The ethnographic turn in architecture

On December 16, the presentation “The ethnographic turn in architecture. To think about the project task in the production of space ”, which was organized by the Permanent Chair of Cultural Anthropology of the University of Azuay and was in charge of Gabriela Navas.

"This space is destined to deal with diverse topics related to anthropology in contemporary times", recalled Gabriela Eljuri, head of the chair.

In the talk, four currents that have been generated from the field of architecture from different approaches to anthropology were analyzed.

The first current dealt with was graphic experimentation and the exhaustion of the possibilities of the language of spatial representation as a laboratory of architectural thought.

Second, the analysis of constructive systems and their manifestation as an expression of material culture.

Then the design processes and, finally, the proposals for new methodologies and narratives to link the design process to the users.

"Architecture students must face a project problem, that is, translate a set of ideas into the language of architectural representation, conceive of space as an abstract entity capable of being modeled under the geometric composition or technical constructive rules that are reflected in drawings of plans, models or virtual animations to justify the scientific rationality of its design ”, explained Navas.

The umbrella of anthropology contributes to rethinking the project task in architecture, since the exercise of this profession - especially on the scale of urban management - has great effects in the social fabric of cities.

A recommendation that the speaker repeated is to always be aware of this conflictive relationship between the city conceived by space technicians and urban managers with a specific order, versus that other city lived and practiced by people who permanently alter municipal regulations and orders planned.

UDA Correspondent