A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Goodness and Value in the Structure of Cognitive Processes
This paper had its origins in a course entitled “Basic Concepts in Architecture” which I have been teaching for about ten years at Carnegie-Mellon University. The course is designed to give architects a basis for understanding notions like process (including the architectural process), for developing functioning theories to determine the “goodness” of things (including their own designs), in short, an approach to problems of cognition, of perception and of response to perceptions. They become aware, perhaps for the first time, of the precise significance of numbers in their design work, including the dreaded demons of ‘nothing’ and ‘infinity.’ They learn the meaning of time: it is the sum of perceptions involved in any process, including the process of getting to know things. Wasting perceptions, that is, investing more instants of perception in a cognition or design process than is required for “sufficiency,” is wasting time!
Control over the design process is what architects must have to function effectively. Effective functioning means being able to do it and, given the few perceptions (lack of time) we have, to do it quickly and with a minimum of error. Being able to do it does not mean attaining perfection (the theoretical end of the infinite architectural process), but attaining sufficiency. Effectiveness means knowing when to get on (that is, into the process) and when to get off. Since all processes are infinite, you don't get on at the beginning and you don't get off at the end. Where you get on and off is a crucial decision made by the designer of the process. Making the right decision about this is what makes architects effective. Learning these things is the goal of the “Basic Concept” course.
Goodness and Value in the Structure of Cognitive Processes
This paper had its origins in a course entitled “Basic Concepts in Architecture” which I have been teaching for about ten years at Carnegie-Mellon University. The course is designed to give architects a basis for understanding notions like process (including the architectural process), for developing functioning theories to determine the “goodness” of things (including their own designs), in short, an approach to problems of cognition, of perception and of response to perceptions. They become aware, perhaps for the first time, of the precise significance of numbers in their design work, including the dreaded demons of ‘nothing’ and ‘infinity.’ They learn the meaning of time: it is the sum of perceptions involved in any process, including the process of getting to know things. Wasting perceptions, that is, investing more instants of perception in a cognition or design process than is required for “sufficiency,” is wasting time!
Control over the design process is what architects must have to function effectively. Effective functioning means being able to do it and, given the few perceptions (lack of time) we have, to do it quickly and with a minimum of error. Being able to do it does not mean attaining perfection (the theoretical end of the infinite architectural process), but attaining sufficiency. Effectiveness means knowing when to get on (that is, into the process) and when to get off. Since all processes are infinite, you don't get on at the beginning and you don't get off at the end. Where you get on and off is a crucial decision made by the designer of the process. Making the right decision about this is what makes architects effective. Learning these things is the goal of the “Basic Concept” course.
Goodness and Value in the Structure of Cognitive Processes
Saalman, Howard (author)
Journal of Architectural Education ; 43 ; 3-7
1990-07-01
5 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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