Theory of Space

Space-Protagonist of Architecture and Bernard Tschumi’s The Pleasure of Architecture both outline the problems of transcribing architecture onto paper. Since we rarely if ever see the façades of buildings as in elevations, nor do we experience buildings only in plans or sections, the architecture of a building can never be truly experienced except in the built form. These series of articles are very useful in outlining the problems of analyzing and understanding architecture, since space, the primary concern of architecture, cannot be experienced in anyway except in the physical built form. Space-Protagonist of Architecture is especially effective in delineating the unconscious yet necessary and fundamental yet not the sole aspect of architecture: the internal space of a built structure and the play of relationships between elements in an urban landscape. The article in its conclusions defines three types of what might be considered architecture today: non-architecture which are entities in themselves without interior space, a built space with a badly defined interior space but whose decorations are works of art, and a built space with a pleasing interior as well as complementary decorations. I think example for this third example, which is the only case in which some built structure is considered architecture, might include Chartres, the Hagia Sophia, and the Pantheon. Architecture, then, is only a built structure which has successfully integrated space with its decorative elements. This is a very high standard for architecture, but one which I feel is appropriate. If Bernard Tschumi’s argument that architecture’s importance lies in part on its ‘pleasurable uselessness’, then architecture should be a very well made and awe-inspiring ‘useless’ experience. I think Tschumi’s argument has merit because by arguing for the pleasure which architecture can elicit, then we as architects are set to a higher standard. If we can forever argue that it’s practical and therefore necessary, then there are other aspects of architecture, like craftsmanship, attention to detail, and thoroughly thought out progression and space, which can be excused, no matter how awful they turn out to be.