Psychological aspects of space : house, psyche and body

Abstract

The house is explored as a site which suggests various possibilities with regard to psychological aspects of embodied experience in space. Some well-known links between architecture as site and the psyche as terrain are noted. Four readings of house, psyche and body are investigated with reference to core texts relevant to each. A first reading explores Jungian interpretations of the house as feminine. The next reading inscribes the house as masculine in its Freudian repression of nature. A third reading finds Freud's notion of the "uncanny" useful for the exploration of the feminine becoming hysterical of the house. The fourth reading posits the house as being both masculine prosthesis and feminine prophylactic in accordance with the current poststructuralist practices of architects Elizabeth Diller, Ricardo Scofidio and others.Die huis word ondersoek as 'n terrein wat verskillende moontlikhede suggereer met betrekking tot psigologiese aspekte van beliggaamde ervaring van ruimte. Enkele bekende skakelings tussen argitektuur as plek en die psige as terrein word genoem. Vier interpretasies van huis, psige en liggaam word ondersoek met verwysing na kerntekste van toepassing op elk. 'n Eerste moontlikheid behels 'n Jungiaanse beskouing van die huis as synde vroulik. Die volgende interpretasie vertolk die huis as manlik in die Freudiaanse verdringing van die natuur. 'n Derde benadering tot die huis betrek Freud se siening van "das Unheimliche", die "uncanny", die "onheilspellende" met betrekking tot die vroulike histeries-wordende huis. Laastens postuleer 'n vierde moontlikheid die huis as synde beide manlike prostese en vroulike profilakse in ooreenstemming met die huidige poststrukturalistiese praktyk van argitekte Elizabeth Diller, Ricardo Scofidio en andere.