of Berlin, then determining the aims of the research to discuss the concepts of politics and architecture and their relation to the way of thinking that plays a role in the process of design that works on property and achieving the suitable urban environments for those communities. After that, the Nazi's party's thought would be studied and analyzed, its concepts, public beliefs and its relation with renewing the city of Berlin as an example, to finish with introducing the conclusions.

Acknowledging the Dignity of Architectural Heritage Adding a Fourth Virtue to the Vitruvian Triad

Addressing the complex legacies of the past in architectural education and built constructions, calls for a reconsidering of the principles of architectural design and conservation. The current challenges of housing, sustainable development and heritage adaptation present huge dilemmas for architects. Yet today architects are only by exception trained to detect heritage values prior to drafting their interventions for adaptive reuse or upgrading. To this day, Western architectural thinking is influenced by the Vitruvian triad Firmitas, Utilitas and Venustas, and the truncated maxim ‘Form Follows Function’ as disseminated by the protagonists of the Modern Movement. These established a divide between the design for new-build and the care of already existing buildings. This divide is marked by the two Charters of Athens: the 1931 Carta del Restauro adopted at the First International Congress of Architects and Technicians of Historic Monuments, and La Chartre d’Athènes presented by Le Corbusier as a result of the 4th CIAM Congress on the Functional City (1933). This paper attempts to bridge the identified divide by adding the idea of ‘Dignitas’ (dignity) as an equal virtue to the Vitruvian triad. Though not new for itself, this concept may aid to raise awareness of architectural dignity in extant buildings. Keywords: architectural theory, architectural education, conservation theory, Renovation Challenge, Dignitas

HISTORICAL CONTINUITY OF FRIEDENSREICH HUNDERTWASSER'S DESIGN METHODS IN MODERN RESIDENTIAL COMPLEXES OF ASTANA CITY

Friedensreich Hundertwasser is one of the participants in the process of transforming the original modernist postulates into a more flexible, humane and open system of rational architectural thinking. His objects, including architectural ones, look like a challenge to rationalism, show a new form of creativity in which the ecological (natural) aspect is a priority. At the present stage, architectural solutions aimed at improving the environmental friendliness of residential complexes are of key importance for the formation of the concept of sustainable urban development. Thus, the analysis of the works of F. Hundertwasser, will contribute to the transformation of the applied methods of designing residential structures.

The anthropological and the consequential

The anthropological and the consequential

Experiencing cinematic architecture: the impact of architecture on the audience emotional engagement

PurposeThe goal of the study is to underline “Cinematic Architecture” as another source of architectural thinking and research. This study is also a response to the shortage in empirical research on architecture in the cinema. Moreover, the study introduces the architectural components that qualify the cinematic spaces to be influential cinematic experience. This is in addition to investigating the impact of these components on the viewers' cognitive and emotional experience of films.Design/methodology/approachIn the reported study, an empirical experiment examined scenes from three different movies as experienced by a selected group of audience of movies fans (architects and laypersons). The audience was asked to report feelings the audience had about each scene using a questionnaire that was designed for this purpose, and the audience was asked to write down the aspects that affected the audience's emotions. The experiment evaluated selected emotional states and could specify the architectural features and/or objects that significantly contributed in inducing these emotions.FindingsThis study's findings concluded that emotions, which exist in the positive margin of the emotions “circumplex model,” were influenced by architectural components that were different from those that influenced emotions which lie in the negative margin of the model.Research limitations/implicationsAs for filmmakers, the study contributes in developing filmmakers' knowledge about the role of architecture in scenic creation and thus how that knowledge enhances filmmakers' film narrative and the narrative's spatial imagery. As for academia, this study contributes in developing the knowledge about film cognition as related to architectural semiotics. In the context of behavioral approach to architectural design, a behavior setting which is the basic element in environmental design can be dramatized by applying a cinematic narrative to a human activity system within a milieu of architectural design elements.Practical implicationsThis study is important for architects, as the study provides architects with an alternative tool for fictional experience and for testing architectural ideas through cinematic architecture. This study also helps in developing new venues for the practice of architecture into the world of fiction. This study also contributes in developing the trend that architectural design thinking can learn from cinematic thinking and practice.Originality/valueThis study introduces an empirical approach to evaluate architectural entities as part of cinematic experience. This study also comes as a response to the shortage in empirical research on architecture in the cinema.

Cracks, seams and borders

Sometimes there are real cracks (and even gaps) between alternatives, and sometimes these borders look like seams joining the opposites. One of the peculiarities of architectural thinking is that it is like mosaic or patchwork. Scars and seams are inherent in architecture. Sometimes they are tried to be hidden, while sometimes to be aestheticized. How inclusive is the ‘patchwork’ of architectural thinking, or is it an exclusive stigma, a scar on the ‘profession’s skin’?Philosophical reflections on the semantic and philosophical-symbolic interpretation of the image of crack, rupture or gap in a broader context of cultural evolution, and, above all, in its current cultural-methodological meaning are presented by Leo Salmin and Petr Kapustin in their articles.Administrative boundaries can also turn into cracks. One of the most difficult tasks of urban planning and territorial management is to prevent ‘sprawling’ at the seams between regions. The border between the subjects adjacent to Lake Baikal runs directly along the water area of this glorious sea. And now, after the transfer of Transbaikalia to the Far Eastern Federal District, it is the border between the federal districts. But it is clear that the town planning documents should cover the whole lake, together with hundreds of rivers and streams flowing into it. Invisible seams prevent full comprehension of the whole complex. This is what Alexander Kolesnikov writes about.The seams of the borders within the Russian Empire were fantastically variable, including not only those of its provinces, but also of its cities. Such changes have occurred over the centuries for a variety of reasons, including political ones.The selection of materials in this section tells what is happening on the line of the collision of alternatives.

Introducing the architectural values of the commons

The recent development of an interdisciplinary field of reflection about and around the commons seems to assume a significant distance, in the field of architecture, concerning the disciplinary culture that preceded it. This article invites the protagonists of this emerging domain to explore the intensities and the reasons for such resistance. Based on a cross-reading of the main disciplinary and extra-disciplinary contributions to the subject, it intends to evaluate the controversial gap between architectural values and the renewed paradigm inspired by the commons. This new condition emerging between — or in addition to — the traditional ‘public’ and ‘private’ opposition could be considered as a bundle of alternatives but also as a source of fundamental continuities. By crossing the values of the commons with those of architecture, the aims of the proposal are twofold. First, such correspondence could bring a fertile semantic renewal in architectural language by confronting concepts and words. Second, it also could constitute a useful stage in developing critical views about this recent movement and its propagation in the humanities by clarifying several appropriations, in this case, in the field of architecture. Faced with the vitality of the theme, the attitudes of research identified within the current architectural debate appear as a prerequisite for the development of architectural thinking about what could bring together the commons, taking into account their multidirectional, ambiguous, or even contradictory nature.

THE NECESSITY OF TEAMWORK APPROACH IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN EDUCATION: AN ANALYTICAL STUDY

Aim: This study intends to identify the processes of group design with students, the weak and strong areas of their activity in different phases, and to assess the implications of education in executing this activity by focusing on the principles of group design thinking in architecture. Method: A test was conducted among students from Tehran and Konya Technical Universities to investigate the influence of education on improving group design quality. This experiment was conducted by having three-hour drawing sessions and dividing the students into 8 groups. The single-variable test method was utilized because of the independence of the groups and the equality of their variances. Two preliminary exams were used to measure students’ lack of understanding and familiarity with group work, followed by an extra examination for the students involved in the issue. Results: The findings revealed that in group architectural design, group members focus largely on the design’s content, with team communication centred on two essential aspects: content analysis and process review. Conclusion: Teamwork in designing can be superior to solo effort, and proper training can increase this. It is felt that paying attention to the concept of group design and teaching it in architecture schools is useful.

THE ESSENCE OF STEM PHILOSOPHY AND ARCHITECTURE AS THE INNOVATION IN SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION

The article highlights a list of problematic issues related to the implementation of STEM technology through the prism of philosophical and architectural thinking. Scientific research was analyzed in order to establish the basic definitions of STEM technology. The facts of the open status of many issues in the implementation of STEM education have been revealed. The essence of the educational innovation was established by isolating the core part with its content. The role and place in the context of updating the content of science and mathematics education is argued. Arguments are presented that show that most teachers use only elements of STEM education as a separate teaching method in their professional activities. A well-founded role for the autonomy of education seekers, as the main advantage over traditional forms of education. An analysis of the existing components in the educational programs of secondary, professional, vocational, and higher education institutions was carried out in order to establish their weight share, and a number of problematic issues were identified. The main reasons for the unpreparedness of many educational institutions for the positive approval of the educational phenomenon are summarized. Assumptions are put forward about the possible emergence of negative scenarios that can lead to the emergence of pseudo-education in case of incorrect integration of natural and mathematical components. The essence of the architectural structure of science and mathematics education is detailed step by step with the use of philosophical pedagogical thinking. The special place of the competence approach, the “model 4c” concept was determined and the expectation of drastic changes with the new rules of the game at NUS was confirmed. Proposals for the step-by-step integration of science components with mathematics for the construction of STEM education are put forward. Formulated conclusions regarding the content of the work with prospects for further research.