“Affection” in architecture: The relationship between architect, place and resident in the contextual experience of the proyect

Abstract

This article addresses the relationship between place, resident and architect which is defined as “affection”, a concept considered as the variable that influences and articulates it. As an architectural variable, the “affection” influences the architect’s actions and, therefore, his projects. A series of “impressions” that emerges from the architect´s presence together with what is strange to him in the context, builds this “affection”. This allows him to perceive how others come into play and so reconsider its own experiences when he is going to project. This affection helps the architect to reveal the environment clues and to determine his sensitive behavior towards it. The experience achieved provides him with both a way of discovering environment on itself and a way of self – discovering while projecting. In consequence, different kind of expressions arises and it is the architectural project which integrates them all in its own specific language. Arguments on the role of architects in contemporary society can be opened after considering the affection in architecture; arguments which may also consider discussing about the sensitivity of architects’ actions and the relevance of the context in an architectural work. When critically analyzing the discipline both aspects often arise but with little objectivity. Thus, discussing the concept of affection, aims to strengthen a more humanistic point of view of the discipline, in a transmodern scenario that sees this renewed humanism as a threat. If the affection in the relationship between architect, place and resident is consider as a relevant factor, it means that a loss of a more sensitive way of projecting in architecture is recognized. This loss had misled architects from an accurate understanding of the place and it happened because the lack of real experience and its features were replaced by pseudo experiences. 

Key words: Affection, architectural project, contextual experiencie.