FORM . FUNCTION . Architecture
“By violence, I do not mean the brutality that destroys physical or emotional integrity but a metaphor for the intensity of a relationship between individuals and their surrounding spaces.” quoted by Bernard Tschumi.
The design process of any building form requires formulating, generating, analyzing, evaluating, refining and analysis of the socio-economic functionalities of the building and its surrounding localities. The ideas of designing a building can be derived from any data we had collected. It is one of the process to strengthen the ideas or a vital step to the designing progress. Any defect or design problem we found in architecture can be solved while designing the building form. On the contrary, the final form of building design can be based on the intention or a space planning of it.
Form and function are two design elements that seem not relative to each other, form is focus on the façade and overall shape of the building, while function is based on the space planning and usage of the building. However, the ideas of relating these two elements had become the principle that governs and built in foundation in any architectural piece of any form. The form follow function had be the principle associated with modern architecture and industrial design until the 21st century.
“It is the pervading law of all things organic and inorganic, of all things physical and metaphysical, of all things human and all things superhuman, of all true manifestation of the head, of the heart, of the soul, that the life is recognizable in its expression, that form ever follows function, this is the law,” quoted by Louis Sullivan.
The theory is simple that the shape of a building or object should be primarily based upon its intended function or purpose. It is a decision making processes and activities to determine or define the final form of a building. All the space designing based form follow function is more workable and practical as the space planning is consider first and the building form is mainly designed to be the solution to the design or construction problem may occurred. The form of a building will not only used as aesthetic attraction but can be actually functional.
Form follow function had been used as a principal or references to modern architecture. There are a lot of great architecture that show the efficiency of using form follow function theory in design. The ways we designing the space planning, intention of function, technology we can achieve and option of materials will direct affect the function and led to the form of the building.
One of the classic building from Frank Lloyd Wright which is Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum had shown us the relationship between all this elements with form follow function theory. With the technology of 1959, Guggenheim Museum able to stand out with astonish curving design and yet the form had follow the space planning that Frank Lloyd Wright designed. The curved walkways inside the museum had result to a curved façade and the application of latest technology will allow this alienated yet artistic design building.
For material aspect, the appropriate material selected will enhance the function of the building as well as the façade and form. The building itself should always base on the properties and effect of the materials. In architecture, material can be a platform to connect two different aspects. In this case, material will be used to relate both function and form of building. For instance, a steel structure can be used to allow long span space design and at the same time, steel structure will define the form of that building instead of using others material as form construction.
“Nothing… should be represented which is not true in function.” quoted by Carlo Lodoli. In brief, function had made architecture practical and form had made architecture impressive. Form and function together will ensure the quality of architecture in future era.
