Context & Building (pt. 1)
Majority of architects today are more desire of recognition on their work, building design has been a majorly trend that focused on expressing more of an art than architecture. Although art is a form of self-expression with no responsibility to anyone or anything, while architecture can also be a piece of art. But when in the sense to fit in a proposed site or location, it must be responsible to human and design from its context, means to design the right building in the right place.
Context is external elements that influence the architecture style, building material selection and site layout. This can be categorized by physical elements or non-physical elements. Physical are things that can be seen such as roads, building, soil conditions and land contour. While nonphysical elements are usually invisible by eye, these require sufficient data collection from history to the time being and even forecast in future, such as weather condition, local culture as well as political and economic constraints. Some might be active elements, or passive factors which need to discovered in details. Thus, this is the reason why site analysis is always need to be done before even start to design a building.
"The architect who is attempting to build a house (a home) for any member of mankind today must be guided by a modern consciousness. That same modern consciousness must also be the basis of all our proposals for the reorganization of the great cities in which we are to live together in our millions. . ."
Quoted by Le' Corbusier
As quickly the globalizing, the themes of architecture and economic development are also becoming more relevant every day. The world faces environmental and social challenges at a scale that requires the attention of every designer and architects, which lead to reliable, long-term economic development. All of this points to the fact that a successful design must address its social and economic contexts.
In other words, it must be socially sustainable and economically sustainable, which make sense in economic marketplace.
An example of failure critics upon this issue, such as Vattanac Capital tower located in PhomPenh, Cambodia.
This is a tallest building in one of the world’s poorest countries which has its local occupancy rate as analyzed below 30 percent.
While it only serves to visitor or guess who are capable, more likely to be members of ultra-rich elite or business tycoons.
"that finally people who sincerely wanted to strengthen great cities should adopt recipes frankly devised for undermining their economies and killing them."
Quoted by Jane Jacob
Obviously it does not to served as an urban development, so what is the point that such a luxury iconic building
is built in an urban place which is dusty, rambunctious place surrounded with ramshackle markets and
sizzling roadside barbecues stall, as this social phenomenon still can be seen today.
"You cannot simply put something new into a place. You have to absorb what you see around you, what exists on the land, and then use that knowledge along with contemporary thinking to interpret what you see."
This philosophy of Tadao Ando is ever apparent in his design,
A good example of his building is Church on the Water, placed in Hokkaido near Tomamu, Japan. As he is a well known for the attention he pays to nature and the relationship between interior and exterior spaces of his buildings.
Sloping down towards a small river in a clearing of beech trees, the element of nature apparent in all the architecture of Tadao Ando initiates subliminal experiences in this Church on the Water in Tomamu, Japan.
Upon entering the chapel, visitors are struck with the view of the pond and surrounding trees and hillside through the operable glass wall. The other three walls are made of concrete, which also frame a steel cross placed in the middle of the pond.
The natural environment around the church adds to the experience, especially in the months between December and April when the ground is covered in snow.
The chapel is one of the most desired wedding destinations for young Japanese women, and holds many weddings each year.
From this can be seen Ando succeeded his intentions in this church wisely, which to design a sacred place through in adaption of surrounding context as the elements of his building's design.
Although it's a common practice today for an architect to generates architectural object using virtual 3D modelling software such as isolated object floating in space, forms, structures and etc. However, there are lack of site analysis practice were taken seriously through the process of design where often just fit in the design in a one way trip. Perhaps that architects to archive successful in long term career path, they should know to hold hands with the context of the building and walk through the design process together
