The Necessary Knowledge to Create Architecture
Proposal.
Architecture must respond to current knowledge of the world or allow its purpose to become obsolete.
Classical Nature of Architectural Knowledge.
The original description of Western Architecture is taken from the book ‘De Architecture’.
‘Architecture is a science arising out of many other sciences, and adorned with much and varied learning; by the help of which a judgment is formed of those works which are the result of other arts.’
Source: Book 1 ch. 1 De. Architectura. Unknown Author referred to a ‘Vitruvius’
The unknown author explains that the architect should
‘be a good writer, a skilful draftsman, versed in geometry and optics, expert at figures, acquainted with history, informed on the principles of natural and moral philosophy, somewhat of a musician, not ignorant of the sciences both of law and physic,º nor of the motions, laws, and relations to each other, of the heavenly bodies.’
This allows for an Architect with 12 areas of knowledge.
Current Nature of Architectural Knowledge. – Sciences.
The current Architect must have and use the following knowledge of the Sciences and Arts.
Natural:
Physics, Chemistry.
Earth: Ecology, Oceanography, Geology and Meteorology.
Life: Biology, Zoology, Human Biology and Botany.
Social:
Anthropology, Archaeology, Business Administration, Communication, Criminology, Economics, Education, Government, Linguistics, International Relations, Political Science, Psychology, Social Psychology, Sociology, Geography, History and Law.
Formal:
Decision Theory, Logic, Mathematics, Statistics, System Theory and Theoretical Computing.
Applied:
Any of the above sciences applied in the environment.
This allows for a basic science knowledge covering 70 disciplines.
Current Nature of Architectural Knowledge. – Arts.
The current Architect must have and use the following knowledge of the Arts.
Visual:
Drawing, Painting, Photography, Sculpture, Architecture and Conceptual.
Literary:
Writing, language, signs, symbols, drama, poetry, prose, fiction, non-fiction, and electronic.
Performing:
Music, Theatre and Dance.
Video Games:
Game Theory, Game Design, Action, Adventure, Arcade, Board, Educational, Puzzle, Role Playing, Simulation, Sports, Strategy and Utility.
Gastronomy:
Food, Drink and Culture.
Criticism:
Analysis of any of the above.
Mythology:
Historical examination of Need, value, quality, appreciations of beauty, cultures and societies.
This allows for a basic Art knowledge covering approximately 50 disciplines.
Current Nature of Architectural Knowledge. – Global Society.
The current Architect must have and use the following knowledge of the Global Society.
Data acquisition and use.
Population Theory.
Calendar Theory.
Need identification, and incentivization.
Value identification, and incentivization.
Quality identification, and incentivization.
Appreciations of Beauty identification, and incentivization.
Cultural formation, identification, and incentivization.
Society formation, identification, and incentivization.
Administration systems.
Approval systems.
Population, State, Nation control systems and effects.
Resources, Material Theory.
Raw materials.
Structural Theory and Practice.
Design.
Manufacturing.
Production.
Mass Production.
Depletion systems.
Finance.
Time Management.
Group Management.
Warfare.
Peace Studies.
Key issue identification.
Response methods.
This allows for a basic Global Society knowledge covering approximately 30 disciplines.
Conclusion.
This Architect once had to understand approximately 12 areas of knowledge.
The current Architect must work with approximately 150 areas of knowledge.
Therefore the classical nature of the Architect has evolved into a far more complex profession.
Architects cannot apply all this knowledge into any particular aesthetic style since they become trapped in temporary, prestige, production.
Neither can Architects apply their knowledge of the functional art it into an assembly system to merely produce the product of Architecture or ‘building’ since they disconnect from their unique nature and become only product designers.
They are left with only ‘Ratio’. ‘Thought’.
The ability to ‘Say’.
To consider and respond to any issues sensed.
The key dominant ratio that Architects must respond to in our age is increasing population against decreasing energy, resource and environment.
Architecture must resolve this ratio by becoming only idea and only using resources, energy and environment when they are needed.
To quote Etienne-Louis Boullée
'In order to execute, it is first necessary to conceive. Our earliest ancestors built their huts only when they had a picture of them in their minds. It is this product of the mind, this process of creation, that constitutes architecture and which can consequently be defined as the art of designing and bringing to perfection any building whatsoever. Thus, the art of construction is merely an auxiliary art which, in our opinion, could appropriately be called the scientific side of architecture.'
Source: Etienne-Louis BoulléeArchitecture: Essay on the Art.
Ian K Whittaker
Websites:
https://sites.google.com/site/architecturearticles
Email: iankwhittaker@gmail.com
13/02/2015
14/10/2020
730 words over 3 pages