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

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.