ABSTRACT

The paper explores the role played by hypochondria, defined as the preoccupation with fears of having, or the idea that one has, a serious disease based on the person's misinterpretation of bodily symptoms, in the definition of buildings and urban spaces throughout the history of British presence in the tropics, with a special regard to the African continent. From the medical and hygiene experts to the army engineers and the establishment of Tropical Architecture the relationship with the climatic and health conditions of the tropical belt has triggered fears and anxieties that have often prevented the definition of solutions. This paper shows how the scientific attitude that has characterized the exploration and settlement of tropical areas has not been a steady process but rather a complex mix of fears, false truths, wrong beliefs and slow improvements.

摘要

这篇论文探讨了疑病症所起的作用，疑病症的定义是在整个英国历史上对建筑物和城市空间的定义中，基于对身体症状的误解，担心自己患有严重疾病，或者认为自己患有严重疾病。存在于热带地区，特别是非洲大陆。从医学和卫生专家到陆军工程师，再到热带建筑的建立，与热带地区气候和健康状况的关系引发了恐惧和焦虑，这些恐惧和焦虑往往阻碍了解决方案的定义。本文展示了热带地区探索和定居的科学态度如何不是一个稳定的过程，而是恐惧、虚假事实、