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Three Views of Space - Henri Lefebvre: "The Production of Space"; Anthony Vidler: "Architectural Uncanny"; Bill Hillier: "Space Is the Machine"

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dc.contributor.advisor Wood, Peter
dc.contributor.author Omar, Zatur-Rawihah
dc.date.accessioned 2010-07-30T04:11:34Z
dc.date.accessioned 2022-10-11T23:16:37Z
dc.date.available 2010-07-30T04:11:34Z
dc.date.available 2022-10-11T23:16:37Z
dc.date.copyright 2002
dc.date.issued 2002
dc.identifier.uri https://ir.wgtn.ac.nz/handle/123456789/21785
dc.description.abstract The thesis focuses on the relationship between representation and reality of space. The discussion takes Henri Lefebvre's notion of 'abstract space' that is introduced in his work The Production of Space as its starting point. Abstract space is essentially the product of the process of rationalization. It is conceptualized mentally and not connected to a 'practical' reality. The emphasis placed on rationalization has resulted in the dominance of the representation of space over lived experience. Consequently, the conception of modern space ignores social existence. For Lefebvre, abstract space is the direct consequence of Capitalism. In effect, it has become an instrument to serve Capitalism. Its existence encompasses everything within the Capitalist society including the space of architecture. The total dominance of abstract space (which is the representation of space) creates problems to the modern subject. In Architectural Uncanny, Anthony Vidler looks at the problems by addressing the psychological consequence of abstract space. The 20th century metropolis, which is the product of Capitalism, becomes the background to study the psychological consequences of abstract space. Vidler addresses the problem that arises when modern subject experiences Lefebvre's mentally constructed representation of space. The fundamental fault of the representation is its inability to 'project' out to the realm of the 'practical'. When experiencing the new space of the metropolis, the subject experiences the gap that exists between the representation and 'real' space. The confusion is articulated by the condition of spatial phobias suffered by the modern subject. This is expressed by Freud's condition of 'the uncanny'. It is the recurrence of the repressed irrational from the process of rationalization. Lefebvre's proposition to retract the dominance of abstract space in the conception of space, and to place importance back to the lived experience finds its means of expression in Bill Hillier's work Space is the Machine. Lefebvre proposes the reconstitution of the body in respond to the dominance of abstract space. One step to attain this is through the acknowledgement of social relations because space and society are principally interdependent. Hillier articulates an architectural theory that conceptualizes space to be an aspect of social life. To achieve this, Hillier proposes that space be conceptualized based on a model of reality rather than from an ideal mental construction. In his view, space constitutes social behavior rather than merely a representation. In effect, space is to be understood as a potential. Through this formulation, space becomes a 'probabilistic machine'. This is precisely what Lefebvre expects to attain from his concept of the 'production' of space. Through Hillier's formulation, the confusion that arises in Lefebvre's abstract space between the representations of space and 'real' space is eliminated. en_NZ
dc.format pdf en_NZ
dc.language en_NZ
dc.language.iso en_NZ
dc.publisher Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington en_NZ
dc.subject Henri Lefebvre (1901-1991) en_NZ
dc.subject Modern architecture en_NZ
dc.subject Architecture and society en_NZ
dc.subject Space (Architecture) en_NZ
dc.subject Anthony Vidler en_NZ
dc.subject Bill Hillier en_NZ
dc.title Three Views of Space - Henri Lefebvre: "The Production of Space"; Anthony Vidler: "Architectural Uncanny"; Bill Hillier: "Space Is the Machine" en_NZ
dc.type Text en_NZ
vuwschema.contributor.unit School of Architecture en_NZ
vuwschema.subject.marsden 310101 Architecture en_NZ
vuwschema.type.vuw Awarded Research Masters Thesis en_NZ
thesis.degree.discipline Architecture en_NZ
thesis.degree.grantor Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington en_NZ
thesis.degree.level Masters en_NZ
thesis.degree.name Master of Architecture en_NZ


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