Context, Image and Function: a Preliminary Enquiry into the Architecture of Scientific Societies

Abstract

From the late eighteenth century onwards, urban life underwent increasingly rapid change as towns outgrew their limits, industries polluted their skies and rivers, and a host of new types of building appeared to cater for new needs and activities. Not only did towns look different, but, as Thomas Markus has said, ‘they also ‘felt’ different in the organization of the spaces they contained.’ Buildings which housed scientific activities—the learned societies, literary and philosophical societies, professional institutes, mechanics institutes, and by the end of the century the new civic universities—were one manifestation of this different ‘feeling’. These were quite new types of building, and we should therefore expect them to give us valuable information about the development of science, about ‘images’ of science and the meaning of those images, as well as the actual practice of science.

Political Interiors: The Case of Public Libraries

“…In this sense, by embedding an organization of knowledge that suits the practice of “good reading,” the public library becomes the expression of an epistemology of science and at the same time of an ideology of social behavior. This is an argument also put forward by Sophie Forgan (1986, 2005). Investigating the emergence in the 18th century of buildings that had the specific purpose to house scientific activities, Forgan (1986) discusses how the development of science was affected by their architecture.…”

“…Investigating the emergence in the 18th century of buildings that had the specific purpose to house scientific activities, Forgan (1986) discusses how the development of science was affected by their architecture. She proposes that buildings “can be viewed as statements” (Forgan, 1986, p. 91) that embody a particular discourse and culture through their institutional presence, its typology, and architectural style (1986, p. 92). In particular, she analyses how the architectural elements were used to convey specific messages.…”

“…In particular, she analyses how the architectural elements were used to convey specific messages. For example, the façade often had the function to symbolise stability and respectability (Forgan, 1986, p. 100) and to make reference to particular historical periods of philosophical importance (1986, p. 111). Even the location of these buildings in the city “tells” a great deal about what they intend to mean, how they should function, and who is supposed to use their spaces (Forgan, 1986, pp.…”

Political theatres in the urban periphery: Medellín and the Library-Parks Project

“…The idea of knowledge is embedded in libraries (Forgan, 1986;Koch, 2004;Markus, 1993) through the organisation of architectural space and access to informational content. Similarly, political and collective values are part of the structuring of spatial and social relations in public library buildings (Capillé, 2017b).…”

Finding a scientific voice: performing science, space and speech in the 19th century

“…One answer was to construct spaces deliberately designed to facilitate the production and performance of scientific speech. In the 19th century, the lecture theatre became a standard desideratum of scientific institutions and helped advertise science lectures as a distinct and significant civic practice (Forgan ). The architecture of the theatres not only displayed the cultural relevance of science but also enabled and ennobled its spoken communication.…”