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Architectural discourse from the illustrated *French Dictionary of Architecture* (1856) by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc

Architectural theory is the act of thinking, discussing, or most importantly writing about architecture. Architectural theory is taught in most architecture schools and is practiced by the world's leading architects. Some forms that architecture theory takes are the lecture or dialogue, the treatise or book, and the paper project or competition entry. Architectural theory is often didactic, and theorists tend to stay close to or work from within schools. It has existed in some form since antiquity, and as publishing became more common, architectural theory gained an increased richness. Books, magazines, and journals published an unprecedented amount of works by architects and critics in the Twentieth century. As a result, styles and movements formed and dissolved much more quickly than the relatively enduring modes in earlier history. It is to be expected that the use of the internet will further the discourse on architecture in the Twenty first century.

History

Antiquity

Middle Ages

Throughout the Middle Ages, architectural knowledge was passed by transcription, word of mouth and technically in master builders' lodges.^[1]Due to the laborious nature of transcription, few examples of architectural theory were penned in this time period. Most works that from this period were theological, and were transcriptions of the bible, so the architectural theories were the notes on structures included therein. The Abbot Suger's Liber de rebus in administratione sua gestis, was the only architectural document that emerged with gothic architecture.

Renaissance

Enlightenment

Nineteenth century

Reaction against the dominance of neo-classical architecture came to the fore in the 1820s with Augustus Pugin providing a moral and theoretical basis for Gothic Revival architecture, and in the 1840s John Ruskin developed this ethos. Towards the end of the century as style descended into eclecticism, Ruskin's ideals underpinned the Arts and Crafts movement exemplified by the writings of William Morris. This in turn formed the basis for Art Nouveau in the UK, and the Vienna Secession.

Twentieth century

Ebenezer Howard founded the garden city movement which formed communities in the Arts and Crafts style at Letchworth and Welwyn Garden City and popularised the style as domestic architecture. In Vienna, Adolf Loos wrote Ornament and Crime, and while his own style can be seen as part of the transition to Art Deco, his demand for "the elimination of ornament" joined "form follows function" as a principle of the modern architecture movement which came to dominate the 20th Century. Walter Gropius, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier provided the theoretical basis for the international style with aims of using industrialised architecture to reshape society. Towards the end of the century postmodern architecture reacted against the austerity of these principles.

Contemporary

In contemporary architectural discourse theory has become more concerned with its position within culture generally, which is why university courses on architecture theory may often spend just as much time discussing philosophy and cultural studies as buildings: this emerged with the notion - stemming from literary studies - that theory also entailed critique; and that architecture is a critical activity. This, however, then pushes architecture towards the notion of avant-gardism for its own sake - in many ways repeating the 19th century 'art for art's sake' outlook. Since 2000 this has materialised in architecture through concerns with the rapid rise of urbanism and globalization, but also a pragmatic understanding that the city can no longer be a homogenous totality. Interests in fragmentation and architecture as transient objects further such thinking (e.g. the concern for employing high technology). And yet this can also be tied into general concerns such as ecology, media, and economism.

Some architectural theorists

Historical

Modern

Postmodern

Contemporary

Notes

^ Evers, Theones p. 13

Bibliography

Bernd Evers, Christoph Thoenes, et al (2003). Architectural Theory from the Renaissance to the Present. Taschen.
Vitruvius, Translation: Morris Hicky Morgan (1960). The Ten Books On Architecture. Dover Publications.

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[1] Evers, Theones p. 13

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 ===Enlightenment===
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+===Nineteenth century===
+Reaction against the dominance of [[neo-classical architecture]] came to the fore in the 1820s with [[Augustus Pugin]] providing a moral and theoretical basis for [[Gothic Revival architecture]], and in the 1840s [[John Ruskin]] developed this ethos. Towards the end of the century as style descended into [[Eclecticism in art|eclecticism]], Ruskin's ideals underpinned the [[Arts and Crafts movement]] exemplified by the writings of [[William Morris]]. This in turn formed the basis for [[Art Nouveau]] in the [[UK]], and the [[Vienna Secession]].
 {{sect-stub}}
 ===Twentieth century===
+[[Ebenezer Howard]] founded the [[garden city movement]] which formed communities in the  Arts and Crafts style at [[Letchworth]] and [[Welwyn Garden City]] and popularised the style as domestic architecture. In [[Vienna]], [[Adolf Loos]] wrote ''[[Ornament and Crime]]'', and while his own style can be seen as part of the transition to [[Art Deco]], his demand for "the elimination of ornament" joined "[[form follows function]]" as a principle of the [[modern architecture]] movement which came to dominate the 20th Century. [[Walter Gropius]], [[Ludwig Mies van der Rohe]] and [[Le Corbusier]] provided the theoretical basis for the [[international style]] with aims of using industrialised architecture to reshape society. Towards the end of the century [[postmodern architecture]] reacted against the austerity of these principles.
-With the rise of science and modernisim in the 20th Century, the issue of [[Determinism]] came to the fore. If "we shape our buildings, then they shape us" ([[Churchill]]), then there are many ethical implications to every design decision. [[environmental psychology|Environmental Psychologists]] can statistically demonstrate that different building arrangements have huge effects on rates of violent crime, levels of mental health, community activity, physical wellbeing. Concerns about architects "playing god" led many debates, which have continued today (- for example to counter rising [[obesity]], ought elevators to be located distant from car parking areas, and stairs far closer?)
-In the UK at least, the role of the architect in society was challenged from within the profession as a result of such discussion, and has continued to be challenged, with the government's Egan report (1990s) advocating that the architectural profession should focus on efficiency of output (streamlining design, like the automotive industry), rather than on any deep-set social role or agenda.
 {{sect-stub}}