Nomadic Device: Line Drawings

Nomadic Device: Images

Model of Sydney Opera House

Reading Detail & Poetry

1.    As the technique of detailing changed from the hands of the craftsman to the tools of the architect, how has the resulting construction of details changed? Explain in terms of scale, material and cost.

The construction of details has drastically evolved from the hands of the craftsman to the tools of the architect. Craftsmen used to be the masterminds of detail construction, that’s what their focus on the whole construction would be, unlike the architect that has to overlook every piece of the construction. Craftsmen would have the opportunity to deal with detailing at a real scale and with the materials on hand. They were able to design the details and see them as prelims and alter them if needed. As detailing transitioned from the craftsman to the architect, this one-on-one experience with the details was lost. Since the architect has to deal with so many aspects of the construction, details become a secondary thing in the designers mind. The architect imagines and draws the details instead of being able to explore the materials and see how it looks at a real scale. Craftsmen would pay much more attention to the details since this was their priority making the process more costly and more successful. Details lost their uniqueness and became standard as they transitioned from the hands of the craftsman to the tools of the architect.

2.    How does "geometrical relationship" of individual details provide an understanding of the whole building if "indirect vision" localizes the viewer and "habit determines to a large extent even optical reception"?

By creating a geometrical relationship between the different details, the viewer is exposed to a repetition that he perceives in each individual detail. Subconsciously, the mind of the viewer starts to comprehend the structure as a whole. This gives the designer the power to manipulate the viewer’s perception and gives him the opportunity to convey his ideas thoroughly.

3.    Carlo Scarpa's details are a "result of an intellectual game" where the Open City buildings are constructed from an act of poetry. Describe what role the detail plays to "tell-the-tale" in each of these environments.

Carlo Scarpa’s details “tell-the-tail” of how the construction process is affected by the development of human understanding of the structure. They explain how the human’s perception of the building changes as it’s being constructed.

On the other hand, the details on the Open City “tell-the-tail” of the poetic relation of the building to its site. It emphasizes on the uniqueness of each site and how repetition of construction should not occur because of this individuality.

4.    Pendleton-Jullian writes about the Open City as emerging from and being in the landscape. Does allowing landscape to initiate "the configuration of territory and space" challenge Western building notions, and how so?

Western building is greatly challenged by this idea of allowing landscape initiate “the configuration of territory and space.” Western construction very much ignores the fact that each site is unique since it can be manipulated as they wish. The site should be the least manipulated as possible since it’s relation to the building is what makes it unique and not the same repetitive monotone pattern created by Western constructions.

5.    Describe some detail conditions of the Open City that convey "lightness" as Pendleton-Jullian refers to.

“Lightness” can be seen in several detail conditions of the Open City. The Hospederia is a great example of lightness in its materiality and construction method. Both of these aspects are brought to its minimum to convey a sense of openness that welcomes every person coming into Open City. Another sense of lightness is conveyed through the construction method that allowed design changes as the construction process occurred. All of these aspects are what make Open City such a poetic act.

Sydney Opera House ( Final Poster )

Updated Material List

Qty.  Item                               Price       

1      1/2" Birch Plywood         31.77

3      Barrel Bolt                       8.67

1      #8 1/2" Screws                 3.77

10    1/2" Cut Washers             1.90

1      5/16" Wood Dowels         2.97

4      1/2" Hex Nuts                  3.92

2      1/2" Wing Nuts                1.86

2      1/4" Wing Nuts                1.86

2      1/2" Threaded Rod           8.94

2      1/4" Threaded Rod 1/2     2.28

2      Casters                            9.92

1      1/2" Threaded Rod 1/2     5.96

                                         
                          TOTAL       83.82

Reflections on the Scope of the Tectonic

1. The readings refer to tectonics in a variety of settings; tectonic/stereotomic, tectonic/atectonic, topos/typos/tectonic, representation/ontological, rhythm, corporeal metaphor, ethnography, and technology. Briefly define each term and provide an architectural example that embodies the condition.

Tectonic and stereotomic are both contrary terms that refer to both building methods and overall weights  of the space defined.

Tectonic refers to a light structure such as the Native American dwellings that are a frame with a light enlisted. Stereotomic is the opposite, it refers to a massive, solid structure such as most brick dwellings.

Atectonic differes from tectonic by the way the material behaves against gravity. It refers to the function of the material. Take a column for example; a massive column supporting a thin roof. Such a big column is not necessary for a thin roof.

Topos/typos/tectonic are 3 merging term that refers to the conjunction of site and type to find the tendency for architecture.

Representation is the symbolical relationship (what a dwelling is for people) and ontological is the technical relationship (walls, roof, etc). 

The corporeal metaphor is the way the body reacts to the space without thinking about it. It's about the articulation of the world trough the body.

Ehnography refers to the research strategy that studies human culture. The Berber House for example is an inversion of our world, everything is opposite. It tests the human culture by altering inversing our knowledge.

Technology refers to the development of certain application. Technology with time transforms everything and changes the world, not necessarily for good. For example technologies relation to the environment, its degrading.

2. Kenneth Frampton writes that this study of tectonics "seeks to mediate and enrich the priority given to space", what is a dominant trend in Western architecture of today and how does tectonics relate to this trend?

Sensory attraction is a dominant trend in today’s Western architecture. The relationship between architecture and tectonics has been forgotten and this must change.

3. "Greek in origin, the term tectonic derives from the work tekton, signifying carpenter or builder". How has the impact of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity and other space-time models altered tectonic etymology?

Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity and other space-time models have changed tectonic etymology. For example Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity explains the laws of gravity. Also space-time models have changed over time as technological developments allow us to explore other types of spaces such as traveling to the moon.

4. Vittorio Gregotti states in 1983, "(t)he worst enemy of modern architecture is the idea of space considered solely in terms of its economic and technical exigencies indifferent to the ideas of the site". If the intention of site is to situate human in the cosmos, how then does site infer from a contemporary landscape that has been graded, conditioned, tamed, treated, sculpted, mapped, engineered, essentially re-created by humans?

By situating a human in the universe means for a human to adapt to the environment. Therefore, a contemporary landscape that is re-created by humans goes against the concept of situating a human in the universe because instead of adapting to the environment you are manipulating it.

Humans are the only creatures in the world that manipulate the environment to fit our needs. Instead of adapting to the environment, we sculpt it to our needs, which goes against the intention of the site of situating humans in the cosmos.  

5. Is architectural tectonics applicable or relevant in a world of global mobilization? State and explain your position.

Architectural tectonics is a relevant factor in the world of global mobilization. With them one can relate construction relationships with materials and use them in their true form. Because of architectural tectonics is that architecture is more than just a structure, but a form of art.

Sydney Opera House - Structure