Structuralism reloaded

More about the book

Originally developed in linguistics, the structuralist approach has been a scientific method in anthropology and human sciences since the 1950s. By the 1960s and 1970s, the concepts of primary and secondary structure (langue and parole) became central to structuralism, influencing architecture and urban planning. Emerging from the Netherlands and the Team 10 architects, structuralism in architecture gained global traction. Since the 1990s, a revival of structuralist tendencies has been observed, with contemporary structuralism linked to advancements in information technology that address complexity. In digital architecture, neo-Structuralism has emerged, prompting questions about the interaction of primary and secondary structures through algorithms. The current focus on rule-based design methods positions the structuralist approach as a vital framework for organizing and producing built environments, offering a systemic background for all disciplines involved in spatial production. This collection features 47 articles from renowned authors like Roland Barthes and Winy Maas, presenting a comprehensive overview of historical and contemporary digital structural thinking in architecture and urban planning. Tomásˇ Valena, Tom Avermaete, and Georg Vrachliotis contribute their expertise, with backgrounds in philosophy, architecture, and urban design, enriching the discourse on postwar architecture and public space.