Abstract
This paper offers critical insights into potential theoretical and practical cross-overs between the disciplines of ‘art’ and ‘architecture’1 . To this end, reference is made to the written work of a number of practicing architects, namely Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, Jonathan Hill, Steven Holl, Juhani Pallasmaa, Jane Rendell and Lebbeus Woods. Questions relevant to discussions on cross-disciplinarity will be addressed from a range of theoretical perspectives. How might such disciplines as ‘architecture’ and ‘art’ be defined, in which terms and through which language? If two so-called disciplines are indeed distinct, might it be possible to identify gaps between them, and suggest potential bridges as a result? Might the definition of a boundary between art and architecture, or architecture and art, reveal fields for experiment conducive to inter-, cross- or multi-disciplinary theory and practice? It should be noted that the purpose of this piece is not to provide definitive answers towards the resolution of a cultural conundrum, but rather to suggest a range of approaches and lines of investigation in an on-going discussion, as, in Steven Holl’s words, “a move away from compartmentalizing and mental closing is a move toward an open future”2.
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1 This piece may be read in conjunction with the ‘a&a/090408’ discussion transcript, although no direct quotes are here extracted from its contents, for the benefit of referential open-endedness.
2 p59, Holl (1994).
