architecture as language pp

Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as Language

Language can produce poetry

Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as LanguageWho invented The English Who invented The English

Language ?Language ?No, Not Him! So Who?So who invented Mandarin, Russian, German, Japanese, etc, etc. ………

If individuals don’t create the language, who does?

Is it a collective process?

Every person who speaks the Every person who speaks the languagelanguage

Communication and exchange Communication and exchange between individuals creates between individuals creates

languages.languages.

Its a massive collective effortIts a massive collective effort



What is a language?What is a language?A System of

Communication

To report or represent things or events. To model a particular experience or idea and transmit the form of that

model to another place

Selection and Combination

of elements from a given vocabulary

Remember: Remember: Selection and combination applied to Selection and combination applied to

different vocabularies produce different vocabularies produce different kinds of Languages:different kinds of Languages:

MusicMusicLawLaw ArtArtFashionFashionReligionReligionCarpentryCarpentry


Each of these institutions has a distinct vocabulary:

sounds, modes of behaviour, colours, forms,

fabrics And so does Architecture

Built Form

Architecture is a Architecture is a collective enterprisecollective enterprise

It is a network of agents interacting with one It is a network of agents interacting with one anotheranother

It exists and changes through It exists and changes through the the Communication and Communication and

ExchangeExchange of ideas and forms of ideas and forms between many, many between many, many

architectsarchitects


Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as LanguageDefinitions:Definitions:

Architecture is the Architecture is the similarity between similarity between

buildingsbuildingsBuildings are physical Buildings are physical

concrete objectsconcrete objectsArchitecture is the information that

characterizes these buildings.

Design is TranslationDesign is Translation

Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as LanguageTranslate one set of forms into

another, one language and vocabulary into another,


Design is the Selection and Design is the Selection and Combination of elements Combination of elements from a given vocabularyfrom a given vocabulary

To fit a particular context.To fit a particular context.

That vocabulary is the work That vocabulary is the work of other architectsof other architects

I copy your elements, you I copy your elements, you copy mine times X 10000copy mine times X 10000

If architecture is the similarity between If architecture is the similarity between buildings, buildings, StyleStyle is architecture at is architecture at

ground level - ground level - the local language.the local language.Definition:Definition:

Style is architecture at a particular Style is architecture at a particular place, time and the local vocabulary.place, time and the local vocabulary.

Changes through time given the interaction Changes through time given the interaction of many architects exchanging ideas and of many architects exchanging ideas and

forms.forms.


1. 1. StyleStyle is the use of a local vocabulary and is the use of a local vocabulary and grammar.grammar.

2. Global communication means that 2. Global communication means that StylesStyles can now cross cultural boundaries. Decon?can now cross cultural boundaries. Decon?

3. 3. StyleStyle is the Local Language of is the Local Language of architecture.architecture.

4. 4. Style Style arises from arises from Selecting and Selecting and CombiningCombining from each other’s work. from each other’s work.

Styles change through Styles change through timetime.. Select and combine a thousand Select and combine a thousand times and the end result is differenttimes and the end result is different


Style:Style: A typical set of architectural forms governed by a set A typical set of architectural forms governed by a set

of grammatical rules in a particular place and time.of grammatical rules in a particular place and time.

Architectural history is a Architectural history is a history of styles history of styles (languages)(languages) in in

evolution.evolution.

We cannot understand We cannot understand history without reference history without reference

to prevailing stylesto prevailing styles


Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as LanguageEvolution, Evolution, Evolution, Evolution, Evolution, Evolution,

EvolutionEvolution

Sometimes one Style dominates the Sometimes one Style dominates the whole of architectural productionwhole of architectural production

Most buildings look similar to one Most buildings look similar to one anotheranother

Architects are selecting from the Architects are selecting from the same set of typical formssame set of typical forms

Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as LanguageTYPICAL ELEMENTS OF THE MODERN STYLETYPICAL ELEMENTS OF THE MODERN STYLE

VocabularyVocabulary1.1. Cubic, rectangular or planar forms Cubic, rectangular or planar forms – ref. Cubism– ref. Cubism2.2. White colour White colour – machine or metallic reference– machine or metallic reference3.3. Functional ‘free’ plan Functional ‘free’ plan – ref. Functionalist theory– ref. Functionalist theory4.4. 3D Skeleton frame grid 3D Skeleton frame grid – structural and classical – structural and classical

orderorder5.5. Strip windows Strip windows – unifies the elevation + ocean liners – unifies the elevation + ocean liners

ref.ref.6.6. Asymmetrical general organization Asymmetrical general organization – non classical– non classical7.7. External wall as membrane – External wall as membrane – isolation of wall isolation of wall

functionfunction8.8. Smooth surface texture – aSmooth surface texture – as in machine references in machine reference9.9. Flat Roof Flat Roof – available from concrete slab construction– available from concrete slab construction10.10. Functional isolation of all Elements Functional isolation of all Elements – exploded form– exploded form

Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as LanguageHere they are: The Here they are: The

architectural heroesarchitectural heroes..

What did they actually do??

Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as LanguageDid Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe or Did Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe or

Walter Gropius create or invent the Walter Gropius create or invent the language of Modern Architecture?language of Modern Architecture?

No. Obviously not.No. Obviously not.But what did they do?But what did they do?

They saw which way the wind was blowing. They saw which way the wind was blowing. In the midst of babel, they saw the key ideas.In the midst of babel, they saw the key ideas.They produced models/examples of those key They produced models/examples of those key

ideas that could be imitated.ideas that could be imitated.

After a dominant architectural style there After a dominant architectural style there will be an inevitable loss of coherence.will be an inevitable loss of coherence.

The continuous The continuous interaction/communication and interaction/communication and

exchangeexchange between architects will between architects will inevitably produce difference, diversity inevitably produce difference, diversity

and maybe chaos.and maybe chaos.

There will be a breakdown of the There will be a breakdown of the consensus into a group of localized consensus into a group of localized

different styles.different styles.


In another sense:In another sense:Architectural has to find a way out of Architectural has to find a way out of

this overwhelming and this overwhelming and claustrophobic Modernist similarity.claustrophobic Modernist similarity.It has to rediscover its creativity.It has to rediscover its creativity.Its ability to express difference.Its ability to express difference.

Its capacity to represent the local, the Its capacity to represent the local, the contingent, the complexity of contingent, the complexity of

things.things.And so………………………And so………………………


To the Tower of BabelTo the Tower of BabelThe breakdown of the Modern The breakdown of the Modern

Consensus.Consensus.Different Local LanguagesDifferent Local Languages

HistoricismHistoricism (Memory)(Memory)Hi TechHi Tech (Technological fetishism) (Technological fetishism)

RegionalismRegionalism (cultural identity)(cultural identity)EclecticismEclecticism (Mixture) (Mixture)

Neo-ModernNeo-Modern (enriched Modern Forms) (enriched Modern Forms)DeconstructivismDeconstructivism (reveals complexity) (reveals complexity)


HistoricismHistoricismArchitecture tries to recover its Architecture tries to recover its

memorymemory


Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as LanguageHi Tech

Regionalism 1Regionalism 1Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as Language

Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as LanguageRegionalism 2

Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as LanguageEclecticism + Neo-Modern

Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as LanguageDeconstructivism

We speak We speak Architecture.Architecture.

Buildings are StatementsBuildings are Statements

How well do we speak this language?How well do we speak this language?

Architecture can produce PoetryArchitecture can produce Poetry


That’s it!

Alex Brown. Blog: alexbrown.net