Considering the Relationship between Architecture and Philosophy: Toyo Ito’s Conceptual Architecture

Authors: Serap Durmus

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to exemplify the relation of architecture and philosophy over the Japanese architect Toyo Ito’s conceptual architecture. The study is practiced in ‘Architecture and Philosophy Readings’ elective course with 22 sophomore architecture students in Karadeniz Technical University Department of Architecture. It is planned as a workshop, which discusses the design philosophy of Toyo Ito’s buildings and the reflections of concept in his intellectual architecture. So, the paper contains Toyo Ito’s philosophy, his discourses and buildings and also thinking similarities with philosopher Gilles Deleuze. Thus, the workshop of course is about architecture and philosophy relationship. With this aspect, a holistic graphic representation is aimed for Toyo Ito who thinks that everything composes a whole. As a result, it can be said that architect and philosopher interaction in architecture and philosophy relation supports creative thinking. Conceptual architecture of Toyo Ito has philosophical roots and his philosophy can be read over his buildings and can be represent totally via a holistic pattern.

Keywords: Architecture, philosophy, Toyo Ito, conceptual architecture, Gilles Deleuze.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1339420

References:

[1] B. Çotuksöken, Felsefi Söylem Nedir? (What is Philosophical Discourse). Istanbul: Inkılap Publishing, 2003.
[2] A. A. Onart, Felsefe Felsefe Akdeniz. Ankara: Imge Bookstore, 1996.
[3] A. Sharr, “Mimarlar İçin Deleuze ve Guattari (Deleuze and Guattari for Architects),” in Mimarlar İçin Deleuze ve Guattari (Deleuze and Guattari for Architects), Istanbul: Yem Publishing, 2012, pp. IX-X.
[4] A. Ballantyne, Mimarlar İçin Deleuze ve Guattari (Deleuze and Guattari for Architects). Istanbul: Yem Publishing, 2012.
[5] J. Derrida, Margins of Philosophy. USA: The Harvester Press, 1982.
[6] J. J. Gibson, The Perception of the Visual World. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, 1950.
[7] J. J. Gibson, The Senses Considered as Perceptual Systems. London: Gerorge Allen and Unwin Ltd., 1968.
[8] N. Uğur, Anlambilim (Semantics). Istanbul: Doruk Publishing, 2007, pp. 11.
[9] S. Durmus, “Philosophy for the Theory of Architecture: Jacques Derrida and Deconstruction (Published Conference Proceedings style),” in Proc. Theory of Architecture Symposium/ARCHTHEO Volume 1, Istanbul, Turkey, 2011, pp. 256-264.
[10] G. Deleuze, Müzakereler (Pourparlers). Istanbul: Norgunk Publishing, Yayıncılık, 2006, pp. 34.
[11] G. Deleuze and F. Guttari, Anti-Oedipus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia. trans. R. Hurley, M. Seem and H. R. Lane, University of Minnesota Press, 1983.
[12] C. Stagoll, The Deleuze Dictionary. Edited by A. Parr, Edinburgh University Press, 2010, pp. 53-54.
[13] G. Deleuze and F. Guttari, Felsefe Nedir? (What is Philosophy?). Istanbul: Yapı Kredi Publishing, 2006.
[14] P. Ö. Erkartal and S. Durmus, “Sınır(Sızlık) Kavramını Okumak: Söylemler, Binalar... (Reading the Boundary/Boundlessness Concept: Discources, Buildings…), in Proc. IX. International Sinan Symposium, Edirne, Turkey, 2015, pp. 79-86.
[15] E. Grosz and P. Eisenman, Architecture from the Outside: Essays on Virtual and Real Space. New York: MIT Press, 2001, pp. 77-82.
[16] T. Ito, “Blurring Architecture”, in Toyo Ito: Blurring architecture 1971-2005: Rethinking the Relationship between Architecture and the Media, Milan: Charta, 1999, pp. 49-61.
[17] E. H. Alderman, “Phenomenal Translucency in Toyo Ito’s T House (Unpublished work style),” unpublished.
[18] G. Deleuze, “Immanence: A Life”, in Pure Immanence: Essay on a Life, Trans. A. Boyman, New York: Urzone Inc., 2001.
[19] T. Ito, “Tarzans in the Media Forest,” in Toyo Ito Works, Projects, Writings. Milano: Electa, 2002, pp. 344.
[20] http://www.toyo-ito.co.jp/WWW/Project_Chronology/p_c_en.html
[21] http://www.dezeen.com/2014/07/31/movie-interview-toyo-ito-architecture-clothing-wrap-around-human-beings/