Architecture as language pp

Architecture as LanguageArchitecture as Language
Language can produce poetry

Who invented The EnglishWho invented The English
Language ?Language ?
No, Not Him! So
Who?
So who invented Mandarin,
Russian, German, Japanese,
etc, etc. ………
If individuals don’t create the language, who
does?
Is it a collective process?

Every person who speaks theEvery person who speaks the
languagelanguage
Communication and exchangeCommunication and exchange
between individuals createsbetween individuals creates
languages.languages.
Its a massive collective effortIts a massive collective effort

What is a language?What is a language?
A System of Communication
To report or represent things or events.
To model a particular experience or idea
and transmit the form of that model to
another place
Selection and
Combination
of elements from a given
vocabulary

Remember:Remember:
Selection and combination applied toSelection and combination applied to
different vocabularies produce differentdifferent vocabularies produce different
kinds of Languages:kinds of Languages:
MusicMusic
LawLaw
ArtArt
FashionFashion
ReligionReligion
CarpentryCarpentry
Each of these institutions
has a distinct vocabulary:
sounds, modes of behaviour,
colours, forms, fabrics
And so does
Architecture

Architecture is aArchitecture is a
collective enterprisecollective enterprise
It is a network of agents interacting with oneIt is a network of agents interacting with one
anotheranother
It exists and changes through theIt exists and changes through the
Communication and ExchangeCommunication and Exchange
of ideas and forms betweenof ideas and forms between
many, many architectsmany, many architects

Definitions:Definitions:
Architecture is theArchitecture is the
similarity betweensimilarity between
buildingsbuildings
Buildings are physicalBuildings are physical
concrete objectsconcrete objectsArchitecture is the information that
characterizes these buildings.

Design is TranslationDesign is Translation
Translate one set of forms into
another, one language and
vocabulary into another,

Design is the Selection andDesign is the Selection and
Combination of elements from aCombination of elements from a
given vocabularygiven vocabulary
To fit a particular context.To fit a particular context.
That vocabulary is the work ofThat vocabulary is the work of
other architectsother architects
I copy your elements, youI copy your elements, you
copy mine times X 10000copy mine times X 10000

If architecture is the similarityIf architecture is the similarity
between buildings,between buildings, StyleStyle isis
architecture at ground level -architecture at ground level - thethe
local language.local language.
Definition:Definition:
Style is architecture at a particularStyle is architecture at a particular
place, time and the local vocabulary.place, time and the local vocabulary.
Changes through time given the interactionChanges through time given the interaction
of many architects exchanging ideas andof many architects exchanging ideas and

1.1. StyleStyle is the use of a local vocabulary andis the use of a local vocabulary and
grammar.grammar.
2. Global communication means that2. Global communication means that StylesStyles cancan
now cross cultural boundaries. Decon?now cross cultural boundaries. Decon?
3.3. StyleStyle is the Local Language of architecture.is the Local Language of architecture.
4.4. StyleStyle arises fromarises from Selecting andSelecting and
CombiningCombining from each other’s work.from each other’s work.
Styles change through timeStyles change through time..
Select and combine a thousand times and theSelect and combine a thousand times and the
end result is differentend result is different

Style:Style:
A typical set of architectural forms governed by a set ofA typical set of architectural forms governed by a set of
grammatical rules in a particular place and time.grammatical rules in a particular place and time.
Architectural history is a history ofArchitectural history is a history of
stylesstyles (languages)(languages) in evolution.in evolution.
We cannot understand historyWe cannot understand history
without reference towithout reference to
prevailing stylesprevailing styles

Evolution, Evolution, Evolution,Evolution, Evolution, Evolution,
EvolutionEvolution
Sometimes one Style dominates theSometimes one Style dominates the
whole of architectural productionwhole of architectural production
Most buildings look similar to oneMost buildings look similar to one
anotheranother
Architects are selecting from the sameArchitects are selecting from the same
set of typical formsset of typical forms

TYPICAL ELEMENTS OF THE MODERN STYLETYPICAL ELEMENTS OF THE MODERN STYLE
VocabularyVocabulary
1.1. Cubic, rectangular or planar formsCubic, rectangular or planar forms – ref. Cubism– ref. Cubism
2.2. White colourWhite colour – machine or metallic reference– machine or metallic reference
3.3. Functional ‘free’ planFunctional ‘free’ plan – ref. Functionalist theory– ref. Functionalist theory
4.4. 3D Skeleton frame grid3D Skeleton frame grid – structural and classical– structural and classical
orderorder
5.5. Strip windowsStrip windows – unifies the elevation + ocean liners– unifies the elevation + ocean liners
ref.ref.
6.6. Asymmetrical general organizationAsymmetrical general organization – non classical– non classical
7.7. External wall as membrane –External wall as membrane – isolation of wallisolation of wall
functionfunction
8.8. Smooth surface texture – aSmooth surface texture – a s in machine references in machine reference
9.9. Flat RoofFlat Roof – available from concrete slab construction– available from concrete slab construction
10.10. Functional isolation of all ElementsFunctional isolation of all Elements – exploded form– exploded form

Here they are: The architecturalHere they are: The architectural
heroesheroes..
What did they actually do??

Did Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe orDid Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe or
Walter Gropius create or invent theWalter Gropius create or invent the
language of Modern Architecture?language of Modern Architecture?
No. Obviously not.No. Obviously not.
But what did they do?But what did they do?
They saw which way the wind was blowing.They saw which way the wind was blowing.
In the midst of babel, they saw the key ideas.In the midst of babel, they saw the key ideas.
They produced models/examples of those keyThey produced models/examples of those key
ideas that could be imitated.ideas that could be imitated.

After a dominant architectural style thereAfter a dominant architectural style there
will be an inevitable loss of coherence.will be an inevitable loss of coherence.
The continuousThe continuous
interaction/communication andinteraction/communication and
exchangeexchange between architects willbetween architects will
inevitably produce difference, diversityinevitably produce difference, diversity
and maybe chaos.and maybe chaos.
There will be a breakdown of theThere will be a breakdown of the
consensus into a group of localizedconsensus into a group of localized

In another sense:In another sense:
Architectural has to find a way out ofArchitectural has to find a way out of
this overwhelming andthis overwhelming and
claustrophobic Modernist similarity.claustrophobic Modernist similarity.
It has to rediscover its creativity.It has to rediscover its creativity.
Its ability to express difference.Its ability to express difference.
Its capacity to represent the local,Its capacity to represent the local,
the contingent, the complexity ofthe contingent, the complexity of
things.things.
And so………………………And so………………………

To the Tower of BabelTo the Tower of Babel
The breakdown of the ModernThe breakdown of the Modern
Consensus.Consensus.
Different Local LanguagesDifferent Local Languages
HistoricismHistoricism (Memory)(Memory)
Hi TechHi Tech (Technological fetishism)(Technological fetishism)
RegionalismRegionalism (cultural identity)(cultural identity)
EclecticismEclecticism (Mixture)(Mixture)
Neo-ModernNeo-Modern (enriched Modern Forms)(enriched Modern Forms)
DeconstructivismDeconstructivism (reveals complexity)(reveals complexity)

HistoricismHistoricism
Architecture tries to recover itsArchitecture tries to recover its
memorymemory

Hi Tech

Regionalism 1Regionalism 1

Regionalism 2

Eclecticism + Neo-Modern

Deconstructivism

We speakWe speak
Architecture.Architecture.
Buildings are StatementsBuildings are Statements
How well do we speak this language?How well do we speak this language?
Architecture can produceArchitecture can produce
That’s it!
Alex Brown. Blog: alexbrown.net

Architecture as language pp

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