Reflections::Unit Summary

We started the Reflections unit out exploring the architecture parlent.  The architecture parlent is a concept of designers branching out from the ‘norm’ of ancient design and introducing new and different concepts. Revolutions also changed people’s way of thinking. Patrick demonstrates this with a cartwheel because a revolution turns your world and thoughts upside down and the outcome is new concepts therefore changes in design. For example we learned about how America was trying to proclaim their political power and this was reflected in our furniture and architectural designs.  The two R’s of The Reflections unit; Revolutions and Revivals.  We have learned about many revivals throughout the semester; the gothic revivals, japanisme.  Design gives limitless choices.  During this unit we also discussed handcrafted versus machine made products. The invention of the machine enabled mass production and allowed new materials and usually more rare materials became available to lower classes.  Iron became prevalent during this time and a great contraversy began about the quality of craft machine made products and hand crafted products.  Next we learned a little more about Chicago: The second city; how a single bovine transformed American architecture.  A cow supposedly started a fire that ruined the city and how Chicago was rebuilt.  Skyscrapers are now possible because of elevators, iron framework- that was now more readily available in mass productions due to machine, new materials, new designer and new land due to the fire. 

A L T E R N A T I V E S

  In the Alternatives unit we learned about expanding on basic principles we learned about in the previous unit.  The Architecture Parlent is a concept of designers re-writing the rules of ancient architecture and introducing alternative concepts.

            Much like in 2000, in the year 1000 it was a millennial observation that the world would soon come to an end.  This pushed people deeper into religion therefore creating more churches.

We studied the Middle Ages, The Renaissance and the Baroque Period.  We studied Gothic and Charlemagne style and learned about artists, architects and designers alike such as Brunelleschi, Vitruvius, Michelangelo, and Palladio.  Much like in the first unit we recognized the surrounding landscape as shown in the Versailles Palace. We learned about revolution’s effects on design.

            Religion was an important aspect in design during the Middle Ages.  Romanesque style depicts this through its column details, arches, and use of windows and light. Various types of Gothic Cathedrals were rich in character from their stained glass to their flying buttresses. Most were built connecting two datum lines in a cross-like shape.  The remarkable use of light within cathedrals portrayed God’s presence. 

            The amplification of the head of the church was also important within the cathedrals.  Families contributed financial support to the church in exchange for their ticket to heaven.

            The Renaissance was the rebirth of classical style. Knowledge and Humanity became the alternative to the religious values that controlled the church during the Middle Ages. Along with more emphasis on humanity than on faith came more emphasis on rational space and creating proportional clarity.  This imperative concept of geometric proportions came from Vitruvius whom I have enjoyed learned about throughout this unit. Architects sought to find mathematical relationships within in their designs.

            We studied Venice; also know as the city of floating stone. The combination of water and stone gives the city a simplistic appearance.

            Light, as always, remain an important aspect.  It extends space.  Royalty desired to see the vastness of his kingdom.  Through the use of water, light and illusions-such as a hall of mirrors, designers allowed them to achieve that desire.

            Brunelleschi designed the innovative Dome of Florence Cathedral. He observed the work of the Romans and created a dome using innovative techniques. The architecture created in the Renaissance era surpassed the restrictions of the materials used and types of forms produced.

            Following the renaissance movement came the Baroque period, which evoked the emotional element of design.  Baroque architecture includes lavish use of dramatic lighting and ornamentation and large ceilings.

            In the previous unit we learned about two trilogies; commodity firmness and delight, and porch, court and hearth.  This unit we learned palazzos and their traditional layout. A three story structure; the first level used for business, the second- “piano nobiele” - was used for entertaining guests and the third was meant as private living quarters.

            The Alternatives unit portrayed a crucial concept of good design; revisions, change and development. These nontraditional ideas allow alternative choices in architecture.  The unit expressed a change in direction of design in light of a new understanding of ancient architecture.  These constant revisions are what constantly evolves and enhances design.

 

 

PATINA OF PLACE:: a translation of visually literate architecture

Egypt
Hierarchy
Hieroglyphics
Limestone finishes on Pyramids of Giza
Façade emulates with surroundings
Shape or structure stands out from surroundings
Greece
Hierarchy
Exterior façade
Wu-Wu type structure + surface
Façade and structure stand out from surroundings
Stone
Rome
Hierarchy
Exterior façade and more focus on interior façade
Great detail
Visually literate
Baths:: concrete, mosaic, stone

F O U N D A T I O N S

In the Foundations unit we explored the architecture of the first establishments of civilization. We started this journey in Egypt and moved onto Greece and into Rome. We carefully compared the architectural structures and elements and their evolution throughout time and civilizations.
In Egypt we studied the concept of time and passage. We looked at the Pyramids of Giza which were built to withstand time and become an aspect of the transition to the afterlife. The Egyptian culture centered around the Nile River because it was their source of life as well as their main passageway. The Pyramids were a highly advanced structure that took many hours of man power and hard labor to achieve.
We then continued to Greece where the underlying concept was that of the Wu-Wu’s. Throughout this unit we saw a lot of vertical expansion reaching up towards the heavens and towering over top the city below. This concept of ‘size matters’ and ‘the higher the better’ is what the Wu-Wu is all about. They used masculine forms through the form of architecture to portray their strength and dominance. You could also see female forms throughout architecture to symbolize victory.
We studied the Greeks attempt to achieve the ideal versus the real. Through studying this we discovered the use of archetypes, prototypes and hybrids. An archetype would be the real…the imperfect form. The changes made to those archetypes were the prototypes. The evolution resulted in hybrids which are seen in so many aspects of architecture. A good example of this is the classical orders. By looking at the orders you can see the slight variations that keep building upon one another throughout time.
We studied the variation between cultures and the change of surface versus structure decoration. For example the Greeks focused more on the exterior facade rather than the details within. One commonality we saw within the structure was not only the hierarchy of the buildings but the concept of incorporating a porch, court and hearth. These are three key areas that helped define space and purpose and continued throughout both various civilizations as well as future generations. We made ties from the east to the west in all aspects of architectural and technological development as well as structure and surface design.
Throughout all cultures, I learned that commodity, firmness and delight are essential to good architecture. Commodity was the first established. It is the simple concept of your structure supporting the uses you need it to meet. This is the most basic concept of architecture that is further tested by the firmness of a building. Firmness represents a buildings structural strength. If a building cannot hold up then it can not meet your needs for long. Without exquisite craft a building is useless. If past structures were not well-made they would not be standing today for us to study. Delight is the reason people are drawn to architecture. It is a pleasant feeling that is evoked inside of you. The evolution of surface facades is just one aspect of delight. These three things are one of the most important thing I have learned about thus far because of their importance in all good design.

Overall in the Foundations unit we saw a lot of uses of vertical growth within structures as well as the abundant use of precedents that are carried over and changed through time and culture. The Foundations unit set the bar for architecture and the concept of reviving architectural history in the form on new buildings. In the upcoming unit I expect to see more structure that raise the bar and change from renewing past concepts to forming new and different ideas veering away from past concepts. I also expect to see the beginning of more horizontally spread buildings rather than towering structures.

The artwork above shows ancient Rome and with the Roman Coliseum in the center it illustrates how the structure impacted its surroundings.

I chose the image above because it shows both the scale of the coliseum compared to the rest of the city as well as an idea of the feeling you would get while standing inside of the coliseum.  As you can see in the picture all of the roads center around the coliseum.