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One might dismiss this example by calling it a simple utilitarian object, without the richness and refinement that we appreciate in human architecture. The structure of this tower is quite plain, and its construction does not demand a large amount of time and dedication. Let us then look at a strange bird that should weaken our condescending attitude. The Vogelkop bowerbird builds structures known as bowers or arbours, of which the main function is to attract female mating partners. The female birds inspect the nest, after which they decide whether they are willing to mate or not. The bowers
[12]
are usually about 100 cm high and 160 cm in width, and their structure is quite advanced,
our mental ability to design – or at least a
design efforts of other species? De Waal
with one or two supporting columns in the
substantial part of this ability – lies with our
shows, through a multitude of examples,
middle, supporting a lot of intertwined twigs.
predecessors. When we apply this insight
that the human brain is not superior to
The lawn in front of this arbour is decorated
to Vitruvius’s and Laugier’s theories, we
brains of other animals in many ways. For
with a multitude of small objects, sorted by
find that it is exactly this mental continuity
instance: the parts of the brain that support
colour. When looking at different bowers,
that is missing: Vitruvius and Laugier do
empathy, an ability that we believe to be
we can see that the choice of these objects is
emphasize the continuity between human
vital in architecture, are so old that we
not fixed, but that it is their composition that
architectural design and nature, but to
share them with animals such as dogs,
typifies them. The bowers have a complex
them this continuity only has the form of
elephants and apes. However, there is one
structure that requires rigid and long-term
inventive imitation of nature by humans.
thing that De Waal believes to be unique to
planning. The absence of some structural
In fact, however, this relationship is much
our species: language. ‘Outside our species,
parts could result in a collapse. Moreover,
more comprehensive and complex than they
we have found no proof of manners of
the bowers only serve their function after a
paint it to be.
communication with symbols, that are so rich and functional as ours. It appears that
long construction period. Language and Imitation
language is our magical source.’13
The ape’s tower and the bird’s bower
If the ability to design itself is not unique
provide us with examples that meet our
to humans, then what has caused human
Language supplies us with a clear and
description of design ability. Therefore,
design to – quite obviously – be so much
appealing
we must acknowledge that the origin of
more complex and widespread than the
complexity and extensiveness of human
explanation
of
the
higher