Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
On Site: How To Define An Urban Site
Kahn’s way of explaining defining urban sites is well-balanced and thorough for students who study architecture. Although physical boundary is the easiest method to define & segment an urban site, an urban site is spatial networks that deal with both physical as well as nonphysical phenomena. It is assembled in a dynamic, multi-scalar way to function and meet various dimensions for consideration.
According to Kahn, there are five concepts for urban site thinking; mobile ground, site reach, site construction, unbound sites, and urban constellation. In my opinion, the five concepts should be brought down to one; thinking an urban site as a complex being in motion. A city needs to be studied, analyzed, and understood in order to be an urban site as a progressive creature in which other creatures live. It has a scale and contexts.
Even if an urban site wants to be fixed static, it cannot be because people and their lives are changing and dynamic. (Of course, there is a degree in changes and dynamicity. All urban sites are in spectrum of motion)
Kahn mentioned “urban site can be both a city and limited sites within it”. It is quite interesting to view an existence which can be itself and a smaller part of itself. This phrase already implies an understandable boundary for an urban site. A question might arise from this statement. Why can an urban site not be bigger than itself? I think it can, but it needs time and situation for this to happen. For an example, the city of Atlanta has not stopped its expansion from its birth. So, it is bigger than it was. The future Atlanta could be a lot bigger than what it is now. In case of Houston, it is much difficult to define the city as an urban site. It is easy to understand where it is, but it is not a simple task to define it as a site in terms of interactions and developments.
I want to ask why urban sites chosen by people after defining one. An urban site is no longer a new, exotic term as so many cities in the world are the centers for human activities including socializing, working, and entertaining. As much as it has been a vital living environment for humans, it has caused serious environmental problems. Nevertheless, people desire urban sites. I happen to be one of people who were born and raised in urban areas, and I love cities. Therefore, I decided to pick an urban site for my thesis.
According to Kahn, there are five concepts for urban site thinking; mobile ground, site reach, site construction, unbound sites, and urban constellation. In my opinion, the five concepts should be brought down to one; thinking an urban site as a complex being in motion. A city needs to be studied, analyzed, and understood in order to be an urban site as a progressive creature in which other creatures live. It has a scale and contexts.
Even if an urban site wants to be fixed static, it cannot be because people and their lives are changing and dynamic. (Of course, there is a degree in changes and dynamicity. All urban sites are in spectrum of motion)
Kahn mentioned “urban site can be both a city and limited sites within it”. It is quite interesting to view an existence which can be itself and a smaller part of itself. This phrase already implies an understandable boundary for an urban site. A question might arise from this statement. Why can an urban site not be bigger than itself? I think it can, but it needs time and situation for this to happen. For an example, the city of Atlanta has not stopped its expansion from its birth. So, it is bigger than it was. The future Atlanta could be a lot bigger than what it is now. In case of Houston, it is much difficult to define the city as an urban site. It is easy to understand where it is, but it is not a simple task to define it as a site in terms of interactions and developments.
I want to ask why urban sites chosen by people after defining one. An urban site is no longer a new, exotic term as so many cities in the world are the centers for human activities including socializing, working, and entertaining. As much as it has been a vital living environment for humans, it has caused serious environmental problems. Nevertheless, people desire urban sites. I happen to be one of people who were born and raised in urban areas, and I love cities. Therefore, I decided to pick an urban site for my thesis.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
The Muses Are not Amused
After I read this article, I was surprised and little lost due to author's jargons of architecture and swift transition in explaining processes and others.
(Previous article, "How to draw up a project", was easier and simpler to understand because it dealt with things we have learned, done, and are working on)
Since the second year of architecture program, 'form making vs. form finding' has been an interesting topic for students and faculty members. The author wilingly skips the interesting topic and focuses on "the production of form and the designer's will to produce it within academia".
Throughout the reading, his definition of each case & his thoughts on each trend are clear and convincing. What I agreed most was his depiction of BLOBS. Evolution of technology has helped the field of architecture. However, it also has misguided many of young, potential architects. Kids who do not know how site conditions exist & what people need can make a COOL LOOKING model that pretends to be a piece of architecture.
It is dangerous to know little, and it is more dangerous to follow trends without researching & understanding, especially in architecture.
(Previous article, "How to draw up a project", was easier and simpler to understand because it dealt with things we have learned, done, and are working on)
Since the second year of architecture program, 'form making vs. form finding' has been an interesting topic for students and faculty members. The author wilingly skips the interesting topic and focuses on "the production of form and the designer's will to produce it within academia".
Throughout the reading, his definition of each case & his thoughts on each trend are clear and convincing. What I agreed most was his depiction of BLOBS. Evolution of technology has helped the field of architecture. However, it also has misguided many of young, potential architects. Kids who do not know how site conditions exist & what people need can make a COOL LOOKING model that pretends to be a piece of architecture.
It is dangerous to know little, and it is more dangerous to follow trends without researching & understanding, especially in architecture.
Monday, September 7, 2009
1+3+9
1. What is living in the future?
a. Cities are being built and developed while more people have desire to live in urban areas.
b. Elders are becoming the biggest portion of the population.
c. Sustainability is one of the two inevitable, forthcoming factors; Robot is the other.
i. City is no longer a new, unusual set of living.
ii. Nevertheless, city is growing and expanding as it was born yesterday.
iii. City is changing and adapting to be the survivor of the future.
iv. Life span of human has increased over years, and it is likely to increase more in faster rate.
v. As an immediate result, more groups of elders will exist than ever in the history of mankind
vi. Baby-boomers are on the verge of facing retirement, and they need affordable housing units for the rest of their lives.
vii. Sustainability is the hot topic in all over the world to lessen the harm we have caused to damage earth & to improve the conditions we live in.
viii. Anything Green is the trend; Green symbolizes saving – energy, earth, and money.
ix. Robot is what computer was 25 years ago; the feature everyone has and needs in daily life. In not far future, robot will live with us.
a. Cities are being built and developed while more people have desire to live in urban areas.
b. Elders are becoming the biggest portion of the population.
c. Sustainability is one of the two inevitable, forthcoming factors; Robot is the other.
i. City is no longer a new, unusual set of living.
ii. Nevertheless, city is growing and expanding as it was born yesterday.
iii. City is changing and adapting to be the survivor of the future.
iv. Life span of human has increased over years, and it is likely to increase more in faster rate.
v. As an immediate result, more groups of elders will exist than ever in the history of mankind
vi. Baby-boomers are on the verge of facing retirement, and they need affordable housing units for the rest of their lives.
vii. Sustainability is the hot topic in all over the world to lessen the harm we have caused to damage earth & to improve the conditions we live in.
viii. Anything Green is the trend; Green symbolizes saving – energy, earth, and money.
ix. Robot is what computer was 25 years ago; the feature everyone has and needs in daily life. In not far future, robot will live with us.
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