Critical Regionalism in Architecture PDF

CRITICAL REGIONALISM Topics in Contemporary Architecture “The phenomenon of universalization, while being an advancement of mankind, at the same time constitutes a sort of subtle destruction, not only of traditional cultures (…), but also of (…) the creative nucleus of great cultures (…). Everywh...

CRITICAL REGIONALISM Topics in Contemporary Architecture “The phenomenon of universalization, while being an advancement of mankind, at the same time constitutes a sort of subtle destruction, not only of traditional cultures (…), but also of (…) the creative nucleus of great cultures (…). Everywhere throughout the world, one finds the same bad movie, the same slot machines, the same plastic or aluminum atrocities, the same twisting of language by propaganda, etc.(…) Thus we come to the crucial problem confronting nations from underdevelopment. In order to get on the road toward modernization, is it necessary to jettison the old cultural past which has been the raison d’être of a nation?...Whence the paradox (…) how to become modern and return to sources; how to revive an old, dormant civilization and take part in universal civilization”. -Paul Ricoeur, History and Truth Critical Regionalism in Architecture In "Towards a Critical Regionalism: six points for an architecture of resistance", Kenneth Frampton recalls Paul Ricoeur's "how to become modern and to return to sources; how to revive an old, dormant civilization and take part in universal civilization". Frampton’s named his proposal Critical Regionalism: to critically adopt modern architecture universal progressive qualities while also value the geographical context of the building. Emphasis should be on topography, climate and light; on tectonic form rather than on shallow scenography; on the sense of touch rather than visual sense. Frampton, K. (1983) “Towards a Critical Regionalism: 6 points for Frampton draws on phenomenology for his argument. an architecture of resistance”, in the Anti-Aesthetic: Essays on Postmodern Culture, Hall Footer (ed.), Seattle: Bay Press Critical Regionalism in Architecture According to Frampton the Six points for an Architecture of Resistance: 1. Culture and Civilization 2. Rise and Fall of the Avant-Guard 3. Critical Regionalism and World Culture 4. The Resistance of the Place-Form 5. Culture Vs Nature: Topography, Context, Climate, and Tectonic Form 6. The Visual vs the Tactile Frampton, K. (1983) “Towards a Critical Regionalism: 6 points for an architecture of resistance”, in the Anti-Aesthetic: Essays on Postmodern Culture, Hall Footer (ed.), Seattle: Bay Press Critical Regionalism Characteristics Jørn Utzon, Bagsværd Church, 1976, Denmark synthesizes Alvar Aalto, Säynätsalo Town Hall, 1952, in Finland reflects universal civilization and world culture: a resistance to universal aesthetics and technology, visible - ‘universal civilization’: rational, modular, neutral and in the emphasis on the tactile qualities of the building's economic, partly prefabricated concrete outer shell; materials. For example, feeling the contrast between the - ‘world culture’: specially-designed, 'uneconomic', organic, friction of the brick surface of the stairs and the springy reinforced concrete shell of the interior. The manipulation wooden floor of the council chamber of light in the sacred-space follows 'multiple cross-cultural references’ including Western culture but mainly, the Chinese pagoda roof.  LATE MODERN EARLY MODERN MODERN CONTEMPORARY POSTMODERN 1747-1914 1920-1950 1999-2019 1950’s-1990’s PURISM Italian Rationalism 1910-Looshaus, Vienna 1932-Casa del Fascio, Como, Italy Adolf Loos Giuseppe Terragni New Monumentality 1962-83-Sher-e-Bangla, Bangladesh Louis Khan BIOMORPHIC ARCH German Expressionism 1952-Saynatsalo Town H, Critical Regionalism 1921-Einstein Tower, Germany Finland 2004-Chichu Art Museum, Japan Erich Mendelsohn Alvar Aalto Tadao Ando Structural Rationalism ORGANICISM CRITICAL REGIONALISM 1904-Casa Batló, Spain 1935-Fallingwater, Pennsylvania 1976-Bagsvaerd Church Antoni Gaudi Frank Lloyd Wright Jørn Utzon Critical Regionalism Characteristics Marginal Practice: embracing Modernism avant- garde ideals and technological advancements while also critical of its ‘universal character’ – the normative optimization of architecture and its utopian visions. ‘Conscious Architecture’: that emerges from the site and builds on it, rather than imposing itself insensitively on natural and built environments. Champalimaud Center for the Unknown, Lisbon, 2010, Charles Correa Critical Regionalism Characteristics Chichu Art Museum, Naoshima, Japan, 2004, Tadao Ando Critical Regionalism Characteristics ‘Tectonic Event’ rather than Scenic: refuses to reduce the built environment to a series of unrelated episodes. Regional: in the sense that emphasizes certain specific characteristics of a place: topography, climate, incidence of natural light, meaning refuses the modernist ideal of the international style, assuming that buildings can be obey to one single aesthetic and tectonic language, detached from culture and surrounding physical factors. Iberê Camargo Museum, Porto Alegre, Brazil, 2002, Siza Vieira Critical Regionalism Characteristics Kursaal Palace, San Sebastian, Spain, 1999, Rafael Moneo Critical Regionalism Characteristics Visual and Tactile: aims at emphasizing human perception through using all senses, light, air, smells, materials, colours, all contribute to the experience of the building. Refuses Traditional and Vernacular Revivals: it often grabs inspiration from vernacular elements from the region or other regions that somehow fit or are adequate to the place, but these are never a ‘collage’ but a contemporary interpretation – a world construction, locally referenced. Localized: tends to flourish in cultural meanders, those regions of the world able to escape the centrifugal effect of universal trends/styles. Benidorm Waterfront, Spain, 2010, Carlos Ferrater Critical Regionalism Characteristics Bruder Klaus Capel, Mechernich, Utzon Center , Aalborg, Denmark, Germany, 2007, Peter Zumtor 2008, Jørn Utzon Critical Regionalism Architects Restrictive Regionalism: marked by a Liberative Regionalism: architectural refuse of the international style, turns to the manifestation of an entire region. When specificity of a region for inspiration. This architecture genius is able to combine the normally takes the form of sensitive play principles of Modernism with the specificities with the surrounding natural and built of a particular region of the World. Ernst Gisel environment to create and contemporary (Zurich); Jørn Utzon (Copenhagen); Vittorio reinterpretation of modernity - Jose Gregoti (Milan); Sverne Ferhn, Oslo; Aris Cordech, Ricardo Boffil, Alvaro Siza, Konstantinidis (Athens); Carlo Scarpa, Venice; Raymund Abraham, Luís Barragan, Rafael Mario Botta (Switzerland); Tadao Ando, Moneo, Peter Zumthor, WOHA, Eric Mirales, Osaka, Charles Correa, Steven Holl Carlos Ferrater, Souto de Moura.  Discussion Do you identify yourself with Critical Regionalism?