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Placing Theory and Philosophy in Architectural Design

Plowright, 2014
Theory is used to examine the content found within boundaries of a discipline, to
define those boundaries, to defend ownership over area of knowledge, and to annex
adjacent domains of knowledge in order to expand the theory of the discipline (p.58)

Theory of a discipline will always be engaged with discipline-specific concerns


The role of architecture theory (p.59)

Before 1950s Postmodern thinking

• Defining architectural practices • Seek out new influences


(concerned with materials, • Create many unique
composition, proportions, cultural
• Conflicting or disconnected boundaries
expression, and construction
practices) • New sources of meaning

• Prescriptive and instructive • Diversity in interpretation

• What they should do • Reveal hidden potential and meaning

• Mark new territory


The classification of architecture theory

Theory in architecture Theory of architecture Theory about architecture

‘what is architecture’ ‘how best to design’ ‘what architecture should do’


Using theory and philosophy in architectural design method (p.61)

Both philosophy and theory are constantly used and fully integrated into a design process

Theory will be used when discussing method: theory is the process of determining
priorities by which to propose and judge design

Determining priorities to propose design Determining priorities to judge design


Occur before or very early in a method Occur within a method
Locating the relationship of philosophy and theory to design methodology (p.61)

• Philosophy, along with • A focused way in which the


• Judgement criteria form the
exploratory theory, is one designer sees the world
bridge between intentions and
way to help the designer • Limit the boundaries, focus
• Process by which people proposal
think differently about the decision-making, and produce
develop a particular
world • Generated from the framing
conceptualization of an issue a way of interpreting
and starting bias, enable
• Create possibilities of or reorient their thinking information
decision-making to occur with
richness before a design about an issue coherence in the design method
process even starts
• A point of view
example “My approach is to think about architectural design from the point of view of the
relationship between human and the ecosystem, and I believe that relationship
matters.”

• Ecological footprint of humans


Relationship between human
or
and ecosystem
• How to minimize infrastructural impact

Focus statement (various interpretations)

‘The way I think of this relationship is for


humans to be considerate neighbors to
other creatures that share our landscape.’
Fragment of a design process showing the role and location of judgement criteria in developing coherence
when based on multiple primary factors (p.64)
Method

A pattern-based method (Durand) A force-based method A concepts-based method

Pattern of special use, Focus on system thinking and the negotiation Using framing idea as a way of

of complex forces conceptualized as pressure, organizing a coherent architectural


application of rules-of-thumb,
assets, constraints, and flows response
Rational
Coherence is how the various elements,
Larger degree of flexibility in terms of final
Axis, grid, plan events, forms, occupations, materials,
outcome
Typology circulation, shapes, textures, colors and
Ex: masses address the major intentions of
Architecture is fundamentally about the
Sullivan  form follows function the design proposal
composition and arrangement of
element in space
Identifying framing and bias is the Understanding interest and how it
first tool of a designer shapes decisions

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