INTRODUCING ARCHITECTURAL THEORY DEBATING A DISCIPLINE EDITED BY KORYDON SMITH

Transcription

1 INTRODUCING ARCHITECTURAL THEORY DEBATING A DISCIPLINE EDITED BY KORYDON SMITH

2 Table of Contents Preface: To Educators: The Impetus for this Book xi Acknowledgments List of Sources xv xvii PART 1: DEBATE IN ARCHITECTURE 1 INTRODUCTION: TO STUDENTS: WHY ARCHITECTURAL THEORY IS VITAL 3 Theory in Architectural Education 3 Defining Architectural Theory 4 The Structure of This Book 6 The Future of Architectural Theory 7 DEBATING A DISCIPLINE: ARCHITECTURE, ARGUMENT, AND THE CONCEPT OF THE DIALECTIC 8 The Aspirations of Architects 8 The Concept of the Dialectic 9 Dialectics: A Few Examples 9 Dialectics in Architecture 10 The Chapters Ahead 11

3 PART 2: DIALECTICAL READINGS IN ARCHITECTURE 13 TECTONICS 13 CHAPTER 1: SIMPLICITY AND COMPLEXITY 15 Introductory Discussion 16 Introduction 17 Original Text: Marcel Breuer, "Where Do We Stand?" First Published in Reflective Text Robert Venturi, Excerpts from Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture. First Published in Philosophical Text: Vittorio Gregotti, "On Simplicity." First Published in Writing and Discussion Questions 35 Other Readings on Simplicity and Complexity 37 CHAPTER 2: ORNAMENT AND AUSTERITY 38 Introductory Discussion 39 Introduction 40 Original Text: Adolf Loos, "Ornament and Crime." First Published In Reflective Text: Reyner Banham, "Ornament and Crime: The Decisive Contribution of Adolf Loos." First Published in Philosophical Text: Joseph Rykwert, "Ornament Is No Crime." First Published in Writing and Discussion Questions 65 Other Readings on Ornament and Austerity 67 CHAPTER 3: HONESTY AND DECEPTION 69 Introductory Discussion 70 Introduction 71 Original Text: John Ruskin, "The Lamp of Truth." First Published in Reflective Text: Eugene-Emmanuel Viollet-le-Duc, Excerpts from Discourses on Architecture. First Published in Philosophical Text: Fil Hearn, "Truth to the Medium: Using Materials." First Published in Writing and Discussion Questions 102 Other Readings on Honesty and Deception 104 CHAPTER k. MATERIAL AND IMMATERIAL 105 Introductory Discussion 106 Introduction 107

4 Original Text: Leon Battista Albert!, Excerpts from The Art of Building in Ten Books. First Published in Reflective Text: Juhani Pallasmaa, Excerpts from The Eyes of the Skin. First Published in Philosophical Text: Jonathan Hill, Excerpts from Immaterial Architecture. First Published in Writing and Discussion Questions 138 Other Readings on Material and Immaterial 1 AO USE 141 CHAPTER 5: FUNCTION AND FORM 1 43 Introductory Discussion 144 Introduction 145 Original Text: Louis Sullivan, "The Tall Office Building Artistically Considered." First Published in Reflective Text: Bernard Tschumi, Excerpts from Architecture and Disjunction. First Published in Philosophical Text: Adrian Forty, "Function." First Published in Writing and Discussion Questions 177 Other Readings on Function and Form 179 CHAPTER 6: FUNCTION AND FORM (PART 2) 180 Introductory Discussion 181 Introduction 182 Original Text: Frank L. Wright, Excerpts from An American Architecture. First Published in Reflective Text: Peter Eisenman, "Post-Functionalism." First Published in Philosophical Text: Richard Hill, "Purpose, Function, Use." First Published In Writing and Discussion Questions 208 Other Readings on Function and Form 210 CHAPTER 7: BODY AND BUILDING 211 Introductory Discussion 212 Introduction 213 Original Text: Marcus Vitruvius, Excerpts from The Ten Books on Architecture. First Published ca. 25 B.C.E. 215 Reflective Text: Le Corbusler, Excerpts from Le Modulor. First Published in

5 Philosophical Text: Lance Hosey, "Hidden Lines: Gender, Race, and the Body." First Published in Writing and Discussion Questions 237 Other Readings on Body and Building 239 CHAPTER 8: PROPORTION AND ORGANIZATION 240 Introductory Discussion 241 Introduction 242 Original Text: Andrea Palladio, Excerpts from The Four Books on Architecture. First Published in Reflective Text: Le Corbusier, "The Plan of the Modern House." First Published in Philosophical Text: Colin Rowe, "The Mathematics of the Ideal Villa." First Published in Writing and Discussion Questions 268 Other Readings on Proportion and Organization 270 SITE 271 CHAPTER 9: CONTEXT AND BUILDING 273 Introductory Discussion 274 Introduction 275 Original Text: Le Corbusier, Excerpts from The Radiant City. First Published in Reflective Text: lane Jacobs, Excerpts from The Death and Life of Great American Cities. First Published in Philosophical Text: Tom Schumacher, "Contextualism: Urban Ideals and Deformations." First Published in Writing and Discussion Questions 306 Other Readings on Context and Building 308 CHAPTER 10: CONTEXT AND BUILDING (PART 2) 309 Introductory Discussion 310 Introduction 311 Original Text: Marcus Vitruvius, Excerpts from The Ten Books on Architecture. First Published ca. 25 B.C.E. 313 Reflective Text: Robert Venturi, Denise Scott Brown, and Steven Izenour, Excerpts from Learning from Las Vegas. First Published in

6 Philosophical Text: Adrian Forty, "Context." First Published In Writing and Discussion Questions 328 Other Readings on Context and Building 330 CHAPTER 11: NATURAL AND CONSTRUCTED 331 Introductory Discussion 332 Introduction 333 Original Text: Marc-Antolne Laugier, Excerpts from An Essay on Architecture. First Published Reflective Text: Vittorio Gregotti, "Territory and Architecture." First Published in Philosophical Text: Carol Burns, "On Site: Architectural Preoccupations." First Published in Writing and Discussion Questions 357 Other Readings on Natural and Constructed 359 CHAPTER 12: NATURAL AND CONSTRUCTED (PART 2) 360 Introductory Discussion 361 Introduction 362 Original Text: Christian Norburg-Shulz, Excerpts from Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology ofarchitecture. First Published Reflective Text: E. Relph, Excerpts from Place and Placelessness. First Published in Philosophical Text: Kathryn Moore, "Genius Loci: Hidden Truth or Hidden Agenda?" First Published in Writing and Discussion Questions 393 Other Readings on Natural and Constructed 397 APPENDICES (FOR STUDENTS) APPENDIX 1: GUIDE TO READING COMPREHENSION 398 Right Time 398 Right Place 399 Right Way 399 Tips for Reading this Book 400 Useful Resources 400

7 APPENDIX 2: GUIDE TO DESCRIPTIVE, ANALYTICAL, AND DISPUTATIONAL WRITING 401 Descriptive Writing 401 Criticism and Analytical Writing 402 Persuasion and Disputation 403 Conclusion 404 Useful Resources 404 APPENDIX 3: GUIDE TO CITATION STYLES 405 Why Citations are Necessary 405 Citation Styles: The Main Three 406 Dealing with the Tedium, Efficiently 408 Useful Resources 408 APPENDIX 4: GUIDE TO LIBRARY-BASED RESEARCH 409 A Cyclic Process 409 Finding Sources 409 Index