Issue:
Architects
fascination with form has limited architecture to the representational
qualities of drawing and its ultimate built construct, thus confining the
dynamic environmental conditions of both atmosphere and user needs to an
inactive formal design. This fact has
ultimately mitigated the effectiveness of architecture and its systems to
address the constant shifting atmospheric and user based needs in habitable
buildings.
(Systems
within a form)
Position:
Architects
should move beyond their fascination with form and representation to design and
integrate performance related systems that address the dynamism and nuances of
atmospheric conditions and user needs with that of formal design.
(Systems determining
a form)
Strategies:
1. Design to
Integrate
Designers should be conscious
not to separate performance systems from architectural
aesthetics.
Integrate and consider systems in formal design choices.
2. Design
for and with the invisible
Design tasks should focus on the
atmospheric conditions affecting spaces and their users needs. Most importantly one must consider
and design the resulting affect the architecture will produce on the environment and user.
Situation:
My project
will be looking at the atmosphere of Shanghai, China as a test bed for this
thesis idea. Shanghai was chosen due to
several environmental and meteorological factors that I believe architecture
should be engaging in for the benefit of its user and city at large. Specifically the large amount of pollution
within the city of Shanghai that affect both air and water qualities are concerning
atmospheric condition that this project will seek to address in its design.
------
After
several hours of working on various design ideas I began to realize that I had
muddled the concept I was working on with too many cliché architectural
techniques and ideas, and was moving away from the pure concept of my
design. I then decided to revisit my
Issue and Position stated above and sketched out a simple comparison of the two
ideas.
Further I
looked to distill my previous concept down to its essence
Finally I
quickly sketched a concept for my building in Shanghai that will aim to address air and water pollutants,
as well as thermal comfort by integrating a material technology system within
the design of the building envelope.
There will
be further resolution and explanation of the proposed design in the next post.
