Archetypes in Architecture
Thiis-Evensen, Thomas:In this book Thomas Thiis-Evensen is developing a grammar which is linked to the basic elements in the art of building - the floor, the wall, and the roof. Centered around examples from architectural history, specific archetypes are discussed which serve as themes over which these elements vary.
The archetypes can be viewed from various angles. The work at hand deals with how these archetypes affect us psychologically. In terms of architecture, it is a question of the relationship between inside and outside, and the role of the archetypes in that context.
This relationship is described as a dynamic interaction between inside and outside space - an issue which exists regardless of time or place. Additionally, emphasis is given to the commonalities which comprise our experiences of architecture. The book shows that these experiences of architecture are tied in with our bodily experiences, and that we "convey" them to what we see. This means that the archetypes are also carriers of specific meanings, which in turn influence the experience of the relationship between inside and outside.
The aim of this book is design-oriented. With a more accurate knowledge of the archetypes and their variations, schematic post-war architecture can be replaced without necessarily resorting to copying motifs from the past. In addition, one should be able to arrive at a more solid foundation for the emotional aspects of architecture.
The author, Thomas Thiis-Evensen, Dr. philos., is a practising architect and Professor at the Oslo School of Architecture. He has written a number of books concerning subjects of architectural history and numerous articles dealing with architectural issues.
Publisher: Scandinavian University Press 1987
ISBN 82-00-07700-4
Illustrated 500 pp
In English
