Asian Architecture

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Fabio Carrera
Dept. of Urban Studies and Planning Ph.D. Candidate
City Design & Development
77 Massachusetts Ave., Rm.10-485, Cambridge, MA 02139
Voice Mail: (860) 205-7357 • Fax: (617) 258-8081 • Home: (860) 623-0655 • Email: carrera@mit.edu
Is the Lamp of Memory still burning?
Memory in Architecture and in Urban Design
December 15, 1998.
Is the Lamp of Memory still burning? Fabio Carrera
June 10, 2003. 2
Introduction
In this paper I review John Ruskin’s “The Seven lamps of Architecture” (and other books) in
search of traces of what Stanford Anderson has termed Memory in Architecture1. Counterintuitively,
what emerges from this review is that the concept of “memory within the discipline of Architecture
itself”, that is to say Memory in Architecture, is not to be found in the sixth lamp '   The Lamp of
Memory '   alone, but is instead sprinkled everywhere throughout Ruskin’s famous book. In retrospect,
this is not so surprising when one considers that, according to Ruskin, “architecture is the art which so
disposes and adorns the edifices raised by man, for whatsoever uses, that the sight of them may
contribute to his mental health, power, and pleasure” 2. In a treatise that aims at defining what makes
“good” architecture one would expect to find plenty of references to disciplinary memory, or memory
in architecture, as in fact is the case.
I have attempted to provide a re-interpretation of the writings of Ruskin in terms of the role that
disciplinary memory in Architecture has played, and could play, in the creation of good city form, and
of pleasant urban environments.
Societal and Disciplinary Memory in Architecture and Urban Design
Urban Designers would like to think that their good work will determine the success of, and the
level of pleasure provided by, a city or neighborhood. Unfortunately, I believe that when it comes to
creating completely enjoyable and pleasant urban environments, the buck...