Theories of Taste and Beauty in Architecture with Some Examples from Asante, Ghana
Oppong, R.A.; Solomon - Ayeh, B.

Abstract
The aim of this paper is to examine taste and beauty in architecture. It makes a contribution to the almost near non-existent theoretical material in architecture and its related areas. The notion of taste in comparison with the other senses apparently does not invigorate the arts. Architecture as ‘the mother of the arts’ is the most ignored in the matters of taste even though architecture touches the lives of all. It is currently imperative to tackle taste in architecture today by asking questions amongst others such as: What is taste? Umberto Eco asserts that there are “no theoretical texts” regarding taste and beauty on Africa but “ugliness”; and, therefore, this paper seeks to spark discussion about the notion of taste in architecture and as means of seeking some answers to the aforementioned question to foster deeper understanding of how taste affects architecture. The architectural profession in Britain has revisited beauty in architecture to sustainably reshape architecture and the built environment of Britain (Ipso MORI, 2010). Africa in general deserves a similar trend. This paper qualitatively focuses on philosophies as well as contemporary worldviews of theories and concepts of taste nuanced with the notion of taste in architecture and concludes with examples drawn from Ghana in West Africa.

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