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Architecture As an Apparatus of ―Immortalization and Glorification‖: a Critical Analysis of Wittgensteinian [True] Architecture

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Architecture As an Apparatus of ―Immortalization and Glorification‖: a Critical Analysis of Wittgensteinian [True] Architecture ARCHITECTURE AS AN APPARATUS OF ―IMMORTALIZATION AND GLORIFICATION‖: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF WITTGENSTEINIAN [TRUE] ARCHITECTURE A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF NATURAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES OF MIDDLE EAST TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY BY OKTAY TURAN IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE IN ARCHITECTURE DECEMBER 2007 Approval of the thesis: ARCHITECTURE AS AN APPARATUS OF “IMMORTALIZATION AND GLORIFICATION”: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF WITTGENSTEINIAN [TRUE] ARCHITECTURE submitted by OKTAY TURAN in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture in Architecture Department, Middle East Technical University by, Prof. Dr. Canan Özgen ________ Dean, Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güven A. Sargın ________ Head of Department, Architecture Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Cengizkan ________ Supervisor, Architecture Dept., METU Assoc. Prof. Dr. AyĢen SavaĢ ________ Co-Supervisor, Architecture Dept., METU Examining Committee Members: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdi C. Güzer ___________________ Architecture Dept., METU Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Cengizkan ___________________ Architecture Dept., METU Assoc. Prof. Dr. AyĢen SavaĢ ___________________ Architecture Dept., METU Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güven A. Sargın ___________________ Architecture Dept., METU Ins. Dr. Namık Erkal ___________________ Architectural History Dept., METU Date: 14.12.2007 ___ I hereby declare that all information in this document has been obtained and presented in accordance with academic rules and ethical conduct. I also declare that, as required by these rules and conduct, I have fully cited and referenced all material and results that are not original to this work. Name, Last Name: Oktay Turan Signature: iii ABSTRACT ARCHITECTURE AS AN APPARATUS OF ―IMMORTALIZATION AND GLORIFICATION‖: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF WITTGENSTEINIAN [TRUE] ARCHITECTURE Turan, Oktay M. Arch, Department of Architecture Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Cengizkan Co-Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. AyĢen SavaĢ December 2007, 207 pages This study is an inquiry into architecture understood as an apparatus of immortalization and glorification by means of a dialectic formulation on the architecture of the synecdochic Interwar (angst) Period (1919-1939) based on the assumptions of Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951). It is claimed that a dialectical relation between Wittgenstein and his contemporaries may contribute to the understanding of the conceptions regarding ideal of [true] architecture itself. The thesis suggests that these assumptions may maintain a critical pattern for the understanding of the architectural milieu of the Interwar Period, which was a summit for modern architecture. The structure is based on a remark of Wittgenstein stating, ―Architecture immortalizes and glorifies something‖ and its tripartite formulation is reflected upon the framework. In the second part, it is aimed to introduce the concepts in order to draw a framework of the milieu. This part also focuses on the remarks of Wittgenstein regarding [true] architecture. iv In the third part, the aspects of [true] architecture are discussed by means of a historical study. This part also focuses on the principle of architecture as an apparatus. In the fourth part, a dialectical relationship is maintained between Wittgenstein and his contemporaries to shed light on the [true] architecture of the Angst Period. The emphasis of this part is on the arguments regarding [true] architecture. Finally, the fifth part involves arguments on the aspects of immortalization and glorification focusing on its several aspects and ―something‖ immortalized and glorified by means of [true] architecture. Keywords: Aesthetics, Apparatus, Ethics, Interwar Period, Wittgenstein v ÖZ ―ÖLÜMSÜZLEġTĠRME VE YÜCELTME‖ ARACI OLARAK MĠMARLIK: WITTGENSTEINCI [GERÇEK] MĠMARLIĞIN ELEġTĠREL BĠR ANALĠZĠ Turan, Oktay Yüksek Lisans, Mimarlık Bölümü Tez Yöneticisi: Doç. Dr. Ali Cengizkan Ortak Tez Yöneticisi: Doç. Dr. AyĢen SavaĢ Aralık 2007, 207 sayfa Bu tezde, Avusturya doğumlu Ġngiliz düĢünür Ludwig Wittgenstein‘ın (1889– 1951) önermeleri temelinde Ġki Dünya SavaĢı arası dönem (1919–1939) mimarlığı kapsamında diyalektik bir formülasyon oluĢturmak yoluyla mimarlığın ölümsüzleĢtirme ve yüceltme aracı olma durumunun analiz edilmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Bu çalıĢma, Wittgenstein ve Ġki Dünya SavaĢı arası (Angst Dönemi) dönemdeki çağdaĢları arasında bu bağlamda kurulacak olan diyalektik bir iliĢkinin [gerçek] mimarlığın nihai amacına yönelik kavramları anlamaya iliĢkin çabalara ıĢık tutacağı savını ortaya koymaktadır. Bu çalıĢmada, Ludwig Wittgenstein‘ın önermelerinin mimarlığın ölümsüzleĢtirme ve yüceltme aracı olması bağlamında Modern Mimarlığın doruk noktasını oluĢturan savaĢ arası dönemdeki ortamı anlamak için önemli bir model oluĢturduğu öngörülmektedir. Tezin strüktürü Wittgenstein‘ın ―Mimarlık bir Ģeyleri ölümsüzleĢtirir ve yüceltir‖ Ģeklindeki ifadesine dayanmaktadır. Bu ifadedeki üç bölümlü formülasyon tezin iskeletine yansıtılmaya çalıĢılmıĢtır. vi Tezin ikinci bölümünde, belirli bir çerçeve oluĢturmak amacıyla söz konusu döneme iliĢkin olarak önemli kavramlar açıklanmaktadır. Wittgenstein‘ın mimari ve felsefi etkileri üzerinde Ģekillenen bu bölümde aynı zamanda Wittgenstein‘ın [gerçek] mimarlığa iliĢkin ifadelerine de odaklanılmaktadır. Üçüncü bölümde, [gerçek] mimarlık üzerine değiĢik bakıĢ açıları konu bağlamındaki tezlerin ve deyiĢlerin tarihsel bir süreç içinde incelenmesi aracılığıyla tartıĢılmaktadır. Bu bölümde ayrıca çeĢitli bakıĢ açılarının analizi yoluyla bir araç olarak mimarlık olgusu üzerinde de durulmaktadır. Dördüncü bölümde, Angst Dönemi [gerçek] mimarlığı üzerine ıĢık tutmak amacıyla Wittgenstein ve çağdaĢları arasında kavramsal bir diyalektik iliĢki kurulmaya çalıĢılmaktadır. Bu bölümde vurgu [gerçek] mimarlığı tarif etmeye yönelik olarak sarf edilen mimari argümanlar üzerinedir. Son bölümde ise, ölümsüzleĢtirme ve yüceltme olgusuna iliĢkin çeĢitli bakıĢ açıları üzerinde durulmakta, ölümsüzleĢtirilen ve yüceltilen ―Ģey‖ irdelenmeye çalıĢılmaktadır. Anahtar Kelimeler: Araç, Estetik, Etik, Ġki Dünya SavaĢı arası Dönem, Wittgenstein vii DEDICATION Dedicated to Esma Turan viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my supervisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ali Cengizkan for his encouragement and guidance throughout this experience and I am grateful to my co-supervisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. AyĢen SavaĢ for her valuable guidance. I would also like to thank Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abdi C. Güzer, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Güven Arif Sargın and Ins. Dr. Namık Erkal for their recommendations in the final jury. Besides, I would like to thank all the individuals who have contributed throughout this research. Finally, I should express my gratefulness to my family who has always tried to encourage me during this experience. ix TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................. iv ÖZ ............................................................................................................... vi DEDICATION .............................................................................................. viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................ ix TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................ x LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................... xii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 1 2 PROLEGOMENON ............................................................................ 10 2.1 Architecture and Theory ....................................................................................... 10 2.2 Wittgenstein - „the Integral Man‟ - and His Essence .......................................... 14 2.3 Wittgenstein and the Vienna Circle ..................................................................... 21 2.4 Prolegomena to Wittgenstein‟s Architecture and His Magnum Opus „Kundmanngasse‟ (or “logic translated into a house”) ........................................... 24 2.5 Notes Regarding Architectural Notions of Wittgenstein ................................... 36 2.5.1 Immortalization and Glorification by means Of Architecture ........................... 36 2.5.2 Architect as a Semi-God .................................................................................. 38 2.5.3 [True] Architecture; ―Tractatus Architectonicus‖ ............................................. 40 2.5.4 Something‘ (or ‗Higher Things‘) ....................................................................... 40 2.5.5 ‗Less Is More‘ or ―Simplex Sigillum Veri‖ ......................................................... 42 2.6 Prolegomena to the Interaction between the philosophy and the architecture of Wittgenstein ............................................................................................................. 45 2.7 Analysis of the Propositions of Wittgenstein on Architecture from the Aesthetic and Philosophical Point Of View .............................................................. 49 2.7.1 Proposition no.1 (1930) .................................................................................... 49 2.7.2 Proposition no.2 (1931) .................................................................................... 51 2.7.3 Proposition no.3 (1932-34)..............................................................................
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