Unified Architectural Theory: An

Introduction
30 Aug 2013
by Nikos Salingaros
Articles ArchDaily Nikos Salingaros Unified Architectural Theory





People react according to their biological intuition, judging their environment for its positive or
negative effect on the human body. Architects, on the other hand, are conditioned to ignore their
own bodily signals and to judge the world according to abstract criteria. In many cases, such
judgments lead them to build anxiety-inducing structures that are bad for peoples health and
wellbeing. Brutalist building. Image Andy Spain
In the following months, we at ArchDaily will be publishing Nikos Salingaros book, Unified
Architectural Theory, in a series of installments, making it digitally, freely available for students
and architects around the world. In the following paragraphs, Salingaros explains why weve
decided to impart on this initiative, and also introduces what his book is all about: answering
the old and very disturbing question as to why architects and common people have
diametrically opposed preferences for buildings.
ArchDaily and I are initiating a new idea in publishing, one which reflects the revolutionary
trends awaiting book publishings future. At this moment, my book, Unified Architectural
Theory, 2013, is available only in the USA. With the cooperation of ArchDaily and its sister sites
in Portuguese and Spanish, it will soon be available, in a variety of languages, to anyone with
internet access. Being published one chapter at a time, students and practitioners will be able to
digest the material at their leisure, to print out the pages and assemble them as a do-it-yourself
book for reference, or for use in a course. For the first time, students will have access to this
material, in their own time, in their own language, and for free!
The book itself arose from a lecture course on architecture theory I taught last year. Students
were presented with the latest scientific results showing how human beings respond to different
types of architectural forms and spaces. At the end of the course, everyone was sufficiently
knowledgeable in the new methods to be able to evaluate for themselves which buildings, urban
spaces, and interior settings were better suited for human beings.
This approach is of course totally different from what is now known as Architectural Theory.
Image from
Unified Architectural Theory, 2013. Image Courtesy of Nikos Salingaros
The Theory offered here is unified precisely because it describes and helps to understand all
different styles of architecture. Moreover, it has predictive value. The basis for analysis is an
objective one, free from philosophical, ideological, or political bias. I believe that my language
(coming from a scientific background) is clear and direct. For this reason, its an antidote to
much of todays architectural discourse that is an intellectual game too esoteric for public
understanding.
I do not exaggerate in claiming that this book (and the research upon which it is based) finally
answers the old and very disturbing question as to why architects and common people have
diametrically opposed preferences for buildings. People react according to their biological
intuition, judging their environment for its positive or negative effect on the human body.
Architects, on the other hand, are conditioned to ignore their own bodily signals and to judge the
world according to abstract criteria. In many cases, such judgments lead them to build anxiety-
inducing structures that are bad for peoples health and wellbeing.
Image from
Unified Architectural Theory, 2013. Image Courtesy of Nikos Salingaros
There are indeed a large number of architects who are moving in the direction of this book
already, trying to employ more organic forms and to break out of the glass or concrete box. But,
lacking a scientific background, they proceed by visual intuition alone, with only limited results.
Here is where this book really helps: by distinguishing between (1) the superficial appearance of
organic order and (2) the generation of architectural form according to the same processes that
give rise to biological forms. Those are two entirely distinct mechanisms. All of this is explained
in detail in the book.
Image from
Unified Architectural Theory, 2013. Image Courtesy of Nikos Salingaros
The ideas in this book were developed by investigating architecture and design using the
scientific method; thus, most of these results are entirely original and highly relevant to
architecture, while at the same time situated strictly outside the common architectural discourse.
Most of the design community would otherwise miss them, and that would be a great pity.
In conclusion, this is a goldmine for young architects who are keen to develop innovative forms,
which moreover provide healthy and attractive living environments. There is a minor price to
pay, however, and that is the unavoidable criticism of those (often highly-regarded) architects
who pursue the opposite course of image-driven design. While I do not condemn them outright,
anyone reading this book soon realizes that the image-based approach is basically defective, and
should be abandoned. So this book is bound to ruffle a few feathers. In the name of architectural
progress I invite you to take up the challenge.