Care, place and architecture: a critical reading of Christian Norberg-Schulz's architectural interpretation of Martin Heidegger's philosophy

[摘要] English: This thesis questions the theoretical contribution of the renowned 20th century Norwegianarchitect and theorist, Christian Norberg-Schulz (1926-2000), by considering the cogencyof his pioneering architectural 'translation' of the prominent German philosopher, MartinHeidegger's (1889-1976) writings. It is argued that Norberg-Schulz neglected one of thekey aspects of Heidegger's philosophical contributions; the temporal nature of Dasein'sconcerned being-in-the-world as care (Sorge).Heidegger's concept of care simultaneously acknowledged the way human dwellers are'concerned about' their mortal existence, and how they cultivate their world by 'takingcare'. Instead of referring to Heidegger's formulation of lived temporality (as Norberg-Schulz did when describing the emplaced nature of lived spatiality), Norberg-Schulz reliedon his mentor, the Swiss historian and architecture critic, Sigfried Giedion's (1888-1968),understanding of time as 'continuity and change'. Norberg-Schulz's failure to develop thetemporal implications of Heidegger's ontological concept of care, constitutes the principalomission that prevents the fruition of Norberg-Schulz's ultimate aim; transforming his 'artof place (stedskunst) into the 'art of the experience of living (2000b: 356) (livskunst).As an alternative, it is proposed that Norberg-Schulz's art of place be elaborated upon(and re-interpreted) in terms of a new approach grounded in Heidegger's understanding ofconcerned being-in-the-world; the art of care. The main contribution of this thesis consistsin composing the art of care as the phenomenological 'ground' enabling the architecturalpoiesis of Dasein's concerned (ecstatic) temporality. By grafting the art of care into the artof place, new possibilities are revealed within Norberg-Schulz's oeuvre. In the marriage ofthe art of care and the art of place dwells the potential for appreciating and designingworks of architecture as livskunst. Livskunst celebrates building as the care-full poiesis ofhuman being-in-the-world. Secondary aims include formulating a comprehensiveunderstanding of Norberg-Schulz's theoretical contribution and describing the difficultiesthat ensue from engaging with time as continuity and change.The conceptual development of the art of care calls for a form of critical reading based onHeidegger's account of the hermeneutic 'circle. Since Heidegger believed that Dasein isa 'circular being, grounded in the circular 'structure of care (1927a: 315), thishermeneutic approach offers the most appropriate way to engage with Dasein's emplacedexistence within regions of concern.

[发布机构] University of the Free State