HA213 Section 3

Come one, come all to see the magnificence that is the best Tumblr section in the land! Here you will find thoughtful and in-depth discussion of architecture and modernity. Observe how the lecture medium is translated into the real world, both locally and globally.

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Closing Remarks

I think that I've learned a lot throughout the semester. Different philosophies, for example, influenced architecture (dadaism, etc.). The classification of the tall building was much more important than I would have ever thought. Techno-utopianism is something that caught my eye, and it struck home for me in one of the buildings I live near to. Going further back, it was interesting to learn about the Hausmanization of Paris, how form often followed function, and how many times, people used forms that didn't match a buildings' function (such as the AEG building, which resembled a temple).

Overall I think I not only learned the names of various buildings, but through the lessons and sections, have gained an enriched viewpoint of the change in how people approached architecture throughout the centuries.

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Closing Remarks

From the enlightenment principles of architecture, to the tall office building and private houses, this semester has invested in the realization of how modern architecture has evolved in the recent past. Throughout this class whether it was in lecture or actually out on the field, I learned about the depth of thought put into every aspect of a building. Even with criticism applicable to most all buildings and individual ideals each had aspects relevant and important. Living in the Windy City I am surrounded by the foundation of modernist thoughts and creations. This I didn’t know until I took a seat and spent some time in the depth of the UMMA. I know I may not remember each building or who built it or whether they follow CIAM 4 zones or LeCorbusier’s 5 point plan; but I know I will remember the concepts and expand of the notions of how I interact with my surroundings. As the 21st century rages on and new innovated ideas come about, I only hope that I will be able to add my little bit of intellect on the subject because I was a student in this class.

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Closing Remarks

Thinking back on the class material as a whole, the relationship between society and culture to architecture becomes very apparent. It is obvious that as technology develops, there is a positive correlation to the structural advancements in architecture. Over the course of history though, the cultural and societal influences have had a greater impact on the creation of spaces. For example: compare the religious structures around the world roughly 1000 years ago. There was a huge difference between an Islamic mosque and a Byzantine church even though similar technologies were available in this time period. In this class, we discussed the differences in ideas for post-war housing in different countries. It is very interesting for me to consider architecture as one great entity and to consider its development over time and what factors influenced said development. I believe that this class was really thought-provoking and overall left me with a greater sense of modernity in architecture. 

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What does the future have in store?

I might be a day late and a dollar short now that the final presentations have been given and the winners have been announced, but what the hell. 

I find architecture to be very similar to technology. Clearly advances in technology creates innovations in architecture, but I want to analyze them in a different aspect. When the first cell phone came out, who would have thought something like the iPhone would ever exist? Even a decade ago no one could ever have imagined the iPhone. The question here is, "what comes next?"

I find the same thing to hold true with architecture. When the first tall office buildings were constructed, how could those citizens ever invision anything of the likes of the Sears Tower? This is what fascinates me with both architecture and technology. We have no idea what is to come next, in fact we think that we are at the pinnacle of innovation and we are as advanced as possible, only to be proven wrong every time (for the better I might add). 

This class has given me an appreciation of where we have come from, where we are now, and where we are going. Perhaps we will eventually live in a techno utopian civilization, but only time will tell. Needless to say, I look forward to whatever the future of architecture brings, and I have to believe it will be for the better

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As the class came to an official close today with wonderfully insightful presentations that really showcased the divergent growth path of each section, each selected post and topic brought me back to the different points in time throughout the course. Thinking back on everything we learned, I was impressed with how relevant everything was to the present, particularly ideas for buildings that were never built yet are still being analyzed and pored over today. 

In reflecting on the passage of time, I was reminded of the unfortunate passing of one of the key figures in the development of modern architecture, Oscar Niemeyer. On December 5th, 2012, one of Brazil's brightest minds passed away at the age of 104. Responsible for the iconic planned city of Brasília, Niemeyer was revolutionary and inventive, finding inspiration in nature's crescents and spirals rather than the standard confining steel-box structures of many modernist architects. A man ahead of his time, it is hard to believe that it is now past his time.  

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Looking back on the topics we learned throughout the class, I tried to find a building or place that reflected a few of the topics. New York City was one of the places that came to mind. NYC incorporates some of the major topics:

1. skyscrapers- it has a countless amount of these tall office buildings that create the amazing unique skyline that you could recognize instantly

2. Metropolis- not only is it a metropolitan area, it is the LARGEST metropolitan area in the United States

3. Functionalism- NYC is functional especially on the macro-scale, meaning the layout of the city itself

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As we finish the class, I thought it would be interesting to discuss one of the most famous architectural works in world history, which also demonstrates numerous architectural themes that we've studied: the Roman colosseum.  

As a structure of mass gathering space, there are certain aspects of the colosseum that are arguably functionalist: the circular stadium for easy visibility of the gladiator battles that took place here, as well as the platform on ground level where these battles actually took place.  The general construction of the colosseum had these specific purposes in mind.

Not only is the colosseum functionalist, but monumental as well.  As it transformed from a grand sporting arena where many of Rome's people gathered, to a vastly famous global staple of architecture where citizens of every country flock today to glance back into Roman history, it was and has become a truly amazing monument.

Source: Yahoo! Images

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Since so much of this class centered around the city of Chicago, to wrap things up I thought I would talk about one of the best new works of architecture in Chicago--the Modern Wing of the Chicago Institute of Art. It was designed by the architect Renzo Piano and completed in 2009. This building incorporates a lot of the themes we have covered in this class such as perceptional montage. You can see Chicago's skyline reflected off its glass facade. It also incorporates the idea of transparency that we talked about in class and how its modern glass and steel frame allows for that transparency.

Another interesting thing about this building is that it holds exhibits of the original drawings of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Frank Lloyd Wright.

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As the class comes to an end, I think it's interesting to look back and see just how much we've covered. This picture represents so much of that, as the building on the left is obviously from more of a traditional era while the one on the right could be the cousin of the Renaissance Center. This picture, taken in San Francisco, shows just how much architecture has changed, especially when dealing with a city with as many people as San Fran. The coincidental juxtaposition of the two very different buildings might even be taken as an example of perceptual montage, yeah? 

These two tall (office?) buildings are two excellent examples of where we came from in this class - traditional, historically nuanced architecture- to where we end, along with where architecture continues to go - techo-utopianism, modernism, and technological incorporation. 

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The video we watched on Pruitt-Igoe really suck with me. Pruitt-Igoe used for mass housing sheltered many lower class people providing a nice home for them when they could not afford one for themselves. In the video we hear from the people who used to live there (African-American mainly) and the stories of how happy they were living in Pruitt-Igoe. The next minute we see that this is a place many people feared and avoided. It made me wonder how can a place that did so much good for people go so wrong? And why was it so unkept? This also made me think if other mass housing complexes created such a problem.

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When we came across the Dymaxion House in lecture it automatically made me remember the time I went to see it at the Henry Ford Museum when I was younger. I was very fascinated when I saw it and it had the feeling as if I was taking a tour of The Jetsons home. I remember thinking it was funny to see how someone thought that would be the future of technology. But now I realize that this was not only invented inorder to introduce new technology in the mid 1900s. Fuller's ideas were his last efforts to reinvigorate modernism in architecture. It was almost as if it was designed for hope. It goes the same for Archigram and their techno-utopia designs. Knowing that techno-utopia was only and idea about technology, it did not make it less meaningful for architects and the furture. 

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Begun as a collective that produced a uniquely quirky magazine in limited batches, Archigram's cartoony and outrageous yet progressively suggestive series of theoretical projects was fascinating to dissect. I specifically liked these inkjet prints of the stages of the Blow-Out Village by Peter Cook, depicting a speculative proposal for a mobile village using hovercraft, hydraulics, and inflatable technologies. The trend of self-sustaining communities is one that persists today, although the materials may be different. I was drawn towards this one because of the organic feel with the repeating motif of a growing organism and treelike structures branching out.

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They never thought they’re buildings would be constructed but they made a splash!

While looking over the internet for Techno-Utopian pictures that would spark an idea for a blog post, I stumbled upon the website archdaily.com. Impressed by the array of posts I searched more specifically about Archigram a sect of techno-utopian idealist. A post with the prompt; “what would Archigram have done for the London 2012 Olympics”, was what i decided to focus on. I found this post rather intriguing, for as discussed in lecture this movement originated in 1960 England by young vivacious architects trying to get their voices heard. Using bright, new inventive schemes these architects and artist at that, used marketing to get their movement spreading.

This picture exemplifies these architect's ideas, of the temporary mobility and the eye catching architecture that might have been in place if they London Olympics Commissioner thought appropriate. 

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While looking around at some of Archigram's projects, I was struck by the wild ambition that is exemplified in their bizarre works.  One that caught my eye was a project for the house of the future.  What is most interesting is that the installation modeled furnishings from the technologically utopian future of 1990!  Obviously none of Archigram's ambitions for this project came to fruition, but it is interesting to note the things that they thought could have come with the year 1990.  The project featured, "inflatable furniture, audio-visual robots, hover-bed, and ultrasonic cooking facilities."

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I think that The Jetsons, an old TV show, lived in an exempliary techno-utopian society. All based in the future in a society completely based upon advanced in science and technology. They rely on technology for every aspect of their life.

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I actually live right next to one of the buildings built by a Centre Pompidou architect. In 1984, construction was completed for the PA Technology center, located in East Windsor, New Jersey. Much like its more famous French counterpart, this building has most of its technology located on the outside. Some have compared it to a carnival tent (see picture). Currently, it is vacant (awaiting tenants), but it is interesting to see that such an important architect built a large building in my vicinity.

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Fascism and Architecture - Architecture and Philosophy

Before enrolling in this course, it seems like it would be very possible to never make the connection between architecture and philosophy - buildings and cities seem to have developed on their own, as if their was no other guiding phenomenon other than a sort of inherent necessity that drives these forms. Having progressed significantly through the coursework, we have seen repeatedly since day one how one's world conception, scientific and cultural understand, as well as social structure and status have come to drive the development of the built environment. We have seen this as early as Laugier's Primitive Hut, wherein as philosophy was posited - the forms of architecture were rationalized as having root in organic and natural form. 

As we have seen, philosophy can take a new presence in architecture as dominating and decisive factor - this is well illustrated in the bold distinction between Soviet and US architecture throughout the Cold War as indicative of differing political ideals.  

If there is one philosophy and political methodology that has been recognized as an abominable social order, it is fascism.  In a fascist society, one sacrifices one's individuality for an authoritarian idealism - the individual is sacrificed for the greater good. Yet this greater good is not the humble greater good of the local community, but dramatized to a scale of the destiny of mankind.  In architecture, one might easily find a design caught between the goals of the individual and the individual spirit, as well as a sense of a mass solidarity. Attempting to appeal to this mass solidarity, the uniqueness and modernism of buildings seems to slip away for a theatrical display of such a tone.