Some Notes of Anthropomorphism in Architecture and Arts: From Vitruvius to Neufert. Manipulations of the III Reich

This paper discusses the role of the human body image in the architecture and art of Western civilization, reflections on its historical status and the evolution of cognitive functions. The influence of the body and its implications on theories of architecture throughout history are considered, with particular emphasis on the period from Vitruvius to Neufert. By tracing the evolution of the interpretation of the body (from the tangible to the phenomenological sphere), changes in the cognitive dimensions of the human body and their manipulation for the needs of the ideology of the III Reich are presented. Architects, despite these transformations, still maintain an anthropocentric point of view, emphasizing geometric and metric aspects in architectural design. However, in the last few decades, with the development of interactive and responsive environments, a new interest has been taken in the role of the human body in the creation and perception of works of art and architecture. By engaging in interaction with elements of these environments, a person activates computer-controlled electronic systems that respond to the dynamics of their body. Human body anthropometric data and their personalization are used today to navigate in visual space defined by the computer. The creative potential of new media coupled with information technology opens up a new field of research on the role of humans in the design and perception of the built environment.