BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303) SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2018)
Name: Khoo Yung Keat
ID No.: 0324688
Lecturer: Mr. Nicholas Ng
Tutorial Time: 10 - 11 am
Reader/Text Title: Towards A New Architecture
Synopsis No: 1B
‘Architecture or Revolution’ (1985)
Author: Le Corbusier
Towards a New Architecture ‘Architecture or Revolution’ written by Le Corbusier expressed that this age which is the nineteenth century has affected a great transformation due to lacking of appreciation towards their epoch and earlier periods. According to Le Corbusier, we do not understand the deep gap between the current developments with the one that happened in the earlier times in the history of human civilization. Le Corbusier perceived architecture as a significant instrument in addressing the issues of the contemporary society. A proper architecture would combat social unrest where architecture could prevent revolution. The author views industrial revolution from the confusion in his mind where he feels himself to be the slave of a distressed state of things and experiences with no sense of freedom, comfort or improvement. Progress seems both hateful and praiseworthy at the same time, making the people bewilder and confuse. Corbusier explains how their own time that is for the last fifty years opposes the time that have gone before. In the old days, man ordered his life according to the ‘natural’ system. He took tasks in his own hands and faced the consequences of his own actions. The family life unfolded itself in the normal way where the society is stable likely to endure. Compared to present days, industry as brought them to the mass produced where machinery is at work in close collaboration with man. The spirit of the workers both no longer exists but rather a more collective spirit. There is no link between the daily routines of the man at the factory, the office or the bank and the activities in the bosom of the family. The family is everywhere being killed and men’s minds demoralized in servitude to anachronisms. Industries have created its tools. Business has modified its habits and customs. Construction has found new means. Such tools are capable of adding to human welfare and of lightening human toil. If these new conditions are set against the past, then we have revolution. Morality of industry is transformed, to-day big business is considered a healthy and moral organism. In this way the society is helping forward the destruction of the family that will inevitably lead to its own destruction. From my point of view, if this problem was not solved the destruction might affect us in the future. In my opinion, architecture is not about creating a space for living. What industrial revolution has done to the people is that their spirit is no longer exist as in having an experience in a space due to the mass production in factories, man’s daily routine is working eight hours a day after that go home and rest. They do not know what to do after work as they already get used to their daily life. Hence, in order to solve this problem, a change has to be done. Revolution can be avoided. Word Count: 481
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Date 24/10/2018
Page No. 1
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303) SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2018)
Name: Khoo Yung Keat
ID No.: 0324688
Lecturer: Mr. Nicholas Ng
Tutorial Time: 10-11 am
Reader/Text Title: Complexity and Contradiction
Synopsis No: 2B
in Architecture
Author: Robert Venturi
In the writings of Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture by Robert Venturi, I realized that the author himself likes architecture to be more complex and contradict which he believes that it can enriched the modern experience and also experience that intrinsic in art. By criticising Mies van der Rohe statement ‘Less is More’ to ‘Less is Bore’, He disagree with the eliminating of complexity for the purpose of expression toward the simplicity in architecture. This leads to a change from simplified form to oversimplified, hence architecture become blandness instead of simplicity. I agree with the author’s point of view, although a simple form building has its significant value, but it also reduces the architectural value due to it ignores the desire for visual stimulation that is achieved through variety. Furthermore, simplicity is now a concept in designing for architects, although it can demonstrates a simple concept with an outstanding outcome, yet it actually gives limitation of deign explorations for the architects. In the topic ‘Contradiction Levels’ of Venturi writings, he explains that challenging the viewer actually enhances their experience with architecture because of the work becomes more vibrant. He also discuss about ‘complex architecture’ as ‘both-and’ consequence in his writings where it promotes sense of hierarchy within it, which leads to various meanings. For instance, open space, indoor space and etc. From what I had learnt from the writings, the use of ‘both-and’ in design may leads to complex and contradict perception by the occupants in the building about the architectural design as the relationship between both meaning is different. Hence, the complexity and contradiction allow the occupants to experience diverse meaning of architecture from different point of view. In my opinion, designing a space or structure not only focusing in the function and outstanding form but creating a space which allow its occupants to experience diverse meaning in the space according to their point of view is more important as architecture is not about designing a space, but it is a place where its occupants can express out their feelings in the space.
Word Count: 344
Mark
Grade
Assessed by:
Date 24/10/2018
Page No. 2
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303) SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2018)
Name: Khoo Yung Keat
ID No.: 0324688
Lecturer: Mr. Nicholas Ng
Tutorial Time: 10-11am
Reader/Text Title: The Geometry of Feeling: A
Synopsis No: 3B
Look at the Phenomenology of Architecture
Author: Juhani Pallasmaa
According to the book, The Geometry of Feeling: A Look at the Phenomenology of Architecture by Juhani Pallasmaa, the author introduced how modern architecture failed to evoke the feelings that it should be which the text continues to further elaborate on this theme. He confronted that we should not look into the form as the key element of design in a building. He highly prioritize the people’s feelings whenever they are occupying a space in a building. The viewer’s emotion and perception should be emphasized instead of the building form itself. Yet, people tends to be obsessed by the building rigid form and overlook its inherent qualities. As principle of elementarism and reductionism have dominated the advancement of modern science, hence these principles should be prohibited to rejuvenate the elaboration of artistic works that expressed deeper meanings. The artistic dimension of a work of art does not lie in the actual physical thing; it exists only in the consciousness of the person who experienced it. The richness of an art lies in the vitality of the images it provokes by the interpretations of the simple and typical forms. The phenomenology of architecture is thus ‘looking at’ architecture from within the consciousness of experiencing it, but there is a great suspicion of an introspective approach to art because of lacking objectivity. As what we observed, architectural experiences are different from those who are trained professional. A normal person does not remember the details of the building for instance, windows or doors. But they are familiar with the five senses and related events in it. The presentation of architecture in other arts is the ‘pure looking’ of a child’s way of experiencing things. Hence, the rules of architectural discipline do not regulate the experience or the way it is presented which I am agreed with this term. Architecture is a direct expression of existence, of human presence in the world. The author think that experiencing loneliness is one of the basic experience given by architecture, just like the tests carried out by Louis Kahn towards the experiences of silence and light. A strong architectural experience always generates a sense of silence and loneliness regardless of the crowd within the space. I think that the most comprehensive and perhaps most important key element in architecture is the sense of being in a unique place. In conclusion, I agreed on how Juhani Pallasmaa explained on how decisive each design detail is as they affect the mind and soul of its occupants. For instance, he says the quality of architecture does not lie in the sense of reality that it expresses, yet it can awaken our imagination. Hence, we as an architect or future architect should takes our roles in making our built environment gradually desirable. Word Count: 461
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Date 24/10/2018
Page No. 3