Function & Form's relationship
"All things in nature have a shape, that is to say, a form, an outward semblance, that tells us what they are, that distinguishes them from ourselves and from each other. " Quoted by Louis Sullivan
Form and function both are the essential principles with close relationship that every architects should design a building based on the purpose of that building. Hence, it should be have had considered from the beginning for every design rather than its appearance outlook in architecture studies of nowadays. Design the building with what for the usage of users need only, without any other unnecessary things.
The phrase “Form follow function”, was first coined by an American architect call Louis Sullivan who involved in the development of the steel skyscrapers in 19th century Chicago School. That was a period of big transformation in architecture world, as the innovation of new technologies, materials and construction methods that developed during the Industrial revolution are meant to be eliminate and replace the tradition old styles method which less efficiency in the coming new era. This principle suggested that the building should not be designed in according with past precedents or trend, the purpose of the building would determine the form itself.
USES
"What must first be determined is whether this relation between action and space is symmetrical, whether space or people, clearly dominates the other. " Quoted by Bernard Tschumi.
When design an iconic building would definitely need to have an extraordinary form, even though it also needs to function efficiently, but somehow the functionality might always be sacrificed, so that is the function follows the form by its design. However where place maybe an institution building, government building, the form might just oriented in follows function. Since these places are more concentrated on its uses rather than its aesthetic, users would not care much about this rigid form in daily routine.
So basically it depends on the purpose of the building, how the residential buildings would support people’s daily routines, how the public buildings affect our movements and influence our emotions and how does work places may increase efficiency and impress the business community.
TECHNOLOGY
Technology can be an large influence in architecture, it also has invented the computer, with the efficiency of a lot kind of software had changed the architecture to the innovative level right after the Industrial revolution. Such as steel structure, electricity and elevators affecting, for instance the concept of structure and skyscraper. A good example of an architect that was interested in the effects of the industrial revolution was Mies Van De Role. He knew how to take advantage of the benefits of technology that the Industrial Revolution created.
Another example, Frank Gehry who used the first version of mechanical design system “CATIA” which established in 1982 by IBM company. This has allowed Frank Gehry to achieved a weird form of building and construction in designing the “Guggenheim Museum Bilbao” set in Spain that no one could ever imagine at that time. This has proven that technology could create more complexity or innovation in architecture nowadays.
MATERIAL
The building material is known to affects the vision of building, as it also relate to the form as well. Since It impacts the durability of the structure needed for the form. Hence, the character of the architecture is determined by the relationship of the building material used.
"The form is mechanic when on any given material we impress a predetermined form.
The organic form, on the other hand, is innate, it shapes as it develops itself from within."
Quoted by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
For example “Heydar Aliyev Center” located in Baku, Azerbaijan which designed by Zaha Hadid, noted for its distinctive architecture and flowing, curved style that eliminates the sharp angles. This has encouraged revolution reflects the wise of play with using material to the form and functions of the building.
