Sketch 4

Reading Response #3 Site Matters by Andrea Kahn

Andrea Kahn defines site specification by using terms such as ‘web of specific associations’ and ‘matrix of forces’. I agree with the fact that a site is not defined by its physical boundaries, but it is rather a complex overlay of influences within the context. The identity of site and its influence to the surroundings make the physical boundaries seem less important. The porousness of a site boundary is related to the cognitive mapping of its influence, and therefore it has ‘its own degree of spatial extension’. Understanding this notion of site, we need to analyze the site with broader point of view. For example, the reason why we do various mapping exercise in the beginning of studio project is because we need to study the site and its influence to its surrounding. What is the hierarchy of program within the site? Where do people come from? How do people navigate through the site? What are the sequence of movement within the site? These are some of the questions we need to ask in order to broaden our understanding of the site. Kahn says that these mappings represent each ‘realities’, which are present at the same place, same time, but not necessarily corresponding to one another. Therefore, we as architects have a responsibility to filter out which information is useful to identify the site and the scope of an urban project. Also, it is important to note that exercised such as mapping through representation should be used as a tool to ‘construct forms of knowledge’, which goes deeper than merely depicting different realities.

Sketch3

Reading Response 2: The Muses Are Not Amused by Jorge Silvetti

Jorge Silvetti talks about four ways of contemporary form making in architecture: Programism, Thematization, Blobs, and Literalism. While I find his description of these methodologies accurate, I believe that these four methods are steps toward a emerging new way of form making. In our architectural education, we are trained to marry intellectual data analysis with conceptual form making. In almost all cases, we are guided to understand the context and conditions through site analysis before we think about the aesthetics or form of the project. Then there is program analysis. We are to speculate parameters of program, environmental needs, relationship between different spatial conditions, and more. All these analysis may provide schematic guide lines or patterns; some designers choose to investigate further with those schemes, and some choose to develop their own form-making vision. In either cases, with or without being conscious, good designers incorporate their analysis into their design. In other words, designers in our generation are encouraged to speculate and understand the full spectrum of project. This results in combining various methods of form making. With increasing emphasis in sustainable design, the form of building can no longer just be computer-generated. Even the “computer generated” models of buildings need to be adjusted according to our knowledge of environment and sustainable design. It is not as easy as “push of button” as Jorge Silvetti describes. Designers of today need to push many many buttons with consciousness and exact intentions. While criticism of contemporary architecture is necessary, I think the future of form making in architecture is headed toward right direction as far as our education is concerned.

concept sketch 2

From individual housing to community-scale projects, architecture of next generation needs to serve Modern Nomads

People in today's society often travel from one place to another for their educations and jobs. The habitats of places, where these people travel to, consider them as visitors because they do not have permanent home there. Can architecture enable the Modern Nomads to bring their identity with them no matter where they go?

The notion of owning a piece of land has become less important as people move around frequently. Architecture should follow the movement of people; our built environment should let us Plug and Play. In a new system of mobile architecture, ownership of modular units is the profitable investment. The size of the house will depend on the number of assembled parts. It allows the building to grow in an infinite ways, taking the shape as necessary by the user. In order to make this possible, there needs to be developments that can house these modules. When multiple owners convene in one development, a new community is created. Therefore, the sense of neighborhood will be more dynamic than it is now. Prefabricated, modular architectural system is a good precedent, in which case, materials can be easily assembled and disassembled on site.

Initial Thesis Sketch