Conversations with Form: A Workbook for Students of Architecture (original) (raw)
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Conceptual Limits of Form in Architecture*
2021
Problem statement: Form is a fundamental concept in the discourse of architecture that has been affected by the evolutions of architectural thinking. The non-systematic accumulation of form concepts results in ambiguity in contemporary discourse. On the other side, disregarding the dynamic nature of form, and poor identification of the factors influencing its evolution, and its application domains have made form a frozen concept and have reduced its effectiveness in responding to today’s architectural issues. Research objectives: this paper concentrates on clarifying and organizing the diverse concepts of the form. Besides a theoretical framework is provided to guarantee the conceptual dynamism of the form. Research method: Present research is conducted based on Foucault’s genealogy approach. First, the original conditions of the first appearance of form in philosophical thinking are examined, then based on the results obtained, is referred to revolutionary theories of architecture....
ADR, 2025
There is a longstanding debate over the relevance of form and function in architecture and design, with different schools of thought representing various perspectives. Indeed, the relationship between form and function is still discussed today. This essay starts with Louis Sullivan’s motto, “form follows function.”. This observation goes beyond the contradictory nature of form. Rather, it is based on philosophical considerations that reflect different cultural con- cerns and eras. This work aims to deepen and nuance the understanding of the maxim “form follows function” by exploring philosophical perspectives and their practical implications. In particular, this essay focuses on the complex relationship between the two concepts of architecture and design to promote a holistic approach that goes beyond conventional dichotomies. Qualitative analysis explores the interplay of form and function through ontological interpretation and historical document analysis of Sullivan’s dictum in different dimensions. We note that the instrumentalist approach defends the metaphysical dimension to the meaning of the creed, i.e. attributing a truth value to a fact or a statement. This approach foregrounds the function and purpose of the object, so that its design can crystallise and effectively fulfill its intended role. Aristotle’s hermeneutic interpretation is based on four laws of causality: material, formal, efficient, and final. Formalism tends to downplay or set aside the roles of interpretation, context, and external factors in understanding a system or object. Functionalism, on the other hand, upholds and supports the adaptation of form to human needs. Moreover, architecture is more than a simple, functional dwelling; it is a means by which humans inhabit their environment and enter a relationship with it. The epistemological strength of Sullivan’s motto is based on arguments supported by documentary texts. This literature exploration opened a multidimensional debate throughout the discussion, through which inspiring answers were provided, aiming to understand under what conditions one of the two concepts should align with the visions of the schools of thought in the creative process in architecture and design.
Architecture as a Way of Seeing and Learning
2021
Since the Renaissance a number of architect-scholars have created methods of intellectual scrutiny of architectural design that rely upon the interplay of drawings, models, textual analysis, intellectual ideas and cultural insights. Yet there is still no cohesive framework or outlet for design research in architecture. This innovative book series-still the only one of its kind-showcases the very best proponents of architectural design research from around the globe, drawing on a range of exemplar positions between practice and academia. Featuring work from Early Career Researchers and leading architect-scholars in practice and academia, books in the series vary in tone and structure, covering aspects such as design method, visual representation, reasoned critique, social processes and strategies for action. The series is deliberately inclusive to encourage a vibrant, novel approach, and is openly international. Each book combines serious historical or theoretical research with creative propositions expressed through drawings, models or texts; indeed, it is the symbiotic interplay between these components that forms the basis for design research in architecture. Now is a fertile time for design research and this book series acts as the heart of these investigations.
Drawing, Form and Architecture: Two Projects for First-Year Students
Nexus Network Journal, 2009
Two recent projects for a first-year course in drawing for architecture students have been organized by Sylvie Duvernoy, Michela Rossi and Kay Bea Jones. The first, a four-phase program centering around a tour of the architecture of the Midwest in the United States, was implemented in Spring 2008. The second, a day-long seminar on designs for temporary architecture, took place in December 2008. In both, the use of mathematical concepts to provide an underlying organization for the generation of architectural form was fundamental.
Exploring the Shift of Architectural Form 'Form Making to Form Finding'
International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181, 2022
Information technology has changed many dimensions of life. Its impact on architectural form is no exception. This paper discusses initially about, Post-modern era that was more about 'architectural expression and its meaning' where its expression and meaning was given more importance. Digital technology changed face of architecture and as a fascination for new form, it started producing new genre of forms which were impossible to imagine previously. This form making approach seems superficial when it started facing lot of architectural issues like construction, material and maintenance of such buildings. But now one can see there is shift from 'form making' to 'form finding'. The emphasis of the paper is on form-finding over form-making, on bottom-up over top-down processes, & on formation rather than form. 'Formation' must be recognized as being linked to the terms 'information' & 'performance'. This paper investigates, in contemporary architectural practices where form making is given more importance, has many architectural issues. Research aims to explore the shift of architectural form 'Form making to form finding'. Objectives are identification of parameters to study and analyze the buildings based on same. Case study method is used for analysis. Buildings were chosen based on the way form is conceived and manifested. While analyzing the buildings few parameters were considered e.g., logic of form, structure, material etc. While searching for matured approach natural evolutionary processes is taken as inspiration. Paper conclude on the new way of design & tries to demonstrate methodology which has holistic approach, one step towards sustainability.
Architecture is a Symphony of Form - Paradigm Explorer 2-2020
Architecture is a Symphony of Form, 2020
Architecture as a Symphony of Form is an exploration odyssey about REAL ESTATE and the REAL STATE of people. The interface and interaction between the state of the outer environment (physical, digital, social) and the health and well-being of the inner environment (body, mind, heart, spirit) of people. This article is intended to set out the general outline of the system. It is a way to force me to organise my thinking. Buildings have a major impact on the people who use them. Therefore, also on the results of the processes in which these people are involved as on their personal health, well-being and consciousness. All physical matter in our universe is vibrating and emanates a field of energy that can be measured and influenced. This is true for both the human body as well as for buildings. One of the lost secrets of ancient wisdom teachings is that geometry is vibration. Geometry is a visual representation, a structural manifestation of vibration. The German writer Johan Wolfgang von Goethe called Architecture ‘frozen music’, I prefer to call it ‘Symphony of Form’, a symbiosis between architecture and its occupants to create (more) added value.
Form usage and Meaning in Architectural Educational Projects
Maǧallaẗ al-handasaẗ wa-al-tiknūlūǧiyā, 2016
In architecture, there is a relationship between the forms and meanings. Causal relationship between the meaning of each other's perception, and the perception of the form with the designer. This relation resulted in what students' suffer the most throughout their architectural teaching process which is the difficulty of clarifying the relations during design process, i. e., difficulty of clarifying the relation during architectural design process as intellectual ability to generate design ideas; represented by producing highest number of ideas possible of forms related to a certain designing problem. The method that has been employed the study of the form and meaning and their perceptions, associating form imagination with its meaning and usage nature to achieve association results. Disparity among architectural students has been distinguished through their tested performance on theoretical architectural design activities. The phenomenon of associating the form with a certain meaning has been linked to achieving figurative usage through demonstrating the placement of form and meaning and their architectural relationship. Versus The actual usage of the meaning fulfills its role of leading receiver's mind to imagine the meaning unconditionally because of the causal language relationship between the form and its meaning is capable of achieving this purpose.
THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARCHITECTONIC
The International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design, 2018
A vital component to any architect’s education is learning how to effectively utilize building materials as carriers of architectural meaning; the development of a coherent tectonic language is fundamental to teaching architecture. This requires a careful understanding of the most basic components of architecture, its language, its words. The words are composed of materials, the sentences written in a building’s tectonics and detailing. Learning how to speak is the first step towards writing poetry. Learning the building art’s material language is the first step to creating architecture. Many academics and practitioners who are attracted to design build share a common belief that the materials and methods of construction matter, and are essential to an architect’s education. Latent in this line of inquiry is that if these elements are significant, that significance should be made manifest in the final, constructed reality of the building. This conception runs strongly counter to the direction of most contemporary architecture, in which seamlessness, weightlessness, and the suppression of materiality are ascendant. With these ideas in mind, how should an architect be trained? This paper will explore one method, using design build pedagogy to engage architecture students in a patient search for their own tectonic philosophy.