Bruno Zevi's 1948 spatial autonomy theory revisited in architectural discourse

Luigi Prestinenza Puglisi examines the concept of autonomy within architecture, distinguishing between theoretical autonomy as a separate field and poetic autonomy as the essence of design. In his 1948 publication "Saper vedere l'architettura," Bruno Zevi advocates for autonomy, characterizing architecture as a four-dimensional experience. Nonetheless, Zevi's approach overlooks Greek temples and Egyptian pyramids and faces challenges in urbanism, even though he acknowledges streets and squares as urban interiors. The article highlights the ambiguous lines between sculpture and architecture, referencing Frank Gehry and Santiago Calatrava. The structuralist wave of the 1960s gave rise to four theoretical perspectives: Peter Eisenman, James Stirling, Giorgio Grassi, and Aldo Rossi. Current trends feature Aureli's absolute architecture and the non-referential designs of Olgiati and Breitschmid, showcasing a paradox of autonomy influenced by external factors.