Open and direct to the color: literature and architecture are the same

Author: Ruan Qingyue
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The author is a renowned Taiwanese architectural critic and novelist. Originally, he had been expanding in both fields separately, but this time he intentionally merged his expertise, creating a book that fosters mutual inspiration and skepticism between literature (primarily European classical literature) and architecture (primarily contemporary Western architecture). It can be called a "cross-disciplinary" gem. In the book, the author does not engage in general comparisons between architecture and literature but emphasizes how they spiritually inspire his analysis of cities/architecture, transcending the typical academic analogies to become more of an emotional (literary). Beyond responding to technology, budgets, and practical needs, architecture should also reflect thoughtful consideration for the human environment. The challenges of the creative process, intertwined with real-world temptations, involve choices between what should and should not be done—perhaps it’s time to return to one’s original intentions. When facing various difficulties (or temptations), does the designer still remain true to their (original), striving to break through and complete the entire project. Good architecture is not necessarily a product of the best (inherent conditions), but rather one that responds appropriately within its given constraints, neither arrogant nor subservient. Literature also has its own (original), and whether it deviates from this literary (original) is what I believe determines the authenticity of literary creation. Thus, the connection between literature and architecture can be drawn because when facing reflections on "authenticity and appropriateness," they are fundamentally the same.