Reid 1 Michael Reid Prof. Corey Saft Arch 560 6 November 2010 Heidegger’s Thinking on Architecture What does it mean to dwell? Christian Norberg-Schulz, a Norwegian architect, historian, and architectural theorist, was the first to bring Heidegger’s theories of dwelling to architecture in his 1983 essay “Heidegger’s Thinking on Architecture.” Heidegger defines dwelling as “a staying with things” which is obtained through following the “fourfold” of earth, sky, divinities and mortals (Nesbitt 29). “Christian Norberg-Schulz interprets Heidegger’s concept of dwelling as being at peace in a protected place” (Nesbitt 29). Heidegger and Norberg-Schulz believe the primary purpose of architecture is to create a place of dwelling through which the world is made visible. Norberg-Schultz’s main concern in “Heidegger’s Thinking on Architecture” is how architecture has changed from creating a place of meaning, to merely creating space that serves a function. He believes “modern architecture has created a crisis of meaning by creating a diagrammatic, functionalist environment that does not allow for dwelling” (Nesbitt, 429). The idea of dwelling was introduced by Heidegger in 1950, recognized to be missing in current architecture by Norberg-Schulz in 1983, and now 30 years later dwelling has started to make a resurgence in architectural practice. Dwelling is obtainable through Heidegger’s fourfold. Heidegger believes that in order to dwell one must create a place to feel at home both physically and spiritually. Heidegger’s fourfold: earth, sky, divinities and humans, are all interdependent on one another and are concrete things that make up all life (Nesbitt 432). The Greek temple is used by Heidegger to show how the fourfold enables one to dwell in a place. The Earth is the nourishing bearer and in the temple is represented by “making all things visual: the rock, the sea, the air, the plants” (Nesbitt 431). The sky is the sun’s path, which surrounds the temple (Nesbitt). The divinities are the gods which are present in the temple (Nesbitt). Lastly, mortals or humans have the ability to die and the temple is the closest one can get to reaching eternal salvation (Nesbitt). The earth and humans are the physical aspects that allow for dwelling; whereas the sky and divinities represent the spiritual aspects of the temple. The Ancient Greeks understood by creating a place of artistic
Reid 2 and practical merit; the temple was more likely to stand the test of time. The Greek temple brings testament to the fact that a place of meaning is more likely to be valued in society. Dwelling is brought to architecture through language and thinking. Language is the earth of the fourfold, a nourishing bearer; without language, dwelling does not exist. “Man dwells in language, that is: when he listens to and responds to language the world which he is, is opened up, and an authentic existence becomes possible” (Nesbitt 433). It is through language that architecture creates an image that allows for one to dwell poetically. Dwelling poetically causes one to think about the architecture around them. Thinking, involving the phenomenology of a place, compliments the context of a building’s environment. According to Norberg-Schulz, the modern period’s slogan of “form follows function” has led to a characterless environment, one devoid of meaning (Nesbitt 438). Architectural design cannot be solved by following the simplest pragmatic approach to the problem; it is through language and thinking that meaning will be brought to architecture, allowing for dwelling to take place. Without meaning in architecture every building would be similar, one easily replaced with the next. It’s through originality that architects can create a place that is truly inimitable. Architecture in the last decade has started to allow for dwelling to take place. Sustainability has become a key element in current designs; architects are designing zero energy buildings, which give back to the environment. The idea of giving back to the environment is a way of protecting the earth, the nourishing bearer of dwelling. Also, architects have started to learn from the vernacular architecture of the area, by taking what already exists and improving on those designs. A great example of this idea in current architecture is the BeauSoleil home, a house developed by the University of Louisiana for the Solar Decathlon. The BeauSoleil house is able to be taken completely off the grid, by having solar panels for energy usage, a cistern for water collection, and a dog trot area for passive ventilation (Spell 1). These sustainable systems connect the house with nature, by making the house completely dependent on the resources of the earth. Also, the BeauSoleil home reflects the Cajun culture of Louisiana by taking on the typical characteristics of a shotgun home. The house incorporates large porches surrounding the home for socialization, and a modern form of the gable roof for correct solar orientation (Spell, 2). Also, the home uses a cypress rain screen system for water catchment, while still holding true to the cypress siding typical of Louisiana. By representing the Cajun culture the design brings meaning by connecting the BeauSoleil home to the deep rooted history of the existing area. The
Reid 3 BeauSoleil home was able to take what already existed and improve upon it, making the house capable of dwelling by implementing culture and sustainability into the design. Dwelling has started to appear in current architecture. According to Norberg-Schulz, the pragmatic approach to architecture between the two wars had led to a “schematic and characterless environment, with insufficient possibilities for human dwelling� (Nesbitt 438). Architects have started to abandon this functionalist approach by the implementation of sustainability and culture into current designs. The BeauSoleil home at the University of Louisiana is a testament to the use of sustainability and culture in today’s architecture. By embracing the past, architecture has allowed for dwelling to take place again in current design. Architects should not abandon the functionalist approach completely but learn to create buildings that are both pragmatic and artistic, which will lead to lasting designs that are both efficient and deep in meaning.
Reid 4 Bibliography Howard, Brain Clark. “The History of Long Island’s First Suburb, Levittown.” The Daily Green. LexisNexis, 23 Jan. 2008. Web. 12 Oct. 2010. <http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/eco-friendly/ levittown-going-green-46012308>. Leach, Neil. Rethinking Architecture: A reader in Cultural Theory. London: Routledge, 1997. Print. Norberg-Schulz, Christian. Theorizing A New Agenda For Architecture. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1996. Print. Spell, Sarah. “Power House.” Beausoleil Home. University of Louisiana, Spring 2009. Web. 10 Oct. 2010. <http://www.louisiana.edu/Advancement/PRNS/lala/2009-SPRG/BeauSoleil.pdf>.