Explaining the Concept of Historicism in Architecture from Two Distinct Perspectives: The Explanatory and the Value-Oriented

Davari, Zahra; Soroush, Mohammadmehdi

doi:10.22034/ijumes.2026.2078958.1349

Explaining the Concept of Historicism in Architecture from Two Distinct Perspectives: The Explanatory and the Value-Oriented

Document Type : Case Study

Authors

Zahra Davari ¹

Mohammadmehdi Soroush ²

¹ Ph.D. Candidate in Architecture, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Ha.C., Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Ha.C., Islamic Azad University, Hamedan, Iran

10.22034/ijumes.2026.2078958.1349

Abstract

Historicism is one of the complex and ambiguous concepts in architectural theory, with multiple interpretations ranging from approval to criticism. Rooted in Hegel’s philosophy of history, the concept has been subject to diverse and often value-laden readings after Hegel, some of which led to revolutionary attitudes with historically disastrous outcomes, drawing severe critique from anti-historicist thinkers. On the other hand, historicism can be regarded as a paradigm that emerged in parallel with modernity, opposing the absolutization of natural-science methodology and the causal-descriptive approach of conventional historiography. In this tradition, historical developments including those in architecture are examined through dialectical logic and the spirit of the age. Any thought detached from its historical context is considered erroneous and lacking independent identity and truth. This study seeks to answer two main questions: What does historicism mean in the field of architecture? Is it possible to identify an epistemological interaction between the main perspectives of historicism in architecture? The research employs a qualitative, documentary-based, analytical–interpretive method. The findings demonstrate that historicism, at its core, is a robust methodology for the logical explanation and analysis of historical events and transformations. Although some scholars distinguish two distinct domains explanatory/analytical and ideological/value-oriented the study argues that an epistemological interaction exists between them. From a meta-theoretical perspective, architectural works arising from ideological aspirations and value orientations can be examined under the explanatory–analytical lens, leading to valuable insights.

Graphical Abstract

Explaining the Concept of Historicism in Architecture from Two Distinct Perspectives: The Explanatory and the Value-Oriented

Highlights

· Although historicism is often split into explanatory/analytical and ideological/value-oriented domains, the study argues an epistemological interaction exists between them.

· Historicism is generally understood as an intellectual orientation that treats history as the primary source of meaning, with every phenomenon determined by its historical context.

· Historicism in architecture extends far beyond reviving past styles or formally citing historical references it functions as an interpretive, meaning-generating framework.

· For Hegel, history is not a contingent sequence of events but the necessary process through which spirit realizes itself.

· Architectural works arising from ideological aspirations and value orientations can themselves be examined through the explanatory–analytical lens, since the two perspectives are ultimately reciprocal rather than mutually exclusive.

Keywords

Architecture

Explanatory Perspective

Hegel

Historicism

Value-Oriented Perspective

· Abdulmuhsin, M. S., & Alanizi, A. A. J. (2025). Architectural historicism and the future of identity. Samarra Journal of Engineering Science and Research, 3(3), 15–32. https://doi.org/10.65115/hn9jx622

· Alhusban, S. A., Alhusban, A. A., & Alhusban, M. W. (2023). Architectural historicism: The reflection of Western medieval architecture on contemporary churches Jordan as a case study. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-01-2023-0002

· Coetzee, A. (1999). Historicism as an aspect of a pragmatist theory of architecture. South African Journal of Art History, 14, 4–23.

· Ehteshami, A. (2018). Historical perception of architecture and the cultural-history approach. Art and Design Review, 6(2), 79–89. https://doi.org/10.4236/adr.2018.62008

· Fathi, H., & Mousazadeh, S. (2011). Hegel’s dialectic: A synthesis of Kantian dialectic in opposition to Plato. History of Philosophy, 2(1).

· Hvattum, M., & Hermansen, C. (Eds.). (2004). Tracing modernity: Manifestations of the modern in architecture and the city. Routledge.

· Iggers, G. G. (1995). Historicism: The history and meaning of the term. Journal of the History of Ideas, 56(1), 129–152. https://doi.org/10.2307/2710011

· Jalali, H. (2021). A comparative study of traditionalism and historicism in explaining mosque architecture, with emphasis on the views of Titus Burckhardt and Oleg Grabar. Islamic Architecture and Urbanism Culture, 6(2), 113–132.

· Kant, I. (1991). Idea for a universal history with a cosmopolitan purpose. Cambridge University Press.

· Kilde, J. H. (2008). Historicism, modernism, and space. In Sacred power, sacred space: An introduction to Christian architecture and worship (pp. 161–198). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195314694.003.0007

· Kimpel, B. (1994). Hegel’s philosophy of history (A. Dastghaib, Trans.). Badiʼ.

· Kolb, D. (1991). What is open and what is closed in the philosophy of Hegel. Philosophical Topics, 19(2), 29–50.

· Kolb, D. (2007). Hegel’s architecture. In S. Houlgate (Ed.), Hegel and the arts. Northwestern University Press.

· Kolb, D. (2008). Hegel’s idealism. Poligrafi, 16.

· Limnatis, N. G. (2008). German idealism and the problem of knowledge: Kant, Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel. Springer.

· Mađanović, M. (2022). “Building for the age” according to the principles of holism, individuality, and development: Historicism and architecture. Filozofija i Društvo, 33(4), 1004–1021. https://doi.org/10.2298/FID2204004M

· Mojtahedi, K. (1975). Art from Hegel’s point of view. Farhang va Zendegi, 18.

· Motamedi, A. R. (2011). Symbolism from the perspective of Hegel and the traditionalists. Qabasat, 16(60), 165–190.

· Noble, J. A. (2014). Architecture, historicism and historiography. South African Journal of Art History, 29(2), 17–30.

· Nozari, H. (1992). Historicism and the problem of meaning in historical interpretation. Markaz Publishing.

· Quek, R. (2012). The expertise of architecture and its history. South African Journal of Art History, 27(1).

· Redding, P. (2020). Hegel (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) (M. M. Ardabili, Trans.). Ghoghnoos.

· Robinson, W. (1995). Instant art history. Ballantine Books.

· Rotenstreich, N. (2006). Dictionary of the history of ideas (M. Irani-Talab, Trans., Vol. 2). Ghoghnoos.

· Shoja, A. (2007). Hegel’s political philosophy and modernity. Political Research Quarterly, 23, 1–14.

· Singer, P. (2000). Hegel (E. Fooladvand, Trans.). Tarh-e No.

· Sobhani, J. (1997). Philosophy of history. Maktab-e Eslam Institute.

· Turan, E. (2003). Hegel’s philosophy of history. Nameh-ye Mofid, 39, 23–36.

· Wąs, C. (2023). Controversies around the concept of “style” in the architecture of the 20th and 21st centuries. Quart, 68(2–3). https://doi.org/10.11588/quart.2023.2-3.101482

· Youns, A. M., & Grchev, K. (2024). A historical and critical assessment of parametricism as an architectural style in the 21st century. Buildings, 14(9), 2656. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14092656