Abstract:
In an age of eclecticism, post-modernism and meaningless stylistic gestures, architecture is in need of a direction that can speak to a more conscientious society. The direction can be bound by exploring the role of culture as a permanent and valuable resource towards a meaningful architecture.I have collected and analyzed research pertaining to an architectural thesis which states that through in-depth research into a culture’s attitudes, philosophies, and specific sociology, an architecture of real quality and meaning can be created. As a specific test example of my theory, I chose within the Greek Islands, the Island of Thirá. The architecture to exemplify the culture of Thirá is a symposium for studies in the humanities. Scholars of philosophy, literature, and the fine arts are invited here for a three month period to discuss and research with others, the traditional and contemporary thinking of their area of interest. Apartments are provided for the guests as well as community spaces indoors and out for research and intellectual stimulation. A director of the symposium is a permanent resident on the site. He runs all administrative tasks with the help of secretarial personnel. The symposium is to be concerned with providing an atmosphere that instills intellectual conversation and interaction with other guests in a variety of spaces. Informal and relaxed dinner and conversation are desired as well as privacy in the form of an apartment as a retreat.
