Cultural Constructs expressed in Construction - The Education of an Architect

Architect Witold Rybczynski spoke about the The Education of an Architect.

He shared that the Architecture of our houses has a dynamic history over time and culture that reflects our relationships with eachother and our thoughts about the world.

Fashion vs. Custom vs. Culture

Fashion changes quickly  in a cyclical manner

Décor  swings back and forth from fussy to simple

Customs change more slowly than Fashion

Clothing (Hats, Ties, Gloves) – Kennedy refused the Top Hat, Obama first president to be seen without a tie

Use of the house –  Parlors, Front rooms to Living rooms to Family Rooms

Culture changes very, very slowly – in a 100 years

Deeply Engaged Feelings we share

Home is not a word universal to all languages.

·         Home = Western European Northern Hemisphere Cultural concept

·         During the Middle Ages there is no separation between private space and public space in house.

o        Furniture moved to suit the time of day – beds and tables in same area.

·         The Concept of our homes being a safe haven is a construct that came out of 17^th Century Holland.

o       Bedrooms and Corridors first invention for privacy at that time

• More attention paid to art and decorating

Comfort  and Physical wellbeing were 18^th century concepts

·         No one even expected to be comfortable. Comfort came around once in a while but most of the time you felt miserable. (Everyone had toothaches)

·         Furniture – Medieval chairs are not built for comfort, they are designed to convey one’s status at court

(Fancy chair – Stool – Stand)

·         18^th century concept of physical wellbeing  Jane Austen played with the term “Comfort” with the same novel awe as “high tech” has today.

Ideal of Domesticity rose in 19^th century

·         Rise of Industrial revolution and bourgeois involved separation of work and home

·         House became more of the domain of women

·         Women became the keepers of the home as safe haven

20^th Century value of Convenience – American ideal that spread elsewhere

·         Lack of servants required the invention of greater efficiency in housekeeping for middle/upper middle class lifestyle

·         Spurred development of many Appliances and changed layouts of kitchens

·         1920’s-30’s Domestic Engineers – Scientifically studied how to structure a good kitchen via time studies