Landscapes of architectural education -architecture, knowledge and existential wisdom

Abstract

The very essence of learning also in any creative field is embedded more in the student’s sense of self and his/her image of the world than in information and facts. The promoters of a professionalist education seem to entirely dismiss this essential mental and existential perspective. This area of learning can appropriately be called personal growth. Education and learning in any creative field has to aim at the student’s individual and unique self, and the content of education is bound to be more existential than factual, related more with experiences and values than information. The essence of learning is the gradual construction of an inner sense of goal, responsibility, ethical stance, and a combined sense of humility and pride. In my view, this polar attitude is most difficult to acquire. Paradoxically, the essence of learning is essentially “un-learning”, or forgetting the learned facts. One must be able to forget them when they are many and one must have the great patience to wait until they come again.