Speaking with Houses : A Cross-Cultural Critique of Heidegger’s Ontology

By exploring architectural poiesis across a wide diversity of cultures, this book reveals that the Western notion of “Being” is not the universal foundation that is often supposed. The book calls upon a diverse range of world architectures in order to critique Western concepts of ontology in language and philosophy.

Five architectural works are selected and analysed: the Djoser Step Pyramid in ancient Egypt, the Pantheon in imperial Rome, the Tai-an tea house in late medieval Japan, the Mãori meeting house in colonial New Zealand, and Mies van der Rohe’s Seagram Building in modern New York.

Through these case studies, the book challenges Martin Heidegger’s assertion that “language is the house of Being,” proposing instead that “Being” is a construct specific to Western languages and ontology.

Each examined structure embodies distinctive cultural and philosophical principles, such as the concept of mu in Japanese tea houses, which signifies “neither Being nor non-Being,” and the “no-Being” tradition in Maori tikanga.

This comparative analysis underscores the diversity of architectural expressions and their underlying philosophies.

It offers readers a nuanced understanding of how different cultures conceptualize their place in the world and situation differently. This book is an invaluable resource for scholars in architectural theory, ontology, and cultural studies.

Its interdisciplinary approach augments Heidegger’s comprehensive critique of Western metaphysical assumptions, encouraging readers to reconsider the relationship between language, being, and architectural images.

By integrating architectural analysis with philosophical inquiry it fosters a deeper appreciation of cultural diversity and invites academics to explore alternative perspectives to ontology in the built environment.