Non-dualist tectonic thinking: twin-phenomena in Aldo van Eyck's architecture

Date

2024-1-5

Author

Altun Gupta, Özlem

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This thesis explores tectonics as a framework for architectural thinking, examining its interaction with social and ideological structures since its introduction to German architectural theories in the nineteenth century. The tectonic thinking of the nineteenth century is marked by the coexistence of opposite mindsets in architecture: classicist and positivist. In twentieth-century interwar Europe, a positivist mindset prevailed amid societal upheaval, leading to a study argument that suggests a reinterpretation of the tectonic framework through non-dualist thinking instead of perpetuating dualist ideas in architecture. The study’s objective is to illustrate non-dualist tectonic thinking's architectural strategies in theoretical and practical correspondence within the context of twentieth-century Europe. Dutch architect Aldo van Eyck (1918-1999) plays a pivotal role in this regard, with his legacy reflecting a philosophical and humanitarian stance, emphasizing the coexistence of opposites and ambiguity in his architecture. Van Eyck's unique architectural philosophy, rooted in the notion of ‘twin-phenomena,’ forms the basis for asserting that this concept is inherent to non-dualist tectonic thinking. The thesis exemplifies architectural strategies of non-dualist tectonic thinking through a fourfold conceptual framework—compositional, spatial, experiential, and metaphysical—utilizing Van Eyck's authentic terminology and selected existing buildings. Specifically, the interpretation of Pastoor van Ars Roman Catholic Church in The Hague, Amsterdam Municipal Orphanage, and Hubertus House in Amsterdam aligns with Aldo van Eyck’s theoretical strategies of non-dualist tectonic thinking, emphasizing the translation of ‘twin-phenomena’ in his architecture.

Subject Keywords

Tectonics in Architecture, Non-Dualist Thinking, Aldo van Eyck, Twin-Phenomena

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/108314

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Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis