_WEEK 8: MINIMALISM & CAUSE+EFFECT Thoughts on readings-- ‘To the Minimalist Work’: The ‘One thing’ is the main element of the site, with utmost importance and ultimately belongs to its context. Therefore it has to make sense and essentially complement the site it is to provide for. It has a presence, but is invisible, in the sense it may be felt only if sought after. A strategy to incorporate this element is repetition. The thing also gives the place its presence (so it seems to blend together with the subject it serves). Thoughts on readings-- ‘TACIT’: Redefining ‘silence’, not as a void but as a element with presence despite not having an obvious display to any of the senses. It seems to be subconscious. It is part of the ‘context’, as in, it has meaning and purpose to be implemented within John Cage’s 4’33”. It doesn’t distract from other elements in the context, but it is still sensed and noticed. The impression I got from this is that it is a rather passive-aggressive element, neither ‘here nor there’, it is not powerless but does not seek to seem strong either. Rather, the ‘strength’ or ‘impact’ of minimalism comes from an absence of. It is not hostile in nature, but comes as a rational, calm and collected force. Its movement is repeated for consistency, hence the rationality.
Context response: Since there was no given specifications on context, firstly the house is managed for a small family of 2-4, with an immediate surrounding of open land or perhaps being surrounded by minimal forestation, which would allow for serene acoustics. Concrete is the main material, which could seem plain but ultimately I was going for a ‘timeless’ feel, where it would remain a constant throughout all seasons but still have a reflective hue when daylight changes colour on it, from dawn to dusk. In general I like to start ‘simple’ and craft my way to compaction which probably makes for a condensed building. Some of these influences on my design decisions come from the monochrome aesthetic which I find myself drawn toward, due to the sharp contrast in elemental transition. It is brutal, straightforward and honest, traits I also identify myself as an individual. The contention strives for ‘perfection’, but not without mistakes. I realize my design thinking is often driven by conflict - I want perfection but I know I must accept mistakes otherwise the design will never develop-- and to me, a design that can’t accept mistakes means it cannot take the first step to finding its most ‘perfect’ state. In trying to achieve this, a reductive approach allows me first tackle the main intent/priority of a design before I try to ‘decorate’ it or support it with other components.
Thoughts on Lecture on Minimalism by A.Selenitsch Thing(s) are reduced and repeated, which gives it a ‘reductive’ look. Hierarchy should be absent, minimalism doesn’t seek to overpower the elements/context it is placed in nor does it seek to overpower itself. Repetition, if used, should be used with careful consideration to the composition because this may end up causing the minimal component to suddenly gain a more impactful solidity in a composition.
In regard to socioeconomic status, my first thoughts usually go to imagining clients who have a similar number of occupants to my household but have had very different living experiences or history. They tend to live a clean lifestyle, uncluttered spaces, with a typically peaceful family/friend dynamic. There is little conflict and disability and they have ‘lived comfortably’ for most of their lives, demonstrated in the ‘boring’ planning of the floors, minimal stairs etc . This is emulated through the cubic, almost symmetrical form, through the occupant’s Archaeology. At its core, the Paradox, the design here is simply a dream for some kind of localized peace.
It is a element in neutrality. ‘White noise’- sound that is heard when there is an absence of the positive sounds that are more overpowering, but white noise also adds to the context, as a single element, that complements and supports its ‘context’ (in this case, background noise) instead of overpowers or distracts listeners from it.
We can deduce from the drawings and realizations above that, the outcome is ultimately selfish and unrealistic even though the design responds to the imaginary client’s needs and wants; I have projected my own past wishes onto the client because I was given the freedom to do so (not many specifics required by the task) and this is the typical result of living in my own head for too long.
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