Context and Building

What is the role of context in architecture today? Is context predominantly a physical issue, social, economic, or political issue; some combination of these, or something else? Use contemporary case studies. Use quotes from the 3 articles to support your point of view. Please reference them properly.

Contextualism is a concept that aims to create the relationship and dialogue of unity; a notion that aspires to move in a coherent manner within its entirety whilst carving a niche for itself. Context is external elements that influence an object. These elements are physical and non – physical. Roads, buildings, and land contour are examples for physical elements while mom – physical elements are weather condition, local culture, as well as economic constraints. Design for a house in four seasons’ countries for example is different than the design in tropical countries. Understand the local contexts are important for designers to produce a good building design. The context determines the architectural style, building material selection and site layout, which is very important in creating an effective design. All these promote continuity between the building and local circumstances.

The climatic context plays the important role in design. Designers need to design buildings that meet criteria of local climate such as building orientation, types of materials used, and also size and type of openings. They are factors that are taken into account by many design styles (other than contextual design) in a paramount fashion. This data largely consists of environmental factors. They are the values that should generally be taken to account and that should guide the way in which we must act. They are usually engaged with within the scientific perspective.

These are contextual factors that relate to humans. Mainly identity, cultural and historical, these factors are those that have gained meaning within human life and have therefore gained a place within architecture. They make the architecture and the city more meaningful for both the user and the community as a whole; and establish spiritual connections. Often, human contextual factors are established with abstract or strong nostalgia. They are reflected in the language form and have a voice in the establishment of spatial organisation. Although the picturesque and poetry mostly should have considered through immeasurable facet of context, it's possible to see the both, emotional/spiritual and physical side contributes to the atmosphere; and forms the sense of place.

“Buildings … like so many people all talking at once”.

Le Corbusier

Colmar Village, France.

On the other hand, culture is a way of life of a place. It is the best way to accept the constraints of a place and is followed from generation to generation. Sometimes it becomes the symbol and identity of a place. Adaption into the architecture is the most popular way to show the identity of the place.

For example, an Egyptian pyramid form has become a popular form across the world and has been imitated by may architects. An immediate example is Louvre Pyramid in Paris designed by I. M. Pei. The building has been triggering controversy due to its form that very contrast from the classical building is a symbol of the success of the merger between the old and new concepts.

Every country in the world does not have the same economic viability. This difference makes the practice of contemporary architecture is different from place to place. One of the design methods that exist due to the economic context is cost – effective construction method. Thus, the emergence of new methods such as prefabricated components and module systems have greatly utilized in architectural design today.

Acropolis Museum, Athens, 2008 by Bernard Tschumi

Situated in Makaryianni, one of the historical areas of Athens, the New Acropolis Museum is located less than 1,000 feet southeast of the Parthenon. This structure houses an archaeological site and the monuments of Acropolis with pedestrian walkways that connect them. This location was specifically chosen so as to exhibit dialogue among the museum’s exhibition spaces and the Acropolis. The design of the New Acropolis Museum started with the responsibility to house the most dramatic statues of the Greek Antiquity. The unity of these objects was the element that shaped the project even before the site was even selected. The polemical location of the building added many more layers to the responsibilities of the design. In addition to the contemporary city, street grid and the existence of the Parthenon (one of the most impressive buildings in the Western civilization), the placement of the site at the foot of the Acropolis meant that the designer has to be sensitive towards archaeological excavations. The area has a very hot climate and is found within an earthquake zone. These factors needed to be taken into account in the creation of a simple and precise concept. The building's design program is articulated into three parts: a top, middle and bottom according to specific needs. The mid floor of the museum is on pillars; located above the existing archaeological excavations. in the base floor The columns were carefully placed by experts to ensure that the sensitive excavation work was not disturbed. The base floor is shaped around the site. It surrounds and thus protects the excavation zones.

In conclusion, it is possible to say that all throughout architectural and design history there has been an inability to run from contextual formation and that the architecture must have a certain attitude towards its surroundings. There are many differing discourses, practices and interpretations by various architects in this regard; varying from extremely conservative approaches, to attitudes that ignore existence of context. It is possible to qualify and examine the relationship that the varying contextual designs have with the environment as both positive and negative. Response to the surrounding contexts is very important because it determines the success of a buildings’ design. In response to these contexts will create communication channels between buildings and people around. Sometimes people will appreciate the architecture, if the designers appreciate their cultural and aesthetic values.

"Form need not follow function, building programs and uses need not be expressed in the configuration of buildings and towns".

Tom Schumacher

The buildings are not necessarily need to be expressed based on the functions, but instead the form should be designed according to the site context as a whole.