Kenosis Creativity Architecture locates and explores creativity's grounding in the ancient concept of kenosis, the "emptying" that allows creativity to happen; that makes appearance possible.

It concretises that grounding through architecture-a primal expression of human creativity-critically examining, for the first time, kenotic instantiations evidenced in four iconic, international projects; works by Kahn, Pei, Ando, and Libeskind. Then, in a final turn, the potentiality of architecture's own emptying is probed. Architect and author Randall Lindstrom draws on Western and Eastern philosophy, including that of Heidegger, Levinas, Derrida, Vattimo, Nishida, and Nishitani, as well as on the theology of Christianity, Judaism, and aspects of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. Every chapter expands the argument that, if responsiveness to our world is taken seriously-if proper and sustainable responses are to be realised-then a deeper understanding of creativity, and so kenosis, is essential.

This book opens-up a way of thinking about creativity and humanity's readiness to be creative. It thereby presents a crucial enquiry-at the nexus of architecture, philosophy, and theology-for researchers, graduate and postgraduate students, and practitioners alike.

Randall S. Lindstrom, PhD, in more than forty years of architectural practice, has served clients on four continents and received frequent recognition and awards. Since 2011, his primary focus has shifted to academic pursuits at the University of Tasmania, where he is Adjunct Lecturer in Architecture and Design.

Foreword-Jeff Malpas

Acknowledgements

Part One-Foundations

1. Introduction: Awaiting Kenosis

Thinking about Kenosis

Thinking about Kenosis through Architecture

Thinking about Architecture through Kenosis

2. Kenosis: A Synoptic View

Locus Classicus

Antecedents

Medieval Thinking

Modern Development and Revival

Analogous Concepts

Postmodern Radicalisation

Part Two-Manifestations

3. Modernism and Order: Kahn at the Salk Institute

Religiosity and Design

Theories in Practice

Creativity Ascribed

A Deeper Provenance

4. Post-Modernism and Empathy: Pei at the Museum of Islamic Art

Container and Contents

Cultural Translation

Situational Response

Materialisation

Dervish-ness as Kingly-ness

5. Neo-Modernism and Nothingness: Ando at the Church of the Light

Criticising Perfection

Potentiality

Receptivity

Creativity

Valorising Imperfection

6. Critical-Modernism and Kindness: Libeskind at the Jewish Museum Berlin

Illustrations versus Captions

Uncanniness

Hope

Laughter

Spectacularity and Exemplarity

Part Three-Amplifications

7. Turning Away and Turning Back: The End of Architecture

Barriers to Emptying

Emptying to Create

Grounded in Emptying

End-ing

8. Conclusion: The Grace of Dis-grace

Bibliography

Index