HARTAIXX2016-V010100

Summary

In this insightful discussion, K. Michael Hays explores the philosophy of Aldo Rossi's view on architecture. Rossi perceives architecture as a materialization of Spirit, reflecting the human community's desire to organize and represent itself. He suggests that architecture transcends history to become a universal 'geography' and, paradoxically, also embodies the destructive force of art that goes beyond nature. Hays highlights Rossi's belief that architecture, being both personal and collective, is the most important of arts and sciences, as it represents the cycle of human life and what remains of humanity, lingering beyond its time.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The concept of 'autonomy of architecture' by Rossi suggests that architecture is not merely an aesthetic or technical solution but a historical one, embodying the human community's desire to organize and represent itself.
• 🌟 Rossi views architecture as the materialization of Spirit, a manifestation of collective human wishes and desires, which makes it a significant art and science.
• 🗺️ Architecture, according to Rossi, transcends its historical context to become a part of geography, suggesting a universal aspect beyond time.
• 💡 The idea that light creates shadows and consumes matter to provide a more authentic image than nature itself indicates a belief in art's power to surpass the natural world.
• 🎨 Rossi's notion of art having a destructive force that allows it to move beyond and supersede nature is a key philosophical point in his view of architecture.
• 👥 Architecture is considered the most important of arts and sciences because it is both personal and collective, reflecting the human cycle and what remains of humanity.
• 🏙️ The ambiguity of 'what remains of man' in architecture could refer to both the physical remains in cemeteries and the enduring patterns of human existence and values.
• 🕊️ Rossi's late-career drawing, 'Dieses ist lange her, Ora questo, è perduto,' conveys the idea of architecture lingering beyond its time, continuing even after its relevance may have faded.
• 🔍 The enduring nature of architecture is highlighted by Rossi, suggesting it does not end but exists and unfolds in time, embodying the history within its core.
• 🏗️ Rossi's project emphasizes that architecture's significance lies in its temporal existence and its role as a repository of history, rather than in its potential end or conclusion.

Q & A

What does Rossi refer to by 'the autonomy of architecture'?

Rossi's 'autonomy of architecture' refers to architecture existing independently, embodying aesthetic and technical solutions to historical problems, rather than purely aesthetic or technological issues.

How does Rossi define architecture in relation to 'Spirit'?

Rossi sees architecture as the material manifestation of 'Spirit', representing the human community's desire to organize and represent itself.

What does Rossi mean when he says 'The monument, having overcome its relation to history, becomes geography'?

Rossi suggests that architecture, while rooted in history, transcends it to represent something more universal, akin to geography, which is beyond the temporal and more enduring.

How does Rossi view the role of light in architecture?

For Rossi, light is dualistic; it creates shadows, adding depth and dimension to architecture, but also has a destructive force that consumes matter, suggesting a transcendence beyond the natural.

Why does Rossi consider architecture to be more important than other arts and sciences?

Rossi believes architecture is paramount because it is both personal and collective, and its cycle is natural, mirroring the human life cycle, yet it remains as a testament to human existence.

What is the ambiguity in Rossi's statement 'This is what remains of man'?

The ambiguity lies in the dual interpretation of 'remains' as both the physical remnants of human beings, such as in a cemetery, and the enduring patterns of human existence that architecture represents.

What does the drawing 'Dieses ist lange her, Ora questo, è perduto' signify in the context of Rossi's work?

The drawing symbolizes architecture's persistence beyond its intended lifespan, lingering in time even after its original purpose or representational power has faded.

How does Rossi's concept of architecture relate to the idea of a 'cemetery'?

Rossi connects architecture to the cemetery as a place where human remains are laid to rest, but also as a diagram of human life, activities, values, and an enduring testament to human existence.

What does Rossi imply by saying architecture 'has installed the kernel of history in its very core'?

Rossi implies that architecture is intrinsically linked to history, not just as a backdrop but as an integral part of its essence, giving it a timeless and enduring quality.

What is the significance of architecture 'unfolding in time' according to Rossi?

The significance is that architecture does not have a fixed end; it evolves and endures through time, reflecting the ongoing narrative of human history and experience.

How does Rossi's perspective on architecture challenge traditional views of art and nature?

Rossi challenges traditional views by suggesting that architecture, as an art form, can be more authentic than nature itself and possesses a transformative power that can supersede the natural world.

Outlines

00:00

🏛 Rossi's Concept of Architectural Autonomy

This paragraph delves into Aldo Rossi's philosophy of architecture, highlighting its autonomy as an aesthetic and technical solution to historical problems. Rossi views architecture as the embodiment of the human spirit, a means for communities to organize and represent themselves. The discussion centers on the monument's transcendence from historical ties to becoming a part of geography, suggesting a universality beyond history. The text also explores the idea that art, and by extension architecture, can be more authentic than nature, with a destructive force that allows it to surpass the natural world. The paragraph concludes with a reflection on architecture as the enduring legacy of humanity, symbolized by the ambiguity of 'what remains of man,' and the notion that architecture continues beyond its time, carrying the essence of history within it.

Keywords

💡Autonomy of Architecture

The term 'Autonomy of Architecture' refers to the idea that architecture can be understood and appreciated independently of its functional, aesthetic, or technological aspects, and is intrinsically tied to the historical context. In the video, it is mentioned that Rossi views architecture as an aesthetic and technical solution to a historical problem, suggesting that it is a material manifestation of the human community's desire to organize and represent itself.

💡Spirit

In the context of the video, 'Spirit' is used to describe the intangible essence or collective consciousness that architecture embodies. Rossi understands architecture as the material actualization of this 'Spirit,' which represents the human community's wish and desire to organize itself and be represented. This concept is central to the theme of architecture transcending its physical form to reflect deeper human values and aspirations.

💡Monument

A 'Monument' in the video is discussed as a structure that has transcended its historical significance and has become a part of the geographical landscape. Rossi suggests that a monument, by overcoming its relation to history, embodies something more universal and timeless. The term is used to illustrate the idea that architecture can move beyond its initial purpose and become a lasting testament to human existence.

💡Geography

'Geography' in the script is used to describe the transformation of a monument from a historical entity to a geographical one. Rossi posits that architecture, once it has overcome its historical ties, becomes ingrained in the natural landscape, thus reflecting a universality that is beyond the specificities of time and place. This concept is integral to understanding how architecture can represent both the historical and the enduring.

💡Light and Shadows

The concept of 'Light and Shadows' is used metaphorically in the video to discuss the dual nature of art and architecture. Rossi suggests that the light that creates shadows is the same light that consumes matter, implying that art has the power to both reveal and destroy. This idea is central to the theme of art's authenticity and its ability to provide a more genuine representation than nature itself.

💡Authenticity

'Authenticity' in the video is related to the power of art and architecture to provide a truer image or representation than what is naturally given. Rossi implies that art can surpass the authenticity of nature through its transformative and destructive forces. This concept is key to understanding the video's message about the profound impact and significance of architecture as an art form.

💡Destructive Force

The 'Destructive Force' mentioned in the video refers to the power of art to not only create but also to consume and transform. Rossi suggests that this force allows art to move beyond the natural, to supersede it, and to provide a more authentic representation. This concept is used to explore the complex relationship between creation and destruction in the context of art and architecture.

💡Cemetery

A 'Cemetery' is used in the video as an example to illustrate the concept of 'what remains of man.' It is a place where the physical remains of individuals are laid to rest, but also a place that diagrams human patterns of existence, activities, and values. The cemetery serves as a metaphor for architecture's role in enduring beyond the human lifespan, reflecting the enduring nature of human culture and memory.

💡Human Patterns of Existence

The term 'Human Patterns of Existence' is used to describe the ways in which architecture reflects and diagrams the activities, values, and behaviors of human communities. In the video, the cemetery is highlighted as an example of how architecture can outlive humans and continue to represent the patterns of human life, thus becoming a testament to human existence.

💡Enduring

'Enduring' in the video refers to the capacity of architecture to persist and remain significant over time, even beyond its intended lifespan or the end of its functional necessity. Rossi's discussion of the cemetery and the concept of 'what remains of man' emphasizes the enduring nature of architecture as a reflection of human history and culture.

💡Kernel of History

The 'Kernel of History' is a metaphor used in the video to describe the inherent historical essence that architecture contains. Rossi suggests that architecture does not come to an end because it is embedded with the core of history, unfolding in time and reflecting the ongoing narrative of human experience. This concept is central to understanding the timeless and evolving nature of architecture.

Highlights

Rossi views architecture as the material actualization of Spirit and a manifestation of the human community's desire to organize and represent itself.

Architecture, according to Rossi, emerges in history but also shows something beyond history, something more universal.

The monument, as Rossi describes, transcends its historical relation and becomes geography, symbolizing a universal aspect of architecture.

Rossi suggests that the light creating shadows is the same light that consumes matter, offering a more authentic image than what artists intend to convey.

For Rossi, art is more authentic than nature, yet it possesses a destructive force that allows it to move beyond and supersede nature.

Architecture is considered the most important of sciences by Rossi due to its natural cycle, akin to the human life cycle, and what remains of man.

The phrase 'This is what remains of man' is ambiguous, relating to both the physical remains of individuals and the enduring patterns of human existence.

Architecture, as depicted by Rossi, outlives humans, diagramming human activities, values, and existence.

Rossi's drawing 'Dieses ist lange her, Ora questo, è perduto' conveys the lingering presence of architecture beyond its time.

Architecture's significance, as per Rossi, lies in its enduring nature and its role as a repository of history within its core.

Rossi emphasizes that architecture does not come to an end but exists and unfolds in time, embodying the essence of human presence.

Autonomy of architecture is presented by Rossi as an aesthetic and technical solution to historical problems.

Rossi's perspective sees the monument's transition from art to geography, reflecting a deeper, timeless aspect of architecture.

The destructive aspect of art, as described by Rossi, is a force that allows it to surpass the natural world.

Rossi's late-career drawing symbolizes the idea of architecture's persistence beyond its intended lifespan or relevance.

Architecture's role in Rossi's view is not about its end but its inherent historical significance and timeless existence.

Transcripts

K. MICHAEL HAYS: It's important to note here that what

Rossi calls the autonomy of architecture, architecture on its own,

so to speak, appears as an aesthetic and technical solution

to a problem that's neither aesthetic nor technological,

but is historical.

Rossi understands architecture as the material actualization of Spirit.

As a kind of manifestation of the human community's

wish and desire to organize itself and represent itself.

Listen to how Rossi thinks of Spirit's appearance in architecture:

"The monument, having overcome its relation to history, becomes geography.

Perhaps, is not the light that creates shadows

the same light that consumes matter, giving us

a more authentic image of that which artists themselves want to give us?

For this, more than because it's personal and collective at once,

architecture is the most important of the arts and sciences, for its cycle

is natural, like the cycle of man..."

Let me read that again and unpack it.

"The monument, having overcome its relation to history,

becomes geography."

So architecture, for Rossi, emerges in history,

but it shows forth something that's beyond history,

something more universal.

But just as quickly, just as quickly as it's shown that forth, it also leaves,

it leaves its status as art and it moves back into the earth

and becomes geography.

And then Rossi, "Perhaps, is not the light that creates the shadows

the same light that consumes matter, giving us

a more authentic image of that which artists themselves want to give us?"

It seems here that, for Rossi, art is beyond the natural.

Art is more authentic than nature itself.

But art has a destructive force.

This idea that the light that consumes matter.

And that destructive force gives it a way

of moving beyond nature, of superseding nature.

And then he says, "For this, more than because it's personal and collective

at once, architecture is the most important of sciences, for its cycle

is natural like the cycle of man,

but it is what remains of man."

Now this last sentence, "This is what remains of man" is highly ambiguous.

Think again of the cemetery, the city of the dead.

It's quite literally where the remains of human individuals have been placed,

but, at the same time, the architecture of the cemetery

diagrams human patterns of existence, human activities and human values,

and it also outlives humans.

Architecture is what remains of man.

Look at this drawing that Rossi made late in his career.

It's entitled in German and Italian: "Dieses ist lange her, Ora questo

è perduto."

"This is long ago, and now this is past."

It gives you a sense, again, of architecture

not just continuing in time, but of architecture lingering

beyond its rightful passing.

Architecture remaining after it should have ended,

after its legitimacy and maybe even its need or its representational power

has ended.

But what's important about Rossi's project, I think,

is not that architecture has an end or architecture is coming to an end,

but that architecture has installed the kernel of history in its very core.

Architecture doesn't come to an end because architecture exist in time.

It unfolds in time.

Architecture is what remains of man.