Contents Acknowledgmentsix Opening conversation 1 Introduction: Architecture and Human Desire3 Historical origins of eros and philia7 I Eros, Seduction, and the Poetic Image in Architecture: Form9 1 Eros and Creation11 Opening conversation 11 Primordial Eros 12 Eros as creative power in classical philosophy14 Renaissance incorporations 16 Modern transformations20 Orphic Eros in late modernity25 Inspiration in contemporary praxis28 2 Eros and Limits31 Opening conversation31 Eros, spacing, and joints32 Erotic space and the origins of Western culture36 Erotic architectural space in the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili 39 Chora as erotic space 44 Renaissance incorporations51 Modern transformations56 Eros and time65 3 Eros and the Poetic Image69 Opening conversation69 Origins71 Marsilio Ficino and the poetic image in the Renaissance73 The poetic image in Renaissance theory79 Modern transformations81 The poetic image in modernity94 From Lequeu to Duchamp101 Frederick Kiesler's endless architecture104 Daniel Libeskind's Jewish Museum105 The poetic image in the contemporary world107 Interlude: Eros, Philia, and Agape 111 Eros and recognition111 Philia, ethics, and communion118 Philia, ems, and agape 120 II Philia, Compassion, and the Ethical Dimension of Architecture: Program123 Opening conversation123 4 Philia, Ritual, and Decorum 125 Origins125 From decorum to character 133 5 Architecture at the Limits of Language137 Opening conversation137 Language and architecture139 Architecture as language143 6 The Language of Philia in Architectural Theory147 Vitruvian theory147 The sequel153 7 A Tale of Two Brothers: Jean-Louis and Charles-Francois Viel167 The poetic architecture of Jean-Louis Viel168 The political architecture of Charles-Francois Viel173 Interweavings184 8 Poetry and, Meaning from within a (Western) Architectural Tradition 187 Opening conversation187 Architecture from within187 Architecture as poetic writing192 Architecture as critical poem196 9 The Ethical Image in Architecture 203 Opening conversation 203 Hermeneutics and ethical intentions204 On endless desire 211 Notes 215 Index 243