Architecture and Objects

Architecture and Objects, the first book on architecture by the founder of object-oriented ontology (OOO), explores the relationship between form and function by employing OOO to reconsider traditional notions of these concepts. It challenges the limits of Heidegger, Derrida, and Deleuze's thinking for architecture and proposes de-relationalized versions of both form and function to provide a convincing rejoinder to Immanuel Kant's dismissal of architecture. The book offers a bold vision of architecture that places it at the forefront of a necessary revitalization of exhausted aesthetic paradigms.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 05 August 2022
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

Object-oriented ontology (OOO) has gained significant traction among architectural theorists and practitioners in recent years. Graham Harman's book, Architecture and Objects, serves as a crucial contribution to this field, deepening the exchange between architecture and philosophy. Harman critiques the ideas of Heidegger, Derrida, and Deleuze, highlighting their limitations in shaping architectural discourse. Instead, he advocates for the use of OOO to reexamine traditional notions of form and function, emphasizing their relational aspects. Harman challenges these understandings by proposing de-relationalized versions of both zero-form and zero-function, which together provide a compelling response to Immanuel Kant's dismissal of architecture as "impure."

Through critical engagement with the writings of Peter Eisenman and fresh assessments of buildings by renowned architects such as Rem Koolhaas, Frank Gehry, and Zaha Hadid, Architecture and Objects presents a bold vision of architecture. By overcoming the challenge of "zeroing" function, Harman believes that architecture can play a vital role in revitalizing exhausted aesthetic paradigms.

This book offers a valuable exploration of the relationship between form and function in contemporary architecture, providing a new framework for understanding the potential of OOO in shaping the future of architectural practice.

Weight: 278g
Dimension: 141 x 214 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517908539