Architecture in the Age of Divided Representation : The Question of Creativity in the Shadow of Production

In this long-awaited work, Dalibor Vesely proposes an alternative to the narrow vision of contemporary architecture as a discipline that can be treated as an instrument or commodity. In doing so, he offers nothing less than an account of the ontological and cultural foundations of modern architecture and, consequently, of the nature and cultural role of architecture through history. Vesely's argument, structured as a critical dialogue, discovers the first plausible anticipation of modernity in the formation of Renaissance perspective. Understanding this notion of perspective against the background of the medieval philosophy of light, he argues, leads to an understanding of architectural space as formed by typical human situations and by light before it is structured geometrically. The central part of the book addresses the question of divided representation--the tension between the instrumental and the communicative roles of architecture--in the period of the baroque, when architectural thinking was seriously challenged by the emergence of modern science.Vesely argues that to resolve the dilemma of modernity-- reconciling the inventions and achievements of modern technology with the human condition and the natural world--we can turn to architecture and its latent capacity to reconcile different levels of reality, its ability to relate abstract ideas and conceptual structures to the concrete situations of everyday life. Vesely sees the restoration of this communicative role of architecture as the key to the restoration of architecture as the topological and corporeal foundation of culture; what the book is to our literacy, he argues, architecture is to culture as a whole. He concludes by proposing a new poetics of architecture that will serve as a framework for the restoration of the humanistic role of architecture in the age of technology. Reclaiming the humanistic role of architecture in the age of technology: an examination of architecture's indispensable role as a cultural force throughout history.In this long-awaited work, Dalibor Vesely proposes an alternative to the narrow vision of contemporary architecture as a discipline that can be treated as an instrument or commodity. In doing so, he offers nothing less than an account of the ontological and cultural foundations of modern architecture and, consequently, of the nature and cultural role of architecture through history. Vesely's argument, structured as a critical dialogue, discovers the first plausible anticipation of modernity in the formation of Renaissance perspective. Understanding this notion of perspective against the background of the medieval philosophy of light, he argues, leads to an understanding of architectural space as formed by typical human situations and by light before it is structured geometrically. The central part of the book addresses the question of divided representation—the tension between the instrumental and the communicative roles of architecture—in the period of the baroque, when architectural thinking was seriously challenged by the emergence of modern science. Vesely argues that to resolve the dilemma of modernity—reconciling the inventions and achievements of modern technology with the human condition and the natural world—we can turn to architecture and its latent capacity to reconcile different levels of reality, its ability to relate abstract ideas and conceptual structures to the concrete situations of everyday life. Vesely sees the restoration of this communicative role of architecture as the key to the restoration of architecture as the topological and corporeal foundation of culture; what the book is to our literacy, he argues, architecture is to culture as a whole. He concludes by proposing a new poetics of architecture that will serve as a framework for the restoration of the humanistic role of architecture in the age of technology. The Central Part Of The Book Addresses The Question Of Divided Representation - The Tension Between The Instrumental And The Communicative Roles Of Architecture - In The Period Of The Baroque, When Architectural Thinking Was Seriously Challenged By The Emergence Of Modern Science. Vesely Sees The Restoration Of This Communicative Role Of Architecture As The Key To The Restoration Of Architecture As The Topological And Corporeal Foundation Of Culture; What The Book Is To Our Literacy, He Argues, Architecture Is To Culture As A Whole.--jacket. Modernity, Freedom, And Destiny -- The Nature Of Communicative Space -- The Perspectival Transformation Of The Medieval World -- The Age Of Divided Representation -- The Foundations Of Modern Architecture -- Creativity In The Shadow Of Modern Technology -- The Rehabilitation Of Fragment -- Toward A Poetics Of Architecture. Dalibor Vesely. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [464]-491) And Index. Contents......Page 8 Illustrations......Page 9 Acknowledgments......Page 17 Introductions......Page 21 1. Modernity, Freedom, and Destiny......Page 30 2. The Nature of Communicative Space......Page 62 3. The Perspective Transformation of the Medieval World......Page 128 4. The Age of Divided Representation......Page 194 5. The Foundations of Modern Architecture......Page 248 6. Creativity in the Shadow of Modern Technology......Page 300 7. The Rehabilitation of Fragment......Page 336 8. Toward a Poetics of Architecture......Page 374 Notes......Page 409 Works Cited......Page 483 Illustration Credits......Page 511 Index......Page 515 "The central part of the book addresses the question of divided representation - the tension between the instrumental and the communicative roles of architecture - in the period of the baroque, when architectural thinking was seriously challenged by the emergence of modern science. Vesely sees the restoration of this communicative role of architecture as the key to the restoration of architecture as the topological and corporeal foundation of culture; what the book is to our literacy, he argues, architecture is to culture as a whole."--BOOK JACKET. The MIT Press Contents 8 Illustrations 9 Acknowledgments 17 Introductions 21 1. Modernity, Freedom, and Destiny 30 2. The Nature of Communicative Space 62 3. The Perspective Transformation of the Medieval World 128 4. The Age of Divided Representation 194 5. The Foundations of Modern Architecture 248 6. Creativity in the Shadow of Modern Technology 300 7. The Rehabilitation of Fragment 336 8. Toward a Poetics of Architecture 374 Notes 409 Works Cited 483 Illustration Credits 511 Index 515 0262220679,9780262220675