Vol. 1, No. 1,
October 1996

Architecture in the Realm between Art and Everyday life

Some Remarks on 'Practical Aesthetics' in Architecture

I deal with the question of the relationship between art and everyday life in architecture. This subject has been discussed for more than a century. During this time two positions took hold: the 'artist' who thinks of architecture as art, and the 'functionalist' who considers architecture a means to satisfy the everyday needs of the people. I make an attempt to establish a phenomenological and aesthetic foundation for practical aesthetics, in which both function and art come together.

Architektonik am Leitfaden des Leibes
(Architecture along the body's manual)

A phenomenological approach will show how the idea of building, in the sense of building space, does indeed require a bodily living space. A historical intersection will critically reflect the dividing of the built space in 'space of art' and 'space in reality'.
(German version only)

Aesthetics and Work

Everyday life - and thus the use and acquisition of architecture as well - does not only consist of dwelling but also of working. Consequently, architecture is also a topic of industrial science, which deals with laws and conditions of work. In the article it is investigated from an industrial-scientific point of view how architectural-aesthetic and -practical factors act together during work and lead to higher levels of performance regarding human actions, improved quality of life and greater satisfaction.
(German version only)

The Responsibility of Architecture for the Lack of Responsibility

Within the practice of architecture, users of architecture are as a traditional premise considered passive whereas environmental psychological research is talking about an active person in transaction with environment. With the help of the theory of Transactional Analysis an integrative model of thought for the process of design and buidling will be introduced and discussed .

Politicization of the Townscape by means of Architecture

Clear political interests and the wish for realization of the claim to power have always characterized the face of the town. The city of Prague around 1400, 1700 and in the early 20th century is used as an example for investigation of such efforts being understood also as a sign of political change.
(German version only)

Why Architecture anyway?

We define ´Architecture´ as ´The Art of Building´. This definition bridges a gap between Art and Everyday Life. Yet this bridge does not do any Art justice: Doesn´t its very nature demand distance from Everyday Life and its needs and worries? Aesthetics demands exactly this. Architecture´s nature would then be understood as impure Art, Art that constantly has to sell itself in an everyday world. Does Everyday Life lose, too, if it is embraced by Art in this sense? In order to find a satisfying answer one must critically reflect Aesthetics and its demands.

(German version only)

The place of architecture in the world of media

In the plane world of screens, architectures as space-art no longer have a place. They can claim their position only if they transform the built space into projections, where medial consciousness is able to transform itself. Thus architecture is challenged to solve the paradox of medial space.
(German version only)

'Space of art' and 'Space for living'

In particular, over the last 30 years American sculptures have challenged the frontier between the 'space of art', claimed by the piece of art itself, and the observers' 'space for living', occupied by everyday life. How does this affect a comprehension of art and of everyday life?
(German version only)

Art crossing frontiers

This essay considers a possible sense in statements about the end of art. The end of art, meaning a crisis in representation, had already been announced by Hegel at the beginning of the 19th century. At the beginning of this present century, Malewitsch shared this opinion as did recently Danto and Belting.
(German version only)

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