• Korean Institute of Interior Design Journal
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.171-180
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• 2012

The purposes of this study were to compare Louis I. Kahn and Rem Koolhaas, both of whom established their architectural theories and granted rationality to them by applying the theory of psychoanalysis, and examine common and different characteristics in the inner space composition of a building between them. The study also set out to confirm a basic premise based on which to develop a metaphysical design concept by applying the theory of psychoanalysis in the inner space composition of contemporary architecture in future from the more developed and integrated perspective of modern psychoanalysis. As a result, Kahn sought after a metaphysical design concept through the combinations of inner unit spaces including servant and served space, which are comparable to the confrontation between consciousness and unconsciousness from the perspective of psychoanalysis. Unlike him, Koolhaas applied the concept of folding to his architectural plans based on the theory of post-structuralism and created a metaphysical design concept by more focusing on connections between unit spaces rather than their combinations. While Kahn worked on his designs with much interest in the combinations of inner unit spaces in horizontal circulation by separating it from vertical circulation, Koolhaas created a new design concept beyond the limitations of Kahn, who had a confronting, dichotomous view of the world between the phenomenal world and the metaphysical world, by making use of inclined slabs to connect upper slabs with lower ones. The findings show that there can be various metaphysical design concepts depending on how to connect and combine two confronting concepts when applying the theory of psychoanalysis to architectural design.