Theorie + Praxis

 

Architectural theory is the never-ending interpretation of architecture and architectural practice is the application of knowledge in the built environment. They seem to go hand in hand but why is one harder to understand than the other? In my opinion, theory stands to be a daunting topic because of its evolving nature to being open-ended. In Johnathan Culler’s book “What is Theory?” he writes: "The unmasterability of theory is a major cause of resistance to it. A good deal of the hostility to theory, no doubt, comes from the fact that, to admit the importance of theory is to make an open-ended commitment, to leave yourself in a position where there are always important things you don't know." In a conversation about the end of theory in architecture, Peter Eisenman says that “Built work is not the only thing about architecture. And the reason why we have a discipline, the reason why we're here studying, is not to learn how to build better, or that built work encompasses the only important condition that exists in architecture. Built work can be theoretical, but sometimes books are more important than buildings.”