Deakin home > Deakin University Library > Deakin Research Online > Between theory and practice : Rudolf Steiner as philosopher and architect

Between theory and practice : Rudolf Steiner as philosopher and architect

Gray, Fiona 2011, Between theory and practice : Rudolf Steiner as philosopher and architect, in Proceedings of the 2011 International Conference of the Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia, Deakin University, School of Architecture & Building, Geelong, Vic., pp. 52-60.

Document type: Conference Paper
Collection: School of Architecture and Built Environment
Attached Files (Some files may be inaccessible until you login with your Deakin Research Online credentials)
Name Description MIMEType Size Downloads

Title Between theory and practice : Rudolf Steiner as philosopher and architect
Author(s) Gray, Fiona
Conference name Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia. Conference : Architecture @ the Edge (2011 : Geelong, Vic.)
Conference location Geelong, Vic.
Conference dates 18-21 Sep. 2011
Title of proceedings Proceedings of the 2011 International Conference of the Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia
Editor(s) Elkadi, Hisham
Xu, Leilei
Coulson, James
Publication date 2011
Conference series Association of Architecture Schools of Australasia Conference
Start page 52
End page 60
Publisher Deakin University, School of Architecture & Building
Place of publication Geelong, Vic.
Summary The philosophy and architecture of Rudolf Steiner both aim to give formal expression to his esoteric worldview, however, the means of articulating this worldview fundamentally differ within each discipline. Philosophy and architecture are separated by both process and product, and while an interdisciplinary reading of Steiner’s work does make certain connections between them evident, the incorporeal nature of thinking and the physical reality of building inevitably require different skills of their author, as well as different standards by which to assess them. Although he had no formal training as an architect, Steiner believed that his system of Anthroposophy provided a conceptual framework that would inspire a new style of modern architecture imbued with a spiritual dimension. As such, architecture provided Steiner with a means of visually expressing what words could not, and was therefore a necessary and important part of his philosophical pursuit. This paper explores the tension that exists between Steiner’s philosophy and architecture in its translation from theoretical ideas into built form. Steiner’s approach to architectural design was less concerned with the methods and techniques of the craft than with achieving what he saw as architecture’s true purpose - namely to give voice to the inner spiritual content of the work. However, in order to achieve this ultimate goal, a certain level of architectural competence is required. Therefore, Steiner’s ability as an architect to articulate such lofty ideals will also be assessed. Conceived on the edge of theory and practice, Steiner’s work serves to demonstrate the richness and depth that such an approach has to offer the field of architecture.
ISBN 9780958192552
Language eng
Field of Research 129999 Built Environment and Design not elsewhere classified
Socio Economic Objective 970112 Expanding Knowledge in Built Environment and Design
HERDC Research category E1 Full written paper - refereed
Copyright notice ©2011, Fiona Gray
Persistent URL http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30042233
Connect to link resolver
 
Unless expressly stated otherwise, the copyright for items in Deakin Research Online is owned by the author, with all rights reserved.
Versions
Version Filter Type
Access Statistics: 72 Abstract Views, 6 File Downloads  -  Detailed Statistics
Created: Tue, 14 Feb 2012, 15:21:25 EST