{"id":2803,"date":"2015-12-17T15:29:20","date_gmt":"2015-12-17T15:29:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/architecture-and-gender\/"},"modified":"2018-02-16T12:18:54","modified_gmt":"2018-02-16T12:18:54","slug":"architecture-and-gender","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/architecture-and-gender\/","title":{"rendered":"Architecture and Gender"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- SEO Ultimate Plus (https:\/\/seoultimateplus.com) - Code Inserter module -->\n<script async>(function(s,u,m,o,j,v){j=u.createElement(m);v=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0];j.async=1;j.src=o;j.dataset.sumoSiteId='b68b392479b5981b8acf46565e9fe32a0734fc21a1f7c1e60121eaa6ca1a1c64';v.parentNode.insertBefore(j,v)})(window,document,'script','\/\/load.sumo.com\/');<\/script>\n<!-- \/SEO Ultimate Plus -->\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">&#8220;Architecture is a subject which demands to be understood in context: that is, within the context of its production (society, <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"Market (economics)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/market-economics\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/market_economics;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Market_(economics)\" >economics<\/a>, politics, and culture) and the context of its consumption, representation and interpretation&#8221;\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.janerendell.co.uk\/books\/gender-space-architecture\">Jane Rendell<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">It seems impossible to consider bricks as human formations and applying human characteristics to them seems an even bigger joke. But what people fail to see when they walk down the street is the layering of <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\"  href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/planning\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/planning;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.0217bt;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Planning\" >planning<\/a> that went into architecture designs. It is a product of our making and so cannot help but be influenced by the issues of our society, and become a reflection of the ideals our society holds. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">Many experts and theorists in recent years have become obsessed by the idea of architectures link to gender. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">Jane Rendell, author of &#8216;Gender, Space and Architecture&#8217; in her book discusses the historical bias of <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"Building\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/building\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/building;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.0cgh4;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Building\" >buildings<\/a> and their contribution to feminism within the industry and how perhaps spaces have been built to reflect patriarchal ideas. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">Buildings such as The Gherkin and the water tower known as &#8216;the brick dick&#8217; don aesthetics suggestive of phallic imagery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<img src=\"http:\/\/www.timeshighereducation.co.uk\/Pictures\/web\/p\/y\/f\/ypsilanti_water_tower_the_brick_dic_450.jpg\" alt=\"\" align=\"none\" \/><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"1\" style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">image source:\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;\">http:\/\/www.timeshighereducation.co.uk\/books\/sex-and-buildings-modern-architecture-and-the-sexual-revolution-by-richard-j-williams\/2006572.article<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"1\" style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">The Author Richard J. Williams has published a book entitled\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.timeshighereducation.co.uk\/books\/sex-and-buildings-modern-architecture-and-the-sexual-revolution-by-richard-j-williams\/2006572.article\">Sex and Buildings<\/a>, in it he makes several references to Freudian theory of psycho-analysis and through this lens uses it to <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"Study (room)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/study-room\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/study_room;http:\/\/yago-knowledge.org\/resource\/Study_(room);http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.03d2yw;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Study_(room)\" >study<\/a> spaces from around the world and imply what their structure actually represents. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">These impressive landmarks are the eye-catching details of many cities, stark and bare to the general public, towering high in the sky and looking down upon us all. When you consider the position of these buildings, the role that they play, to then assimilate it to gender bias makes you realise that they are not only statements of design; but an oppressive message subconsciously diverged to the masses. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">The University of York now holds a course dedicated to exploring the relations of architecture to gender and sexuality: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.york.ac.uk\/history-of-art\/current\/undergraduate\/2013-14-third-year-modules\/arch_gen_sex\/\">http:\/\/www.york.ac.uk\/history-of-art\/current\/undergraduate\/2013-14-third-year-modules\/arch_gen_sex\/<\/a><span class=\"MsoHyperlink\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">It articulates the evocative nature of <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"modern\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/modern-architecture\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/modern_architecture;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.01tv5c;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/Modern_architecture\" >modern architecture<\/a> and the lessons to which it applies. The point of the course is to weave together an industry that is regarded very much as black and white manual labour, into something rather more complex. It instead aims to show us the underlying intonations of the architect&#8217;s mind and the many ideas that go into constructing and designing some of the buildings we come across every day. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">It explores the history of repression that has been represented in early era <a class=\"wl-entity-page-link\" title=\"House\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/house\/\" data-id=\"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/entity\/house;http:\/\/rdf.freebase.com\/ns\/m.03jm5;http:\/\/dbpedia.org\/resource\/House\" >housing<\/a>, and explores how in recent years this has perhaps changed to invite and reflect our present culture and its more accepting attitudes towards gender and sexuality. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">I don&#8217;t think it is wrong to consider the influence of gender upon architecture given the evidence, and I think for as much progress as we may claim to have made; we are not as equal and accepting as we like to think.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<img src=\"http:\/\/images.nationalgeographic.com\/wpf\/media-live\/photos\/000\/025\/cache\/singapore-esplanade_2540_600x450.jpg\" alt=\"\" align=\"none\" \/>\u00a0\u00a0<span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"1\" style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">image source:\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;\">http:\/\/travel.nationalgeographic.com\/travel\/city-guides\/singapore-photos-1\/<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"1\" style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">The Esplanade of Singapore has been described by experts as feminine, curved in the shape of a womb; it provokes connotations of nurturing and protection. However its soft curves, not as impressive or sturdy as that of great towers or skyscrapers<a href=\"http:\/\/architecture.about.com\/od\/architectureandsex\/ss\/gender_4.htm#step-heading\">, has been criticised<\/a> for inferring weakness and submission.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">The Empire State Building of New York however is forceful in its appearance suggestive of dominance and power, leering over the members of the public below and producing a strong statement on the position of masculinity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.esbnyc.com\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/timely_content_image_large__885x590_\/public\/default_images\/brs_0330.jpg?itok=m3gzF1YH\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"420\" align=\"none\" \/><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"1\" style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">image source:\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;\">http:\/\/www.esbnyc.com\/explore\/tower-lights<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">Some suggest outside of gender that many buildings are created to emphasise emotion within people, stir feeling like a work of art or a great novel. They are built to stun and wow and this outside of gender makes buildings sensual and erotic. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">So it does not seem too far a leap to consider that we also project definitions of gender onto a building. The only problem are the stereotypes and binaries these projections are breeding into people. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">Perhaps instead we should be creating a balanced hybrid of the two, projecting what it is to be in true harmony and equality. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">The Taj Mahal of India for example could be viewed as the androgynous one.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/travelbeautifulplace.com\/uploads\/places\/images\/full\/taj_mahal.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"550\" align=\"none\" \/><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"1\" style=\"font-size: xx-small;\">image source:\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;\">http:\/\/travelbeautifulplace.com\/places\/man-made-structures\/asia\/india\/136-taj-mahal<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"1\" style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span size=\"1\" style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;\"><span size=\"3\" style=\"font-size: medium;\">Lauren Knight<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; &#8220;Architecture is a subject which demands to be understood in context: that is, within the context of its production (society, economics, politics, and culture) and the context of its consumption, representation and interpretation&#8221;\u00a0Jane Rendell. \u00a0 It seems impossible to<span class=\"ellipsis\">&hellip;<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/architecture-and-gender\/\">Read more &#8250;<\/a><\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":41,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wl_entities_gutenberg":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","spay_email":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"wl_entity_type":[602],"modified_by":null,"_wl_alt_label":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","wl:entity_url":"http:\/\/data.wordlift.io\/wl0502\/post\/architecture_and_gender","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2803"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/41"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2803"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2803\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14795,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2803\/revisions\/14795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2803"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2803"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2803"},{"taxonomy":"wl_entity_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thehouseshop.com\/property-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wl_entity_type?post=2803"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}