RATIONALISM AND ITS INFLUENCES

GAGANDEEP KAUR,VANDANA SRINIVASGARIMA BANSAL

The first Western philosopher to stress rationalist insight was Pythagoras , of the 6th century BCE.

Plato so greatly admired the rigorous reasoning of geometry that he is alleged to have inscribed over the door of his Academy the phrase “Let no one unacquainted with geometry enter here.”

Aristotle is credited with the earliest study of formal logic, and his conception of it was the dominant form of Western logic until 19th century .

ANCIENT TIMES EMBODIED THE CONCEPT OF RATIONALISM

The first modern rationalist was Descartes, an original mathematician whose ambition was to introduce into philosophy the rigor and clearness that delighted him in mathematics.

He came up with I THINK THEREFORE I AM.

Rational architects, following the philosophy of Rene Descartes emphasized geometric forms and ideal proportions.

FATHER OF MODERN PHILOSOPHY

RENE DESCARTES(31 March 1596 – 11 February 1650)

J.H.Fragonard, the swing, 1767

Rococo was considered a frivolous art, exclusively for the aristocracy, unaware of social problems and only interested in pleasure.

Delicate colors Curving forms Impurity in the behavior of subjects Woman is objectified Playful

ROCOCO ART

J.H.Fragonard, the stolen kiss, 1780 . Sudden climax: his brief clasp, her possible retreat. The story implies a quick event.

• Strong criticism from intellectuals like Voltaire in 1700’s

• Serious art for serious times• Scenes of heroism and virtue• Looked back to the art of

antiquity

AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT

ACQUES LOUIS DAVID (1748-1825) 'Napoleon Crossing the Alps', 1801

18TH CENTURY RATIONALISM

NEOCLASSICISM

• Inspired by the rediscoveries at Pompeii and Herculaneum

• Discovery of the genuine classic interior

• Fresh influx of Greek architectural examples, the Greek revival

• The Enlightenment Architectural Rationalism was focused on being symmetrical,

having accurate measurements of classic shapes, and functionality

• Many new institutions developed like public libraries, coffee houses and debating

societies

Jacques Germain Soufflot

http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Pantheon_in_Paris.html

The Pantheon in Paris, France,1756

http://www.politicspa.com/718-morning-buzz-2/38206/us-capitol/

http://ushistoryimages.com/us-capitol.shtm

William Thornton

The United States Capitol in Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. United States of America, in 1791

William Kent

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Plan_of_Holkham_Hall.png

Holkham Hall

In Holkham, NorfolkIn 1715

20TH CENTURY RATIONALIST ARCHITECTURE

Conception of an architecture

• Close to logic and rationality

• Based on pure rhythm and the simple constructiveness

• Reason (based on availability of resources and needs)

They hoped to adapt the conditions of architectural production to the

world of industry.

They were involved in making public buildings and housing.

We can divide the 20th century rationalism into two parts:

• Early 20th-century rationalismGruppo 7 : group of Rational Architects include –Guiseppe Terragni, Carlo Enrico Rava, Luigi Figini and GinoPollini, Guido Frette, Ubaldo Castagnoli and Sebastiano Larco

• Neo-rationalism (Late 1960s)Inspired by both the Enlightenment and early-20th century rationalismIn Italy -Carlo Aymonino , Aldo Rossi, and Giorgio Grassi.In Germany Oswald Mathias Ungers, Hans Kollhoff, and Max Dudler

Giuseppe Terragni - Italian architect

Casa del Fascio built in Como, northern Italy in 1936

Fig. 1., Casa del Fascio, Available from: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/manzoni/interesting/, Accessed on:15.10.13

Casa del Fascio

http://architecturality.wordpress.com/tag/transparency/

http://followthecreativepath.blogspot.in/2011/07/casa-del-fascio.html

Luigi Figini and Gino Pollini

• The church and adjoining youth centre have a very irregular form

Fig 4, Campo Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Venice, Italy, Available from: http://www.tripadvisor.ca/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g187870-d243058-i39460644-Santi_Giovanni_e_Paolo-Venice_Veneto.html#39722196, Accessed on:15.10.13

SS. GIOVANNIE PAOLO CHURCH SOCIAL SERVICES BUILDING

• This building consisted of a cultural center, a library, infirmary for the industrial city of Ivrea, in particular for the people, who worked for Olivetti.

Fig 5, Social Services Building, Available from:http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Italy/Ivrea/Social%20Services%20Building, Accessed on :15.10.13

Aldo Rossi

http://www.iam-architect.com/aldo-rossi/

Quartier Schützenstrasse, Berlin

http://www.arcspace.com/features/aldo-rossi-/quartier-schutzenstrasse/

•urban structure of residential apartments mixed with commercial use.

Carlo Aymonino

corbu2.caed.kent.edu

Monte Amiata Housing

A residential complex in the Gallaratese district of Milan, Italy

Fig 6, Gallaratese Ii Housing, Available from:http://mimoa.eu/projects/Italy/Milan/Gallaratese%20II%20Housing, Accessed on:15.10.13

Fig 6,Plans and sections of the Gallaratese Housing,Available from: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/134430179/Plans_-Sections-and-Elevations---Gallaratese-Housing-Block---Aldo-Rossi, Accessed on 15.10.13

References:

• Canniffe , Eamonn , The Politics of the Piazza: The History and Meaning of the Italian Square,

• Polemical Rationalism, Richard Etlin, Available from: http://www.academia.edu/4546673/Polemical_Rationalism

• ArchiTexts Association, Available from: http://architextsassociation.com/2012/09/19/giuseppe-terragni-and-the-rationalist-architecture-in-italy/