Firstly we need to define what visceral and academic mean in regards to architecture. Beginning with the academic, foregrounded in scholarship, inculturation and ultimately based in classic design processes and values. Structured strategies and precision account for this branch. Visceral on the other hand responds to the grounded irrationality, an emotional construct based on the intuitive aspect of creation. Improvisation and open metaphors function without the need for structure with the visceral aspect of design. Both are valid and both have their audiences. It’s two aspects in which their organization and aesthetics differ, but ultimately both reach the same goal albeit with different results and effects.
-Libeskind's addition to the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto (2007)
The rational thought regarding both these aspects within design this is to build upon a balance. The ability to fuse harmoniously these two elements can allow for growth and innovation within architecture. An architect that moves towards such a balance would be Jorn Utzon. Exploring both the non-traditional forms while applying strong analysis as a foundation to his design works in harmony to build a strong concept for a structure. The Sydney Opera house works well as an example of this, even if it had issues regarding the costs and time, the result was a symbol that tied itself to the identity of a nation.
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