Exploring the role of causal thinking in architectural design - Insights from Viollet Le Duc. As a part of the Architectural Research Methods by Linda N. Groat, David Wang

1. EXPLORING THE ROLE
OF CAUSAL THINKING
IN ARCHITECTURAL
DESIGN :INSIGHTS
FROM VIOLLET-LE-
DUC'S APPROACH
Research Methodology II
Presentation by : Shravanthi Gopalakrishnan 22RMAR005

2. INTRODUCTION
Architectural design involves the use off
causal thinking to create buildings that
meet specific functional and aesthetic
requirements. Violet-le-Duc''s approach to
design emphasizes the importance off
understanding the causal relationships
between different aspects off a building,
such as its structure, materials, and
decorative elements. This presentation
will explore the role off causal thinking in
architectural design, drawing on insights
from Violett-le-Duc''s approach.

3. THE IMPORTANCE OF CAUSAL
THIINKIING IN ARCHIITECTURAL
DESIIGN
Causal thinking is essential in architectural design
because it helps architects to understand how
differed not design elements interact with one
another, by understanding these interactions,
architects can crate buildings that function
effectively and are aesthetically pleasing. Violet-
lie-Duc's approach emphasizes the importance of
understanding the causes off differed not design
elements, such as the way in which the weight off a
building is supported. This understanding can lead
to bitterer design outcomes.

4. VIIOLLET--LE--DUC''S
APPROACH TO CAUSAL
THIINKING IN
ARCHITECTURAL
DESIGN
Viollet-le-Duc believed that causal thinking was
essential in architectural design. His approach
emphasized the importance of understanding the
structural and material causes of different design
elements. By understanding these causes, architects
could create buildings that were both functional
and aesthetically pleasing. For example, Viollet-le-
Duc believed that the ornamentation of a building
should be determined by its structural
requirements.

5. The nineteenth-century
architect and theorist
Eugene Viollet-le-Duc made
a lasting impact on
France's memory of its
architectural past—and its
imagination of an
architecture of the future—
through his restorations of
numerous Gothic structures
for France's state-run
Monuments Historiques.

7. There are many examples of causal
thinking in architectural design.
Architects must understand the causes
of different design elements in order to
create buildings that function
effectively and are aesthetically
pleasing. For example, an architect
designing a skyscraper must
understand the structural causes of
wind loads and how to design the
building to withstand them. Another
example is the aesthetic causes of a
building's facade, such as the use of
particular materials or the placement of
windows.
EXAMPLES OF CAUSAL THINKING
IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

8. Consider Viollet‐le‐Duc’s rationalist
deductions on the style of the copper
vessel. Its appearance: “exactly indicates its
purpose.
• It is fashioned in accordance with the
material employed
• The form obtained is suitable (for) the
use for which it is intended
• There really is only one way in which
the Historical Research 187 copper
vessel could be optimally designed,
and human reason could achieve this
expression by deductive processes.

9. • In the same vein, Viollet saw the architecture of
the Gothic period as an expression of the reasoned
analysis of structural forces. In short, form is the
effect of structural principles, as cause. Analytical
drawings such as the one shown here of Notre
Dame Cathedral fill the pages of his works (see
Figures 6.4a and 6.4b).
• Gothic architecture which was previously maligned
or romanticized as incoherent and mystical is
analyticallydissected and imaginatively shown by
Viollet-le-Duc to have an internal structure and
order equivalent to any living organism.
• Through dissective strategies of presentation,
Viollet-le-Duc could re-member Gothic architecture
"as if it was a completely scientific and rational
structure. His drawings for Pierrrefonds are but
two specific examples of Viollet-le-Duc's
systematic, graphic re-imagination of Gothic
architecture.

10. We must necessarily have recourse to the past in order to originate in
the present

11. Covering Law
The concept of "covering law" is associated with the philosophy of science, particularly within the field
of philosophy of explanation. It was initially formulated by Carl Gustav Hempel, a prominent
philosopher of science, as part of his deductive-nomological (D-N) model of explanation.

12. Here are the key elements of the covering law model:
• General Laws: General laws are universal statements that describe regularities or patterns
observed in the natural world. These laws are typically expressed in the form of if-then
statements. For example, "If an object is unsupported, then it falls to the ground due to
gravity.“
• Initial Conditions: The initial conditions are specific facts or observations about the initial
state of a system or the circumstances in which an event occurs. These conditions, along
with the general laws, are used to explain the particular phenomenon. For example, in the
case of a falling object, the initial conditions might include the object's mass, initial position,
and velocity.
• Deductive Reasoning: The covering law model relies on deductive reasoning to establish a
logical connection between the general laws, the initial conditions, and the explanandum.
By applying deductive logic, the explanandum can be derived from the general laws and
initial conditions.
• Explanandum: The explanandum refers to the particular event or phenomenon that is
being explained. It is the subject of inquiry and the outcome that needs to be accounted for
within the framework of the general laws and initial conditions.

13. Methods
•In a striking visual contrast to
the paradigm of graphic
dissection in the Dictionnaire,
Viollet-le-Duc also synthesized
features from numerous
Gothic cathedrals into ideal
typologies.
•The comparative method
initiated by Cuvier and
adopted by Bourgery and
Viollet-le-Duc was a
procedure for eliciting the
secrets held by empirical data.

14. CHALLENGES IN APPLYINGCAUSAL THINKING TO ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
Applying causal thinking to architectural design can be challenging. Architects must have a deep
understanding of the causes of different design elements in order to create effective designs. This
requires a broad range of knowledge in areas such as physics, materials science, and aesthetics.
Additionally, architects must balance the functional and aesthetic requirements of a building, which
can sometimes be in conflict.

15. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, causal thinking is essential in architectural design. By
understanding the causes of different design elements, architects can create
buildings that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Viollet-le-Duc's
approach provides valuable insights into the role of causal thinking in
architectural design. However, applying causal thinking to design can be
challenging and requires a broad range of knowledge. Overall, a deep
understanding of causal relationships is essential for architects to create
effective designs.