ARCH 5362 Theory Test #2 PDF

CONDITIONS OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE What is Style? Style in architecture reflects the visual and structural characteristics that define buildings and structures of a certain era, often influenced by cultural, historical, and technological trends. 11 Characteristics of Mode...

CONDITIONS OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE What is Style? Style in architecture reflects the visual and structural characteristics that define buildings and structures of a certain era, often influenced by cultural, historical, and technological trends. 11 Characteristics of Modern Architecture: 1. Minimalism and simplicity 2. Emphasis on function 3. Use of new materials (concrete, steel, glass) 4. Rejection of ornamentation 5. Open floor plans 6. Large, horizontal windows 7. Industrial aesthetic 8. Flat roofs 9. Integration with nature 10. Asymmetrical forms 11. Focus on innovative structure 15 Conditions of the Modern Period: Industrialization, Urbanization, Technological advances, Cultural shifts, Individualism, Rationalism, Secularism, Democracy, Mass production, Mobility, Communication revolution, Market economy, Colonial influences, War effects, Rise of the professional architect. 8 Themes of Modern Architecture: Functionalism, Minimalism, Standardization, Expressionism, Rationalism, Technology, Social improvement, and Environmental sensitivity. Thomas Cole’s “The Dream of the Architect”: This painting allegorically explores the architect's visionary role, contrasting architectural beauty with societal dreams. Modern Architectural Movements: Key movements include International Style, Bauhaus, Brutalism, Art Deco, Futurism, Constructivism, and Postmodernism. “Modern Architecture is an Attitude”: This suggests a progressive approach where architects prioritize functionality, reject historical styles, and embrace simplicity and technology as central to design. FUTURISM - Beginnings of Futurism ○ Originated in early 20th-century Italy, spearheaded by the artist Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Futurism celebrated speed, technology, and modernity, and sought to capture dynamic movement and energy. - Manifesto of Futurism  ○ Key ideas include glorification of technology and speed, aggressive and anarchist ideals, and a revolutionary urge to discard traditional forms and embrace modern technology. - Expression of Movement in Art and Architecture ○ Futurists used dynamic lines, fragmented forms, and elongated shapes to convey motion, aiming to depict the energy and vitality of urban life. - Characteristics of Futuristic Architecture ○ Dynamic forms, asymmetry, innovation in materials and structure, expressive facades, and integration of technology into aesthetic expression. MODERN ARCHITECTURE: ONE EUROPEAN VERSION – LE CORBUSIER Three Reminders to Architects (Le Corbusier): 1. Mass: Volume and proportion as essential. 2. Surface: Clean lines with minimal decoration. 3. Plan: Organizational logic, clarity, and utility in layout. Regulating Lines: Le Corbusier's concept uses geometric lines as compositional guides, ensuring balance and proportion in design. Airplane Quote Explanation: Le Corbusier compared logical problem-solving in engineering with architecture, advocating for functionally driven design where “the house is a machine for living in.” “The House is a Machine for Living In” and “Architecture or Revolution”: He proposed efficient, industrialized housing to improve living conditions and avoid social upheaval. Influences of Auguste Perret and Tony Garnier on Le Corbusier: Perret's use of reinforced concrete and Garnier's urban planning and functional aesthetics deeply shaped his vision for modern architecture. Le Corbusier’s Mass Housing Model and Five Points: Five Points: 1. Pilotis (support columns) 2. Free design of the ground plan 3. Free facade design 4. Horizontal windows 5. Roof gardens This model allowed for efficient, modular housing in urban settings. Greek Architecture vs. Automobiles: Le Corbusier likened the perfection of form in both, celebrating timeless functional design. Engineer’s Aesthetic and Architecture: He promoted the idea that architects should learn from engineers, emphasizing logic and functionality. Idealist and Rationalist Approach Combination: He combined emotional expression (Idealism) with logical, functional design (Rationalism) for balanced architecture. Revolution and Social Housing: Le Corbusier saw industrialized buildings as a means to address social housing shortages, thereby avoiding societal unrest. MODERN ARCHITECTURE: ONE U.S. VERSION - FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT Wright’s Attitudes Towards the Machine: Wright viewed machines positively, valuing their ability to enhance craftsmanship and enable organic forms. Principles of Organic Architecture: Architecture harmonizes with its environment, has unity, considers nature’s patterns, and prioritizes human needs. Usonian Houses: Removed basements and attics, added open floor plans and minimal ornamentation, aiming to create affordable, efficient homes. Five Characteristics of International Style: 1. Simple geometric forms 2. Glass, steel, and concrete materials 3. Lack of decoration 4. Flat surfaces 5. Open interiors INDIVIDUAL LEVEL SPATIAL PROCESS Personal Space: The invisible boundaries individuals maintain around themselves, with dimensions that vary by culture and context (intimate, personal, social, public). Factors Influencing Personal Space: Depends on culture, personality, situational factors, and interpersonal relationships. Behavior Settings: Environmental contexts influencing behavior, involving four aspects: physical environment, fixed features, specific patterns, and activities. Functions of Personal Space: Privacy, security, and comfort in social settings. Position as Power in Group Settings: Physical positioning reflects implicit power dynamics within groups, such as seating arrangement in meetings. GROUP LEVEL SPATIAL PROCESS: TERRITORIALITY AND DEFENSIBLE SPACE Territoriality: Claiming and defending space; serves privacy, control, and identity purposes. Territory Types: ○ Primary: Owned, personal spaces (homes) ○ Secondary: Shared but regularly used (classrooms)  ○ Public: Open to all (parks) Personalization in Architecture: Adding personal touches in shared spaces to enhance identity and control. Defensible Space and CPTED: Designing spaces to promote safety and deter crime (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). Example: Housing designs that encourage social surveillance. Sociofugal and Sociopetal Spaces: Sociofugal: Discourages interaction (rows in a theater); Sociopetal: Encourages social interaction (café tables). HUMAN ASPECTS: COGNITION, WAYFINDING, ECOLOGICAL AND GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY Affordances Perception: How individuals perceive action possibilities in their environment. Sensation, Perception, Cognition: Sensation (raw data), Perception (interpretation), and Cognition (thinking process). Environmental Cognition: Understanding and processing information about surroundings, linked to spatial cognition for navigation. Gestalt Psychology Principles: Examines perception as wholes, with principles like proximity and similarity relevant in design. Wayfinding in Architecture: The ease of navigating environments through clear, well-planned layouts and signage. SPACE SYNTAX – A SOCIAL LOGIC Five Main Ideas of Space Syntax: Configuration, independence from pure geometry, spatial continuity, local and global relational rules, hierarchical organization. Relations in Space Syntax: Includes physical and social connectivity in space. Depth in Space Syntax Theory: Describes the relative spatial access or isolation of areas. Social Hierarchy of Space: Space is organized based on social interaction levels, with core public spaces leading to private areas. OTHERS  Personal Space vs. Territoriality: Personal space is a mobile boundary, while territoriality is fixed. In architecture, these influence space allocation for privacy and social functions. Relevance of Ciba Geigy Building: Emphasized the efficient and thoughtful integration of working spaces in modern industrial design. Positive vs. Normative Theories: Positive theories explain and predict phenomena, while normative theories establish how things should ideally be. Images that we can be tested on: - Image of Architect looking at the past sitting on a pillar - Black and White Reversed Plans - Traffic Congestion (Slower traffic means more opportunity interaction) Zoning and planning out sketches and drawings of maps was quite new and groundbreaking Paintings on how to illustrate motion Configuration is based on connection and through diagraming a series of interconnected shapes was a way to illustrate it These painting illustrated form, connection, and order This painting of the dog illustrated motion through a representation of a flair style.