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leikegøta
Experimenting of how to build and how to work
with materials in scale 1:1, has vitalized teaching
in architecture the last two decades. This way
of teaching, in addition to the more well-known
abstract conceptualization in the studio at the
University, has become more and more recognized.
Behind the effort of teaching architecture in scale
one to one, there are comprehensive ongoing
pedagogical and esthetical discussions within
academia. How can we establish an understanding,
which includes experiences and knowledge of so
different characters?
Might we today possible learn from the ancient
Greek philosophers about the ideas of Episteme,
Techne and Phronesis:
• Episteme contains the theoretical, abstract and
provable, which normally is understood as, the true
notion of scientific knowledge.
• Tecne is what Aristoteles understand as, questions
related to production and also to the production of
products. The act of production Aristoteles describe
as poises. The notion of Poises here means, to make
something which did not exist before.
• Phronesis is the ethics and political value, where
humans always belong to a society. This again
means the ability to decide what is good, meaningful
and useful for mankind.
To gain knowledge when being in a creative process
of learning architecture, can mean to apply these
three qualities from Aristoteles into play, not
separately, but to bring them all three in interplay.
To study architecture in scale 1:1 seems to give a
deeper understanding of the inherent form of a
material. About this theme the Finnish architect
Juhani Pallasmaa writes: “It is obvious we need
an educational change with regards to the sensory
sphere, for us to discover ourselves again as
physical and mental beings in order to fully use
our capability and become less vulnerable to
manipulation and exploitation.”
When constructing the ‘Leikegøta’ in Vang within
two weeks in April 2016, it became an intensive
experience, when students had to think about time
as an additional element in the creative process.
The process of the work, more and more took over
and little by little, the distinction between making
and creating vanished.
– finn hakonsen
REFLECTION