SIMPLICITY X COMPLEXITY ?
Tectonics in architecture is defined as "the science or art of construction, both in relation to use and artistic design." It refers not just to the "activity of making the materially requisite construction that answers certain needs, but rather to the activity that raises this construction to an art form."
In today’s lecture,we are learning and discuss about the meaning of simplicity and complexity and the relationship between them.
I am taking my sem02 design model as the case study in this article.
Design Process of my project
Final model photo shooting
Analysing my design , my intention is to merge the pentagon shape and the round shape together .Considering about the space context,I have tried a lot of arrangement of them and finally comes out the finally floor plan.
Thus , I classify my design to be in simplicity rather than complexity.As Marcel Breruer once said in the article “Original Text:from where do we stand?”,new architecture should be clear , and building itself should be simple.Not initially to be simple, but after undergoing lots of consideration and problem solving , the reduction has occured and my design is to be designed in such way.
Let me introduce about the site context and environment of the design model.This project was set to be designed to a specific special condition villagers(acrophobia),which our design should fulfill the requirement of low height,horizontal elements to avoid the problems of afraiding height.
Marcel Brueuer also mentioned,characteristics of simplicity are flat roof,wide openings for light ,air and sunshine,minutely studied practical floor-plan,light colour.Those characteristics were applied by me in this project.Furthermore,a very important issue is there is a organic element- tree, at my site.Without removing it ,I designed a skylight and provide the space for the tree to grow , in environmental way, which refer to the concept of new architecture in ORIGINAL TEXT : which we should concentrate on problem solving ,and do not influenced by the tradition.
Although it is a simple plan ,it is still consists of some uneasy construction or space planning part.Pentagon is a geometry shape which has five 108 degree corner,beneath this corner ,quality of space should be listed into an issue to be solved .As Vittorio Gregotti said in article “ On Simplicity”,building can be simple yet complicated due to the emotion or feeling that gonna transfer. Shape of the building should be meaningful.
Marcel Brueuer
The reason why I use pentagon was I wanted to create one wide angle of view , since when someone is standing inside the house , he can has vision contact to the neighbours .Beside my main space of my design,attaching one round workshop,which full with accordion door.When day time,the character(repairman)will fully open the door.As I mentioned before,I emphasis on the vision or physical contact with neighborhood ,so Round shape is used , people can reach to me wherever they are .
Less Brickwall is used , Concrete floor slab , big glass wall are also the elements of how I simplified my design,to make it feel pure,peaceful.
in conclusion,my work expressed the basic of simplicity -”art and technique as a new unity”,I was not just putting the simple elements together ,but referring to many site context ,environment and cultural issues too.Brings out the feeling of less is more , but not easy .Every corner in this design was provided a meaning to it , not just design to be simple.