Author(s): Lucas N. Hoops
This paper explores the integration of ethnography, a key method in anthropology, into architectural practice to enhance the understanding of the built environment. Architecture frequently draws from various disciplines, yet the application of external methodologies often overlooks critical nuances, limiting interdisciplinary collaboration. The proposed approach positions anthropology, particularly through ethnographic methods, as a means to critically eval-uate and inform architectural practices. Ethnography involves immersive, long-term observation, capturing the details of human interaction with space that other methods might miss. When combined with architectural drawing techniques鈥攕uch as plans, sections, and axono-metric projections鈥攅thnography offers a unique perspective on how people inhabit and interact with built environments. This approach, termed 鈥渁rchitectural ethnography,鈥 was prominently featured in the 2018 Venice Biennale鈥檚 Japanese Pavilion, curated by Momoyo Kaijima, which categorized various ways in which architectural drawings can document and analyze human behavior in space. Raymond Lucas further enriches this framework by intro卢ducing 鈥渋nscriptive practices,鈥 a method of theorizing through drawing that aligns with the interpretive goals of anthropology. These practices enable a more creative and speculative engagement with architectural contexts. The paper also examines the application of these methods in architectural education, specifically within a Latin American studio setting, demonstrating how ethnographic observation and inscriptive practices can deepen students鈥 understanding of spatial patterns and architectural history. Ultimately, this paper advocates for the incorporation of ethnographic methods into architecture, arguing that such an interdisciplinary approach enhances the discipline鈥檚 ability to respond to the complexities of the built environment.
Volume Editors
ISBN
978-1-944214-49-4