Bachelor of Science (Hons) (in Architecture / Architecture)
THINKING ARCHITECTURE (ARC60603 / ARC2323) Think Sheet _5_ Student:
HANS HOSEA GONZA ID: 0311772 _____ Form follows function one of my
favorite architectural statements, answers a question that a lot of
people dont answer clearly and by people I mean professionals or in
this case lecturers of course. I assume here that form is in a
major part responsible for the aesthetics of the building and in
doing so therefore the aesthetics follow the function of the
building. I have brought up this question to tutors several times
during presentations and never have I got a clear answer, its
always both. Of course it can be both in situations where the
design and the function dont really contradict one another (which
is a rare case), in which situation they can both be integrated in
a design, but in a situation where one has to be sacrificed or
partly sacrificed you have got to ask the question then. This
brings me to a point that has puzzled me for some time now, WHY
ARCHITECTS ARE NEEDED IN BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION. A bridge is as
practical as practicality gets whereas an architect is more of
aesthetics than lets say mechanical engineers who are more
practical. In a recent documentary about the Millau Viaduct Bridge
in France for example the tallest bridge in the world, the biggest
problems were physical obstacles namely the height and the large
spans the bridge had to cover and to some extends the winds at such
heights, Problems that were solved by engineers eventually using
different techniques. The architect on the project then used these
solutions to work on the aesthetics. The biggest problems came
during the construction and these were because of the aesthetic
properties the architect added to the functional solutions of the
engineers almost causing a failure to the project.Back on form and
function there is a common tagline about how there is no good or
bad design just wrong and right designs. As seen on the
architectural competitions Witold Rybczynski wrote about in HOW
ARCHITECTURE WORKS, some designs are judged not by how right or
wrong they are in general but by how they feel to the critics own
beliefs or understanding. This brings back memories of a recent
presentation I had where the critic visibly didnt like my design
from the first glance and however much I tried to defend it and
show how much of the guidelines it obeyed he wouldnt bulge, and
after a long question and answer session which I went through with
no hiccups he asked me if you moved your building just a meter in
any direction would it be ok ? my answer was of course yes and his
reply was then its wrong.
_________________________________________________________________________Thinking
| Architecture (ARC60603 / ARC2323)
