Let's start with Apophenia, which is the human tendency to perceive meaningful patterns within random data. Klaus Conrad, a German, in 1958 apparently coined the term in his book, (you must read this with a German accent) Die beginnende Schizophrenie. Versuch einer Gestaltanalyse des Wahns ("The onset of schizophrenia: an attempt to form an analysis of delusion") In 2001 neuro-scientist Peter Brugger referenced Conrad's terminology and defined the term as "unmotivated seeing connections" accompanied by "specific experience of an abnormal meaningfulness" Lately its been used to describe the human tendency to seek patterns in random data such as in gambling...until now. Architecture has found a "go to theory" to describe this: The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao and the genre of architecture that seems to be random in form and function. See below photos.
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| Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao |
Now, I'm not being sarcastic, or demeaning in any way towards this kind of architecture although many demonize it, as I once did. What I'm saying is that finally we have a explanation for the bizarre architecture we build and why we enjoy it when outward appearance may tell us otherwise. It is easy not to appreciate this architecture since it departs from traditional rules of aesthetics developed over hundreds of years. You may not be convinced or buy what Apophenia tries to address as "an attempt to form an analysis of delusion" as this type of architecture is just to weird or incomprehensible for anything to describe it and some years ago I would have agreed with you. However this odd behavior of finding meaning in chaos and it's understanding of it may be working to define an architecture, help create an architecture that up until now, seemed to be arbitrary, random and nonsensical. However the mind, right or wrong, possibly due to some survival trait must make sense of randomness and put order to things to form some understanding of the world. Perhaps this architecture excites our senses as we engage in this exercise of trying to figure out just what are we looking at. Finally we have some theory (OK maybe not a theory but a plausible observation) that makes sense of an architecture that hitherto had no rational explanation. Such was the consternation of this architecture you either loved it or hated it but now you know why. So the next time you look at a flobbular, flowing, line bending, cloud forming, abstract piece of architecture remember there is a reason for it, perhaps. We must also remember not every project is successful when designing in this fashion, since the nuances and understanding must be understood by the designer. But when they are understood some amazing work is brought into the world that stirs emotions never stirred before. Architects that are successful in creating such architecture either consciously or by some form of intuition have tapped into this human predilection to give us these unusual forms. When Apophenia is being employed carefully and thoughtfully, we are making sense of "pattern schizophrenia" -architectural schools toss out your kit of parts, because randomness is not so random... |
| I used to think crumbing up a piece of paper and setting it on the table was the design equivalent of this piece of architecture, I was not impressed. Years later after gaining a better understanding I have come to appreciate this building. |
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| Above are some pics I took at Bilbao |
A companion to Apophenia and a concept architects should be most interested in, is Pareidolia. Pareidolia is a phenomenon where the mind perceives a familiar pattern where none actually exists. Like in this wall socket:
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| Stunned face wall outlet? |
This could be a blessing or a curse to your architecture. The difference between Pareidolia and Apophenia is the literal connections of elements into unintended familiar forms, like the face in the socket. Pareidolia is much easier a concept to grasp then Apophenia, which is a bit more abstract and random. If your human and I'm assuming you are since you are reading this article we tend to constantly search out patterns in our day to day living. Some people do it for a living, like a mathematician or some kind of analyst but for most of us it's unconscious but we are doing it. We search out familiar shapes and faces where none exist, possibly once again as a survival mechanism, searching out familiarity as some sort of safety mechanism. One profession you would think could take advantage of this human behaviour would be architecture, like the mathematician we are constantly seeking out connections and patterns to make sense of our architecture. Understanding this concept can help our architecture become better but more importantly not be ridiculed when we compose patterns that were unintended. When architects don't grasp this concept we get Pareidolia on steroids like the building "the gate of the east". The Daily Mail asks: "architectural triumph or just a plain pair of pants?" They go on to say, " China's latest superstructures resembles a giant pair of long johns". Was there not one person on that architectural design staff who said, "wait a minute something is wrong here-quick call up architect denied for a second opinion...?"
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| One of the more flattering pictures of this building |
As you can see you may be at a handicap in the architectural world creating patterns and images you didn't intend people to pick out, like a pair of trousers or a gherkin pickle in London, Armadillos in Singapore, The elephant in Bangkok, The hand Taser in Nashville OK enough, you get the picture.
However don't despair, even if you are not aware of this concept on a conscious level perhaps you were saved on a intuitive level and you instinctively avoided creating these faux pas that are embarrassing and described by some as "laughable Architecture...." However when you understand this concept and use it to your advantage you can create some brilliant architecture like what Le Corbusier did at Ronchamp. Most architects and students of architecture know this chapel of Notre Dame du Haute and it's beautiful sculptural qualities especially in the roof structure. Some liken the roof to a Nuns' bonnet others say it's inspiration came when Corbu picked up a crabs shell on the beach. So how did Corbu correctly employ Pareidolia when others did not? I suppose I could give you a long winded answer but I think it's obvious and the obvious I shall state; don't be so literal in your artistic interpretations when employing them in a building, intentionally or unintentionally.
By ABC Television (eBay item photo front photo back)
[Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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