Arquitetura contemporânea: processando a teoria através da prática

Abstract

Among the many questions and issues that permeate the contemporary architecture context, is the existing gap between the theory, the critical reflection and the practice of architecture. In order to lead architects and students to more efficient and harmonic designing it is absolutelynecessary to find a way to bridge this gap. This dissertation first presents some of the most important approaches among the rationaldesign methods, followed by the reasons why they have not been incorporated into the architectural practice. A parallel is drawn between the development of the design methods and the development of the psychology of thinking. The most important theoretical positions aboutdesign are presented, which highlights the importance of the design process. From the presentation of these initial approaches one can conclude that only through the theoretical fundamentals based on practice it is possible to contribute to the architectural making. Tovalidate this assertion, a detailed investigation of the contemporary practice of the architects is conducted and presented.The qualitative research presented here was based on in-depth interviews conducted with a group of eighteen architects. Each of these professionals also contributed to this research by supplying one of his own designs to be analyzed. The interviews and corresponding designsreflect and describe the architectural mental processes and activities which are prevalent in the contemporary professional practice.The epistemology of practice is constructed by observing the professional action in situations dealing with the designs uniqueness, complexity, instability and uncertainty. These day-to-day activities that are present in todays architecture offices can help us understand how the design processes happen. The theory thus developed can contribute to improve the performance of the professionals and students, as well as to the teaching at architecture schools. It also can promote the so necessary interaction between theory and practice.