Architectural Meaning After The Crisis Of Modern Science

The role of architecture in the modern world goes beyond its practical function of providing shelter and space for human activities. It is an art form that reflects the values, beliefs, and aspirations of a society. Throughout history, architectural styles have evolved in response to various social, cultural, and technological changes. However, the crisis of modern science has challenged the traditional boundaries of architectural meaning, prompting architects to rethink their approach to design and aesthetics.

The Crisis of Modern Science

In the past, architects relied on the principles of modern science to inform their design decisions. The rationality, objectivity, and universality associated with scientific knowledge provided a solid foundation for architectural practice. However, as the limitations and uncertainties of modern science became apparent, architects began questioning its applicability to the complexity and diversity of human experiences.

One of the main challenges faced by modern science is its reductionist approach, which breaks down phenomena into smaller elements to study them in isolation. This reductionism fails to capture the interconnectedness and holistic nature of architectural experiences that encompass emotional, psychological, and social aspects. Furthermore, the reliance on quantitative data and measurements in modern science often overlooks the qualitative dimensions of architectural meaning.

Attunement: Architectural Meaning after the Crisis of Modern Science

by Alberto Perez-Gomez (Kindle Edition)

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The crisis of modern science has led architects to explore alternative ways of understanding and creating architecture. They have turned to fields such as phenomenology, psychology, sociology, and philosophy to develop a more comprehensive and human-centric approach to design.

Architecture as a Reflective Medium

Architecture is not just a static object; it is a medium through which meaning is communicated and experienced. After the crisis of modern science, architects have embraced the idea of architecture as a reflective medium that engages with subjective perceptions, emotions, and cultural contexts.

This shift in perspective has given rise to a more experiential and contextual approach to architecture. Architects now consider not only the physical aspects of a building but also the intangible qualities that shape human experiences within and around it. They pay attention to factors such as light, materials, spatial composition, and cultural symbols to create meaningful and evocative spaces that resonate with people.

Furthermore, architects are increasingly engaging with the users of their designs, seeking their input and involving them in the decision-making process. This participatory approach ensures that the architectural meaning is not imposed from the top down but emerges from a collaborative dialogue between the architect, the users, and the broader community.

Reconnecting with Nature and Tradition

Another response to the crisis of modern science is the renewed emphasis on reconnecting with nature and tradition in architectural design. The rapid urbanization and technological advancements of the modern world have distanced humans from their natural environment and cultural heritage, leading to a sense of rootlessness and alienation.

Architects are now integrating elements of nature and traditional design principles into their creations to foster a sense of belonging and harmony. Biophilic design, for example, incorporates natural elements such as plants, water, and natural light to create a healthier and more sustainable built environment. Additionally, architects are drawing inspiration from traditional architectural styles and techniques to reconnect with cultural roots and create buildings that resonate with local identities.

The crisis of modern science has prompted architects to reassess the meaning and purpose of architecture in a changing world. Through a shift towards a more human-centric, experiential, and contextual approach, architects are embracing architecture as a reflective medium that engages with subjective perceptions, emotions, and cultural contexts. By reconnecting with nature and tradition, architects are creating spaces that are more meaningful, sustainable, and rooted in local identities.

Attunement: Architectural Meaning after the Crisis of Modern Science

by Alberto Perez-Gomez (Kindle Edition)

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1040 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	367 pages

FREE

How architecture can move beyond the contemporary enthusiasms for the technically sustainable and the formally dazzling to enhance our human values and capacities.

Architecture remains in crisis, its social relevance lost between the two poles of formal innovation and technical sustainability. In Attunement, Alberto Pérez-Gómez calls for an architecture that can enhance our human values and capacities, an architecture that is connected—attuned—to its location and its inhabitants. Architecture, Pérez-Gómez explains, operates as a communicative setting for societies; its beauty and its meaning lie in its connection to human health and self-understanding.

Our physical places are of utmost importance for our well-being. Drawing on recent work in embodied cognition, Pérez-Gómez argues that the environment, including the built environment, matters not only as a material ecology but because it is nothing less than a constituent part of our consciousness. To be fully self-aware, we need an external environment replete with meanings and emotions.

Pérez-Gómez views architecture through the lens of mood and atmosphere, linking these ideas to the key German concept of Stimmung—attunement—and its roots in Pythagorean harmony and Vitruvian temperance or proportion. He considers the primacy of place over space; the linguistic aspect of architecture—the voices of architecture and the voice of the architect; architecture as a multisensory (not pictorial) experience, with Piranesi, Ledoux, and Hejduk as examples of metaphorical modeling; and how Stimmung might be put to work today to realize the contemporary possibilities of attunement.