Theory of architecture paper. 10 pages essay, double spaced

Maria Adalgisa Cannavo V.

09/10/2020

ARCD 401-01

Professor: Steven I, Doctors.

Theme: Truth and Ethics in Architecture

On this weeks discussion, Truth and ethics was the principal topic. Both words were

similar for me but when we went through the readings and then the discussion I realized that

they’re not. Ethics come from morals and principles, in a simpler way to explain it; feelings,

while Truth comes from what is true and not personal interpretations. Talking about truth and

ethics on the architecture field made me realize everyone’s definition on the topic to be different,

and also look at the fact that it connects to last week’s topic in some ways. Since the beginning of

this class I started to connect past weeks topics with the new one, so we can say that truth and

ethics can be connected with the way some authors describe creating spaces, Architecture

language, Architecture education, etc. Defining truth and ethics can be a difficult task and

because of the different points of view on the terms, I wanted to look closely at the author’s

thoughts.

First I wanted to address Colin Davies and John Ruskin, both had similar ideas on their

writings. Ruskin in The Seven Lamps of Architecture says "It is not the material, but the absence

of the human labour, which makes the thing worthless,…nobody wants ornaments in this world,

but everybody wants integrity.” He expresses that the truth of a building depends on having an

uncovered structure, as the structure can stand by itself and make part of the general architecture

which makes it ‘honest’. Colin Davies in, “Chapter 5: Truth”, concurs with Ruskin's idea when

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they say that Gothic Architecture is the ideal type of architecture for explaining ‘truth’.

Moreover, Davie has a focus on what is true, and what is not. As an example, hand-made

materials against materials that are made to look like other natural elements. I somewhat disagree

because like the quote that says ‘don't judge a book by its cover’ the cover of a built structure is

not what makes it ‘honest’ or ‘dishonest’. At the end, the way all the details are joint together and

stand as one. So, every piece of material and hard work is what gives the building authenticity.

Diane Ghirardo in The Architecture of Deceit, has a focus on the responsibility of the

architect. She discusses how architecture is divided by people who see it as art and those who

just see it as a service. But on the contrary I believe that it can be seen as both , as a transformed

art made for a specific purpose, and as a way for the architect to demonstrate truth and ethics.

When Jane Collier, in The Art of Moral Imagination: Ethics in the Practice of Architecture, talks

about how architects are responsible for the future, I can say that times have changed, and

technology is being created to satisfy the human necessity. It all comes down to human society

adapting to new technologies. The same happens with architecture and architects moral

imagination of creating new spaces for the human being. We have the ability to study and

investigate every factor that can impact our designs in a positive or negative way on the present,

and work our ways up to get the best results for the future.

Having a deeper thought on the readings made me realize that truth and ethics are

important factors for every profession. It is a cycle were most professions look for the good of

the society basing themself in the changing future. When it comes down to Truth and Ethics on

the architecture field, it is safe to assume that implementing both, can create a positive outcomes

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on the work field. Which means that by showing honesty in our work, we are demonstrating an

ethical behavior to ourselves and our clients if we truly believe it to be beneficial for society.