Toward intercultural architectural practices able to map cultural diversity: making use of Wittgenstein’s tools to enhance intercultural dialogue

Abstract

This paper understands interculturality as an exchange of views on the basis of mutual respect and transformative understanding. Its purpose is to show that Wittgenstein’s conceptual tools, in particular his concept of “synoptic view”, as well as his remarks on architecture, can be helpful in order to foster intercultural architectural practices and contribute to making visible the cultural diversity of our societies with a view to promoting intercultural dialogue. I share the view, proposed by Material Engagement Theory, that materiality shapes how we think and how we live. This paper addresses architecture’s potential to put us on the path toward achieving intercultural dialogue. In particular, it deals with how architecture can contribute to the creation of intercultural spaces, one of the five policy approaches to the promotion of intercultural dialogue spelled out in the White Paper on Intercultural Dialogue (2008). It suggests that, in addition to using spaces in intercultural ways, these should be designed interculturally. Besides, it explores the possibilities of architecture for the cultivation of critical thinking and shared values. I argue that our architectural practices can provide us with materialized overviews of cultural diversity and thus enlighten us, promoting analytical thinking, mutual understanding and awareness of one’s own cultural identity. By examining Wittgenstein’s idea that architecture is a gesture, I also advance that architecture conveys a Weltanschauung. The case is made in four steps. First, I define what I mean by intercultural architectural practices. Second, I shed light on the cultural diversity that is characteristic of contemporary societies by making use of Wittgenstein’s concept of “form of life” and by revising it. Third, I examine Wittgenstein’s concept of Übersichtlichkeit with a view to exploring architecture’s capacity to offer synoptic views of how different cultural identities overlap in contemporary societies. Next, I pursue Wittgenstein’s insight that architecture expresses the spirit of a civilization and connect it with architecture’s pedagogical dimension.