Abstract

“Non-Complete Architecture” refers to architecture that contradicts the ideal aspiration towards the complete and the finished, towards stability and unity. The “Non-Complete” condition preserves its independence without offering a beginning or an end; it offers only constant instability, without an ambition to attain conclusion and completion. The paper identifies descriptions of architecture within the literary writings of Czech writer Franz Kafka. Kafka's writing explores hesitation, ambiguity, wavering, and uncertainty, all issues that are relevant to the concept of the “Non-Complete.” Kafka uses unresolved, uninviting, confusing, and sometimes impossible architectural conditions. The research scrutinizes his writings, identifying examples of architectural descriptions. It explains and defines them according to their relevance to “Non-Complete Architecture.” It explores the ways these examples enhance and elaborate the concept of “Non-Complete” in architecture. The objective of “Non-Complete Architecture” varies and alludes, yet it has a reconciliation force that attempts to balance between the incompleteness of reality and the conflicting objectives of architecture. As such, the research attempts to explore the possible contributions of architectural descriptions within literature to architecture and to design education. Finally, it explores the possible benefit of this cross-disciplinary method of research to architecture and architectural theory.