The unitary coherent whole and the notion of wholeness

The compelling appeal of a unitary coherent whole in contemporary architectural design — set apart from the flux and complexity of expansive parametric articulations — invites theoretical reflection on the nature of unifying practice. Drawing on sources in architectural discourse — marked by the universalisation of design approaches and reflective perspectives on the nature of composition — this study reassesses a precedent of transdisciplinary unitary modes of expressions that emerged in the late 1950s and 60s. It centres on the intersection of key currents in the contemporary architectural landscape: the unified figural whole conceived as a universal space; models of logic and systems theory from analytic philosophy; and the unitary forms of Minimalist art. This framing brings into dialogue the recurring features underlying the conceptual and formal pursuit of a unitary coherent whole, informing a critical inquiry into unifying design strategies within contemporary discourse.