The social field designed by architecture

Abstract

In the literature disciplinary researches, e.g., physics, studied the behaviour of elements, such as particles, in a context provided with properties, e.g., electromagnetic and gravitational. This context is classically considered as field, i.e., a physical quantity associated to each point of space-time. Social sciences and psychology use the concept of Force Field introduced by the social psychologist Kurt Lewin (1890-1947) The Force Field or life space was assumed to be -in any individual or social group- changing with experience and intended as representation of the environment, personal values, emotions and goals. We may say the cognitive system combined with representations and stimuli of the environment. This short essay focuses on Architecture as design of structures able to represent and induce properties of the cognitive systems possessed by inhabitants as well their transformation processes relating to social processes in progress. The subject is studied by Environmental Psychology, in the conceptual framework of Space Syntax. On one hand, the structure of space created through Architecture both represents and induces the social field within which inhabitants behave. On the other hand, inhabitants behave by using such a social field. Within this conceptual framework we may hypothesise the existence of a process of self-architecture by social systems. We explore the coherence, in such social fields, between different aspects such as architecture, design, fashion, music and painting.