Heidegger’s Thinking on Architecture

Before I start, there is a question in my mind, does god really exist? Does god really related to architecture? Through Heidegger’s, he mentions the temple, he does so to illuminate the nature of the work of act. He believes that things presence in this world is something he defines as “truth”.

Throughout the article, Heidegger have used Greek temple as an example to show the relationship of man and god. A simple portray temple that stand in the middle of rock-cleft valley, if without congest of human, it is nothing but just a building. By the word temple, god is present in the temple. For example, one of the seven wonder of the world, the Parthenon, have preserve after thousands of years until now. It is because human believe the existence of god and that is the holy precinct, the dwelling for god.

Heidegger have introduced and defines the world as fourfold, which is the earth, sky, mortals and divinities. And the fourfold are interrelated to each others. They are the ‘mirror’ of the other, they all belong in the mirror-play. Human stay and carries out activities between the earth and sky. Building is such constructed things, which gathers a world and allow for dwelling. Heidegger wants to prove that everyday life-world really consists of concrete “thing”, rather than the abstraction of science.

Human life takes place between earth and sky in a concrete sense, and things which constitute the place have to be disclosed in their immediate presence. Whereas, landscape is a space where human life takes place. “Space” is therefore not given a priori, but provided for by location. In architecture, space is generally called the making of places.

Dwelling is a building, but building might not be a dwelling. Building that dwell people is a dwelling. Heidegger said that, building are location, and the location should admit the fourfold and install the fourfold. Admittance and installment are two aspects of spatiality as location. “The building bring the earth as the inhabit landscape close to man and t the same time place the nearness of neighborly dwelling under the expanse of the sky.” In this sentence, it shows the relation of the fourfold.

“Language, by naming beings for the first time, first brings beings to word and to appearance.” Quote by Heidegger, Heidegger’s theory of art also consider his notion of language. He can’t accept the interpretation of language as a mean of communication, based on habit and convention. Therefore, language is the original art and it does not exhaust the disclose of truth.

Previously, I have when to a temple name "Tian Hou" Temple. It is a famous chinese temple located in Kuala Lumpur. Comparing man and god in the context of dwelling, the scale, decoration, and space needed will definitely difference.



There is some similar characteristic in this picture compare to greek temple. Both of them will place in a high ground to show the difference power. Beside that, they will have a long walkways before you entering the temple to worship the god.



By comparing the human scale to the column, we know that the space of the hall is huge.



This is a small pond name of "ling guai chi". It is a pond that rear alots of turtle, because chinese people do believe that turtle symbolize of health. This one of the context between man and nature.

The Concept of Place

I agree with the author of this article, and disagree with mobility world. A place or space is a main thing of an architect dealing with all the time. Places, such as house, city and country, create a space for human being to take part of their daily routine.

Space like existential and architectural space will designs for human to practice out their activities as in public or personally. “The essence of the city is not place but interaction.” Say by Milton Webber. But nowadays, technical means of communication liberate us from direst physical contact with others. Through the study of Lynch implies a return, the lack of direct human contact may produce psychic disturbances.

The development of the concept of place, and of space as a system of places, is therefore a necessary condition for adaptation to a given environment. A child learns to recognize and creates a world based on a system similarities to the environment they familiar with. If without or lack of imageable structure, they would loses their sense of orientation.

Further more, the beauty of culture and tradition as point of reference from our pass generation should have prevailed to our next generation. Compare to mobility world, do u think there is anything will still remain?
However, In my opinion, mobile world will be the ease toward human needs in the future. But I strongly disagree mobile world without architecture.

Welcome to my Architecture world.

When I was young, my father used to bring me along to his construction site to manage his works. So since I’m age of 9, I already used to the building environment of the site. My father always have to social with his civil engineers boss, and ended up get drunk back to home. He told me that when I grow up, I must study until the best and have my own ability to work. Not to suffer things which he suffering all the time.

Thus, the reason why I choosing architecture was due to my background and some words that influences by my father. But this doesn’t mean that I know and plan to be an architect since when I was young. I only understand architecture a week before entering UCSI through the Educational Fair. It’s a sudden decision from me of choosing it because it’s just sound INTERESTING. And my entire life won’t feel bored just because of working.

I feel great studying in architecture course. I get to travel to somewhere else with my course mate every semester which not all subject offer that in their studies. Letting those beautiful building, with the composition of principles, texture of material, blend of colors into my pair of eyes is the greatest things I have ever enjoy~ However, the only things I hate currently about architecture studies, was rushing to summit assignment. That wasn’t a nightmare, because you don’t even have time to sleep.

Being honest, I found out a bad habit of myself, which is always doing the last minutes work. Even when I plan to start it once I get the handout, but I still ended up submit it at the last moment. I just can’t figure it out. In the other hand, I found a good habit of me, which is never give up and submit those assignment even burning up the midnight oil. I do believe that the longer period I take to finished up my work, the better the qualities it will be. That was what I said to comfort myself all the time. Hehe~

My family support should be the thing that keeps me going in this field. They’re giving out 100% support to me as in physical, mental and for sure of financial. Last but not least, lots of lecturer had taught me well, but one of them that I really respect which is Miss Sue~ She is smart, pretty, charming, beautiful and lots more that word can’t say~ (credit!) Hehe~ Her passion toward architecture had make me feel the mighty of architects. The last sentence is true. I’m serious.