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.
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