Video Review #2

For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Prairie Style:

This video was very interesting to me. It discussed how Frank Lloyd Wright came up with the Prairie Style, which was early in his career. The single valley house, an example was in Chicago, which reflected the time, place and landscape. This type of house used horizontal bands, which is layering of the horizontals. Tomeck House was built in 1904; this house symbolized the harmony between the client and the architecture. The Prairie houses emerged and the experience was supposed to be very unique. When entering the house, it was suppose to be uniqueness. The main contributions were to rethink the position of the house (Victorian House), the open space. The planned house to follow the surrounded and nature was used for privacy, it was not to cover the house completely but to cover somewhat. Changing the exterior, putting in detail, and reorganizing plan of the house; this was meant for forward thinking. Convection and environmental quality described as “organic”. In 1695, Donald Frazer used “slope”, he had low ceilings and everything radiated off the staircase. He wanted to improve the ability to live a d define beauty in its own pragmatic way. He recognized importance of place of the site, and did this with a natural environment. Prairie houses are still put into place today by many Western Architects. To draw a horizontal line, but the space (interior) is now a modern home. In the 50’s and 60’s bungalows were created.

Architecture: The Science of Design

This video discussed many forms of design and the advancements into it. Skyscrapers were commonly used and had a strong structure in the world. These were mainly in downtown areas and they were constantly developed; if there was no more space the people would build up. They discovered new materials like concrete and steel and had two distinct parts: the superstructure and the underground substructure. The wind was a huge threat; the higher the building the more the building would sway. If a building was 100 stories high, it can sway about one meter. There was the wind tunnel micro chromatic research which was wind tunnel testing. The data collectors would calculate the wind of the surrounding areas. If there was a lot of wind, they would build trees to hide the turbulence. Small apartments were known as smart houses. The various appliance, switches and plugs were included in this. The nervous system included all circuits converge; these would suit everyone needs, for example to wake up, the humidity from the shower, etc… There was a sensory which minimized the energy consumption. This sensory would go off when the occupants arrived as well. There was such a thing called computer management. This was a voice control computer to control electrical and electronic environments by responding to the human voice. The computer was trained to recognize a number of worlds; the voice signals turned into electrical impulses by receptors. This is when start and stop can be done by voice demand. This can control a homes inner environment, especially with disabilities and age. This still today remains an expensive dream. Architecture is a social art form. It innovates and creates new spaces. There was a wide assortment of finishes and colors with concrete. Some reinforced and pre-stressed concrete were factory made. The metal was put into improve the resistance and flexion. The metal resists tension and the concrete resists compression. An advantage is that it never breaks and if it is overloaded it will just crack. The pre-stressed concrete needs to be waterproof and will be air tight; therefore it can be used for bridges.

Classical Architecture:

This film talks about classical architecture. Some of the interesting things I found were that the human body measures all things and the basis of architectural harmony. Indigo Jones was a man who introduced the classical style to England. He built the Queen’s House in 1616; this was built in the British Architecture. It was made with proportion and so much more. Classical architecture is based on the needs of the time. The temple is an example of Roman architecture; there was churches, palaces and so much more. Banqueting House was Indigo’s second work; it was a way to show how Jones learned the Italian way. This was very unique. “I Quattro Libri” defines classical architecture. In Greek Order, it starts off with a pedestal, to a column and at the told is an entrablante. The Romans invented the arch; first columns then arches. The Coliseum had separate order; between each column there were arches placed. The English terrace was one grand building. It started off by having one house and stuck it to another and another, which created the terrace. John Nash has the most popular terraces; he had a “grand residence” which was expensive. Soanes took the language and used it against itself. There is not a single dominant style; the revolution of technology. In 1980’s Classicism developed. There was a Battle against Modernism. More modern technology was being used in architecture. An example is the sunlight; this was used to bring in solar light and also to heat a house. There are so many more ways the reinvent the new architecture.

Frank Gehry: Architecture as Art:

Gehry never plannd, he responded to the place, the time and the people. He does not like to repeat himelf and he is very self critical. The things evolved over tiem baded on his feelings. Over time developed the technology to do things, which eveoled a language; this language slowly changes over time. He quoted “I am fascinated by the idea of movement in architecture”. At first he sketches and then the audacity and innovation comes to an infaniant and constantly evolving process. He was born in Toronto in 1929. He started with residential projects and developed his own architectural vocabulary which leads to large scale projects. The buildings can create and emotional response which interacts with the human responses therefore needs to have a sense of feeling in the building. In the 20^th century there was movement and chaos; this connects with the people which makes it humanistic and gives feeling. In modernist architecture, it is distorted by the specular builders, which is “lifeless and cold”, Gehry is reacting against that. There is no dominant trend or style, it is all cutting edge technology like luminous lightness. The residential homes were discovered freely, these were formal discoveries. He experimented with unconventional materials. His designs reflected influences form Japanese architecture and a pop aesthetic which lead to manipulation of light and space. He builds stuff overtime depending on its use. There were strong feelings between art and architecture which is shown in his buildings. He attempted to form a connection between buildings, culture and art history. He experimented with materials ad the harmony of buildings and users. He used light, decomposition of forms, and building and location. Technology let him create digital models and he was able to achieve an extreme level of perfection especially with his design and calculations. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is an architectural achievement and symbol of the millennium. This had dramatic free forms which made it a cultural icon. His architecture breaks from the age-old concept of building structures at a ninety degree angle from the ground. His buildings are functions and inspirations. He used the terrorist attacks of September 11^th; this symbolized the end of prideful and monumental urban architecture and beginning of growth and change. Frank Gehry was an amazing architecture and had remarkable works.

How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

The videos relate to the readings in the text by describing these concepts in more depth. The videos give more of an image rather than someone envisioning it. The videos give a demonstration of all their concepts that they discuss. Both the reading and the film discuss Frank Lloyd Wright and his architectural ways. The videos to me are more of some peoples view points along with historical facts.

What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understand Architecture?

To me the films were very interesting. I am a visual person, as I say in all my video responses; therefore they help me learn a lot better. My favorite video was the Prairie House one. I feel as if it really showed Frank Lloyd Wright’s true concept rather than just words on a sheet of paper. It was very interesting to watch. I also thought with the Classical Architecture, it was interesting how the video was showing all the different architectures there are still standings today, but also discusses the architecture from the past.

From the group of four that you had a choice: Why did you choose that film?

I chose the film: Frank Gehry: Architecture as Art. I chose this film because he was discussed in the readings and I was very interested in learning a lot more about him. He seemed like he was a very interesting person with appealing viewpoints. I thought from the video I would be able to receive more depth about Gehry and his perspective on architecture.