The Architect That Did Not Build

A historical evaluation of the experimental architectural profession through the work of architect Lebbeus Woods and its implications for the practice of architecture

Student report (2022)

Authors

M.J. de Beun Architecture and the Built Environment

Contributors

B.L. Hansen Teachers of Practice / A - Architecture and the Built Environment (mentor)
Faculty
Architecture and the Built Environment, Architecture and the Built Environment
Copyright: © 2022 Martin de Beun
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Published Date

14-04-2022

Language

English

Reuse Rights

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Faculty

Architecture and the Built Environment

Abstract

Lebbeus Woods was an experimental architect best known for his visionary drawings. His entry into the field of experimental architecture was enabled by the conditions in which the field found itself in the 1970s. Through drawing, Woods explored ideas and hypotheses which were unbound from conventional limitations. The field of architecture has been shaped by socio-political factors since the 1980's onwards, which has limited the possibilities of the architect to practice their profession freely. To this end, Woods proposed increasingly radical architectural projects that in turn also envisioned the architect as a leading figure in reshaping society. Although his visions have never materialized they nonetheless serve as a valuable reflection on the purpose of the architect in society today.