Formalism and anti-formalism as continuities and discontinuities

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Thesis Type: Postgraduate

Institution Of The Thesis: Middle East Technical University, Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture, Turkey

Approval Date: 2004

Thesis Language: English

Student: Aylin Ağar

Supervisor: JALE ADİLE ERZEN

Abstract:

When form is in consideration, there exist two seemingly distinct attitudes to form giving activity, which seem to be constantly in opposition, namely formalist and anti-formalist approaches. The aim of this study is to explore the sources of, and interactions and transformations between formalist and anti-formalist design processes, without overlooking the conventional formalist understanding. The intention is to find out how a tendency in architecture, which challenged the understanding of a pure, timeless, unchangeable, ideal form emerged as a new problematic of architectural form. In that respect, the discussion will be concentrating on some figures of both architectural theory and practice to reach an accumulation of a theoretical and practical knowledge on the issue, to disclose the true potential of architectural form in the contemporary world.