Noor Anne-Wil Jansen – 1369431

Word count – 356

I will illustrate the realism of memes in architecture by testing the success of the column as a meme
within the architectural field, using the factors defined by Richard Dawkins (1976); Longevity,
Fecundity and Copying-fidelity.

The definition of a column in the Merriam-Webster dictionary (2022) is the following: ‘A supporting
pillar’. There are many ways in which one can interpret a column; cylindrical and cut out of pieces of
marble as they did in ancient Greek architecture [source] or in an organic shape 3D-printed in
concrete as ETH Zurich has been developing (Walsch, 2022). In essence all these columns are the
same, that is; a pillar that supports something. This is what makes the column relevant in terms of
copying-fidelity as an example for memes.
In terms of Longevity of columns; they have been present within the field of architecture as early as
the Bronze Age (3000-1000 BCE) where columns were first used as a central support for the roofs of
small buildings (Cartwright, 2012). The Egyptian architect Imhotep used stone columns around 2600
BCE, the surfaces of these were carved to reflect bundled reeds (Brief history on columns/pillars,
2021). Till until this day, were most buildings in the world are built using columns.
The very first writer that describes classical columns is Vitruvius (70-15 BCE) (Brief history on
columns/pillars, 2021). The Vitruvian module first coined by Vitruvius himself described the
proportions of classical orders based on the semidiameter of the base of the column. Until now his
writing is still taught to built environment students everywhere. Columns are regarded by teachers
as a principal building element, and taught as such, which we should use as a basis for designing.
Half of the buildings students use as inspiration for their projects use columns in some way. The built
environment would be incomplete without columns. Thereby the survival of the column as a meme
is established, it has a strong fecundity.

To conclude, the column has been proven as a strong example of a meme in terms of longevity,
fecundity and copying-fidelity within the built environment. Hereby the realism of memes within our
field is certainly established.

References

Dawkins, R. (1976). Memes: the new replicators. In R. Dawkins, The Selfish gene (pp. 189-
201). Oxford University Press.

Walsh, N. P. (2022, July 28). ETH Zurich Develops 3D-Printed Concrete Columns. ArchDaily.
https://www.archdaily.com/921635/eth-zurich-develops-3d-printed-concrete-columns

Merriam-Webster. (2022). The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, New Edition, 2022 Copyright,

Mass-Market Paperback.

Brief history on columns/pillars. (2021, February 18). Worthington Millwork Blog. Retrieved
December 14, 2022, from https://blog.worthingtonmillwork.com/brief-history-on-columns-pillars/

Cartwright, M. (2012, October 30). Column. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved

December 14, 2022, from https://www.worldhistory.org/column/