Influences and changes in the architectural space of the early twentieth century and their relation to a Kuhnian paradigm shift in architecture (Switzerland, The Netherlands, Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, Theo van Doesburg)
van Horn, Patricia
Master of Architecture thesis
Changes in architectural space which occurred at the beginning of the century are investigated to determine whether or not they represent a single, unified event. As examples of these changes, the work of three architects who were largely responsible for changes in the perception of space (Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier and Theo van Doesburg) are studied. The influences on the formation of their views are evaluated relative to the larger changes in space perception which occurred in other fields. The results are then studied to determine to what extent they can or cannot support an application of Kuhn's Theory of Paradigm Shifts to the field of architecture. A comparison of these influences indicates that the changes do not represent a single, unified event but rather arose from different influences and for different reasons. The results, therefore, do not support an application of Kuhn's theory for changes in architectural space.