Trenka - Philosophie und Verdauung

Philosophie und Verdauung

Is there a link between digestion and architecture? Digestion is an important issue for the conception of space in which people can live. It is a well-known fact, that the Chateau de Versailles had not enough toilets. That is certainly one reason for the start of the French revolution.

Architecture of Digestion

The form of the digestive tube gives us important indications for the conception of space in architecture. A building needs people as the digestive tube needs food. The architectural triumph of the “organic fold” – a characteristic pattern for different parts of the digestive tube – took place long before the baroque. Activity in the organs influences the spirit, too.

Le Pli

Our body feels the link between architecture and mind. The arts and in particular cinematographic films help us to understand the links between the architect and its belly. A very good example is a movie by Peter Greenaway.

Abbildung 4

Does our digestion determine our creativity or vice versa? What is more important for architecture, the belly or the mind? According to Wittgenstein the “place of our thought” can be the paper we’re writing on, the mouth that we use to talk or the brain that fires electrons. Can we think with our belly? Architecture that neglects the tummy often shows nothing but the digestive problems of the architect. Healthy food and decent proportions are a unity. Proportions without pleasure cause hesitations that can develop into sickness and might in the end lead to the decline of entire empires.

The user takes the final judgement on the quality of architecture. Umberto Ecco proposes that the reception of architecture is an interpretation of an organic form. This reception should be balanced, open and closed at the same time. This point is of particular importance for the development of democracy that depends on the digestion of the autonomic subject.

If you are looking for more precise information on the links between architecture and digestion please contact us: Centre of Research on Digestion and Philosophy, Capistangasse 2/8, A-1060 Vienna

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