ARCH – 3292 (Theory of Architecture - II)

THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE
and
THEORY & PRACTICE

BABAR JAVED
LECTURER
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN PLANNING
SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR
2015
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THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

It is the act of thinking, writing, and discussing about architecture.

May take the form of:

• Lecture;
• Dialogue;
• Book;
• Paper; etc.

It became the basis for several movements and styles of architecture.

Since it includes the thinking process, so study of architecture is not possible without
Theory of Architecture.
WHY TO STUDY THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE?

Architecture is NOT purely practical discipline.

Design = Idea + Several Factors

What if the decisions are taken without proper thinking?

• Furious opposition.
• Cruel Criticism.
• Complicated problems in due course of time.

What is the basis of thought process?

• Everything must be carefully thought.
• More than one solutions may be possible.
• Comparison of arguments and the outcomes of decisions.

So what?
• You know what others did in a similar situation and what they got later.
• Better comparison and ability to take decisions.
• Better defense against criticism and arguments.
HOW IS THEORY DIFFERENT?

Ideas about architecture occur in the literature of:

• History,
• Formal Analysis,
• Criticism, And;
• Theory.

What’s the difference?

• History traces developments,
• Analysis explains,
• Criticism interprets, and;
• Theory advocates.

Theoretical writings is that the material concerning practice remains relevant,

• for only a short time or
• within a narrow geographical compass
HOW IS THEORY DIFFERENT?

Ideas about architecture occur in the literature of:

• History,
• Formal Analysis,
• Criticism, And;
• Theory.

What’s the difference?

• History traces developments,
• Analysis explains,
• Criticism interprets, and;
• Theory advocates.

Theoretical writings is that the material concerning practice remains relevant,

• for only a short time or
• within a narrow geographical compass
THEORY and PRACTICE

Effectual architect needs to be equipped with a fluent knowledge of theory as well as

practice.

VITRUVIUS: In architecture, ‘Practice and theory are its parents.’

‘….. Practice is the frequent and continued contemplation of the mode of executing any
given work, or of the mere operation of the hands, for the conversion of the material in the
best and readiest way.’

‘……Theory is the result of that reasoning which demonstrates and explains that the
material wrought has been so converted as to answer the end proposed.’

Knowledge of theory alone results in impotence to fulfil a building project.

Knowledge of practice alone limits one to the skills of a craftsman.

Expertise in practice makes it possible to translate ideas into reality.

Theory that provides the conceptual awareness needed to devise a design.
HISTORY

ANTIQUITY (Tradition, Vitruvius, Rome, 1st Century BC) – The Ten Books of Architecture

MIDDLE AGES (Influence of Theology, Theory as Notes, Chinese Architecture documented)

RENAISSANC (Alberti and Vitruvius, Mathematical and Optical research)

ENLIGHTENMENT (Archeological Discoveries, Neoclassicism, 18th Century)

19th Century (Reaction against Neoclassicism, Return to Nature, Functionalism)

20th Century (Louis Sulliivan, Le Co, Rohe, etc.)

CONTEMPORARY
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION