BUILDING and CONTEXT II

Is context today more important, less important, or of some importance as it was a century ago? Compare one contemporary case study and one case study from roughly a century ago. Use quotes from the 3 articles to support your point of view. Please reference them properly.

Contextual architecture, or Contexualism is the architecture that responds to the specific physical characteristics of its site. Unlike any specific architectural style, contextualism can be seen as a set of values, which help distinguish the architectural work. Any site, location or a place includes number of natural features that characterize it and create the context of this place. In architectural design, all these features should be determined, analyzed as well as considered in the design process in order to integrate the building into its context. Context comes from the Latin contexere meaning to merge together. In an architectural sense, context can be perceived as the unified whole that gives meaning to the various parts of the building. However, contextual architecture, or Contexualism, can be defined as the architecture that responds to the specific physical characteristics of its site.

HERBERT HOUSE by Frank Lloyd Wright (1936)

Wright’s vernacular lines can be seen at the Herbert house building. It turns its back on the back garden; and with its transparent panels and courtyard, it is in not only spacial but also visual unity. Made with natural materials it is economic and is thus a preferred choice. Wood and stone are generally used throughout the building. With his organic thought background, Wright has discovered an economic home for low income families. Herbert house is the first of such buildings. Above all else it is one of the first of Wright’s buildings that has managed successful harmonisation between the local landscape and the American house’s surroundings. While being one of the strictly modern constructions of the period, Herbert house sets itself apart with its prototype construction and sympathy towards its surroundings. L-shaped to fit around a garden terrace, lots of local materials, and natural cooling, natural lighting with clerestory and a strong visual connection between the interior and exterior spaces.

TASLIK COFFEE HOUSE by Eldem (1946)

Over the city walls with a view over Bosporus, there is a symbol for a modern interpretation of traditional Turkish architecture. The tradition is reflected in wide hanging-out canopies, with the ‘T’ formed scheme of the central Sofa type, a basin that finds itself in the point of intersection of the axis, the clear, simple façade construction, only broken through by the white window frames. The environment outside as well as inside with wood furniture, smooth marble tanks and wells contribute to the silence and convey balance, but reflect at the same time how current the past is.

“I believe in the power and strength of native architecture…I could make new buildings, because I knew the old”

Eldem

To my mind, I think context today is as important as what It was a century ago, but include with more consideration on issues on political, economic, social, technological… Both of them take consideration on the site context in order to fit the building into the site, to make it as a whole.

“Every design problem begins with an effort to achieve fitness between two entities: the form and its context, which context is formal, marked by its study of figure /ground relationships.”

Adrian Forty

AN TURAS by Charlie Sutherland

An Turas is in, and of, the landscape and the place... it is that which gives it its meaning. It is both a building and an art work, a landmark and a symbol. The building is located near to the pier, this structure is designed as a 'shelter' for those intending to board the island ferry. Conceived in three parts it is hoped the structure will reflect some of the qualities of the island, distilled as a line in the landscape; the white walls, the bridge, the glass box. Once described by one islander as 'two walls and a telephone box with no phone'.

“It is intended that the materials used will reflect (though not directly imitate) the vernacular architecture of the island. The whitewash walls, the relationship of wall to groundscape, the black-felt roof of the bridge, all allude to qualities particular to the island.”

Charlie Sutherland

I really love the project in which it is a work that would be totally unified (physically and conceptually) in respect of its art and architecture content; a work related to and sympathetic to the site, topography and elements of Tiree; a work of individuality, epic in scale, aesthetically beautiful and of contemporary and Scottish cultural significance. An Turas sets up contrasts and strong moods. This project is a sensory tunnel, a route through various emotions. The term ‘Turas’ means ‘Journey’, and yes of course it worth it, and not just aboard the ferry.

However, there are still some contemporary architecture that ignore the consideration on immediate context when forming out the building. This result in most work that critiqued by people, claiming that a building is miss-fit to a site, lack of relationship between building and the space they occupied. For instance, most of work from the master architect, Zaha Hadid, were always neglect her clients' needs and the site context, and had “questionable functionality” and are usually over budget. She did want to respect the site, but to venerate herself.

“She had no sense of context or locality, preferring to crash land photogenic concepts whose function was not to serve her client's needs, but to advertise her own status as a 'global architect’”

Stephen Bayley

In conclusion, I think that architects should have a very consciousness of urbanism and the context. The importance of existing and applying context inside the design process is a necessary element in architecture life, which makes our building contemporary, fits the current era and fulfil many kind of requirements from many ways: social, economic, site, weather, circulation etc. An architecture that respond to its context, could not be placed elsewhere, whereas those architectures that is treated as an object or art could be relocated to anywhere around the world.