The Marginalization of the Visual in Architectural Theory: Origins, Consequences, and Challenges

In most architectural theory books published in recent decades, words prevail while images remain sparse and secondary—if not entirely superfluous—to the arguments presented. These images often resemble relics from the formative decades of modern architecture, a time when architectural discourse was rich in iconography. Following the crisis of the modern movement, images were largely abandoned in architectural debate. For several decades now, architectural theory has primarily involved the introduction of philosophical trends into the field. As philosophy is minimally visual, words have come to dominate architectural theory. However, both designers and the general public predominantly engage with architecture through visualization. This article examines the origins and consequences of this hiatus and, through a research project conducted by the author, illustrates how ad hoc imagery can shape architectural arguments.