Ecologies of Architecture in Terms of History and Theory- William Liles

The Histories and Theories of Architecture

 I am writing this blog to record my own journey of discovery of the notion that Architecture is an ever evolving discipline, which cannot be held only in the present and physical form it takes. As the title suggests, there is no single history or theory that defines architecture as an art form or process, but many which intertwine the very rigid structure of existance with the chaos of our own individual needs and impulses. I will explore these avenues as such, through the use of work provided and my own research and exploration, to broaden my own knowledge on the histories and theories of architecture. Which I hope that you will find interesting and as an insight into my own personal connection with Architecture.

Just like most people I have come into this with a preconceived notion of what I believe architecture is as a whole. For me architecture has always been this absolute, and a governing force over culture and nature. Hopefully, by the end of this journey my view would have, at the very least, somewhat of changed; as I delve deeper into the mysteries of architecture.

I have added this image of the Tucson Mountain Lava Retreat by Paul Weiner, as personally I believe this is what Architecture represents. Monoliths to human kind.

Ecologies of Architecture and its Definitions

The definition of ecology is, 'the study of relationships between living organisms and their environment'. In a more focused sense, for human beings this is not just the physical environment but also its links to culture and thought. However, before we explore deeper into the ecologies of architecture, we must first understand what architecture and its surrounding terms are.

'Theory without practice is empty; Practice without theory is blind;                                        The inherent inseparability of doctrine and skills'                                                                  Harold Lloyd

But before we move on I would first like to analyse this quote from Harold Lloyd. The quote in its most basic form states that the process of creation is flawed if theory is not in some way involved, and also to the same extent the opposite. Theory is only effective if there was a basis  of design to span from. Similarly, practice is blind without theory as there would be no rational force which guides the process of practice from concept to final product. Theory is so very important, not just in architecture but in life in general. This is because theory allows us to make sense of the world around us and form ways to live within it. In architecture, theory gives us the opportunity to create viable designs, because it makes us believe that a certain method is correct for a certain area. However, theory is only ever a thought process and it needs to be combined with practice. Through practice, we can confirm or disprove a theory based on our own findings, but without an idea in the first place we would be lost. So in every sense this quote can be applied to architecture and the process of discovery within it.

Etymology and Definitions:

Architecture:

From two Ancient Greek words                                                                                            Arche - Origin or the Beginning                                                                                              Techne - Revealing of things through making                                                                 

And according to the Collins English Dictionary - architecture is the 'art of planning, designing and constructing buildings'.

History:

From the Greek Historia - knowing                                                                                             'A systematic record of past events'                                                                                           And according to the Collins English Dictionary - History is the 'account of events that have happened in the past'.

Theory:

From the Greek Theoria - To observe and speculate upon - a speculative idea of something - an exposition of general principles                                                                                              And according to the Collins English Dictionary - Theory is a 'formal idea or a set of ideas that is intended to explain something'.

Culture:

Latin - Cultura - a state of intellectual and artistic development                                              And according to the Collins English Dictionary - 'Culture consists of activities such as the arts and philosophy, which are considered to be important for the development of civilisation and the people's minds'.

The reason why I compare the etymology of the core concepts to the modern definitions is to prove that theory and history in architecture is constantly evolving and changing, which is evident in the more refined definitions, compared to the more basic origins of the words. But in the end the core concept remains the same and it can be theorised that the histories of architecture is the continuum of time which has brought us to where we are today. The evolving theories of architecture are the intellectual processes that inform design and shape the architectural world around us. This links back the the quote by Harold Lloyd, because architecture is the physical making of something (the practice), but without theory and the though processes developed over time from other practices it cannot be explained. And if it cannot be explained, it cannot be understood, and if it is not understood the practice is blind. 

This all in turn makes up our matters of concern, or the broader context in which our designs sits. The three elements: History, Theory and Culture are not isolated but intertwined and consistently informing and shaping on another.

And with that I will finish of todays blog with a quote from Norman Foster:

"As an architect you design for the present                                                                             with an awareness the past for a future which is essentially unknown"