History and Theory of Architecture - William Liles

  Politics of Architecture No matter what people say, architecture and the ideas behind architecture is political, much like everything else in life which creates opposition. Politics is the concept of how groups interact with each other and their surroundings . You will always find someone who does not believe that what you are doing is correct, and a debate is formed on what will be the best outcome (not always for the better though). The formation of sides and groups, from architecture to what your group will get for lunch, are microcosms of the concept of politics.  "Architecture is a political act, by nature. It has to do with the relationships between people and how they decide to change their conditions of living." - Lebbeus Woods The professional structure of architecture is political. Take this image of a RIBA ( Royal Institute of British Architects) meeting.   There are no women or people of colour present and it is mostly middle age to old white men. Women were fir

  Dominion and Design as an Act of Care The ideas of dominion and care are in many ways parallel to each other. One is a controlling force which forces itself onto another and the other is an act of kindness to something which needs assistance in one way or another. These two ideas may not sound directly linked to architecture; but in reality it is a lot more prevalent than it is first known.  Dominion  - Mid 15c., "lordship, sovereign or supreme authority" from old French dominion "rule, power" which derives from Medieval Latin dominiorem corresponding to Latin Dominium "property, ownership" from dominos "lord, master" from Domus "house" Dominion reflects the human-centric world which we live in at this current time. This concept of Dominion gave a permission to set man at the centre of all things. Even if not true, man has come to think of itself as above the world, above very nature itself. In mans (and I say mans as in humans,

  Diversity and Homogeneity in Architecture The flat earth 'theory' is one that many people believe to be ridiculous. This is true on a scientific and physical level, as we can physically prove that the earth is indeed cylindrical. However, on a more philosophical level, due to human advancements in communication and the ease of travel, the earth is getting flatter. It has never been easier to travel from the United States for example, to Japan or From the United Kingdom to Australia. This interconnectivity has allowed the world to greater or lesser extents, become more diverse and whole. However, in Architecture it is not always the best to create a sameness between structures which span multiple countries. This is because, these buildings were first designed to fit a specific countries culture and ideology. If you then go and place it in another country, two things can happen. It will either, be forgotten as it does not represent the place it is in, or it will cause the cultu

 Ecologies and Interconnectedness of Architecture Ecology is the study of an organism and its interaction with its environment. Ecologies are the houses in which these interactions are categorised. Ecologies of Interconnectedness include: -Communication -Financial and Corporate -Poverty -Homogeneity -Diversity -And Dominion These can be refined even further into: design of power, divinity, ethnicity, gender, colonisation and decolonisation, humane, climate change and an engine of change. This is significant in Architecture as architectural education has tended to have a Eurocentric male dominated western focus that attends little to diversity, whether it be to indigenous groups or females. This is why, now more than ever Architecture can be a driving force for real positive change, If every time it referred to these ecologies and houses of design. These are the matters of concern that must be explored, and as stated in the previous  blog they are not separate entities but intertwined.