Space, Time and Architecture

Research institutes in the 21st century: opportunities for architects

“…Among the recent studies on innovative urban development, many highlight the dialogue between the history of science and technologies and the paradigm of the urban environment evolution. They state that new knowledge and urban planning have influenced each other [3][4][5] In particular, some researchers focus on the emergence of so-called Science cities and techno-clusters [6,7], the relationship between technological development and urban economy, including related institutions [3,8]. Other researchers study creative urban milieus, involving networks and organisations [9,10], as well as sophisticated interactions between the city structures and the environment [8,11,12].…”

“…At the first stage of the research, a systematic analysis of the historical methods of introducing innovations to the city was conducted. The analysis, based on the methods of sociology of science [4,13,14], identified the level of innovations accessibility for the urban environment in different epochs; whether the inventions had an immediate influence on architecture and urban planning (Fig. 1).…”

“…On the other hand, in Classical Greece and the Roman Empire, scientific and philosophical knowledge was centred in libraries and other public spaces, which were the prominent features of urban planning and architecture, yet not entirely accessible [15]. As Early Middle Ages faced a decay of urban environment, the centres of knowledge became more isolated, behind the walls of monasteries as strongholds of material and spiritual values [4]. Although not directly perceived in most cities' environment, technological innovations played an important role in forming prominent geopolitical alliances of the epoch, like the Hanseatic League and the Republic of Venice [3].…”

“…Although not directly perceived in most cities' environment, technological innovations played an important role in forming prominent geopolitical alliances of the epoch, like the Hanseatic League and the Republic of Venice [3]. Importantly, in medieval Gothic architecture, engineering innovations were perceived as a means of expressing the spiritual aspirations of the time [4]. The invention of aerial perspective influenced the urban planning principles of the Renaissance and early Modern period, featuring a regular street grid with viewpoint axes, large squares, and elaborate front facades.…”

“…These principles were implemented both in ideal city concepts (by G. Vasari, P. Cataneo, A. Durer, V. Scamozzi, etc.) and real urban planning, like the 16 th century reconstruction of Rome, led by Pope Sixtus V and D. Fontana [4]. While the creative power of the Renaissance figures lied in developing a wide range of abilities, without specialising in a narrow field [4], the philosophical thoughts of the era implied that an ideal space can form an ideal society [16].…”