Representation as Mental Projections: De/Re-constructing Casa della Falsità through Sequential Transformations

Özyeğin University Faculty of Architecture and Design, Department of Architecture, 34794 Çekmeköy/ İstanbul, Türkiye

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Abstract

This study investigates architectural representation as a dynamic “mental projection” exploring where geometric logic and conceptual thought intersect. The central research question asks: How can the intuitive, often unpredictable processes behind complex architectural transformations be systematically decoded? Focusing on the "Casa della Falsità" project, the research analyses speculative interventions by five architects, including Alessandro Mendini, Peter Wilson, Haus Rucker Co, Andrea Branzi, and Zaha Hadid. The study employs a reverse-reading methodology, deconstructing these architectural drawings into sequential, rule-based phases. This analytical dissection reveals the critical tension between geometric projection, defined as formal and traceable operations, and mental projection, characterized by subjective and irreducible intent. The results demonstrate that while architects like Mendini adopt legible visual languages, others, such as Hadid, rely on abstraction that defies strict geometric rationalization. Consequently, this research positions representation as a vital epistemological tool. By listing these transformative operations, the study proposes a pedagogical framework for reading drawings as spatial narratives, repositioning the architectural representation as an active site of knowledge production.