Arkitekturhistorie

An abstract in the usual sense but also a statement of intent preceding the Introduction.

 

(1) The main thrust of my venture is to develop theory and methodology about problems surrounding the deceptively plain task of object and design description, focusing on the shape and the form aspects (for this distinction, see below). The up-front issue is the question of linkage between the “differential curves” and manifolds in Borromini’s architecture and the jumpy and non-linear growth of the budding calculus (here labelled “protocalculus”), roughly 1580 - 1680. The idea is that this architecture, as well as some cases in sculpture,

to a critical degree evolved in response to tendencies, interests and attitudes comparable to those that informed the math ventures. With this in view, the argumentation will draw on resources from the cognitive sciences, information, management and the social sciences.

 

(2) In an experimental turn it is assumed that tendencies can be attested here that may be analysed under a common denominator of variability, uncertainty, instability and approximation; movements of a critical or cutting-edge nature. Similar characteristics (not necessarily dominating) show up in contemporary literature and music, subjects therefore discussed using available sources.

 

(3) Integrated in the analysis procedure, several strands of historical matter will be running through the book. The whole procedure being a stage-like sequence of arguments gradually propagating increased information synthetized in verbal and graphic models; the passage through these stages is the only “conclusion”. It is this characteristic that may alienate some readers in the humanities - but there is no alternative. The interrelations between the “strands”, that is, the correlated functioning of suggested systems (see below, - g), is the critical

theoretical and methodological issue of the book, which is proposed for debate. 

 

(4) Searching for a (not "the") workable theory and methodology, the focus has centred on cultural phenomena that are in themselves of a systemic character, with math and physics in a spearhead position. The Roman Church, centrally positioned in matters of culture and science, provided a mandatory, complex but fully accessible system (here, called the Canonical System) which constituted a fundamental basis for all the relevant visual message programs

and imagery. This invariable rule system (with lower-level variations over time) has had to be epitomized. An analysis of the Sixtine vault in the Vatican and of some sculptures (Bernini) has been developed for instantiation.

 

(5) The above points should make it clear that hard as well as soft data or objects will be in the focus, requiring a systems view for their handling, integrating distinctions such as between form and shape, and between system and elaboration, while it is accepted that explanation is a by-product of systemization, avoiding causal chains and linearity. With this is

connected the operational modality, asking How instead of What, that is, methodology being not just a tool but an integrated part of description and analysis. Consequently, the object under examination is considered as a product of the analysis process. This series of tenets 2 make up the spearhead theory of the work, and a scenario inviting to a sustained debate, which the present work does not pretend to conclude (condensed overview in 4.7). 

 

(6) The open-source approach (a term from computer language) is being taken as a consequence of the cited perspectives. It means that theories, models and insights are freely used as resources, irrespective of “period” or the academic fields to which they may originally belong. The only criterion is that these resources can be used as models for analytical purposes. Theories and models are tools, while academic disciplines containing them are not; hence I avoid the term "interdisciplinarity", which, on account of its ambiguity, too often

masks theoretical confusion and causes budgetary troubles in research organizations.

 

(7) For a preliminary assessment of the book: perusal of the following chapters with graphic models will convey an idea of the theoretical and methodological drive: 1.7, Configuration spaces, Fig. 1.7 - 1 --- 1.11, Structured argumentation, Fig. 1.11 - 1 ---- 3.3, Testing models: the Spire’s conceptual position, Fig. 3.3 - 1 --- 4.5, Filling out the framework, Fig. 4.4 -1. 

 

NOTES. The present digital version may be freely copied and distributed. The author gratefully welcomes comments, suggestions and criticisms which will be useful for a final paper version. - A paper copy for consultation at the Norwegian Institute in Rome. - Depending on storage devices, digital figures will often disintegrate after some time. A FigsStorage file is appended after the Bibliography, with copies of those figures that are essential for the argumentation. It is strongly recommended that this file be printed out separately.

 

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