Architecture vs. Information Architecure: WAS [Sigia-l] The 3Factors of I/A

[Boniface Lau]

> From: sigia-l-admin at asis.org [mailto:sigia-l-admin at asis.org]On
> Behalf Of sgp
>  
> B,
> A crude and simple answer or rather proposal is that architecture is
> an expression, manifestation or inquiry beyond the strictly
> functional requirements of shelter or building.

"Expression, manifestation, or inquiry" is very vague and abstract.
Would you give a much more concrete definition of architecture?

A good definition expresses the innermost essence of a thing and
prevents us from taking particular properties for the thing itself.
Thus, two persons applying the same definition of architecture to the
same building will come to the same conclusion that such and such is
that building's architecture.


> Structure can and often is inseparable from architecture, I don't
> mean literally, again when it extends beyond its functional duties.
> These are only starting points of what could be a long and
> potentially boring discussion, of lectures I sat through in
> undergrad architecture school, etc. Do you really want to rehash
> this here and now?

Such rehash is necessary for teaching someone to become an architect.
But for communicating the innermost essence of what architecture is, I
thought a concrete definition would do.

I believe that a definition's concreteness reflects how well
understood is the essence. The more abstract is a definition, the less
we really understood the essence. 

Human beings have been engaging in building architecture since stone
age. I thought the many thousands of years of practice would have
nailed down the essence of what architecture is. Thus, I was expecting
from architects a very concrete definition of architecture.


> I don't understand its relevance to this group unless you now
> attempt to make some bridge across mediums. In the same way the
> analog 3D metaphoric desktop

Brett Ingram had said that most architects could tell us what the
architecture is in Building Architecture. Thus I thought it might help
Information Architecture to define its concept of architecture by
observing how a mature field like Building Architecture approaches
that definition.

Of course, I do not expect Information Architecture to have the same
architecture definition as that in Building Architecture. Just the
approach toward its definition may be of value.


Boniface