Humour in Architecture

Abstract

This thesis examines the role of humour in architectural design. The research question of the thesis is: ‘What can be learned from the integration of humour in architectural design by looking at historical examples?’ Using literary research and case studies from the 1970s to the 2010s, the thesis aims to provide insight into how humour can play a role in architecture. Psychology research on humour can be summarized as the following: humour is usually a result of a violation of expectations, of which a viewer realises that it isn’t excessive in any way. The way architects implement humour in architecture varies greatly. Architectural humour is often used to critique the architectural ideas of that time period. Humour in architecture is mostly considered a rewarding endeavour, but some architects claim that architecture has to be taken seriously; it takes up space and materials and impacts people’s lives directly. In some cases, the humour used by architects also resulted in some people being offended by it, and that is worsened because buildings are long-lasting. In short, humour in architecture can enhance a building, and it should be explored more, both in research and in practice.