Synopsis for theories of urbanism

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303) SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2018)

Name: CHEE JIA XIN Lecturer: MR. NICHOLAS NG Reader/Text Title: Towards a New Architecture – Architecture or Revolution

ID No.: 0327392 Tutorial Time: Synopsis No: 1B Author: Le Corbusier

Translated by Federick Etchells on 1927, Towards a New Architecture is a selection of composition originally written by Le Corbusier. In this reader, Le Corbusier applause to the great revolution in machinery in nineteenth century. He pursuit the concept of ‘Purism’, minimize the cost of architecture design by removing all the decorations. While this is very similar to the design principle of designing a machinery.

In this chapter, Corbusier mention what he means by “revolution”. He mentioned that, in earlier, man performances in order of “natural” system which he took tasks by his own hands and faced the outcome of his doing. Also, they work at where they lived with his family around him. This created a society which is stable and endure. However, nowadays, the successful industrial revolution has brought us the massproduction but takeover the moral factor of basis human animal. Every machines tie with specialize worker due to the absolute precision is demanded. They need to work at the factory 24 hours in relays. There is no link between the daily activities of man at the factory. In the end, the family is everywhere being killed and men’s minds demoralized in servitude to anachronisms.

Minds of every mans had been moulded and formed certain desires. He craves for intellectual diversion, relaxation for his body after his labour. Thus, this mass of aspiration creates in fact a mass of request.

“Industries has created its tools. Business has modified its habits and customs. Construction has found new means. Architecture finds itself confronted with new laws.” (pg. 283)If all of these new conditions are link to the past, then we have revolution.

The society is filled with a brutal desire for something which it may be obtained or not and everything depends on the effort made and the attention paid to these distressing manifestation.

Architecture or revolution.

Revolution can be avoided.

In my opinion, balancing between work and life is very important. Without each of them, life will be miserable. “All work and no play make Jack a dull boy”, without time off from work, a person will become both bored and boring. Thus, the productivity and quality of work also will be affected.

Word Count: 364 Assessed by:

Mark Date

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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303) SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2018)

Name: CHEE JIA XIN Lecturer: MR. NICHOLAS NG Reader/Text Title: Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture

ID No.: 0327392 Tutorial Time: Synopsis No: 2B Author: Robert Venturi

‘Complexity and Contradiction’ written by Robert Venturi has stay significance in a complex and contradictory age. The book addresses architecture as the only place where redundant and simple construction, in thinking and in material reality, takes shape.

In “Nonstraightforward Architecture: A Gentle Manifesto”, he generally outlined the concept of richness can contrast with clarity and encourages architects to leave the principle of traditional Modernism. He mentioned that a valid architecture evokes many levels of meaning and combinations of focus; its space and its elements become readable and workable in several ways at once. In “Complexity and Contradiction vs. Simplification or Picturesqueness”, Venturi criticizes orthodox modern architects and their opinion toward complexity. The majestic pavilion by Mies van der Rohe was recognized by Venturi based on its simplicity.

He doubts of the oversimplification of architecture and even elaborated on Mies’ infamous statement on modernism in “Less is more,” to “Less is bore” where simplicity cannot work, simpleness results. In “Ambiguity”, he mentioned that ambiguity and tension are easily found in complex and contradictory architecture. While architecture is form and substance, abstract and concrete, and its meaning derives from its interior characteristics and its particular context. In the chapter of “Contradictory Levels”, he talks about complex architecture as “both-and” scenario. The “both-and” phenomenon in architecture is contradiction, and its basis is hierarchy which return with several levels of meanings among elements with varying values.

An architecture which includes varying levels meaning breeds ambiguity and tensions. Besides, Venturi proof through varies of designs, why he promotes the post-modernist movement which aim to include various requirements and their juxtapositions rather than the modernist approach of exclusion and separation. However, the double meaning inherent in the phenomenon “both-and” can involve metamorphosis as well as contradiction.

In my opinion, I agreed that what Robert Venturi said, “Less is bored”. In fact, there are no things is “simple”. Every part of the architecture is very precise and articulated. The architect did put a lot of effort into it and solve every possible problem. Hence, nothing is simple, nothing is less.

Word Count: 343 Assessed by:

Mark Date

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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303) SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2018)

Name: CHEE JIA XIN Lecturer: MR. NICHOLAS NG Reader/Text Title: The Geometry of Feeling –

ID No.: 0327392 Tutorial Time: Synopsis No: 3B

A Look at the Phenomenology of Architecture Author: Juhani Pallasmaa In the chapter of “A look at phenomenology of architecture” in “The geometry of feeling”, written by Juhani Pallasmaa, the author questioning about why do so very few modern buildings appeal to our feelings? Is it the geometry of a building that defines what a building is? In this chapter, the author discusses about the relationship between the form and the function of an architecture.

Juhani believe that there’s a relationship between architectural form and how architecture experienced. The reality of how a building is experienced has been overlooked and it is time that we should considered whether forms or geometry can arise the architectural feelings.

The author mentions about “the artistic dimension of a work of art does not lie in the actual physical things; it exists only in the consciousness of the person experiencing it”. (pg. 449) Form only affects our feelings through what is represent, but through experiencing the space, it can bring us not only impression but also memories. Besides, Juhani also mentioned that, the phenomenology of architecture should be seeks the inner language of a building. The architecture should be experienced through the physical proportions and properties if the building. “An artwork is a reality only when it is experienced and experiencing a work of art means recreating its dimension of feeling”. (pg. 450) Furthermore, Juhani stated that an architecture can be built without an architect which I couldn't agree more with it. Other artist can provide the human event they are presenting a setting, a place and thus in face to perform an architectural job without a client, structural calculations or a building permit.

Moreover, architecture is a direct expression of existence, of human presence in the world as it is largely based on a language of body. Type of experiencing included from the entrance of the building to the roof, as detailed as the lighting fixtures or as big as the landscape of an architecture. “The quality of architecture does not lie in the sense of reality that it expresses, but quite reverse, in its capacity for awakening our imagination”. (pg. 452) In conclusion, we should appreciate the form of the architecture and not to forget the experience of the architecture brought to us. “A book cannot be judged by its cover.”

Architecture cannot be only judged on its appearance alone but it’s important how you experienced the architecture.

Word Count: 397 Assessed by:

Mark Date

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