Assignment 3: seeing exploring relationships

For this assignment we had to document our building using the relationships of :

>building to site
>structure to enclosure
>unit to whole
>natural light to form/space
>circulation to use
>material to form

I switched buildings from Zagreb airport to Maxxi by Zaha Hadid. This will definitely be my permanent structure. Knowing that I will have to document this building for the entire semester, this is a much better choice. The airport is very unique and I wanted to explore it, however from the research I did for assignment one and two, Zagreb posed difficulties that slowed my work down, and limited my creative talent in documenting it. Maxxi is historically rich and on a level for me to understand and research better.

Assignment 2: Diagramming

In this assignment we had to diagram a building and discover its essence. I chose an airport by Zaha Hadid in Zagreb, Croatia.

Portfolio

Our first assignment for Visual Communication was to create a portfolio of our past work. I creating mine using all the work I did during my first year in IAR. I split everything between studio and visual communication.

Reading Comprehension 2

1) Looking at Greek architecture and then reading Hersey, one could see the similarities and comparisons made between temples and sacrificial ceremonies. However based on what I know of Greek culture, this seems highly unlikely. Greek architecture is based on the golden mean and their believe that “man is the measure of all things”. (Protogaros) To be aesthetically pleasing there has to be proportion, harmony and balance. They built based on a mathematical relationship of all parts. They had a belief in logic and reason being beautiful. On the other hand they saw war as a sort of sacrifice and believing themselves to be militarily and religiously superior, using significant symbols from a sacrifice for a place of worship could be conceivable. But it could also be that Hersey is seeing what he wants to see in the forms and shapes that make up a temple. It makes me think of the optical illusion where you either see two faces or a goblet. The sacrificial elements do go along with symbolism used o friezes.

2) When browsing the web, it is always a good idea to know where the information is coming from and to never jump to conclusions, based on one opinion. The more opinions and research you can find, the more accurate of an answer you can come up with. You should always look at the source the information is coming from. If they have citations backing up their own conclusions, it is always a good thing. Websites provided through campus sources are always

a good starting point, because the information is from a scholarly background with plenty of research. If there are photos, it is always a good idea to find the source.

3) Queen Hatshepsut was the only female ruler of Egypt. The main element in the design of her burial temple is lines. While the pyramids of Giza are vertical and prominent, her temple is horizontal and hidden in the valley of a mountain. I think it is hidden

as was customary for women to lay low or remain unexposed maybe as a precautionary or subordinate gesture, but seeing as how she was the queen, I think the former precautionary action more accurate. Her temple is also more open and inviting. There is also a long axial path, which could be related to the life cycle, one must take before they can get to the front opening. Her temple is also of the earth; women are thought of or seen as life giving mothers. Her te

mple is open, like the borders she opened to unite all of Egypt.

http://www.maxim-tours.com/egypt_sightseeing_tours.php

4) The main difference between Ancient Greek and Egyptian architecture is how the structures are used and the site layout. Egyptian architecture is used more for burial and for worship by royalty. Whereas in Greece, like in the Acropolis, all can come to festivals and to hear important people give speeches. Greek society was based more on the people and every

day life. Egyptian society is based more on one ruler and eternal life. In Egypt the main task of a pharaoh was to build his temple. He wanted to be seen as God like and immortal. The burial chamber started out as a pyramid; tall solid and piercing. When Hatshepsut came to power, she was more focused on the people and she brought Egypt together as one nation. Her

burial chamber was more open and axial with column like structures. Just like her open tomb, Greek temples are also open.

5) Egyptian furniture is built for use by people. The pyramids are built to be eternal. The furniture used in the pyramid is light weight and slender compared to the bulk of pyramids. Since the furniture is used in the afterlife by humans it does not need to be as sturdy. The furniture is small enough to be carried into the pyramids and light enough to carry it into the winding corridors leading to the burial chamber.

6)Based on the graphics depicted on these two urns, women are subservient and cater to men in Ancient Greek society. In the vase on the left, I can't tell if the woman is receiving something from the man or giving it to him (a sword). If she is giving it to him, she could be preparing him for battle, sort of seeing him off and arming him. And again on the vase on the right, there are two women sort of taking care of him. Actually it appears as if the man has just returned from battle the woman is taking his shield and sword. And in the second vase she has brought him a cornucopia of food and a little something else hm hm... hence she is undressed and he is now being catered to and looked after by two women servants. The woman in front seems to be filling his cornucopia with food and the woman behind seems to be ready to assist him. This could however only be a vase for ceremonial purposes. So using this vase alone to determine a woman's place in Ancient Greek culture could be less valid than using many sources to come to a conclusion.

Theories Point

Architecture is the unavoidable art. It is an art form we inhabit. When considering this art form, there are some things to keep in mind. We learned that practice and theory are both fundamental. We can not do one without the other. In practice, according to Vitruvius, a well built structure must have three things; commodity, firmness and delight.
Vernacular is an important theme that takes into consideration the land where a structure is built. It also takes into account the culture of those who will live near or in the building or home.We can learn a lot by looking at the past. We can gain cross-cultural insights, expression of values, and learn from past successes andfailures. We can also look to the people to learn about social needs, resources, organization and techniques available just to name a few.
Looking back to various early style, most cultures had a vernacular consistent with materials readily available, spiritual believes (symbolism) and what their needs were. Some Europeans used bones and leather, South Americans used clay and Eskimos used ice and snow. Some design motifs had spiritual connections.

An architecture of happiness is a mix between function (necessity), strength, and vernacular. By combining technique, materials, culture and a respect for environment, living in harmony with surroundings (natural and cultural) can be achieved. To me when I walk into a building or home, if i can move around it easily and it has good human scale it flows. On the other hand if I'm awed by it's beauty in the first ten seconds and there is no substance it's a huge disappointment. I remember seeing doors in a church that didn't work, and it was like huh? I was thrown off and left wondering what else didn't work. Just as de Bottom talks about, things eventually fall apart. If they are well made and materials are sustainable and easy to find locally, it cuts down on cost and I think anyone would feel good about protecting the environment locally. In the face of global warming and peak oil, we can learn a lot from our prehistoric ancestors by choosing readily available materials, and less harmful manufacturing and building practices. That brings me to the subject of space. I was driving down the street one day and I became aware of all the SUV's on the road. The first thing to catch my attention was an SUV with 'urban' in the name. A vehicle built for off road was marketed for the smooth pavement of cities. Even though SUV's are not architecture, it was a good example of our want for so much extra space.
With all that said architecture is an art form. It can be considered living art. Aside from making architecture for the environment, it has to be made for the people using as well. Ornament is conducive to making us feel at home or comfortable in our work and school environments. Roth talks about the use of ornament, color and lighting. The right lighting, and color can set the mood in a home or business. Ornament allows us to personalize our homes and brand our businesses.