A discussion forum for the students at the school of Architecture and Design of VUW.
Friday, July 23, 2010
For your convenience
Bring me $10 today or Monday if you'd like me to buy you a ticket for the 12.15 screening of Citizen Architect on Tuesday. Alternatively, come with me to buy them, I'm heading to City Gallery at 11am.
I enjoyed the fact that Musicman did not change his way of living, that his house did not impose any rules on him. I think that makes for great architecture, and conflicts with many a modernist/postmodernist view that the architect decides how people live. Compare and contrast Sambo with the negatively painted Peter Eisenmen who thinks that the architect knows people better then they do themselves. I think this is the difference between the modernist housing plans and Rural Studios.
I think what's essential in these projects,is that is an a great understanding of the clients, and that the architecture ought to provide them with the means to continue their lifestyle in a more healthy manner. Rural Studio did an excellent job in addressing this for Musicman, the high ceilings provided a great deal of unoccupiable space that allowed for greater air circulation and lighting possibilities that the low hung ceiling of his trailer could not proviede. In this manner when musicman filled his house with his collections there was still ample light and ventilation.
So too in the "The Tsunami Box" where author Gerald Melling identifies the ridiculousness of a modern indoor kitchen for the refugees. He realizes that people will not be able to afford the usage of gas and eventually end up making fires and cooking outside anyways as was done traditionally. Quite comically I believe he is able to sell the outdoor kitchen to the rich American Philantropist by calling it an outside barbeque or somehting of the sort.
In "Architecture for the Poor" Hasan Fathy argues that slums are in fact the most practical response for the people that occupy them, being that they are built and designed by the people and as such their economic and pragmatic needs are generally taken care of. He argues instead that money should be spent on infrastructure such as clean water sources, waste disposal, before any money is to be spent on housing. And if housing is needed that the people should have easy access(economically) to materials and build for themselves. If any maintenence were needed they would more then likely need to understand how to repair and thus build themselves.
I am not familiar with what was discussed in the meeting, but if we are heading down the humanitarian route we must toss the ego and the grand plan out the window. We must be willing unlike Peter Eisenmen to live with out clients, to understand their behavior and through that I think we'd best understand how to provide for them.
Thank you, I'm excited for this.
ReplyDeleteHope everyone enjoyed the movie!
ReplyDeleteSince the movie only actually cost $8.50 each, i'll put the change aside for the critters social club vino/snacks fund.
I enjoyed the fact that Musicman did not change his way of living, that his house did not impose any rules on him. I think that makes for great architecture, and conflicts with many a modernist/postmodernist view that the architect decides how people live. Compare and contrast Sambo with the negatively painted Peter Eisenmen who thinks that the architect knows people better then they do themselves. I think this is the difference between the modernist housing plans and Rural Studios.
ReplyDeleteI think what's essential in these projects,is that is an a great understanding of the clients, and that the architecture ought to provide them with the means to continue their lifestyle in a more healthy manner. Rural Studio did an excellent job in addressing this for Musicman, the high ceilings provided a great deal of unoccupiable space that allowed for greater air circulation and lighting possibilities that the low hung ceiling of his trailer could not proviede. In this manner when musicman filled his house with his collections there was still ample light and ventilation.
So too in the "The Tsunami Box" where author Gerald Melling identifies the ridiculousness of a modern indoor kitchen for the refugees. He realizes that people will not be able to afford the usage of gas and eventually end up making fires and cooking outside anyways as was done traditionally. Quite comically I believe he is able to sell the outdoor kitchen to the rich American Philantropist by calling it an outside barbeque or somehting of the sort.
In "Architecture for the Poor" Hasan Fathy argues that slums are in fact the most practical response for the people that occupy them, being that they are built and designed by the people and as such their economic and pragmatic needs are generally taken care of. He argues instead that money should be spent on infrastructure such as clean water sources, waste disposal, before any money is to be spent on housing. And if housing is needed that the people should have easy access(economically) to materials and build for themselves. If any maintenence were needed they would more then likely need to understand how to repair and thus build themselves.
I am not familiar with what was discussed in the meeting, but if we are heading down the humanitarian route we must toss the ego and the grand plan out the window. We must be willing unlike Peter Eisenmen to live with out clients, to understand their behavior and through that I think we'd best understand how to provide for them.
Eric post this as a new blog so we can have a good old rant.
ReplyDelete