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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303/ARC2224) SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2017)

Name: NEOH JIA WEN Lecturer: MR. PRINCE Reader/Text Title: LEARNING FROM LAS VEGAS: THE FORGOTTEN SYMBOLISM OF ARCHITECTURAL FORM

ID No.: 0318228 Tutorial Time: 11.00P.M.

Synopsis No: 1 Author: ROBERT VENTURI, DENISE SCOTT BROWN, STEVEN IZENOUR

In the book, the authors discussed about Post-Modernism architecture which use vernacular language as a symbolism of form. They questioned modernism architecture which creates form by a logical process, free from images of past experience, and determined solely by program and structure. This leads them to study that through symbolism, spaces become dominant with subtle expression. However, most architects have misunderstanding where decoration had become lacking in thought or program. This is why false front where big sign and the small building appeared.

The book incent the architect or planner to consider the context in design by highlighting the symbolism of architectural form. The sacred space shared by modernist theorists spurs the authors to study Las Vegas, where the signs become the architecture. The bold communication dominated, antispatial signs and landscape of Las Vegas have form a complex setting of big spaces, high speeds and complex programs.

This is then further elaborate using the Las Vegas Commercial Strip which suggest urban sprawl with the implementation of symbols, and create the value of representational architecture along highways.

The authors perceive the highway sign as the unifying aspect, which manage to communicate a complexity of meanings by far away. This explained “Symbol dominates space where architecture is not enough.” It is mentioned that the image of the commercial strip is chaos, however, this is coupled with physical patterns and property boundaries of the building in the sense of scale and space, and description of texture.

In a nut-shell, it appears that the use of signage and the dynamics automobile centric architecture is in-escapable. Symbolism is indeed very important to our sense of civilization where the reflection of existing situation and historical reference should be applied in architecture, as mentioned in the book, “the communication of form through references to the past which enhance the existing environment is rather important than changing what is there.” It seems that it is all right decorating construction, but never construct decoration which is refuse to acknowledge symbolism.

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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303/ARC2224) SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2017) Name: NEOH JIA WEN ID No.: 0318228 Lecturer: MR. PRINCE Tutorial Time: 11.00P.M. Reader/Text Title: Synopsis No: 2 THE GEOMETRY OF FEELING, A LOOK AT THE Author: JUHANI PALLASMAA PHENOMENOLOGY OF ARCHITECTURE Juhani Pallasmaa proclaimed that the architecture today is created in discipline system instead of intentional background. The meaning of the building should exist in the consciousness of the person experiencing it rather than the physical form itself that strikes the user’s feeling. He stated that this is caused by the lack of understanding of the essence of art which moves too far away from the origin and loses its effectiveness. The senses should be stimulated by the design of architecture and not just the visual stimulus like many buildings are doing today.

The main focus of the text is in terms of geometry of building, whether it can affect the user’s feelings.

It is not enough to just consider geometry as a matter of complete mathematics, and forms. By going deeper into phenomenology analyses, a level of compromise can be accomplish by a good architecture which convince enough to credit feelings through geometry in the inner language of building.

In the text, he suggest that architecture should at least fulfill the basic conditions, the primary feelings.

By using the entire stimuli, the architects is creating a journey through each threshold, for example, materials, colours, lighting and more. By then, he gave an example that a strong architectural experience always produce a sense of loneliness and silence, which continue to create the uniqueness in place. It appears that the Louis Kahn’s National Assembly Building in Dhaka, Bangladesh can be refers here. The shadow in the building act as a form giver for silent spaces, which uses the raw of concrete combines with the light and shadows created, forms a private dialogue between the work and the person experiencing it.

Pallasmaa and the authors of Learning from Las Vegas have the same point of view that creating a building is not merely the organization of form, but other approach. Despite looking at the whole area like Las Vegas Strip, Pallasmaa gives focus on the buildings which creation of an ideal client is needed in order to create a good architecture.

Word Count: 338

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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303/ARC2224) SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (MARCH 2017) Name: NEOH JIA WEN ID No.: 0318228 Lecturer: MR. PRINCE Tutorial Time: 11.00P.M. Reader/Text Title: Synopsis No: 3 TOWARDS A CRITICAL REGIONALISM: SIX Author: KENNETH FRAMPTON POINTS FOR AN ARCHITECTURE OF RESISTANCE In this text, Frampton has addressed the condition of overarching globalization of human culture which in results of getting monotype in terms of civilization. It caused the possibility of creating significant urban form become limited, resulting in disappearance of variety and traditional cultures which are the main qualities of place-making. Therefore, he raised up the paradox: how to pays a deep tribute and appreciation to dormant civilization and at the same time present them in universal civilization.

Frampton has devised the six points in the text as a theoretical framework of specific features that represent critical regionalism. With the light of these quotation and Frampton’s thoughts, Critical Regionalism stress the importance of both rootedness to place and also modern innovation when creating architecture. However, the critical regionalism cannot be simply based on the autochthonous forms of a specific region alone, nor treat it as vernacular architecture. In order to take part in modern civilization, scientific and political rationality should be involve to prevent civilization shock. Architects should analyze the cultures and traditions then reinterpret it with contemporary terms, rather than adapting the local character directly. While his theories may not provide a precise formula for effective regional design, but the main points suggested a conceptual guidelines for establishing good regional practice and integrating a sense of place within architectural spaces.

An excellent example of critical regionalism is the Water Temple in Awaki Island, Japan by Tadao Ando. The temple is physically vastly different from other traditional wooden temples, nevertheless its concrete built architecture is seamlessly embedded into the natural landscape and create a unique experience for the visitors with nature.

In a nutshell, Critical Regionalism questioned the approach of mainstream global architecture that is seen today while also bear in mind the idea of tradition and culture of the land. It is very critical between these two opposing response while creating a completely new approach to architecture.

Word Count: 317

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