ARCH4822_THEORY2_OLOLADE OWOLABI_ASSIGNMENT2_ILLUMINATIONS

Ololade T Owolabi

Theory 2

Assignment 2 Illuminations

Prof Aptekar

Spring 2021

Questions to consider while reading these texts.

Is this a “user-friendly” guide to building or architecture?

Yes.

What are the goals of the patterns?

The goals of the patterns to essentially create a language in the forms of our physical environments through arrangements of spaces while giving the user of the pattern the freedom to choose whatever elements that provide a solution to an existing unresolved problem. The pattern language provides elements for the building and planning.

If you follow these patterns how would your designs change?

If I were to follow these patterns I would see a tremendous change in my planning and building designs. I would also be more environmentally conscious and the materials that have a big impact on me.

What kinds of architecture can these patterns be applied to?

In the reading, it was said to be adaptable to all kinds of architecture and also it can be used as a guide in the actual process of construction.

What kind of webs of pattern relations are created using this system?

A form of web pattern would be created through the infinite variety of combinations that could be made or created to satisfy a certain requirement or need. Another way a pattern web can be formed is when a problem is presented and a solution is searched for through the patterns.

Summary of the real meaning of architecture.

Julian Street Inn, San Jose

The organization of the building plays a vital role in the life of the architecture. This is this case was done through the use of the planning of space in the building and the orientation of the building was done to face inwards with its perimeter dormitory structure wrapping around a central dining hall and service wing and a series of intimate colonnaded courtyards by doing this Alexander and his team were able to capture the quality and feel of the traditional place through the building's form, materials, and scale. A design-build method was used with the involvement of not just the owners but the users.

New Eishin University, Japan

The design-build methods were also practiced in this building. The first step in the planning of this building was to derive a pattern language. This was done by compiling information on the physical, social, and cultural aspects of the site from the users of the space then proceeded to stake out where the various buildings would be constructed throughout the site. The next step was to compile a palette of materials, based on their strong sense of local conditions according to Alexander. I really like the methods and steps carried out by Alexander and his team during the building process as it really comes together to make architecture that appeals to everyone as the users were incorporated into the process from the start.

Residence, Lake Berryessa, California

Unlike the first two buildings, this 1600 sq ft building was a home for a teacher and an artist built on a heavily wooded mountainside, as a result involving a lot of series of connected stairs. This building was built in a way where it was made to conform to the site rather than blowing it all up just to create a flat surface for the building to rest on. The components of the house were done based on pattern language or an intensive discussion with the clients. I think speaking to the client before the start of every project is an important aspect of the project but speaking to the users of the site is a method that every architect needs to adapt in their process. In the case of this building, the light conditions and views were deemed to be important as they changed every three or four feet and we have to keep in mind that this is the home of an artist.

In reading the manifesto of 1991 which started with the mainstream theory of architecture and how it has been shown to be seriously defective in many important areas and is on the verge of collapse. I started to wonder how it got so bad then I came to a realization that most architects do not see any problems with the theories that have been taught to them as they did not bother to ask the important questions or rather dig deeper into what could have resulted into the total transformation of the architectural practice instead each architect choose to pick and choose what aspects they saw fit to practice.Thereby it remains as a core in the architecture curriculum.

some of the issues written that stood out to me were the definition of quality that is used as the basis for judgment according to ”the theory” is not understood or accepted by the majority of people in society. I find this to be very true but to be totally bizarre because when a building is built it is mostly supposed to be used by people of the society so the society is unable to use it the way it is supposed to be used so nothing has been achieved. Another point is The theory does not deal with ecological problems. This can be defined as problems that arise on the site of the building environment like pollution, deforestation, or even endangered animals. Its one and only focus is on the building and nothing else. The theory does not deal with money or cost in a reasonable fashion. I think this is because nowadays architects are not trying to make their building fit into the society or context instead they are trying to make it stand out with the most extravagant materials which always come at a cost.

Now that the problems have been clearly stated some of the practical programs of action I think would solve the long-standing issues are Architects must see themselves as custodians of harmony in the world. I think this is important because if every architect was to understand the importance of the ecology and building environment and try to maintain a balanced architecture would become more interesting and sustainable. Another point would be in order to create a wholesome building the process of construction and design must be unified in which the material of the building and the way it is made will be considered as part of that harmony.

I feel like something that an architect should never stop doing is learning why because new information and knowledge play a major role in shaping the ideas and designs of the architect which is another reason why I think that some if not all of the Hippocratic oath should be adopted. Some of the points I found to be very important to me are a) no matter how big the building is, the architect does some craftwork on every building, with his (or her) own hands. b) The architect assumes legal responsibility for the actual construction. c) The architect ensures that the building is designed on the site and is checked and understood by all relevant people, clients and nearby community while it is being formed. d) The involvement of users in the process is necessary and widespread. e) Every architect must be able to work as an engineer at a modest level. f) The architect makes a profound commitment to find out and to perceive what the life of the site requires, and then to do just that thing that brings most life to the surroundings. g) The architect is committed to daily work and experimentation with techniques of making, forming, fabrication, and construction, with an understanding that new methods of building are essential to the creation of harmony and beauty. h) The architect will recognize that the life of the construction workers, and their spiritual evolution, is as important as that of the architects. Here are the points I found to be adopted as soon as possible but the other points although very good would take some time to be incorporated.

Keywords or concepts

Design-Build method:

can be defined as when the owner retains one firm that both designs and builds the project, for an agreed-upon sum.

Pattern Language:

Manifesto:

According to Merriam Webster, a manifesto is a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer.

Summary of A Pattern Language

The reading of A pattern language is a reading I found to be very interesting and is sure going to stick with me for a very long time. The goals of the patterns to essentially create a language in the forms of our physical environments through arrangements of spaces while giving the user of the pattern the freedom to choose whatever elements that provide a solution to an existing unresolved problem. The pattern language provides elements for the building and planning. The pattern language was created to be extremely practical as it was created to be used on any form of architecture no matter how big or how small. Each of the patterns stated gave a detailed explanation of the problems but also a reasonable solution to that problem. Although the 253 patterns were separated into three major groups which are global patterns that range from 1-94, individual building pattern from 95-204, then the last one which is a buildable building from 205-253. The patterns are very much ordered to begin with the largest patterns which could be regions and towns before working their way to neighborhoods, a cluster of buildings, rooms, and details of constructions. Every pattern is connected to a smaller pattern below and a larger pattern above. Which I think was done correctly because if not it would lack a certain amount of organization which would allow the pattern to run smoothly so in a sense no pattern is an isolated entity.

A text I found in the text that held so much meaning to me was “ This is a fundamental view of the world. It says that when you build a thing you cannot merely build that thing in isolation, but also repair the world around it and within it so that the larger world at that one place becomes more coherent, more whole and the thing which you make takes its place in the web of nature as you make it.” how I translated this text that just as people are not meant to be alone all their life. This analogy is also true in the life of a building and its environment most of the time it is very easy to just focus on the building and completely lose focus of the site itself and the environment all around it. This is mostly the case in the 21st century most buildings are built to stand out and in the process of that, all other things are overlooked which should not be the case as I think that the site and environment of the building should be just as important as the building if not more important.

Pattern languages can be very similar but no two are the same this is because it is unique to the mind of the person who made their own combinations of patterns and attached their own meaning to it or even create a completely different pattern not part of the already existing 253 if the one searched for does not exist. To really understand how the pattern language works I choose a list of patterns that I would like to incorporate into the building of event space. The patterns I picked are main entrance (110), main building (99), opening to the street (165), the shape of indoor space( 191), The flow through rooms (131), a network of learning (18), floor and ceiling layout (210), self-governing workshops and offices (80), low sills (222), column place(226), filtered lights(238), seat spots(241), activity nodes (30), accessible green (60), bike paths and rocks (56).

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