La luce del luogo
Notes on critical regionalism from Kenneth Frampton's archive at the CCA
Keywords:
Kenneth Frampton, Critical regionalism, Light of the place, Louis Kahn, Tadao Ando
Abstract
Kenneth Frampton developed the theory of critical regionalism in 1983, introducing the concept of the ‘light of place,’ which, unlike artificial light, activates a corporeal and atmospheric dimension of built space. Through textual analysis, critical comparison, and archival research at the CCA, a genealogy is reconstructed in which natural light assumes a phenomenological value, grounding architecture in a specific cultural context. The investigation extends to case studies by Aalto, Ando, Kahn and Zumthor, revealing three interpretations: light as a site-specific phenomenon, a sensory experience and a political gesture.
References
- Avermaete, T., Patteeuw, V., Szacka, L. C., & Teerds, H. (Eds.). (2019). Critical regionalism revisited (OASE, No. 103). nai010 publishers.
- Baudrillard, J. (1973). The mirror of production. Telos Press.
- Carlson-Reddig, K. (2011). Re-Reading Critical Regionalism. In ACSA Fall Conference. Local Identities Global Challenges.
- Dal Co, F. (1997). Tadao Ando. Le opere, gli scritti, la critica. Electa.
- Eggener, K.L. (2002). Placing Resistance: A Critique of Critical Regionalism. In Journal of Architectural Education, n. 55.
- Frascari, M. (1987). The Body and Architecture in the Drawings of Carlo Scarpa. In Anthropology and Aesthetics, n. 14.
- Frampton, K. (1980). Modern Architecture: A Critical History. New York: Thames & Hudson.
- Frampton, K. (1981). Du néo-productivisme au post-modernisme. In L'Architecture d’Aujourd’hui, n. 213.
- Frampton, K. (1983). Towards a Critical Regionalism: Six points for an architecture of resistance. In Anti-Aesthetic. Essays on Postmodern Culture, edited by Hal Foster. Seattle: Bay Press.
- Frampton, K. (1987). Dimitris Pikionis, Architect 1887-1968. A Sentimental Topography. London: Architectural Association.
- Frampton, K. (1991). Tadao Ando: Light and Water. Basel: Birkhäuser.
- Frampton, K. (1995). Studies in Tectonic Culture: The Poetics of Constriction in Nineteenth and Twentienth Century Architecture. 3. Aufl. Cambridge, Mass: M.I.T. Press.
- Frampton, K. (1999). Alvaro Siza. Tutte le opere. Milano: Electa.
- Frampton, K. (2000). Seven Points for the Millennium: An Ultimely Manifesto. In The Journal of Architecture 5.
- Frampton, K. (2001). The Other Modern Movement: Architecture. Yale University Press.
- Frampton, K. (2002). Alvar Aalto: Between Humanism and Materialism. New York: Museum of Modern Art.
- Frampton, K. (2005). Epilogue: Critical Regionalism Revisited: Reflections on the Mediatory Potential of Built Form. In Vernacular Modernism, edited by Maiken Umbach and Bernd Hüppauf, 193-98. Stanford University Press.
- Frampton, K. (2007). The Evolution of 20th Century Architecture: A Synoptic Account. New York: Springer.
- Frampton, K. (2012). The Practice of Architecture: Visiting Peter Zumthor. Movie
- Frampton, K. (2013). Verso un'architettura agonistica. In Domus, n. 972.
- Frampton, K. (2015). The Tactile Legacy Of Alvar Aalto And Its Relevance To Contemporary Practice. In Architecture Appeal, edited by Marc J. Neveu and Negin Djavaherian. Routledge.
- Heidegger, M. (1971). Building Dwelling Thinking. In Poetry, Language, Thought. Harper.
- Savorra, M. (2017). La Biennale del Post-modern e la fine del proibizionismo. In Casabella, n. 887.
- Tanizaki, J. (2022). Libro d’ombra. Marsilio.
- Vico, G., Sanna, M., & Vitiello, V. (2012). La Scienza Nuova. Milano: Bompiani.
- Zumthor, P. (2006). Atmosfere. Electa.
- Baudrillard, J. (1973). The mirror of production. Telos Press.
- Carlson-Reddig, K. (2011). Re-Reading Critical Regionalism. In ACSA Fall Conference. Local Identities Global Challenges.
- Dal Co, F. (1997). Tadao Ando. Le opere, gli scritti, la critica. Electa.
- Eggener, K.L. (2002). Placing Resistance: A Critique of Critical Regionalism. In Journal of Architectural Education, n. 55.
- Frascari, M. (1987). The Body and Architecture in the Drawings of Carlo Scarpa. In Anthropology and Aesthetics, n. 14.
- Frampton, K. (1980). Modern Architecture: A Critical History. New York: Thames & Hudson.
- Frampton, K. (1981). Du néo-productivisme au post-modernisme. In L'Architecture d’Aujourd’hui, n. 213.
- Frampton, K. (1983). Towards a Critical Regionalism: Six points for an architecture of resistance. In Anti-Aesthetic. Essays on Postmodern Culture, edited by Hal Foster. Seattle: Bay Press.
- Frampton, K. (1987). Dimitris Pikionis, Architect 1887-1968. A Sentimental Topography. London: Architectural Association.
- Frampton, K. (1991). Tadao Ando: Light and Water. Basel: Birkhäuser.
- Frampton, K. (1995). Studies in Tectonic Culture: The Poetics of Constriction in Nineteenth and Twentienth Century Architecture. 3. Aufl. Cambridge, Mass: M.I.T. Press.
- Frampton, K. (1999). Alvaro Siza. Tutte le opere. Milano: Electa.
- Frampton, K. (2000). Seven Points for the Millennium: An Ultimely Manifesto. In The Journal of Architecture 5.
- Frampton, K. (2001). The Other Modern Movement: Architecture. Yale University Press.
- Frampton, K. (2002). Alvar Aalto: Between Humanism and Materialism. New York: Museum of Modern Art.
- Frampton, K. (2005). Epilogue: Critical Regionalism Revisited: Reflections on the Mediatory Potential of Built Form. In Vernacular Modernism, edited by Maiken Umbach and Bernd Hüppauf, 193-98. Stanford University Press.
- Frampton, K. (2007). The Evolution of 20th Century Architecture: A Synoptic Account. New York: Springer.
- Frampton, K. (2012). The Practice of Architecture: Visiting Peter Zumthor. Movie
- Frampton, K. (2013). Verso un'architettura agonistica. In Domus, n. 972.
- Frampton, K. (2015). The Tactile Legacy Of Alvar Aalto And Its Relevance To Contemporary Practice. In Architecture Appeal, edited by Marc J. Neveu and Negin Djavaherian. Routledge.
- Heidegger, M. (1971). Building Dwelling Thinking. In Poetry, Language, Thought. Harper.
- Savorra, M. (2017). La Biennale del Post-modern e la fine del proibizionismo. In Casabella, n. 887.
- Tanizaki, J. (2022). Libro d’ombra. Marsilio.
- Vico, G., Sanna, M., & Vitiello, V. (2012). La Scienza Nuova. Milano: Bompiani.
- Zumthor, P. (2006). Atmosfere. Electa.
Published
2025-06-30
How to Cite
Crudeli, A. (2025). La luce del luogo: Notes on critical regionalism from Kenneth Frampton’s archive at the CCA. AND Journal of Architecture, Cities and Architects, 1(47), 20-27. Retrieved from https://www.and-architettura.it/index.php/and/article/view/680
Section
Articles
Copyright (c) 2025 Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
