The Actions of Architecture. STS and the mutual interrelations of architecture and society.

• In Event: 352 - Theory Section Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 09. Culture and Materiality

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the mutual interrelation between architecture, buildings and the material form of the built environment on the one side and sociality on the other side. We do not only ask the common question how sociality, i.e. social order, power, hierarchies, etc. changes architecture. But we also turn this question on its head and ask how architecture impacts on the social.
To answer this question, we refer to the numerous approaches in Science and Technology Studies (STS) that conceptualize materiality as being socially active and as co-constructing sociality. In this paper, we show that architecture is a certain form of materiality. Based on this, we argue that architecture as subcategory of materiality also shapes and co-constructs sociality. Thus, we suggest to reformulate the sociology of architecture to consider this active role of architecture for social life.

Authors

• Anna-Lisa Mueller, University of Bremen

• Werner Reichmann, University of Konstanz