Inquiring into architectural texts : towards an interpretation of architectural knowledge

Abstract

An investigation was carried out on the contents of the architectural texts in order to illuminate written architectural knowledge. The thesis takes as its case study the required reading list for Introduction to Architecture course at Yale College, Yale University, a mandatory course for undergraduate students majoring in architecture . This course, given at a school with a liberal arts education program, lists more readings than do any other similar courses given at other schools surveyed for this thesis. In this undergraduate course, the texts are used as background information for the students t o draw upon in order to do their assignments. The texts used for the course range widely, from a first-century treatise to articles published in the eighties. They represent a continuous development of architectural thought throughout the history of architecture. Yet the reading list exclude several major theoretical works of architecture. The examination of the texts shows that they are primarily theoretical,and expose different proper ties and principles of architecture and attitudes towards architects and architecture . Some of the texts contradicts with each other, others are in agreement. Very few of the texts are concerned with the practical knowledge of architecture. Humanistic, populist approaches, as exemplified by several texts written by previous faculty members of the school, seem to dominate the themes of the readings. The list does not attempt to include classical works written by non-architect authors.