The purpose of this thesis is to explore the relationship between man and his home by investigating the way in which his environment affects him and how he responds to whatever surrounds him.
In the first section, the two-way relationship between man and his environment is analyzed, through the lens of Edgar Alan Poe's essay "The philosophy of Furniture" (The Philosophy of Furniture, Burton's Gentleman's Magazine, 1840).
In the second section, following a contemporary critique of Edgar Alan Poe's aforementioned essay, a retrospective of the human home [from the prehistoric times up until the 21st century] can be found. The intended outcome of this retrospective is to highlight the criteria and the tools that helped shape the human home throughout the centuries. In the same section, we find a commentary about the relationship between the man and his home/environment; and a discussion regarding the importance of the human character and personality behind every act. Reaching the present day, the several industries which are involved in the process of designing and forming the contemporary home are presented, revealing that design nowadays is ultimately alienated from the human element.
In the closing section, a way to redefine the relationship of man with his surrounding elements is proposed, leading to a mutual evolution and improvement. The aim is a universal and harmonious process, between al the creative/designing industries, that puts the human entity in its center, and not a generic subject with human proportions.
One could argue that the words "world" and "space" are divided by a very thin line.
Which is the real "facade" when somebody has a look into our personal space? Is it a mere reflection of our personality? Could a perfect personality translate to a perfectly designed interior? What do flawless interiors mean in a ‘large scale’?
