URBAN DESIGN
GLENSIDE GLENSIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, 5065
THE CITY AND THE SUBURB
PART B
PART A
MASTERPLAN
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION strategic context 1.0 Governments views and objectives
4.0 Vision ............15 4.1 Design Principles ............17 4.3 Strategy and Design ............19 4.4 Stages ............23 ..............1
2.0 Community consultation 2.1 process ..............5 ..............6 2.2 outcome
PART C 3.0 Proposed masterplan 3.1 Summary 3.2 Key Principles 3.2.1 Site analysis
..............7 ..............7 ............11 .............
ESSAYS Marc Davis
............27
Katelyn Diprose
............35
Hamish McGregor
............43
Logan Smith
............51
Georgie Warren
............59
GOVERNMENTS VIEWS AND OBJECTIVES
1.0
The Government of South Australia has great aspirations to enhance the Glenside development site through improving the 16-hectare area and utilising it to its full potential. While creating a useful, dense development, the sites current heritage buildings and surrounding environment will continue to be respected. South Australia's strategic plan reflects how the economic, social and environmental aspects of the development can be balanced most effectively while the states opportunities and wellbeing should ultimately improve. Through collaboration with Renewal SA, six key objectives have been established in order to achieve the governments overall short-term and long-term goals in creating a community, prosperity and environmentally focused sustainable society. Creating a connected urban neighbourhood is a vital part of the Glenside development as the government aims for Glenside to become an inclusive, safe and diverse community.
OBJECTIVE 1. A connected Urban Neighbourhood
- Well-planned public areas with thoroughly maintained spaces provide a long-term opportunity for Glenside to become a tight knit community as residents socially interact over well-designed public spaces. - Preserving and restoring heritage buildings will also provide opportunity to create more public shared spaces amongst the community. - A short term solution for sustaining a connected urban neighbourhood is to increase the number of small offices, shops and cafes around the area as this will contribute to the vibrancy of the space while attracting more people to the area from elsewhere in Adelaide. In order for Glenside to become a connected urban neighbourhood, the development needs to display inclusion and diversity for the different requirements of the community.
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OBJECTIVE 2. Housing Diversity
The governments master plan for Glenside consists of 8001,000 dwellings which shall be comfortably accommodating to a variety of needs. Diverse housing options in Glenside will not only include high quality, innovative designs but there will also be many affordable, adaptable options allowing for a range of income levels to have ownership opportunities.
OBJECTIVE 3. Heritage and trees
The Glenside development site is home to six state heritage buildings and an abundance of significant trees which provide historical character linking the past and future. It is essential that upcoming development of the site will fit in with the current heritage features and sympathetically accompany the sites original building layout.
- Short term views on this objective consist of having a variety of houses with one to three bedrooms to suit a range of demographic requirements while keeping the lots closer together in order to fit as many into the development as possible. - In comparison, a longer term solution to diverse housing from the government is to incorporate various sized dwellings into large apartment buildings as this is a more space saving solution. Ultimately, having a diverse range of housing opportunities will create a sustainable and diverse environment suitable for all people. - The governments long term views for the site focus on the restoration of heritage buildings and giving them a new purpose. The South Australian Film Corporation building is a great example of how the adaption of two outdated heritage buildings came together and were refurbished to create this beneficial space. - A short term solution in preserving the heritage of the site is to retain as many trees as possible as they provide amenity and character.
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OBJECTIVE 4.
Environment and Open Space
Glenside is known for its existing parkland setting and open spaces filled with endless vegetation and distinctive trees. Promote sustainable living through intelligent design and improved walking and cycling connections is the governments objective in conserving Glenside's current environment. It is crucial that future development take into account the existing parkland setting while improving the wellbeing and community of the area through recreation, conservation, amenity, transport, access and utility management. - An example of long term plans from the government include the development of the current stormwater basin. - Existing plans to update the site include landscaping the area and creating an attractive space that coordinates with the existing services. - Many short-term views aim to improve the current environmental state such as an increase in parking spaces, more pedestrian networks, an additional access point and new bus stops on Fullerton Road outside the site area.
OBJECTIVE 5.
Community Participation
With an aim to achieve tangible community benefits, the current Glenside community needs to engage in the development of the site. Incorporating the public into the planning process will help to process will help to achieve the best outcome possible.
- There are many long-term and shortterm views on acquiring community participation. - Allowing the community to communicate opinions and ideas through mail and technology is one short-term solution. - However, a more viable, suitable long-term option is to have consultation and partnership relations with the community and industries as this will drive the future in getting the community physically involved in the process.
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OBJECTIVE 6.
Private Sector Investment
The Government's strategic planning framework not only focuses on community areas but they also plan to facilitate private sectors of the land. - A variety of unique investment opportunities for private sectors will allow the government to have partnerships with developers, meaning the site will be transformed into a diverse, thriving community. - A short term solution to attracting investors is through expression of interest applications. - Nevertheless, Glenside will in the long run require constant private investments to achieve financial security and more a t t r a c t i v e , facilitating developments.
The Glenside area has undergone endless revitalisation projects over the years which have not yet been 100% successful. However, the governments current long and short-term views and improvement objectives will benefit not only those living in the area but also the wider community in addition to the wellbeing, sustainability, environment and economic growth of South Australia.
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COMMUNITY CONSULTATION
2.0
2.1
Process February + early March 2015 = Renewal SA's Community consultation
1.
Informing the community of the development plans for the Glenside site
2.
Local residents and the wider community were invited to offer their feedback on the preliminary Master Plan
3. Community consultation day
Online Survey
face-to-face community feedback sessions
Aim: Ensure the highest quality development at Glenside is achieved"
Due to the community based nature of the design, an effective community consultation process was of great importance to the success of the design. A space that is well received by the community through active listening and implementation/consideration of valuable ideas will result in a more effective design, that will meet greater level of needs within the community.
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2.2 Outcome
MAIN POINTS OFFERED BY COMMUNITY
31
work or own a local business
expressed an interest in heritage
23
described themselves as local residents or the repersnetive of local residents
12
86
Estimated 800 people attended the community consultation day
Housing - Favouring a variation - High quality - Reflective of the site
identified themselves as poential buyers or investers
Concerns of high density housing - Noise - Traffic - Space
Desired inclusions - Open spcaes - Retaining significant trees - Preservation of heritage buildings
Sustainabily - Orientation of dwellings - Solar energy - Water
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PROPOSED MASTERPLAN
The Glenside site is a great opportunity for urban infill of sixteen hectares of land within close proximity to the Adelaide CBD, only 2.6 kilometres southeast. The project will incorporate a blend of townhouses and apartments set amongst historic, heritage listed buildings in a natural parkland setting.
3.0 PAGE 7
PROPOSED MASTERPLAN
The masterplan follows key principles set out by Hames Sharley, the redevelopment of Glenside is to feature an array of important aspects; - Foremost a clean, healthy, inviting environment for the residents and community to use - Another key aspect in the design of the site is efficiently use and regulate the water around the open spaces and residences, and will help to reduce the site's water usage - The development is also set to include green building principles though the design. This will help reduce energy consumption of the site's built form - Environmental conservation and rehabilitation will be achieved by preserving the significant and regulated trees on the site - The Elms building in the forecourt will become a focal point for the site, creating an indoor space for the community to meet - There are to be 800-1000 medium to high density housing options with a mix of townhouses and apartments, about 22% townhouses and 78% apartments. This will allow a range of different lifestyles to take up residence creating a vibrant varied community - Five hectares of land are designated to be left as open for parks and storm water detention, this makes up about 30% of the Glenside site - New cycling and pedestrian paths will also be created around the site to bring people in and through the site creating a sought after space
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KEY PRINCIPLES
The Master plan for the development of Glenside adheres to six main principles set out by Hames Sharley due to their importance to the site and the community they are as follows; - The first principle set out responds to the site's heritage buildings and significant and regulated trees through respecting the local architecture of the site. This is achieved by adapting the existing heritage buildings for suitable reuse by the community, so that they can be preserved for the future generations. As well as this the developer is set out to try and preserve as many of the site's trees as they can so that the housing can have a greater sense of nature. This allows for a green respite near the city for not only the residents but the wider community too. - Second principle being to create strong linkages and connections by creating a legible street network while still maintaining as much of the existing street network as possible. The street network is also set out to allow residents a choice of movement and allow for a range of different modes of transport. As well as also maintaining the view lines to the heritage buildings, the SA film corporation building in particular, which is seen upon entering the Glenside via the main entrance. Wayfinding will also be implemented around the sites paths to allow the community to have a greater understanding of the site and its history. - Another principle is to design a healthy, creating green spaces for people of all spaces will create a sense of belonging spaces and paths there is also to be the creating outdoor gyms and courses.
inviting and high quality space, through ages and abilities to converge. These and community harmony. Within these infrastructure for active users by
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KEY PRINCIPLES
- The next principle for the development to follow is to introduce diversity of built form by allowing a range of housing options for residents to choose from, including affordable housing to help first time homebuyers. Also providing a market for the elderly to downsize. Another factor in introducing diversity is to develop a cohesive structure while still ensuring that the streetscape is varied and interesting. - The fifth principle is to allow for innovation in the design outcome, through making it so that the site is planned in a way in which it is able to evolve. This is needed due to changing market preferences and so that it allows for the use of new materials, designs or construction processes to be implemented on the site in the effect of creating houses with improved efficiency and liveability. It also aims to create economic success in the local construction industry through new innovative built form. - The final principle is to ensure that a safe public realm is achieved by creating the layout for the site so that it encourages passive surveillance. This is to be achieved through following the concept of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (or CPTED), which loosely works by creating spaces and activities that encourage the community public realm, and hopefully deter offenders through the community presence whilst also using the public spaces to be used to get to meet neighbours and create social connectedness.
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The main purpose of a Master plan is to adequately inform not only the developers but also the public on what is set out to be achieved through a coherent set of ideas. There are many factors that go into a Master plan foremost being a site analysis and a community consultation, which help shape the wants and needs of the site. The proposed Master plan by Hames Sharley follows these by clearly setting out their principles for the development to follow. The site analysis showed the developers that the ground was contaminated with BaP due to ashes being incorrectly disposed of. These contaminants lead respiratory difficulties and cancer in humans, to counter this the contaminated soil is to be excavated to be stored under the apartment blocks. The community consultation is important to help the development know what the community actually wants, as well showing sensitivities towards the significant trees on the site.
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VISION
"A multi-functional space that provides high quality residential and commercial opportunities, to a range of people, through utilizing a blend of the desirable Adelaide suburbs, with the convenience of the city"
4.0 PAGE 15
ACHIEVING THE VISION Assess and evaluate local and economic demands
site opportunites and priorites Develop
4 urban design principles
Great things about Adelaide
Compact and carbon efficient design
Safe and vibrant community network
Implementation opportunities PAGE 16
Strong sense of place
Effetive public transport to reflect Adelaides proximity to the beach wi-fi city 'Make spaces=places' Safe and vibrant community network
Reflect the great things about Adelaide
A street plan that reflects Adelaides grid structure
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Boast visibility - Through lighting, survellance and signage Seclusion from surrounding main roads A range of recreational, personal and meeting places Dynamic and lively public spaces
Green infastructure featuring water sensitive and energy efficient design Diverse residential opportunities Design based on performace, apperance and amenities
Strong sense of place
Compact and carbon efficient design
Walkable urban spaces through shaded path networks and green streets
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Creating community bonds through providing interactive spaces that can be shared amoungst the local area Providing an undirectoinal flow of movement to the site to allow people to form their own connections with the space
02
STRATEGY
01 Contextual research
Concept design
Investigate the site to determine opportunites and constraints
Developed around 4 urban design principles
03 Master Plan Implement design details Including heirachy of implementation
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DESIGN DETAILS
DWELLINGS
PEOPLE
Apartment A+B = 176
Apartment A+B = 480
Apartment C+D = 240
Apartment C+D = 480
Apartment E+F = 176
Apartment E+F = 176
Apartment G+H = 160
Apartment G+H = 320
One storey townhouses = 24
One storey townhouses = 67
Two storey townhouses = 34
Two storey townhouses = 96
Three storey townhouses = 20
Three storey townhouses = 100
Total = 830 Dwellings
Total= 1719 Residents
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MASTER PLAN
MIXED HOUSING 52% ONE BED APARTMENT
35%
3.5%
2 BED APARTMENT
3+ BED APARTMENT
3%
4%
ONE STOREY TOWNHOUSE
2 STOREY TOWNHOUSE PAGE 21
2.5% 3 STOREY TOWNHOUSE
ZONES
MASTER PLAN
STAGE 1 STAGE 4 STAGE 5 STAGE 2
STAGE 3
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Walking track Oval
STAGE 1
Fullarton Road
Apartment block A
Apartment block B
Market
Language
Water Feature
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Stage 1 is a central and busy zone. Apartment block A+B This residential hub quite litereally wraps a unique setting of greenery and people. It fuses the two together in unison to create a balanced enviroment.
STAGE 2
Apartment block B Lining the entrance, this block is a frame for the SA flm studio heritage building. Its form speaks the same language as it reflects the symetrical and rectangular shape.
Direct view to heritage buildings from Fullarton road
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Apartment E Apartment G
STAGE 3
Walking Track
Apartment F Apartment H
3 Storey Townhouses
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Stage 3 is a residential zone within the site the residential zone features a range of housing options from 1 bedroom appartments to three storey townhouses as well as this the stage also features a park central to the appartment buildings
STAGE 4
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STAGE 5
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MARC DAVIS
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KATELYN DIPROSE
'City Beautiful' ideas in Australia - Canberra The City Beautiful Movement occurred in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as a rehabilitated philosophy of North American architecture and urban planning. This movement aimed to restore a sense of order and dignity in American cities through beautification and monumental grandeur. However, during this era land-use division was entirely constructed based on urban traditions. Cities such as Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit and Washington D.C were most prominently associated with the movement to endorse beauty and civic virtue amongst urban populations. It was believed by advocates of the philosophy that a harmonious social order was endorsed by such embellishment of cities and that this would increase the quality of life. In the end, the movement began to diminish as World War I began. Ultimately the downfall of the movement occurred due to the lack of addressing social and economic concerns as the improvements of physical cities did not substantially improve urban life.
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Early Australian Urban Planning
A combination of elements from North American and European cities were said to have shaped the Australian City Beautiful Movement. However, there were no official city organisers that directed this movement in Australia leading to criticism of Australian cities lacking architectural and urban design features in street landscaping and dwellings. Being a relatively new country settled by Europeans in the 1700s, it was thought that the opportunity to design Australian cities comprehensively and aesthetically was wasted. Not only did Australian cities at the time lack beauty and civic pride, but they were perceived as indifferent, short-sighted, politically interfered and apathetic. The urban design and organisation of Australian cities were predominantly influenced by architect planners and local government reformers. During the early British Colonial Period, the town planning of Australian Cities commenced when critical decisions were made by colonial Governors. These executive decisions revolved around land grants, subdivisions and the construction of roads, rail transport, water supply and other basic infrastructures to support settlement. Australia quickly became a vastly urbanised nation during the nineteenth century colonial expansion and economic growth as this continued into the twentieth century trend towards urbanisation. The orderly planning of cities became increasingly significant as early town planners closely followed international contemporary town planning and urban reform movements such as the City Beautiful Movement aiming to improve the efficiency and aesthetics of cities. It was not until 1912 that Australian Urban Design was truly recongised as Walter Burley Griffin's plans for Canberra presented significant influences by the City Beautiful Movement. This design was recognised after winning an international competition held to design Australia’s capital, Canberra. Griffin’s plans distinctly show influences from the City Beautiful Movement throughout the settlement as significant features include bands of greenery, wide boulevards lined with large buildings, formal parks and water features.
Walter Burley Griffin Canberra Plans
Walter Burley Griffin, landscape architect of Chicago grew-up in a professional environment amongst many fundamental European and North American architects. His distinctive style of landscape architecture and urban design were predominantly influenced by the City Beautiful and Garden City movements which dominated late nineteenth and early twentieth century urban planning. During his career, Griffin decided to enter the Federal Capital Design Competition of urban planning for Canberra, launched by King O'Malley, Minister for Home Affairs, in May 1911. Out of 137 architects who submitted their designs in the completion, Griffin's entry number 29 was declared the winner in May 1912. The idea for this competition was initially raised during a 1901 conference but it was not made official until 1911when administration of the federal capital felt concerned about the lack of professionalism in the department as staff did not have the required skill to plan the city of Canberra. Griffin prepared the plans for Canberra with the help of his wife, Marion Mahony who was also an architect. Together their design was significantly influenced by the City Beautiful Movement as well as the Garden City Movement as it took advantage of the surrounding natural beauty in Australian landscape and incorporated the natural features of the site. Significant plants and lush green features along with peaks and hills, provided a spectacular setting for the city plan. Griffin considerably placed the symbolically important Commonwealth buildings such as Parliament House in noticeable, significant locations that complement the surrounding natural features. The strong geometric design of the city clarifies its unique form which is particularly evident through the Parliamentary Triangle, formed with three main avenues encompassing some of Canberra's most fundamental buildings. These buildings exhibit the monumental, grand and elegant style of Canberra and Griffin's urban plan. The City Beautiful Movement was not the only notable influence of Griffin's plan as it also contained references to the layout of Washington with "grand axes and vistas and a strong central focus point".
Government Influence on Canberra Plans
The Griffin Plan represents a creative spark in the orderly, well-constructed design of Canberra. However, no city vision can be complete without the collaboration with others who administer a proposal of implementation with logistical and practical considerations. The Commonwealth Parliament was originally formed in 1901 after The New South Whale's Government commissioned a report suggesting possible locations for the seat of Government. Canberra was suggested as one of the three finalist location. However, the decision to make Canberra the capital city of Australia was made in 1908 by the Commonwealth Parliament due to its picturesque, distinctive views. The Australian Capital Territory was declared on January 1st, 1911 which lead to the international design competition of Australia's new capital city. Shortly after Griffin’s design was announced as the winner, O'Malley, as Minister, appointed a Departmental Board to oversee construction of the city plans. However, concerns derive over practical issues involving the level of ornamental extravagance as established members of government saw the design as extremely costly and oversized for the current population. Disapproving the alterations made to his design, Griffin pressured for participation in construction engagement as he applied and became Federal Capital Director of Design and Construction for Canberra in 1913. Overhearing the Boards criticism of his plan, Griffin approached the Minister of the organisation to defend his design ending in the resubmission of a revised plan. Some describe the revised plans as 'a refinement of ideas in response to practical considerations'. On the other hand, some described the modifications as 'a desperate move, which was to have profound consequences for Canberra'. After many years of altering designs and determining what would be best for the city of Canberra, in 1918 Griffin submitted his final revised plan for the city site.
Canberra Today
The concepts influenced by the City Beautiful Movement are still evident in Australian Planning today, particularly in the urban design of Canberra. After World War I, the movement was continued throughout Australia, particularly in Canberra as more memorials were established than in any other country. Canberra continued to grow over the post-war era into Australia's largest inland city. This presented many challenges from a planner's point of view as the expansion of the city had to continue to intergrade with the surrounding bush landscape. It was not until the 1930s Great Depression that the City Beautiful Movement abruptly ended and was no longer a part of comprehensive town planning. Nevertheless, the existing fashion of tree-lined streets, skylines and streetscapes are largely the result of the City Beautiful philosophy. Today Canberra is primarily a major tourist attraction not only for Australians but also for international visitors. As the seat of federal government and a major hub for Australian cultural organisations, Canberra is a significant part of Australian history, growth and accreditation. Canberra is home to many of Australia's important landmarks such as the Australian War Memorial, Parliament House, the high court, the National Gallery of Australia and the National Library of Australia. In the present city of Canberra, Griffin’s original plans are still evident today and are recognised for their high symbolic values. The distinct harmony between built, urban environments and the natural elements of the land are still existing today from the original City Beautiful Movement inspiration creating this 'bush capital'.
Influence in the rest of Australia
Canberra as the leading capital city of Australia, shows a well arranged urban plan with many transport connections that make getting around easy while the surrounding buildings and natural elements all interconnect reflecting the international trends of urban design along with uniquely Australian features. Early Australian settlement was economically driven and relatively comfortable. As the population of Australian cities grew, the land became more expensive as the demand for private, suburban dwellings increased rapidly. Australia continues to be one of the most highly urbanised countries in the world regardless of the nation's extensive character and low density. Majority of Australian cities were planned with great consideration unlike many major cities elsewhere. The impact of immigration, economics, culture, transport, health, education and other influences have had a slight effect on the urban form of Australian cities and character. However, a newfound respect for the natural environment, natural materials and textures had emerged by the turn of the century. Canberra is perhaps the most fundamentally influenced Australian city by the City Beautiful Movement, but other Australian cities such as Adelaide, Hobart and Melbourne were improved and manipulated based on this movement and Canberra's urban design ideas. Adelaide as a prime example of comprehensive civic design, encompasses a ring of natural parklands surrounding the city center. Comparatively, the beautification of Hobart was endeavored to increase the city's popularity. Shortly after the city beautification of Canberra, architect William Campbell designed a new blueprint for the city of Melbourne as it was considered 'dull and monotonous' by some in comparison to Canberra. This was due to the city's basic grid plan as the main principles behind the new design focused on diagonal streets, providing sites for new and comprehensive architectural designs.
The future of 'City Beautiful' Canberra
Canberra's urban future is dependent on the pursuit of visionary planning which is of primary importance in retaining the high quality expected of Australian cities. While Griffin originally had a clean slate to work from, every forthcoming planner has since had to take into account the original landscape. Consequently, the key difference between the 1917 and 2017 planning of Canberra is the fundamental consideration of freeways and low-density dormitory suburbs after the post war period. The conflicting older and more modern areas of Canberra also result in challenges to adjust the existing built forms to incorporate a more complete concept for the city. During the post-war period, the original improvements of the city were put on hold. Nevertheless, the city of Canberra has remained structurally intact and theoretically, fulfils Griffin's intended vision of a vibrant, cosmopolitan city. Moving into the future, the development of Canberra is continuous as major new works are constantly being proposed and under construction. In recent years, architectural works such as the Gunahlin Town Centre, City West Precinct and the Kingston Foreshores Development been developed and there are many more to come in the future.
Canberra, as the capital of Australia is world renowned for its intricately designed city layout that has some of the most picturesque surrounding environment in the world. Walter Burley Griffin's plan for the development of Canberra was mostly influenced by the awareness of 'City Beautiful' ideas in Australia.
The City Beautiful movement greatly influenced the urban planning of Australian cities in the late nineteenth century to early twentieth century but particularly Canberra in regards to the use of surrounding vegetation accompanying fundamental built elements.
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HAMISH MCGREGOR
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LOGAN SMITH
Aesthetics and Morality
GEORGIE WARREN
The cost of beauty
The cost of beauty, can be examined in terms of aesthetics and its relationship to morality. This requires defining morality as "standards of behaviour; principles of right and wrong" and acknowledging that every individual possesses a different set of morals. The influence of morals on aesthetic value can be split into 3 factors that possess opportunity for moral judgement. These include material and architectural honesty, design considerations of the architect and the interior function of a building.
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Figure 1. Basilica of St. Peter
Material and Architectural Honesty
The value of architectural and material honesty is a moral judgement that for an individual influences ‘the cost of beauty’. For architecture to be considered honest on a basic level it must be remembered that “Architecture is a primary fact, a language for man. We must recognise the basic needs accompanying the fact of habitation” Source 2 (used in para 1), through the concept of functional beauty; a term that believes “functional aspects play an important and internal role in aesthetic judgments of architectural works”(source 1). However Le Corbusier once stated that “we do not know what architecture is ... you employ stone, wood and concrete, and with these materials you build houses and palaces; that is construction…but suddenly you touch my heart … and I say ‘This is architecture’”(Source 9). The mysterious distinction between construction or ‘function’ and architecture that “touch(es) (the) heart” may be envisioned as morality. Leading belief that there is more to architecture than pure function or pure aesthetics, instead… "Architecture is the spell of the truth. It is the truth that comes out of some unknown world deep in man" Source 9
This truth is partly expressed through the materials of a construction, and their composition or design. Mario Botta believes that “it is our duty, our work as architects, to make these materials speak, to make them become the highest expression possible for our time” (Source 2). As seen in figure 1: The Basilica of Saint Peter, the cathedral is “It is the real function of art – its necessity. It is this which is truth in architecture, as it is truth in any genuine work of art”(source 9). However “The very structure of the Gothic Cathedral was dematerialised” with stones scooped and hollowed “so that light and space passed between them”. Therefore while it was believed that the church was pure and honest architecture, its construction did not fully reflect the truth of its materials but rather offered a symbolic truth that is able to “touch (the) heart” source 9. While this relationship is based purely on symbolism and not honesty of materials, the concept of ‘cladding’ which replicates material properties synthetically such as “a building, which appeared to be stone, but was really steel-framed with stone cladding” (source 10) has an economical reason for dematerialising stone. John Ruskin did not agree with cladding as he believed that “all art and design should be based one the study of nature, which for him was nothing more than Gods handiwork”(source 10). This natural belief is recognised by the statement that “Truth, being of human derivation, is both vulnerable and mortal, for it follows the law of all mortal things”(source 9). In this honest architecture, things are as they seem, “form follows function” (source 9).
Design considerations of the Architect
Interior Function
The concept of ‘functional beauty’ may be considered to be evident within the internal function of a building, forming a relationship between the moral agenda of the building and its aesthetic value. The moral agenda of the internal function of a building, can be considered as intended in the architects design such as is seen within places of religious worship and Auschwitz, or a slightly more unintended occurrence such as seen within theatre or some art. Further, the concept can be explored on a greater scale as seen within the City Beautiful Movement. When assuming the concept that “immoral function is a sufficient condition for a work of architecture to be considered immoral” (source 1), there is a clear indication that a building such as that of Auschwitz, the German concentration camp is “immoral due to at least (its) function”(source 1). Similarly the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome may be thought by the atheist to have the proper function “to promote, through its uncontroversial beauty, a morally dubious theocracy. Promoting a demagogical and morally dubious theocracy is surely immoral” (source 1).
Figure 2. Auschwitz
Both buildings posses aspects of functional beauty in their effective physical construction but it is the buildings purpose and hence moral content that “In some instances the legitimate aesthetic criticism of a work can surround aspects of the moral subject matter of a work”(source 3). Slightly more controversial is the judgement between immoral and moral ‘art’ or design as “The aims of art—to engage and please the intended audience—are different from, and at odds with, the goals of moral enlightenment and elevation” (Source 3). People such as Oscar Wilde and Clive Bell felt this who both concluded that art was okay because “aesthetic interests always trumped conventional moral ones”(Wilde, source 3) and that “art always contributes to the overall good” (Bell, Source 3).The City Beautiful Movement was a large-scale plan, designed to “bring social order and control to the city through an improved, orderly and beautified urban environment” (source 5). The intended function of the design was to bestow on people a high moral standing and this was implemented and received as a ‘beautiful environment’. Alain De Botton believes that “when you say you find this ugly, or beautiful, or vice versa it is not just an aesthetic judgment that you are leveling, really what you are trying to do it argue about what life should be”(source 6). Our aesthetic taste relates back to our morals and a movement with high moral ideals will be beautiful to those who share/desire those same morals.
Moral judgement
Morals of Individual
conclusion
Truth of Architecture
and truth of materials
Aspects of the Architects design considerations
Internal Function of the construction
Aesthetic value judgement of the given construction