The Emergence of a Public Sphere: Architectural Texts from 1960 to 1990

Abstract

The period from the 1960s to the 1990s is very important for the emergence of architectural
discourse in First World countries. This discourse was the result of the prolific publication of
texts during this period that proved to be markers of a shift in architectural practice, raising
awareness among architectural professionals and lay people alike regarding the state of the
discipline and suggesting a need to alter methods of conceptualization, design and practice.
This article reveals the relationship between print media and architecture, with a focus on
the texts published in the selected time period.
This paper bases itself on the hypothesis that there was a prolific publication of architectural
texts between the 1960s and 1990s and recognizes the emergence of the public sphere
due to the impact of a variety of print media, such as books, journals and magazines, on human
thoughts and actions. This paper is divided into three parts: the first discusses print as a medium
of communication, the second traces the evolution of the public sphere in architecture
and the third identifies theory institutions as being part of the public sphere.