Philosophy of Architecture I

All architecture is rooted in philosophy. Philosophy underlies all decisions a designer may make. Put another way: it is nearly impossible to design something without having a point of view. Otherwise, we might as well use a gang of monkeys to randomly construct our buildings.

1. Mies Van der Rohe designed the Barcelona Pavilion as an expression of
Bauhaus philosophy: rational, simple, industrial, and unadorned.

We tend to think of architecture as a collection of styles. A menu of choices. It is certainly no such thing, except in the most superficial sense. Nevertheless, the history of architecture is generally told as a story of evolving styles. Styles are a convenient way to categorize the varieties of architectural experience, but behind those styles are philosophies. In other words, behind every style is a set of ideas and a system of values that drive it. That fact is more important than the styles that manifest under various philosophies of architecture.

2. Contemporary architect Santiago Calatrava believes architecture
is a direct expression of the underlying structure.

Every major architectural style originates in a particular philosophy of architecture. Each style emerges from the cultural requirements of the society in which it develops and is influenced by the history that preceded it. Architecture does not come about without architects thinking about these sorts of things. Any style is the product of a particular system of thinking about the meaning and purpose of our built environment. 

3.Architect  Bruce Goff believed every building
should be designed as if no building ever existed before.

Perhaps simple, utilitarian buildings can exist without serious thought behind them. However, when a building aspires to be architecture we have to start thinking about the purpose and meaning of the overall space, the outward appearance, and every detail that contributes to the whole. There is no one way to design a building. The choices one makes and the direction one takes are driven by a value system, whether deeply felt or only dimly perceived. Why are certain elements there? What materials should be used? How should we merge size, form, volume, texture and structure? Which are the “right” choices? These are, at root, philosophical questions and are only addressed within a theoretical framework. An architectural philosophy need not be particularly complex. But it must be there in some form or the simplest design decisions become too complex to bear. 

4. De Architectura by Vitruvius.

Many books have been written about theories of architecture. The oldest known is De Architectura by the Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (1st century B.C.E.) He is still citied today as an authority on architectural principles. Every architecture student learns his famous definition of architecture: a structure which has the qualities of firmitas, utilitas, venustas. That is, it must be strong, functional, and beautiful. 

5. Saint-Pierre de Rafael. A renaissance plan
reflecting the rational values of the time.

Other books are architectural manifestos written by architects to justify or explain their work. Among the more influential in the modern era are The Timeless Way of Building by Christopher Alexander, S,M,L,XL by Rem Koolhaas, and Learning From Las Vegas by Robert Venturi. 

There are also many histories which describe the theoretical goals behind architecture. An excellent example is An Outline of European Architecture by Nikolaus Pevsner.
There are probably as many theories and philosophies of architecture as there are architects. The important thing to remember is that architecture is not mere buildings; it is buildings that reflect ideas. 

6. Renaissance symmetry in the Villa di Poggio Giusto Utens.

Illustration credits:
1. Ashley Pomeroy
2. Lauren Manning
3. Chad K
4. Public Domain
5. Public Domain
6. Public Domain

The Prairie Avenue Bookshop

This is hardly breaking news, but I found out yesterday that the Prairie Avenue Bookstore in Chicago closed its doors this past summer. This was an institution in the Windy City for the past fifty years. I got a big part of my architectural education by visiting the store regularly in my youth (when they were actually located on Prairie Avenue). Over the years the staff was always friendly and informative and eager to fuel two of my obsessions: books and architecture.
In the days before the Tattered Cover and Barnes and Noble made bookstores comfy with overstuffed chairs and a relaxed atmosphere, Prairie Avenue intermixed architectural artifacts and craftsman style furniture with beautiful books. You felt like you were entering a private club where the only membership requirement was a love of architecture. But it was a dangerous place. I would go in just wanting to browse and come out with more books than I could carry or afford. When I realized they would ship my purchases instead of having me lug them back home it only made things worse. Architectural books are expensive. Especially the really great portfolios, like the Frank Lloyd Wright Drawings published in Japan (limited to 700) or the Bruce Goff collection of plates or the Neutra retrospective published by Taschen. They are all gorgeous examples not only of architecture, but of the publishers art. You don’t find them in regular bookstores.

As the name implies, Prairie Avenue specialized in prairie school architecture: Frank Lloyd Wright, Walter Burley Griffen, Purcell and Elmslie, and the bright array of inventive architects that came out of Chicago in the early twentieth century. The shop’s location was significant in that it helped cement Chicago’s reputation as the birthplace of modern architecture. Their loop location was surrounded by surviving examples of Louis Sullivan buildings, the first “skyscraper”, and the el trains that made it possible for commuters to reach prairie school suburban homes in Oak Park or Evanston. The inventory of the Prairie Avenue Book Shop also reached into other branches of architecture, following the modernist movement to the present day. It was the best architectural book store in the country and its closure is a significant loss for Chicago. I will miss it.