Atmospheres Seminar Questions

1. How does Peter Zumthor talk about the "Magic of the Real" and explain how this compares, in terms of the subtleties, to Michael Benedikt's "Architecture for Reality"?

Zumthor talks about how to create an atmosphere that can affect one’s mood. He explains how to turn a mood into a physical space, whereas Benedikt talks specifically how an atmosphere can have an effect on one’s mood, not how to create that feeling.

2. Material Compatibility, Temperature of a Space and Levels of Intimacy are some conditions that both Peter Zumthor, in “Atmospheres”, and Richard Serra, in “Weight and Measure”, make a point of articulating when consider space. Where in their explanation of these overlapping conditions are they similar and where do they differ?

It seems as both Zumthor and Serra want to create an influential space, but the processes of each are very different. Zumthor wants to have a great effect on viewers of the space, only without them being completely aware of it. Serra on the other hand would like to create a space with a more obvious experience which would be noticed by its viewers.

3. Zumthor looks towards experiential conditions when creating architecture, what are other methods architects use when generating architecture and what is the corresponding building?

Architecture is much about the experience but it is also about placement on the site, physical beauty and its appeal to its viewers, and it also deals with funding. All of these could have an effect on how a building is designed or constructed. For instance, a millionaire’s home may not have the same burdens of finance in the design stage as a school district. These kinds of situations put forth changes that must be made in the different stages of the design and construction processes.

4. For Zumthor at the end of the day, after figuring use, sound, place, light and the other listed conditions, if the coherence isn’t beautiful the process is started again. Beauty is simultaneously subjective for the individual, as held “in the eye of the beholder”, and universally recognizable. Define your subjective understanding of what beautiful architecture is.

Beauty within architecture is not an easy thing to define.  Beauty, in architecture, must fulfill several needs in order to earn such a label. A building must first be practical, functional, and serve a purpose. While doing so, the building must have an aesthetic appeal. It may not appeal to everyone, but at least the builder and client should be able to appreciate its physical beauty as well as its functional beauty.

Circulation Within Sequence Model

Site Plan Diagrams

Essay Topics

Theme: Borders That Control


Condition: Types That Recur

Fenway Memory Path Grid

Memory Section Grid

2-Part Shoe Model

Plaster Shoe Molds

Negative Shoe Mold

Fenway Park Plan

Memory Drawing

The path I took into Fenway Park in Boston, Massachussetts, as well as the space occupied during the baseball game, and the path taken to exit the ballpark.

Shoe Plan

Scale Views of Model

Elevations of Model

Plan Views of Model

Seminar Q & A

Stan Allen describes field conditions as “bottom-up phenomena: defined not by overarching geometrical schemas but by intricate local connections.” What are some field condition examples that can be found in the road systems of Lubbock?

     

     -The grid system consisting of numbers that run east to west, and other streets that run north to south is a great example of field conditions. Also the grading of roads as well as the banking of turns create another set of field conditions.

In part 1, Allen distinguishes a geometric relationship of classical architecture from an algebraic combination of the Cordoba Mosque. How do these two architectural examples differ?

     -Classical architecture relates the unit to the whole, such as the spacing of columns, while the algebraic combination used in the Cordoba Mosque had one unit that was replicated.

What are some other examples of field conditions that can be observed around campus?

     -Pavement and sidewalks are good examples of field conditions on campus as well as parking lots and stalls within the restrooms. Seats in the stadium and the movement of the fans within it could also be good field conditions.

How does a field condition stand to redefine the relation between figure and round?

     -Field condition adds a variable to the relation between figure and ground, as seen in the Roman ground-figure plan by Giambattista.

What is the reality Michael Benedikt writes about?

     -Reality seems to be the absence of symbolism in the world we live in. Benedikt also states that the fault of language is present but does not discredit the buildings it describes. We also see that in the dreams he speaks about, reality is temporal no matter how real it may feel.

Benedikt describes degrees of reality in architecture as: Architecture of Dreams, Architecture of Games, Architecture of Illusions, Architecture of Enactments and Architecture of Jokes. What are some example buildings that fall under these categories?

     -Buildings that have a false use of material within them are considered "architecture of jokes". A good example of this on campus would be the english and philosophy buildings. The balconies and windows are non-functional and the drainage system within the building does not serve its purpose.

Benedikt describes “direct esthetic experience of the real” as being moments without symbolism. Where in our environment does symbolism occur and where in our environment is symbolism absent? What is an example of this situation?

     -Our environment is normally very symbolic but there are a few situations that are "symbolism free". A great example of this might be parking lots, warehouses, rooftops, sewer systems, or even the space that resides under power lines.

Although Benedikt’s position pulls examples from the 70‘s and 80‘s to illustrate that an architecture of reality is polar to the post-modern architecture movement, this condition continues to exist today. Where in the city would be examples of an architecture of reality and post-modern architecture?

     -Post-modern architecture informs one of an equal environment. Post-modern architecture actually functions as a building but may represent another thing. Perhaps a building that was in the shape of a donut could actually function as a building but it would also represent a donut which could help to bring in customers.

The four components that define the “realness” of an architecture for reality are: presence, significance, materiality, and emptiness (in two categories). How do these components relate to architecture? and What are some examples of architectural elements that make up these conditions?

     -Presence: the way a building makes you feel

         Significance: how a building relates to a person

         Materiality: how a material is used, shows authenticity

         Emptiness: has an implied emptiness that is still contained or enveloped

                              can also mean it has a certain lure do to its emptiness.

Field Condition 2

Field Condition 1

Plane Diagram, Photo 1

Dot Diagram, Photo 1

Line Diagram, Photo 1

Composite 2, Photo 1

Composite 1, Photo 1

Base Image 2

Highway 82 - West toward Lubbock.

Base Image 1

Water Tower on the way to Idalou.