PhD Seminar — TTT: TYPOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, TOPOLOGY

The presentation argues that the dominant architectural history is too logocentric and not speculative enough. As such, its only merit is to translate a coexistence of becomings into a succession of neat logically necessary types. The case will be made for the role of topology as the antidote to the pernicious typological essentialism. Architecture needs to be free from the ideas of epoch and destiny. Following Massumi’s lead, the speculative aspect relates to the contingently obligatory becoming, an event: "intrepidly future-facing, far-rangingly foretracing." While it would appear logical that space should precede affordance, in fact, the inverse holds true. The degree zero of spatial experience occurs at the level of the unconscious and is proto-subjective and sub-representational. As Hayles put it, consciousness is overrated. In terms of architectural thinking, everything begins from the sensible. However, the task of speculative thinking is to go beyond the sensible to the potentials that make sensibility possible. After all, the basic medium of the discipline of architecture, as we see it, is the ‘space of experience’. This spatium, which is not to be confused with the 'experience of space', does not pre-exist but subsists as virtuality.

Event Registration

URL: http://bit.ly/3ZbVZvP

• All PolyU PhD students and SD staff are welcome. 
• This Zoom meeting accommodates 100 participants at most.
• Event registration is required and on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Successful registrants will receive a confirmation email with the Zoom meeting details before the event.