Functionalism Theory Lecture Notes PDF

Prof. Ola Mohamed Samir Ismail Professor of interior design theories Faculty of Applied Arts – Helwan University  Functionalism in its broad sense ‫ بمعناها الواسع‬is “The manufactured objects perform the purposes which it is manufactured for “ And to have the forms according to these pur...

Prof. Ola Mohamed Samir Ismail Professor of interior design theories Faculty of Applied Arts – Helwan University  Functionalism in its broad sense ‫ بمعناها الواسع‬is “The manufactured objects perform the purposes which it is manufactured for “ And to have the forms according to these purposes or functions. The function as a general principle is almost intuitive ‫بديهية‬. The benefit element ‫عنصر‬ ‫االستفادة‬is an essential condition that must be fulfilled ‫ يتواجد‬in all human products. The suitability between the form and the function suggests reassurance ‫ االطمئنان‬and confidence ‫ الثقة‬to the validity ‫ صالحية‬of the design and gives a sense of beauty which is one of the main conditions that must be available in the design, in addition to the conditions of usability , durability, beauty and economy. After the Great Fire of Chicago city at 1871 where the bulk of the city was destroyed , there was urgent need for its reconstruction. And at 1896 the The architect Louis Sullivan ‫ لويس سوليفان‬has emerged ‫ ظهر‬as the true advocate ‫ كمدافع حقيقى‬of the modern technological age, looking around with a realistic view ‫ نظرة واقعية‬and accepting new conditions. who in the last decade of the nineteenth century predicated the foundation of the theory of functionalism and the term which was later known (The form follows the function) and received by its contemporaries as a new discovery. Designers began following functionalism as a general approach after the First World War Which put designers in front of a reality that needs to work quickly to face the crisis of buildings and reconstruction and return to peace in general. The modern era is an age of science and industry. It is necessary to take advantage of what science has reached, and of the industry's production of new materials and methods of work. The new materials have new characteristics of traditional materials, and must create appropriate forms and designs derived ‫مستمدة‬ from these qualities. ‫الصفات‬ Architecture and design have become for everyone and no longer for a specific class of people, which requires simplicity, economy and efficiency to produce more quantity  There is no doubt that functional theory is the most important theories in the modern world for many reasons: 1. It is a great intellectual theory which removed many errors in the concepts of architecture and design and free designers from Imitation of styles ‫تقليد الطرز‬ 2. There is no more appropriate ‫اكثر مالئمة‬theory than it. Other attempts, such as new and expressive art, and individual attempts at innovation Forms, all of which were emotional movements aimed at acquiring ‫ايجاد‬new artistic theories, and ended up merely ‫ مجرد‬Decorative motifs and patterns It was the ideal solution after World War I for the conditions of the economic crisis, and the urgent need to provide Housing and cost economy, and were even in the narrowest sense the best solution to those extreme circumstances, and Proved their efficiency to work The overall level of design has been raised and it has been possible to produce good works Functional theory often proved the validity ‫صالحية‬of the design, but in the opposite way that it could not be determined The correct solution, but it can reveal the bad solution that is contrary to its principles. Functionality is the one that determines the functions and the parts and their relationship to each other, and is the one that creates them and concludes the general configuration ‫التكوين‬ ‫العام‬of the building or the product. 1) Focus on utility ‫التركيز على المنفعة‬ 2) Focus on durability ‫ القززدرة علززى‬-‫التركيززز علززى المتانززة‬ ‫التحمل‬ 3) Beauty is the outcome of the benefit and durability 4) Focus on the concept of space. 5) Use of open space and continuous space The trend that concern about the scientific and technological achievements and using new materials. The second trend that concern about reducing the control of the machine on the human and to give moral and human considerations ‫اعتبارات‬ ‫انسانية و اخالقية‬ a) Study the human needs of the thing for which it is designed. b) study the function of these needs "dimensions of the human body." c) Study materials and colors and their sense the functional needs do not neglect of ‫ال تخلوا‬ ‫ من‬the humanitarian factors ‫العوامل االنسانية‬ determined by two important elements which are: "First: the usage ‫االستخدام‬ And second: the researches required by the usage to develop it to suit human needs.  To achieve the ideal usage of the design there is a need to reach the following : 1) New Idea. 2) A new addition ‫اضافة جديدة‬:The design achieves safety, efficiency and customer satisfaction. 3) New rules ‫قواعد جديدة‬: Psychological comfort and ease of use ‫الراحة النفسية و سهولة االستخدام‬ 1. Basic research :  Agronomic studies ‫ الدراسات االرجونومية‬which care about the measurements and sizes of human body organs. This is through anatomical studies ‫الدراسات التشريحية‬, which have a major role in determining the internal and external dimensions of the design.  Fashion: is a phenomenon that appears at some time carrying a new thought, perhaps satisfied people and accept it and thus impose itself and spread globally and locally. 2- Manufactory researches ‫ابحاث التصنيع‬which includes studies on how to implement the design and the techniques to be used in implementation ‫التنفيذ‬ 3- Marketing Research ‫ابحاث التسويق‬: which includes the study of marketing theories and customs and traditions of society  Functional efficiency is achieved through the integration of several design elements: ❖Functional compatibility ‫التوافق الوظيفى‬ ❖functional performance efficiency ‫كفاءة االستخدام‬ ‫الوظيفى‬ ❖functional flexibility ‫المرونة الوظيفية‬ Functional compatibility: ‫التوافق الوظيفى‬ the compatibility of form with content ‫توافق الشكل مع‬ ‫المضمون‬, which is achieved through the suitability of forms to perform its functions functional performance efficiency ‫كفاءة االستخدام الوظيفى‬ The relationship between the product and the user and the level of utility ‫مستوى المنفعة‬by achieving all the elements of the work of its partial functions in the service of the overall goal. functional flexibility ‫الوظيفية‬ ‫المرونة‬ Possibilities to change the functionalities or some of them by time and prospects for future expansion‫( احتماالت التوسع‬horizontally or vertically) Functionality can be found and realized in the worst works of architecture as they exist at their best, so they are useful in isolating The wrong solution, but it is not judgment on the beauty of the building and its architectural value. The biggest weakness of the theory is that it was based on the rule that one problem has one solution. Functional theory rejects ‫يرفض‬only what can not be measured or determined by calculation, measurement or experiment Process, or what is not related to logic and proper thinking.  The architecture was dominated by rigid rules inherited from the Renaissance (a cultural movement that lasted almost from the fourteenth century to the seventeenth century) It began in the late Middle Ages from Italy and then spread to the rest of Europe), where architecture was missing relevance to reality and life. Many felt the delay of architecture, and many began to criticize the methods of architecture which has nothing to do with reality and contemporary life. And some of them tried to take scientific steps, Many artistic and architectural trends and doctrines have arisen. Florence - Renaissance Center St. Peter's Cathedral and the Vatican  Rational thinking “functional orientation“« ‫الفكر العقالنى « التوجه نحو الوظيفة‬ First : modernism ‫الحداثة‬.Arts and Crafts movement ‫حركة الفنون و الحرف‬ Art Noveau movement ‫حركة الفن الجديد‬ Vienna Secession ‫حركة فيينا االنفصالية‬ Eclecticism ‫اإلنتقائية‬ -De Stijl ‫حركة الدى ستيل‬ Expressionism & Symbolism ‫المدرسة التعبيرية و‬ Construction ‫البنائية‬ Art Deco Style ‫طراز االرت ديكو‬ International Style ‫طراز العالمية‬ Stream Lining ‫طراز الخطوط اإلنسيابية‬ 1-Sculpture direction ‫االتجاه النحتى‬. 2- High Tech direction ‫اتجاه التكنولوجيا‬ ‫المتقدمة‬. 3. Minimalism ‫ االختزالية‬. 4. Deconstruction ‫التفكيكية‬. Environmental architecture. Green architecture. Sustainable architecture. Interior design quality.