Histories, Theories and Matters of Concern

Does space have gender or sexual identity? ‘If orientation is a matter of how we reside in space, then sexual orientation might also be a matter of residence, of how we inhabit spaces, and who or what we inhabit spaces with. - Sara Ahmed’ [ Empiricism ] - A theory that states that knowledge comes only or primarily from sensory experience. In this blog i am going to be learning and exploring the awareness of how space is actually produced and how it affects different people, bodies and identities. Terminology: Sex = biological (male/female) Gender = social construction Sexuality = desire Gender identity = the way someone chooses to identify themselves It is clear that over the last few decades, a growing number of theorists and practitioners have discussed how gender and sexual identity relate to space and architecture and how often spaces are discriminatory. I believe a much less discussed topic is the sexual orientation and sexual identity and their relation to the built environment. ...

Thinking Architecture - from the Greeks to the Gothic Thinking Architecture: Greece and Rome  Architecture as an ‘intellectual idea’ such as the Great Pyramids Thebes, Egypt (C 1520 BC) architecture is used here as a an signifier/ a symbol. Other examples: Architecture as a monument Architecture as a signifier of power Architecture as narrative with a story/ meaning Architecture of hierarchies Architecture of complexity Architecture of worship Architecture as language  Architecture as social order The Classical Period -  Five orders of classical orders: Tuscan Doric Ionic Corinthian Composite Increase in complexity and detail as we move through these orders. All of these orders contained the element of ‘entasis’, which is an optical illusion to ensure columns looks elegant and uniform when instead the columns are far from the same thickness. - Parthenon optical corrections Yet again, sacred geometry is an important aspect to informing architectural ideas. Rome -  Tim...

Sacred Geometry & Humane Architecture Sacred Geometry:  Sacred definition: does not mean ‘holy’, but rather pertains to certain truths of mathematical and geometric constructs that are rooted in deep meaning both as microcosmic and macro cosmic scales. ‘It is our own sacred connection with creation eternity and the totally of the great ecosystems, inner and outer’. - Plato defined a range of Platonic solids in which he posted that each form represented an element and were so elegant and essential that they make up our entire universe. These forms Were defined as: Cube (earth) Pyramid (fire) Octahedron (air) Dodecahedron (ether) Icosahedrons (water) - The idea of these cosmic building blocks remains and resonates today. Microcosmic and macrocosmic relationship. The whole related to the parts and the parts related to the whole. - Mans fascination with the forms of our cosmos has constant. From the astronomers of the ancient Arab worlds through to he philosopher and mathematician...