A Study on the Co-relationship between the Endless Space of Frederick J.Kiesler and Non-territorial Space Expression in De-constructivism Architecture Yoon, Jae Eun* *Professor, Kookmin University, College of Design, 861-1, Chongnung-dong, Songbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-702 Korea,
[email protected] Abstract: Frederick J. Kiesler, born in Cernauti in Romania on September 22 1890, presented Endless Theatre design based on the concept of endless space in 1924, showing his thoughts on non-territoriality of space, which went beyond the modern functionalistic thinking. Being presented through egg-shaped Continuous Construction (1934) and Endless House (1952), his thoughts on The Endless escaped from metaphysical concept of space through Correalism and Biotechnique, and became critical of modern functionalistic concept of space. Following Kiesler, Philip Johnson invited seven deconstructionist architects to the Museum of Modern Art held in New York 1988, which made deconstructionist construction emerge. However, deconstruction of concept of space and non-territoriality of space, both of which are found in deconstructionist construction, date back to the oval structure used by Kiesler in the Endless Theatre in 1924. With continuous curved surface, this structure showed that it could maintain a shape structurally without column or frame. This brought paradigm shift from the conventional thought that floor, wall, ceiling and column, which are structural elements of construction, are primary elements in shaping space. This shift matches to deconstructionist ideas. Egg-shaped curved figure proposed by Kiesler has no corner and its surface is a continued one, showing non-territoriality of space best. This non-territoriality is found equally in the Roof Top Remodeling proposed by Coop Himmelbau, a deconstructionist architect. Giving up conventional concept of space, Coop Himmelblau embodied non-territoriality of space in construction by excluding wall, column and roof, in order to bring total liberation from all conventional traditions and customs of construction. This is similar to the concept of the Endless proposed by Kiesler. Therefore, the methodologies and objectives of this study are to understand the correlationship between Kiesler and deconstructionist non-territorial expression of space through theoretical observation, and identify the correlationship of non-territorial expression of space by analyzing the construction works made by Kiesler and deconstructionists. 1. Background and Purpose of The Study With the industrial revolution and the bourgeois revolution in the 18C as a momentum, the waves of modernization have widely spread out to the architecture and design sector. In particular, the 1910s were a period when architecture based on modern functionalism showed specific results, one of which was the formation of a frame called ‘International Style’. Modern architecture based on International Style was advocated by a number of architects including Walter Gropius, Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, and what they pursued was based on functionalism. At that time, modernity and modernization had a close correlation in the architecture and design sector. Modern architecture made of steel and glass, that were new technologies and materials brought about by 23 1 . 2. suggesting new ideas in housing design. 1890.S. it is also aimed at conducting comparative analysis on correlations between Kiesler’s progressive space concept with informal and non-territorial space concept that is seen in deconstruction architecture by studying works of deconstruction architects. written by Adolf Loos. It is significant that he considered International Style a target of resistance. The worship of functionalism by modern architecture appeared as a powerful topic that could sway the 20C. p. translated by Kim Myung-hwan. he made an immense contribution to stage design and stage setting. Furthermore. on September 22. by suggesting the concept of endless space. 2000. 3. In 1933. he tried to come up with different space concept from that of functionalism.. this study is aimed at examining what the correlation is between Kiesler’s concept of endless space with informal space expression seen in deconstruction structure. the theoretical background of his suggestion of new and progressive space concept was also found in this study. where he advocated that “ornament is a crime’. graduated from Wiener Technischen Hochschule. The Method and Range of the study The range of this study includes an analysis on Fredrick Kiesler’s endless space concept. respectively. While he served the Columbia University as a visiting professor for Yamaguchi Kazuhiro. saying that it is “only one of the designs based on common life style while resisting imitative ornament that has long been continuing’1. However. Kiesler participated in De Stijl in 1923 as the youngest participator. removed all functionally unnecessary elements. Frederick Kiesler criticized the modern functionalism architecture.R. As his search for ‘endless’ was revealed twice since then through egg-shaped ‘Continuous Construction’ and ‘Endless House’ in 1934 and 1952. he manufactured a real life-sized model house of ‘Space House’. as well as an analysis on correlations between Kiesler’s space concept against modern functionalism architecture and the expression of deconstruction architecture space which appeared in the 1980s. Romania. Kiesler criticized International Style. He presented a drift of “Endless Theatre” in 1923-1924 based on his main concept of “endless” which afterwards became a significant element to determine his view on the formative arts throughout his life. which most architects tended to follow.the industrial revolution. theoretical study by researching documents was performed in order to understand Kiesler’s ideas on architecture and the philosophical aspect of his space concept. Such a trend in modern architecture is clearly explained in short in a paper titled ‘Ornament and crime’. despite such a trend of the times. Fredrick J. which was then Chernovtsy. as he served the Julliard School as a master of stage setting in 1934. Furthermore. As for the methods of this study.S. Therefore. Kiesler. Fredrick Kiesler grew up in Vienna. Art Culture.1 Fredrick Kiesler Born in Cernauti. Kiesler’s idea on space has similarity with deconstruction architecture which appeared in the 1980s. Design Correlation and Biotechnique in philosophical and spatial aspects of architecture. Austria. and entered Akademie der Bildenen Kunste where he took courses of woodcut. rather than a target of obeying. the U. and advocated that the space in architecture had more meanings than its functions. By analyzing Kiesler’s works. and drew public attention at the Paris Exhibition with his ‘City in Space’ in 1925 where steel style was applied to space formation. The Origin of Communication Space Design. etching and lithograph. Kiesler and Deconstruction 3. Endless theater. which was presented twice in 1958-1960 had an ultimate purpose of showing a space which responded to human sensibilities as well as a space which satisfies a function as a home. in 1931 as a momentum. his Endless House. In general. 3. one of the first residential areas of human beings in the prehistoric age. and pursues functional architectural space while excluding ornaments. while it also implies ‘there is no corner’ in an aspect of space. In 1924. Endless House is one of his representative works based on the consideration of such ideas.2 The Concept of ‘Endless Space’ of Fredrick J. the space of the womb is the perfect space where human beings can pursue their ideals. One of the specific features of Endless Theatre is that dual consecutive curved figures play a role of a shelter. The core of this space is that its structure does not have any pillar or frame. New York. If one interprets endless as ‘without an end’. which can define Kiesler’s concept on space most precisely. Caves are primitive spaces without corners. Such space concept of Kiesler did not only consider its aspect of forms. forming a core of his ideas. an architect who refused machinery and 2 3 Model of New Theater Skill for International Exhibition Section of Endless Theatre Floor plan of Endless Theatre Floor plan of Endless Theatre <Picture 1> Kiesler. there is no corner in Kiesler’s endless concept. As the most suitable space to human beings. Kiesler Kiesler’s endless concept was first suggested through the oval inside of a theatre which was presented in Vienna. he unveiled ‘Endless Theatre’. Kiesler’s endless concept accepts a dual structure consisting of meanings of time and space simultaneously. architecture showed a strong tendency to interpret space from a functional point of view. It is an international style published by Henry Russel Hitchcock and Philip Johnson with the International Exhibition of Modern Architecture in MOMA. and all planes are connected into one plane with continuity. it means ‘the eternity of time’.2 In the 1920s. Kiesler’s Correlation and Biotechnique In the 1920s when functionalism3 architecture was prevailing. The term was derived from architecture since 1920. Kiesler. Ibid. It refers to an architectural style which recognizes space based on volume rather than mass. and presented the concepts of Biotechnique and Design Correlation in an effort to suggest new alternative to the space concept of International Style which was then prevalent. The first ideal environment that human beings experience is the womb of one’s mother. 1923. However. He also focused on functions required in order for human beings to lead their lives in a way of adapting themselves to nature and cosmic laws. While Endless Theatre introduced in 1924 expressed Kiesler’s concept on space. with four corners at the points where the ceiling adjoined the floor. that are deemed as the most adequate spaces for human beings’ residence. Such ideals can actually be found in caves. 3. The womb filled with amniotic fluid is not only the first space that a human being experiences as a life but also the most agreeable space. The space of amniotic fluid does not have a form of square or corners that are pursued by functionalism architecture. he organized the ‘Laboratory of Design Correlation’. 1923 Yamaguchi Kazuhiro. The theatre is oval looking like a bread which was pressed from up and down and put on a floor. but it still maintains its form.the Department of Architecture in 1937. . buildings were shaped as square boxes.3 Fredrick J. which was derived from aggressive recognition of artificial objects that consist of technical environment.4 Deconstruction architecture starts from a space concept of architecture not based on physical matter but based on spiritual matter. Therefore. 1938. 5 Lee Jong-keon. Sign and Play in the Discourse of the Human Science”. U. Deconstruction of Deconstruction Architecture. held at the College of Engineering of Massachusetts University on June 6. the master’s thesis of Ehwa Woman’s University. the spirit of deconstruction is to see things in a critical view and to have a universal thought surpassing time and space.functionalism. Biotechnique-New approach to design”. Biotechnique started from his using a term. in 1966. At the time when Kiesler was aggressively engaged in studying on space. For Kiesler. and deals with relations between organic bodies and inorganic bodies. It was “Design Correlation. p. . Kiesler wanted to suggest his idea through biotechnique that what modernists called artificial environment also belonged to cosmic laws when taking a broad view on it. most of architects defined artificial and natural environments as relative concepts of each other. brought about the same results in architectural space. His Biotechnique is grounded on Design Correlation. It was the time that brought about post-modernism as a resistance to modernism and an alternative to functional thought. What Plato advocated and what the Buddhism always warns is that truth and reality opens only when we break the belief that we took for granted through your five senses or six minds. it was the late 1960s when his ideas were accepted in reality. meaning “architecture with vitality” in his paper which was contributed to “Steel Vol. p. and a declaration of the beginning of the post-structuralism era. “Vitalbau”. Fredrick Kiesler strived to express the eternity of space from a point of deconstruction. While a term of Biotechnics has been prevailing afterwards. published in 1930 in a form of pamphlet where Kiesler used terms of Design Correlation and Biotechnique for the first time. 39. at a symposium titled “Science and Design”.A. nature and technology environment. This concept came from an effort to create artificial environment whose center of thoughts should adapt itself to cosmic laws. and focused on new formative arts with space as a medium. However. unlike biotechnics. Jacque Derida presented a paper titled “Structure. Kiesler’s Design Correlation is focused on a force of continuous correlation which exists between human beings. Bareon. 3.S. He gave a lecture on a theme of “Biotechnique vs Architecture: Let’s stop studying on development of new functions and forms for old functions!”. A study on Formative Linguistic Concept and Approaches to Interior Designs based on Deconstruction. 50.4 Space Concept of Deconstruction Architecture In an international symposium at Johns Hopkins University. Biotechnique has been left as Kiesler’s unique space concept. 1993. Kiesler’s Design Correlation and Biotechnique were incapable of stopping the prevailing trend of mechanical civilization by machines in the times. 2000. out of the 4 Yang Se-eun. which was a strong flag of revolt against metaphysics and structuralism in the western culture since Plato. Even in the early 20C when the functionalism-based architectural space was believed to be the mainstream.. In particular. criticized the reality of architects in the early 20C who showed a closed attitude in each genre and drove their formative activities into a diminutive way. Deconstruction had already existed in Plato’s philosophy in the west and the Zen in the east.5 Deconstruction on thoughts according to deconstruction philosophy. However. and presented his concepts on Design Correlation and Biotechnique to the world. which was held under the theme of “The Language of Criticism and Science Man”. 11 and 12”. the concepts on space and form in deconstruction architecture are highly similar to those of Kiesler. artificial environment was not a relative concept of natural environment. In particular. Correlations between Endless Space Concept and Non-territorial Space Expression of Deconstruction <Picture 2> Co. a Deconstruction architect. Kiesler’s space concept has a similarity with the informal space and the non-territorial space expressions of Coop Himmelblau.relationship of Kiesler’s Non-territorial space and De-constructivism Architecture . architects after the 1960s started doubting the existing metaphysical space concept. and brought about the shift to an era of post-modernism. As a result of such efforts by Kiesler.frame of thoughts. 4. 27. However. one of the leading architects of deconstruction. including wall. The space concept of Coop Himmelblau completely gives up traditionally recognized elements such as wall. He said the origin of the world was water. The first question that Thales6. ever since human beings had a doubt on origins of all things in the universe. He was born in Miletos. to architecture based on Euclidian geometry. 2002. and started philosophy which added an origin of the world. which was reckoned as a mainstream at that time. “It is water. and gave an experimental answer. and tries to get out of all traditions and customs 6 Thales. And he answered himself. These question and answer were not mythological but scientific. Philosophy and Reality.1 Informal Space Concept and Continuity of Space The rules which made up all forms in ancient times followed the principles of nature. Philosophy centered Architecture Space concept Naturalism concept Endless concept God centered space concept Decorative craft art concept New material & Functional architecture Elimination of Ornament Formation of New citizen & Commercial Architecture Criticism of Modernism Recognition of Ecology Using Digital Technology De-constructivism Architecture Non-territorial space Philosophy centered concept Ancient times <Chart 1> Concept change of space philosophy in current age to our thoughts. in which point it is different from International Style. whereas deconstruction architecture adopted the three-dimension informal space concept to architecture. and pursued the continuity of space under the belief that there is no eternal geometry. Understanding of Western Philosophy.4. which brought up the image of an egg. BC 624-BC 546. p. one of the colonies of Greece. applied three elements of buildings. . The spatial continuity is also well seen in Rooftop Remodeling of Coop Himmelblau. Most of the buildings based on International Style. 7 Park Young-shik. the concept of forms started changing according Periodic division Periodic division of Philosophy Philosophy of nature Major issue of Architectural Ideology Nature centered Architecture God centered Architecture Middle ages Philosophy of God Royal authority centered Architecture Machine aesthetics Modern ages Philosophy of Science Architecture Function centered Architecture Ecological Architecture High-tech Architecture Modern times Philosophy of pluralism Digital Architecture. raised was “What is the Arche which consists of the world?”7. floor and ceiling. Kiesler recognized space as an original existence of the universe. and tries new concepts with which an architectural space can still be created. the informal space concept pursues a spatial change in the two-dimension plane. Such space consists of various elements that are not at all related to the architectural elements of functionalism. Feb. Thales asked a scientific question. pillar and roof. Kiesler presented a drift of ‘Endless Theatre’ in 1924. the father of western philosophy. However. pillar or roof in his ‘Groninger Museum’ and ‘Rooftop Remodeling’ just like Kiesler’s endless space. He was the first philosopher in Greece. which used the specific feature of its space as a metaphoric expression of the relation between a fetus and a womb. the first of the seven wisest men and the founder of Milesian School. It is difficult to find architectural elements such as wall.”. In modern architecture. ceiling and walls are all continued into a lump. through deconstructive architecture. This way. and a composition of spatial links between rooms. This became an opportunity of the emergence of post modern architecture in various forms as an antipathy against functional architecture. Movement. Through House 11 and House El Even Odd. and made informal architectural forms using the property of concrete. While the frame of the house is rooted on a rectangular parallelepiped. and House 3 is a combination of two rectangular parallelepipeds in a slant line of 45°. he tried to express the space concept by analyzing space based on the three-dimension thought from a stage of architectural designing. getting the utmost out of the plasticity of concrete. and spaces were reiterated into many layers. 2000. A Study on the Compositional Principles and Expressional Characteristics in Informal Form of Deconstructivist Architecture. Department of Architecture. In House 3. Kyungnam University. he tried a space of post-cubism through a concept of resolution in the stage of designing. wanted to get out of the modernism-based functional architecture both in forms and philosophy. Frederick Kiesler expresses his endless concept in Endless House with dual continuous structures of an outer wall and an inner wall made with concrete or plastic. 4. One of the representative architectures of such trend is deconstructive architecture. a concept of placing human beings somewhere out of the center of the world. circulation and reiteration seen in his deconstructive architecture are examples that show the post-cubism phenomenon in a logical manner. and tired to express an impression that the upper part of the house was separated from the floor by adopting concepts of adding and deleting. Kiesler’s informality indicates a tendency of free style. where two spaces are divided into a public space and a private spice. House 2 is a combination of two rectangular parallelepipeds. rather than understanding the architectural space based on horizontal and vertical planes. it shows a phenomenon that structurally unnecessary structures are exposed inside and outside of the building. . New Jersey. Coop Himmelblau expressed dynamism in the three-dimension space adding the concept of deconstruction to the non-territorial space of Kiesler. and such a phenomenon has widely spread throughout the world. surpassing formal expression on forms and space. 32. Peter Eisenman. In House 6. p.8 Most of the early architecture which tried to break the box-type architecture. unlike in House 1 and House 2. Post modern architecture has developed into a free-style movement that tried to come along with free will of human beings. which appeared as a philosophic topic. he tried to study the meaning of space by separating central axes of two forms. However. The start of post modern architecture was Le Corbusier’s Candigar (1956) and La Chapelle de Ronchamp (1956). Eisenman adopted the space concept of post-cubism to deconstructive 8 Jeong Sung Hun.on the existing thoughts.2 Post-cubism in Forms and Deconstruction Architecture Abstract mechanical aesthetics in early modernism became a start of mass-production of box-type buildings pushed by functionalism and commercialism. tried to realize architecture which is out of being focused on center or human beings. such box-type buildings were raised as a social problem in the modern society after the waves of modernization in the 1960s. and there are irregular and informal holes on the part which is thought as walls. In House 10. In House 2. Among deconstructive architectural works of Peter Eisenman. who first adopted deconstruction. the series of experimental houses on informality is highly valued as one of the significant experiments. Floor. Dec. to architecture. stairs were set up asymmetrically. which is in other words. which makes people think about the issues of the existing box-type space concept and territory once again. House 1 is one rectangular parallelepiped. These two works broke from the box form which had been pursued in mechanical aesthetics. he tried a combination of the pillars and the inner space that formed the housing space. However. Eisenman tried a change in scales in House 1 located in Princeton. A Study on the Relationship of Exterior Design and Interior Design in the Architecture of 9 . or throws something on the floor and deconstructs a part of it broken or a sharp corner of it once again. which bring about an illusion of a flying object that is just about to take off from the ground. He deconstructs partly by breaking the outer form of an existing building. expressed the endless concept through its composition of spatial links of each room in a dual continuous structure of the outer wall and inner wall. one can say that deconstruction architecture has suggested the informality of space as well as the non-territorial feature of space. The meaning of space is not set up by its function but created by its free form. 10 The Modern Architecture Series. Kiesler denied the concepts of horizon and vertical. if Kiesler’s endless space concept has suggested the non-territorial feature of space. 1923. A Study on the Deconstructive Living Space in Modern Architecture. architecture should neither be reduced by its purpose nor become something that can be explained by its purpose any more. Such a trend to displace teleology is what Derrida called an affirmative architecture of Nietzschean meaning. p. However. This means that any kind of search can no longer be swayed by teleology. The leaning pillar and a sharp volume on the right side of his Open House are dynamically balanced. he created his own plastic element. a deconstructionist architect. 1999. brought about many philosophical controversies. Gehry another deconstruction architect. adopts a literary and plastic form as a method of deconstruction. 5. Therefore. In particular. GA. the relation between function and form and commercial thoughts on investment and profits.9 4. This way. 12 Yoon Jae Eun. surpassing the stage of fabricating geometry. Gehry’s deconstruction architecture chooses an architectural method that does not bind imperfect plastic forms or elements to certain rules of frames. Department of Interior Design. surpassing its functions. 44.10 Therefore. that ruled the modern architecture. 88. Frank O.3 Non-territorial Space and Deconstructive Architecture The endless concept was first advocated through Endless Theatre which was presented in Vienna. in the trend Kim Kyung Hee. Kiesler’s idea has a significance in viewing space as a search for the infinity of universe. the endless space concept of Kiesler was a rebellion against modernism-based functional space concept which overwhelmed the 1920s. 41.architecture with reiterating slant lines and changes in forms. and tried to dismantle a fixed idea on architecture through spatial continuity. the forms in expression of space are infinite. 11 Jeong Sung Hun Ibid. p. and further developed targeting residential space since houses of space in 1933-1944.11 The characteristics of Coop Himmelblau’s architecture is that the demolition of forms and separation from territory are used as architectural frames in order to express non-territorial space. Kookmin University. Open House of Coop Himmelblau. Conclusion As seen in the results of this study. Therefore. shows a tendency of composing a form through the breakdown on geometry. Just as the territory of space cannot be formal like Euclidian geometry or end only with fixed numbers in mathematics.12 Such a deconstruction-based geometric space does not try a clear separation of wall. “Endless House” presented in New York in 1950. ceiling and floor. The advent of the modern times based on natural science after experiencing the replacement of the naturalism-based world view to the god-centered world in the ancient times. p. Eisenman’s approach to houses intends to exclude intentionality –displacement of intention or purposemeaning that no place can be expected in advance. and then leaves the element of the form derived from the part in an incomplete state. However. 2003. Bu Kyung University. it is worth noticing that Kiesler’s endless space concept suggested as a pioneer the issue of spatial territory that is now pursued in the 21C. Master thesis (1998) 7. Master thesis (1998) 13. Charateristics and Significance of Deconstructive Architecture. References 1. A Study on the Relationship of Exterior Design and Interior Design in the Architecture of De-constructivism. Paris Endless (1947). Lee. A-Ju University. A study on the theoretical Background. Kyungnam University. Eun Hee. Art Culture (2000) 2. Jo. Kookmin University. Master thesit (2000) 6. Yonsei University. the International Theatre Fair (1926). Young Sick. A Study on the Neo-Avant-Garde Characteristics of the De-constructivist Architecture. Park. GA (1999) 15. Seoul National University. Master thesis (2000) 8. Deco Journal (2003. Sep. As many deconstruction architects pursue informal and non-territorial space as a breakthrough from the existing metaphysical thoughts since Plato. Jeong sung Hun. Department of Interior Design (2003) 14. Yeungnam Universtiy. A study on the Characteristics of Expression of time and Space concept in Deconstruction Architecture. Konkuk University. Konkuk University. Jin Il. A study on the Theoretical Background and Design Characteristics of Deconstruction in Architecture. Department of Architecture. Department of Architectural Engineering. Department of Interior Environmental Design. Philosophy and Reality (2000) 3. Department of Architecture (2000) 5.of modern architecture pursued by Walter Gropius. Myung Hwan.05. interpreted the concept of space in a different point of view. Kim. A study on the Modern Scientific Theories applied in the Deconstructive Architecture. A study for the Collage Characteristics shown in the Deconstructive Space Composition. Joung Mu. Baeck Seung Kyung. Department of Architecture. Kim Eun Kyung. Jae Min. as well as Endless House and Endless Theatre. Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal 24 (2000) 4. Seung Woo. great artists of modern architecture. Master thesis (1993) 10. Understanding of Western Philosophy. the International Fair of New Theatre Technology (1924). 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