The Art of Ageing

A search in between the beginning, end and beyond

Master thesis (2018)

Authors

M.L. Rohof Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

R.J. Nottrot (mentor)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment, Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2018 Maria Rohof
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Published Date

01-02-2018

Language

English

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

The Art of Ageing is a manuscript about the transience of life specified in relation to our built environment.
Decay and decline are perpetual processes from the present-day, we as humans are always trying to increase this phenomenon. Such craving for this “youngness stage” results in unnatural outcomes. Like in the cosmetics industry, but it is also seen in architecture. As architects we are used to building in a permanent way. Buildings are structures that outlive us. We try to capture our building environment, because it gives us identity. But in doing so we mostly manipulate history for different purposes. Why are we trying to fool ourselves?

This research takes a closer look at our relation with architecture and the pursuit of immortality. By using a self-formed database of subjects around this theme I have written five short essays in this manuscript. I started with a quote by Hannah Arendt where she speaks about the importance of the permanence of our surroundings. I really believe that this is important for the reality and reliability of the human world but I wanted to research the relation between my theme of transiency and the permanence of the world.

These five themes contain subjects explaining why modern architecture cannot age well, ruin porn, acceptance of the passage of time, the importance of the landscape and mortality. My findings and the beginning quote by Arendt were not really a friction in the end.
The recognition of the building cycle over the course of time plays an important role for the reality and reliability of our world. By maintaining such reliable surroundings nothing will be hidden or unpredictable. With the acceptance of ageing and death we can create a stable situation which is predictable. Change is needed to prevent us from untrue reality that is easily created by ourselves. So let us design a true landscape and then rely on our surroundings.