A History Of Architectural Theory from Vitruvius to the present

Hanno-Walfer Kruft

What is Architectural Theory?

“architectural theory comprises any written system of architecture, whether comprehensive or

partial, that is based on aesthetic categories. This definition still holds even if the aesthetic content is
reduced to the functional.”

Architectural theory is a "guide" for an architect in his work that comes from a context outside of
architecture that is adjusted so that what is taken in that context does not come out of the
context of "architecture" itself. Each theoretical system should be judged according to its own
purpose, and we must ask, first: what is the purpose? and second: for whom is it meant?

As deep as the discussion of materials in architecture is certainly not as deep as the discussion of
materials in other contexts therefore the theoretical architecture exists to deepen the existing
context in architecture by studying the context outside

Architectural theory consists of a written architectural system, either comprehensive or partial,

which is based on aesthetic categories and will remain in force if aesthetics are reduced to
functional.

And there is a connection between architectural theory and the history of architecture this
happens because in architecture the theory in can be by reviewing various buildings in the past
because the knowledge or theory of buildings Mostly not recorded in the form of text but in the
form of the work of the building itself without impretasi in the form of the text of the builder of
the building.

So to know the experience in the building itself will be difficult and the translation will also
experience a difference because making a work with similar elements will be the same but the
experience will certainly be different. However there are some theoretical concepts architecture
can be found in a very complex literary context