Architectural Discourses

"Modern life demands, and is waiting for, a new kind of plan both for the house and for the city." Le Corbusier

[germanpostwarmodern]

Sogetsu Artistic Center (1956-57) in Tokyo, Japan, by Kenzo Tange, Masamitsu Nagashima & Koichiro Okamura

[germanpostwarmodern]

Terrace Housing Estate “Boxbergkuppe” (1967-72) in Heidelberg, Germany, by Kammerer + Belz

[architecturalinspo302]

Start Here

To outsiders, architecture can be summed up by the façade or exterior of a building, and the amount of rooms it contains. To architects, the function of a home or building is essential. The discourses provided are centered around appraisals, reviews, and experiences around the evolving field of architecture and how they all harmoniously interact amongst each other in order to create functional spaces. Since architecture is centered around imagination and design, the discourses in this community are often brought on by formal critiques, analyses, and ethics. Architectural jargon can range from a building’s mass to its light and steel beams, but all samples provide a descriptive outlook on a buildings intention and desired outcomes. 

[architecturalinspo302]

Constructed by images, videos, news, and questions strictly related to buildings, styles, and discussions; this forum is made up of 124,722 architecture creatures ranging from professionals to students. The method of question and answer is two-way and conversational, rather than formal and direct. The feedback received based on his question of bringing the vision of a new home is instantaneous and resourceful. Some even praise him for worrying about the architect’s perspective when inquiring for a new project; others provide detailed answers to his question, suggest to consider certain styles will cost certain budgets. This forum is a great example of an architectural discourse as the forum updates by the minutes, there is constant engagement, there are archives of submissions and the myriad of perspectives range behind each commenter and poster.

[architecturalinspo302]

[This isn't intended to solicit any work, I just want to plan my approach to professionals in my unnamed metro; I already have a list of...

The author of this post poses a question to community members in /r/Architecture, a subreddit dedicated to the field of architecture made up of architecture enthusiasts, professionals and students, on how to make contact with an architect or firm for future plans of creating a building with a homeowner’s vision in terms of aesthetic, style and space. From the perspective of an outsider, the user explains how they’ve come to terms with architecture; briefly describes the home they’re currently living in, an international-style with post-modernist details; their financial status, even includes finding a piece of undeveloped land for the project despite it being on a hillside. All of these characteristics come into play when the user asks the question on what tools should be brought up when proposing a design to an architect. From sketches, photographs, magazines, to ideas on how to build on the hillside. Ultimately, the author wants to be able to have his ideal home brought to life, but also does not want to be a pest while working with an architect. 

Below is an answer by a user responding to the post. 

[architecturalinspo302]

Critical Appraisal of the Philip Johnson Pavilion.

Shortly after the assassination of John F. Kennedy, 1963, experts in the fields of architecture made their way to the opening of the Dumbarton Oaks pavilion in Washington D.C. to experience the new permanent residence of the Robert Woods Bliss’ Collection of Pre-Columbian Art. Several of these architectural historians, architects and journalists managed to make connections between Philip Johnson’s designing the new pavilion to the archaeologic artifacts from the collection itself, both in complimenting the luxurious design and finding a harmonious arrangement between the architecture and the contents of the exhibition. Despite the praise, there were a few negative reviews in regards to the building’s typology, its overall elegance, and the misplaced artifacts that don’t seem to do well in the setting of this new building; instead get lost in translation. Whether the new pavilion is a “modern jewel box” or an overly-done expression of wealth with its marble, teak, and gold -- it’s up for debate. Nonetheless, the museum’s collection still manages to hang in this pavilion today.

While this entry deals more with the overall effect of a building, it’s typology and its intended function; architecture’s goal is for a building to operate seamlessly with its intended typology and function; when creating this new building it appears to some critics that perhaps the choice of opulent materials of the building itself were not the correct setting for Colombian artifacts.

[architecturalinspo302]

The Millard House by Frank Lloyd Wright

Built in 1923, is a remarkable edifice that still stands today in Pasadena, CA. Author researches and analyses one of the moving forces in architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright, in terms of his inspiration for buildings and designs in California. Historians and the author theorize the geographical placement and details of the house, down to concrete blocks were chosen. Speculation narrows down to the grandiose patterns making up the façade of the Millard House. From Christopher Columbus to Aztecs, even murder, they’re left with more questions than answers. 

[nw8e1]

[thehousehome]

The Fraye House II photographed by Julius Shulman

[architecturalinspo302]

Modernism Week, according to their slogan, is “The Ultimate Celebration of Midcentury Architecture, Design and Culture.” The source invites those with an eagerness to learn about design and style through lectures, films, and even mimosa receptions; immersing visitors in a movement of midcentury styles infiltrating the dessert Palm Springs today.  The source establishes credibility on the event that has been going on for two decades and uses a lexicon of descriptive words that resonate with those familiar with architectural styles and design, along with images of homes and landscapes around these midcentury styles. 

[architecturalinspo302]

Fondazione Prada is an ongoing project by lead architect Federico Pompignoli. The project itself began in 2008 as the revamping of an old gin distillery, its previous warehouses and laboratories, to a museum and gallery; hoping to express and merge the complex and unlikely styles of an industrial factory to those of an art gallery for the public. There are several components of the project: four houses, two freestanding structures, a pavilion, tower and cinema. Ultimately, the completed mission will create a balance in which art can be presented and speak for itself while the architecture can provide an unusual, yet desirable, open space.  

[architecturalinspo302]

This piece is an analysis on the work of an architect that lead the Post-Modern Era during the 1920s. While most cookie-cutter homes are rarely adored in modern-day suburbia, there is a strike of ingenuity when it comes to the works of Frank Lloyd Wright. This analysis helps provide context and meaning to the overall aesthetics, atmosphere, structure and location of a building with the help of historians and curiosity.

[concordemag]

House for Ms Arthur Elrod, Palm Spring, California, 1968. Elrod house, architect John Lautner.

[architecturalinspo302]

The Office of Metropolitan Architecture updates with prototypes, projects, and architectural endeavors for buildings and urban spaces. The examples above are the blueprints of one project, Fondazione Prada, by designers and architects presenting their ideas for companies and industries commissioning to create a building or space. In summary, the entire project goes into challenging typologies in which art typically showcases itself; your standard gallery, Crocker, MOCA, MOMA; now merging above and transforming old gin factory, coming face-to-face with modern forms of design and structures. You can see the how the remodeling of each building will participate in challenging spaces and styles; open-air, partial displays, industrial and contemporary styles.  The variety in facades and textures is evident; you can see where the old factory stands and contrasts against renovations taking place.