| Title |
Building a Theory of Organic Building: Hugo Haring 1925-1934 |
| Keywords |
Hugo Haring ; Neues Bauen ; organisches Bauen ; Expressionism ; Function |
| Abstract |
German architect Hugo Haring (1882-1958) is best known for his theory "Neues Bauen" (new building) or "organisches Bauen" (organic building). Influenced by the Philosopher Oswald Spengler (1880-1936), Haring saw his contemporary architecture as well as past classical architecture a process from the outside inwards, and convinced himself that a reverse order would take place in future architecture. For him, an organic evolution from the inside outwards was naturally more harmonious order. He thus thought that when this divine or natural order is recognised, more substantial building design can be found through elaborate search for its intrinsic organization, rather than being imposed upon a building. Haring was sceptical about the aesthetic efficacy or sterility of the rationalist proportion systems. Haring advocated organic building since it was more functional (which was then the virtue of modern architecture). This paper is about the way in which his notion of organisches Bauen is developed and refined. This study presents that Haring's theory might have been developed after his artistic creation had occurred, and it somehow suggests problematic, but innate aspect of theory building. A further study on the evaluation of the theory of Hugo Haring requires an exploration of the wider socio-cultural conditions that have governed in shaping his ideological and aesthetic orientations. |