Saturday, February 2, 2008

Do buildings have gender?


Are sex and architecture related? Are some buildings "male" and others "female"?

Yes, of course, some architects are male and some are female. But what of the buildings?

Does a Victorian cottage, dolled up in gingerbread, seem "female"? Is a rough-hewn stone castle "male"? How would you describe the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey?

The questions might strike you as a bit absurd, but many serious architecture scholars are looking closely at the relationship between architecture and human anatomy and human sexuality.

This photo tour explores several ways we can think about architecture, sex, and gender.

  1. Do buildings have gender?
  2. Male Architecture? The Empire State Building
  3. Male Architecture? Pei's Johnson Museum
  4. Female Architecture? The Singapore Esplanade
  5. Bold Female Energy? Sydney Opera House
  6. Androgynous Architecture? The Taj Mahal
  7. Architects and Gender
  8. Buildings Designed For Sex
  9. Architecture and Sensuality
  10. Neuter Architecture? Bauhaus Design

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