How Do You Spell THOMASSON?
Pronunciation: [tˈɒmasən] (IPA) 
Correct spelling for the English word "thomasson" is [tˈɒmasən], [tˈɒmasən], [t_ˈɒ_m_a_s_ə_n] (IPA phonetic alphabet).
Pronunciation: [tˈɒmasən] (IPA)
Correct spelling for the English word "thomasson" is [tˈɒmasən], [tˈɒmasən], [t_ˈɒ_m_a_s_ə_n] (IPA phonetic alphabet).
Thomasson is a term that originated in the field of architecture but has since gained broader usage as a concept describing a peculiar phenomenon. In architectural terms, a thomasson refers to an architectural element, such as a staircase, doorway, or pillar, which serves no real functional purpose but nonetheless remains attached to a building. It may be a reminiscence of a previous design or structure that has since been modified or rendered useless.
The term "thomasson" was coined by the Japanese artist and critic Akasegawa Genpei in the late 1970s, inspired by an unrelated baseball player named Gary Thomasson, who had joined the Tokyo Giants baseball team but never fulfilled the high expectations placed upon him. This analogy likens the architectural element to Thomasson's underutilized role on the team, presenting an ironic situation of prominent and lingering redundancy.
In a broader context, the term thomasson is used metaphorically to describe any object, institution, practice, or phenomenon that exists seemingly without purpose or function, yet continues to be preserved or upheld nonetheless. It represents the human tendency to maintain vestiges of the past or objects that have lost their original purpose, perhaps due to nostalgia, aesthetics, or the reluctance to let go of remnants from a bygone era. Thomassons serve as reminders of our history and the idiosyncrasies that emerge in our built and cultural environments, offering perspectives on the human inclination to attach value to objects that may seem superfluous or obsolete.
