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If we perceive the built environment through a Construction details map out the physical
particular cultural and societal lens then does construction process for a builder. It is one of
it stand to reason that we behave according to the smallest elements in the construction
those perceptions? If so, do construction documents, but it is also one of the most
details regarding the material assembly of important as it lays out exactly how to bring
physical space contribute to our perceptions materials together in order to create the feel,
and, accordingly, behavior? the aesthetic, essentially the impact that the
built space has on those inhabiting it.
Identity is something that is perceived. That Inhabitants are not aware of the process of
perceived identity is based on human behavior formulating the detail’s inception in the design
and, in turn, behavior also influences that process all the way down to the process of
perceived identity. The image of a person actually constructing it. The designer sees this
begins to describe ones identity as well. process all the way through. He leaves a piece
Labels and type of dress can hint at ones of himself subconsciously in that process. It is
regional context and socioeconomic standing. almost as if it becomes a piece of art, we
One’s identity encompasses such a wide range interpret the art based on what we know of
from physical appearance to character the artist’s personal experience and cultural
nuances. Humans take up space and impact context. Most of these variables are not
others whom they come in contact with. The exactly known. We can only interpret what we
details of their persona and image make their see.
identity; their identity creates an impression
within built space. Returning to human identity, one’s sexuality is
something that is internal to the human body
Architecture uses a design process that is and psychology. Yet it is something that
similar to the fruition of one’s personal manifests itself in behavior or an interaction.
identity. A building has its own identity. It has We begin to code sexuality by using
its own cultural context, an environmental physiognomy, clothing, and body language as
context, and a physical presence. Much like a signifiers to suggest our own individual sexual
human, a building’s identity influences being. This sexual being is something that we
memories and meanings about a specific personally develop, something that is based
environment in which it inhabits. These on our own sexual appeal, appetite, and
memories are shaped by the haptic frequency of sexual encounters. One’s own
experiences of the user in which they engage comfort level with their sexual self can be
while moving about the building. Users are seen in their confidence levels. It is a persona
also cued by the social interaction that is that any person takes on and uses in society.
happening within that space. The physical It is very similar to the way we choose to act
construction of the space is not the primary in a given social situation based on religion,
factor that manipulates ones’ personal socioeconomic class, or any other various
constructions. The physical construction is hierarchies that create acceptable, or
something that creates the nuance of space. normative behavioral patterns.
The detail of a connection has the ability to
create an aesthetic based on how beautifully Sexuality is something that is usually hidden
or cleanly the materials come together. The in almost all day-to-day situations. It is
materials have the ability to influence the something that manifests itself behind closed
formality of the space, as does the lighting doors (given that most don’t have voyeuristic
design. fetishes). There are normative sexual
behaviors that come with acceptable
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processes for a given cultural context. Within perceives a building in two ways: its outward
most religious views, sex is between a appearance and its function. This is potentially
husband and a wife. There is a process of problematic as aesthetic choices influence the
courting, dating, and engagement before the formality of a building. This in turn affects the
actual consummation of the marriage. In that social guise someone must take on. This
time period, one is expected to remain a character guise that one assumes is based on
virgin or abstinent. Obviously this cultural a social hierarchy that is predetermined by the
expectation is not continuing as such a function of what happens within the building.
priority, but it can also be argued that there is The aesthetic language can reinforce the
a new culture of the heterosexual lifestyle that social hierarchy by material choices and the
places more emphasis on the sexual desire of way they are connected to the overall design.
people.
Mies Van Der Rohe’s Farnsworth House
In much the same way, those that identify as
homosexual have a slightly different The Farnsworth House is a modernist gem
expectation of normative sexual behavior. whose construction process can be analyzed in
Because the homosexual identity already a parallel way to how sexual identity is
breaks the normative gender and sexual roles, constructed. Michael Cadwell, a professor of
there is less of an expected role. The process architecture at Ohio State University,
to get to the sexual act is not as prescriptive. describes this process in his book Strange
The heterosexual identity also has the same Details as follows:
freedoms, which are becoming a more
normative behavior pattern. But there is a “steel erectors first drill the columns with
different expectation to conduct themselves in holes at the beam connections and fit the
a more sexually conservative way. The columns with erection seats; they then place
homosexual is almost expected, or assumed the perimeter beam on these seats, shim the
to be very sexually active and promiscuous. beam level, and clamp it secure; next,
welders plug the vacant column holes, fusing
The process of coming into one’s sexual the column to the beam; and finally, finishers
identity, no matter if they are at either end of remove the erection seats and sand all
the spectrum of identity is based on surfaces smooth. Curiously, these connections
experience. There are cultural expectations require a sequence of operations that demand
that manifest themselves both physically and a high degree of craft, yet each operation
psychologically. From those expectations one disappears with the next. The mechanical
takes their own desires, instincts, and craft of the seated connection disappears with
pressures in the decision process to chose to the industrial craft of welding, the industrial
act on the desires or withhold. Once that craft of welding disappears with the handcraft
choice is made the experience of a specific of sanding, and the handcraft of sanding
sexual act begins to determine an identity and disappears with its own operation. There is no
the persona you give off. The metaphor of the glorification of technology in this curious
closet begins to come into existence at this sequence, just as there is no remnant of
choice. The “closet” is used by any identity craft.”1
that needs to hide a part of themselves from
the rest of the world. It is a term that is most
specifically used for the process of coming out
of the closet about identifying as homosexual.
But people also come out of the closet for
identifying as agnostic, sexually active, one’s
socioeconomic class, basically anything that
one deems as embarrassing or not socially
acceptable for the social situation in which
they are engaged.
The detail described is the only connection
Architecture’s design process is the
that can be seen, but it is not true to the
maturation of a building into its social context.
actual process of its construction. The function
It is the conception and production of every
of the construction detail is hidden behind a
aspect of its aesthetic nuance. The public
mask created by the construction sequence.
ARCHITECTURE AND SEXUALITY 3
This sequence becomes a metaphor for the different striations changes based on the
way in which architecture acts as a closet, stresses that are created in the building form.
hiding certain functions and in this case The concrete is this shell that encloses the
material connections. As Cadwell suggests, building, but it lifts up creating a cantilever
the sequence vanishes any trace of how it is that opens through glazing as the building’s
constructed, and all that is left is an image entrance.
projected within the site.
and created a unique community detail. The proximity of the patio walkway to
environment. the sloping walkways
As seen in the process diagrams This detail addresses the functional aspects of
above, Ingels takes the typical perimeter the building in a relatively normal or expected
blockhouse and begins to use site context to construction process. The design of the
inform its form. He also uses the different building is a specific response to the issue of
program functions to create social space on social housing. The apartments are open two
the exterior. The courtyard space is lined with ways, to the exterior and onto an interior
a walkway that circumnavigates the entire courtyard. That interior courtyard faces the
complex rising and falling at different parts of rest of the units with open balconies. This isn’t
the building. This social space is lined by low a new concept, but the materiality of these
walled patio spaces for the maisonette balconies is very transparent and reflective.
dwellings that are above the commercial Also the semi-private walkway that works its
space in the first and second stories of the way around the interior of the courtyard also
building. Whenever Ingels changes the plays with the concept of voyeurism. One can
programmatic function of the building, the view the social interactions happening, as well
floor plate shifts and creates an outdoor public as being able to see into the private spaces of
space that relates to the circulation around others. The behavior of the community that
the building happens between the architectural features is
influenced by the way the inhabitants can
view each other, which is a direct correlation
to the way that those transitions between
private, semi-public, and public are detailed.
refined process of detailing. The efficient and conscious choice by the architect and it causes
economical use of material makes a detail the material to behave in a less normative
become more normative. As the detail falls way. The additions of steel reinforcing
under certain functional expectations, it beneath the surface allow the concrete to act
becomes a typical process of construction in this way, but that is also an expected
because of its efficiency. However when process within the construction because of
architects begin to shift the paradigm of the building code. The way that Studio Gang
function of the detail, as Mies Van Der Rohe really queered the construction process was
did in the Farnsworth House, the normative by expressing the fluid pour of the concrete.
identity of the detail begins to shift. The craft The process didn’t call for two pours that
in its construction process must become more would regulate the concrete into a monolithic
refined and the resultant expression of the appearance, but she used multiple pours with
aesthetic is not what is normally expected of a different color and different slump properties
typical detail. that correlated to the structural stresses on
the wall.
When one expresses a material during the
detailing process, the architect expresses the Bjarke Ingels’ 8House is an interesting
functional and aesthetic properties of a example of social housing and architecture’s
material. Concrete for example works in ability to create community. The physical
compressions the best, but as Jeanne Gang space influences the human interaction and
demonstrates, by changing the workability, or perception of others as well as oneself. Your
slump, or the concrete she can use reinforcing social and physical environment influences
to allow the concrete to work in both tension your personal character constructions; a
and compression. She designed the material building’s social and physical environment also
to go beyond its normative function. But that influences the way its image is perceived to
choice is also based on its physical the people that dwell within it or experience it
appearance. That physical appearance is a from the outside.
1
Cadwell, Mike, 1952-. 2007. Strange Details.
Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. p 113.
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