Product Description

"[A] very helpful synthetic overview of the principal positions in critical theory's arguments over modernity." -- South Carolina Review In this exploration of the relationship between modernity, dwelling, and architecture, Hilde Heynen attempts to bridge the gap between the discourse of the modern movement and cultural theories of modernity. On one hand, she discusses architecture from the perspective of critical theory, and on the other, she modifies positions within critical theory by linking them with architecture. She assesses architecture as a cultural field that structures daily life and that embodies major contradictions inherent in modernity, arguing that architecture nonetheless has a certain capacity to adopt a critical stance vis-à-vis modernity.

Besides presenting a theoretical discussion of the relation between architecture, modernity, and dwelling, the book provides architectural students with an introduction to the discourse of critical theory. The subchapters on Walter Benjamin, Ernst Bloch, Theodor Adorno, and the Venice School (Tafuri, Dal Co, Cacciari) can be studied independently for this purpose.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #697758 in Books
• Published on: 2000-02-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 276 pages

From Library Journal
Heynen (architecture, Catholic Univ., Leuven, Belgium) explores the philosophical idea of modernityAthe conditions of living imposed by the socioeconomic process of mechanizationAand its intersection with examples of modern architecture. Her central question is whether modernity is a "temporary aberration," as Christopher Alexander suggests, or an accurate reflection of the essential human condition. The methodology of the book moves in three directions: examining how architecture relates to modernity, drawing a conclusion to that examination by citing major representatives of the modern movement, and referring to theories in opposition to the modern movement. The chapters are built around key figures in philosophy (Martin Heidegger, Theodor Adorno, Walter Benjamin) as well as figures in architectural theory (Christian Norberg-Schulz, Sigfried Giedion). The point is best illustrated by an excellent analysis of Adolf Loos's Moller House and his technique of the Raumplan. The illustrations are few but judiciously chosen. Recommended for philosophy collections and advanced students in architectural theory.APaul Glassman, New York Sch. of Interior Design Lib.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review


"[A] very helpful synthetic overview of the principal positions in critical theory's arguments over modernity."
—South Carolina Review

About the Author
Hilde Heynen is on the faculty of the Department of Architecture at Catholic University, Leuven, Belgium.

Customer Reviews

Nice overview
Good read. Gives an excellent coverage of the theoretical writings of the time. An understanding of the context of some of the theories of writers like Walter Benjamin and Sigfried Giedion, for example, is either assumed or not made overly clear at points, but the book would have probably doubled in size if Heynen tried to accommodate that ;) Broad range of works explored with lots of images to support, making some quite complex theories much more accessible. Very useful text for a student like me trying to get my head around the incredibly broad subject of modernity.