Existence, Space & Architecture

Existence, Space & Architecture

Existence,
Space
&
Architecture

The problem of
architectural theory
may be
approached
in many
different
ways. In
Intentions
in
Architecture
(1963)
to
indicate the
various factors
which deter-
mine the
architectural
totality,
as well
as
chcir logical
interrelations. A
semeiological
approach
is at
present
followed
by
many
scholars, based on
French
structuralism
and
the
linguistic
theories of Noam
Chomsky.
The
development of a
coherent
method of
analysing the
building
task has also been
attempted,
notably by
Christopher Alex-
ander,
while
others, such
as Robert
Venturi,
aim at a
renewal of
the theory
of architec-
tural
form.
In the
present book
we offer a
new approach
to the
problem of
architectural space. So
far,
the
discussion of
architectural
space has
been dominated
by
naive
realism, cither
disguised as
studies in
'architectural
per-
ception' or as
tri-dimcnsional
geometry. In
both cases the
basic problem
of
space as
a
dimension of human
existence is omitted
with the
result that
the space
concept is
nowadays often
regarded
as outdated or
even
superfluous. I
still believe,
however, that
the
space
concept
is particularly
suited for
the
analysis of the
human
environment.
On
the
basis of a
theory
of
"existential
space',
therefore
develop the idea
that
architectural
spaccm
av^c'7iffli!iSI5flil-ii:L-a
I
tried
coiKretiz
ation
^EnSiQmiicimL^LbmiiiLLQLimig£!>j-^J?ich
^pa^
fom^^jlj^g^sarv
part of
man's
general
X.
orientation
or 'being in
the world'.
I believe
TTic^F^^T?niavc~esTa!iTisTieJ
a
simple
and
useful
key to the
architectural
totality. The
book is
indebted to
philosophical,
psycho-
logical and
architectural
studies,
to
which
reference
is given in the
text. In
particular I
would like to
thank all
those with whom I
have
had
the
opportunity to
discuss
my
ideas: Arne
Korsmo (Trondheim)t,
Sigfried
Giedion (Zurich)t,
Kjell Lund
(Oslo),
Colin St
John
Wilson
(Cambridge), George
Baird
(Toronto),
Charles
Jencks
(London),
Joseph
Rykwert
(London),
Hans
Sedlmayr
(Salzburg),
Ferdinand
Schuster (Graz),
Carlo
Cassola
(Grosseto), and
last but not
least, Paolo
Portoghesi (Rome) to
whom
this book
is dedicated.

CHRISTIAN NORBERG-SCHULZ