Scope and Purposes of Architecture: Toward a Transcendental Dimension

Fundamentally consisting of mere appropriations of space and adaptations or alterations of natural conditions, the primigenial architectural manifestations of humankind did not substantially differ from those created by what we know as “animal architects.” In those early days, the scope and purpose of architecture were limited to satisfying basic needs. However, especially after the cognitive revolution, humankind began to operate at higher technical and socio-cultural levels creating and developing new materials, techniques, and technologies as well as incorporating cultural, spiritual, and symbolic layers as fundamental components of our existence. The scope and purposes of architecture expanded in parallel, integrating and disseminating those higher manifestations. Architecture thus became a vehicle of cultural transmission and aspired to reach a transcendental and poetic dimension. This paper claims that a civic and responsible understanding of the role of architecture in contemporary society requires aspiring for a transcendental architecture at all levels, going beyond the elusive and intangible to embrace a tangible and objective poetics in which materials, techniques, and technology play a relevant and significant role.