BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM

(ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2018)
Name: Goh Jyia Whey ID No.: 0324910
Lecturer: Nicholas Ng Tutorial Time:
Reader/Text Title: The Eyes Of The Skin Synopsis No: 3A
Author: Juhani Pallasmaa
An individual might experience uncertainty which will turn to illumination after reading the chapters as Pallasmaa
make use of opposing ideas in stating his theory. Juhani Pallasmaa is a thinker who have classic opposition between
symbolized image such as an authentic relationship to architecture and image. Surprisingly, the elements in his
theories are contradictory yet inseparable. ‘Dualisms’ can be seen frequently in Pallasmaa’s prose, which acts as a
central to the nature and founding of his theory. Every encounter with duality provokes an inner dialogue and the
questioning of what seemed to be truths among the readers.

Pallasmaa make use of duality to engage in a talk with his reader, encouraging critically thinking and questioning.
Also, statements of absolute in comparing and contrasting examples of architectural precedents are avoided. He
criticizes much of the development of Modern architecture as contributing to the hegemonic eye. Yet, he speaks of
the sensual or experiential qualities in the architecture of Meier’s or Le Corbusier. This criticism shows that Pallasmaa
is against Modernist architecture and yet Le Corbusier was praised with high artistic talent of hands-on skill, a good
sense of materiality, plasticity and gravity, which contributes in his famous architecture.

Pallasmaa thinks that the world is full of doubts and a wide range of sensory and thorough inputs. Pallasmaa’s
case is actually strengthened while opposition within one’s argument is highlighted despite of it may seem unclear to
some dialectical uncertainty in either the sentence structure or concept at first. This particular element of philosophy is
not directly quoted but it is obvious that Pallasmaa has been greatly influenced by the French philosopher Maurice
Merleau-Ponty in his writing.

The Eyes of the Skin, was purposely used as the title to create a conceptual connection between the controlling
sense of vision and the sense of touch. This is a distortion which confused the senses that the readers nonetheless
have to accept and understand as part of the human experience whether through reflection or insight. Besides,
Pallasmaa’s imagery are always delivered in pairs. Through the images, contrasting ideas are juxtaposed and the
universality of concepts across cultures and disciplines are strengthened. With many philosophical and
architectural references, Pallasmaa’s book contains a wide range of highly useful and cultured ideas. The
accessibility of his well-executed ideas enables the book to be famous among a versatile community.

Word Count: 389 Mark Grade

Assessed by: Date 10/24/2018 Page No.