How the Idea of Architecture Is Being Conveyed - Essay Example

How the idea of architecture is is being conveyed and what, finally, does this building mean? Introduction Architecture referees to a term used to describe buildings as well as other physical structures. The term can be used to denote the science and art of designing buildings and other physical non-building structures (Zumthor, 2008). Architecture in buildings seek to help provide shelter, however, it has morphed beyond the basic provision of shelter to providing information. What does this imply? It means architectural works or architectural designs communicate certain information to those who interact with them. Through these unique designs, we are able to; for example, draw a difference between a commercial and residential building. In that case we do using the visual perception of the building (Tomaszewski, 2003). Therefore architecture relates to the entire design of the building which in the end gives the unique visual impression that we can see. Further, the buildings architectural designs can also communicate their history, iconography, or perhaps the people who built them. Different emotions or feeling as well can be communicated by different architectural connotations. Amongst the above connotations, also context, flexibility, formality, function and simplicity are some of the aspects that can be utilized by architects to communicate through the building design. This implies that architecture is thus a form of language. Architecture is a symbolical representation of language through which different emotions or information can be communicated (Tomaszewski, 2003). Therefore, buildings can be read just like texts. This essay discusses how the idea of architecture is being conveyed using Kolumba Museum building. Additionally, the essay also discusses what is finally meant by the Kolumba Museum building. Discussion Kolumba Museum is an art museum located in cologne Germany. The Museum has a monumental building designed by Peter Zumthor. This site was formerly, St. Columbia Church run by the diocese of Cologne. The museum is one of the oldest founded by the society for Christian art back in1953. The new home was designed by peter Zumthor in 2003. The site where this building sits was formerly occupied by the St Columbia church but was later to be destroyed during the World War II. The structure designed by Zumthor shares a site with the ruins of St. Columbia’s gothic church. The building is wrapped up with a perforated brick façade including the entire museum (Zumthor, 2008). The building additionally has 16 exhibition rooms with varying qualities depending on the day light allowed in. with a light gray wall made of Kolumba stones and a jura limestone floor, the building presents a magnificent look accentuated by its poured mortar shell ceilings as well as the leather curtains. Both historic structure build on a demolished church compound has a lot to communicate especially with regards to the history of Kolumba. With a collection of religious icons ranging from late antique to the current artifacts, the Museum bares a lot to learn from (Zumthor, 2008). Its collections are mostly displayed without accompaniment of texts. This implies they can communicate without having to be read or be explained. The walls Interior design (https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=kolumba+museum+interior&revid=2053656705&sa=X&ei=MeSMVfDVDYrX7Aa-4oKYBw&ved=0CB8Q1QIoAA&biw=1138&bih=548&dpr=1.2#imgrc=_92a0g1IJPZNsM%253A%3BrdQmt2-I5YMAaM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.archdaily.com%252Fwp-content%252Fuploads%252F2010%252F08%252F1281117061-41-custom.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fhousevariety.blogspot.com%252F2010%252F11%252Fkolumba-art-museum-of-archdiocese-of.html%3B1000%3B666) How is the idea of architecture being conveyed? The Kolumba Museum building architectural design communicates a lot to the public. The architectural idea has been communicated in a variety of ways: A place for reflection: Kolumba as a building erected on the gothic church ruins was intended to be a place that provides for reflection. Individuals who visit this place are thus expected to be able to reflect upon their lives and have a moment to establish themselves (Pe´Ter Kun, 2013). This building is erected on the ruins of the gothic church which respects the history of the scathed church and preserves its essence. As such, this building enables us to feel the inner value of art that connects with our spirit and give as the feeling to reflect (Wat, 2014). The preservation of the ruins of the gothic church has an essence. To enable us reflect back at the historic misfortunes that faced the particular church during the Second World War (Karen Cilento, 2015). In putting the pieces of the ruins of the gothic church together, Zumthor uses the light gray stones popularly known within that region as Kolumba stones. He raises the history of the site and preserves its essence. In so doing, he uses the idea of the architecture to communicate the lows that the place hit and how it was able to get up ones again. It serves as a reminder of ability of reconstruction. When Zumthor brings together the pieces to put up the building, he communicates the ability to recollect and bring back together what has been lost, He communicates the ability of an individual to reflect and put their lives together to make it success ones again (Karen Cilento, 2015). It communicates the chance that one can have in life to progress despite their broken past. The building through use of the Kolumba stones from the ruins enables the visitors to undergo a process of meaning making that moves them from one experience to another with a deeper understanding of the relationship and connections to other ideas. The visitors who enter this facility are able to reflect upon their lives and connect with the experience of ability to pick up the pieces and move on. As individuals interact with this building, they experience reflection which enables them to value their personal and intellectual growth as well as that of others. The building of Kolumba additionally, communicates freedom that the individuals visiting can relate with. The freedom that an individual has is inquired by the building through the exchange between history and the present. It thus challenges the viewers through art at the exchange of knowledge and beliefs. The art applied in the building challenges one through the intersection of knowledge and belief (Whyte, 2006). As visitors immerse themselves in thoughts and memories, they are offered an experience to understand the existential values. The value of what was ruined and scathed brought together ones again in to a monumental piece all through the power of knowledge and belief. The building also exhibits a stairway. This communicates the ability to move forward. It seeks to enable the visitors believe that they are still able to move forward (Whyte, 2006). The ability for growth exists and one can still progress. The stairway communicates continuity. Continuity implies growth or progress. The building sums up the existing fragments in to one piece that is whole. This enables the building become a part of the continuum of architecture when the ruins unite with the basalt to become a completely new structure with historical links. This serves to communicate a new start of the old and warn out. It communicates the ability to rebuild that which is lost. It communicates restoration. This allows individuals to believe in the ability to restore that which is lost and reclaim the glory taken away from them by destiny or misfortunes. Azumthor respected all the detail while putting together this building and thus shows that all is not lost if only one can put together a few that is left of them using the resources they have, they are able to rise again. The building further has its largest room encompassing a two thousand year structure of the city. In the cityscape, the chapel has been given a final location different from where it is ordinarily situated. This communicates the respect and safety given to the chapel. The chapel is portrayed as protected from interferences and any other scathing or destruction that might face it. As such, the cityscape design communicates the protection and continuity of the chapel that they want to see happen. It thus shows how much value is bestowed on the chapel and the reverence for which it is accorded. What, finally, does this building mean? The Kolumba building having been designed with great architectural inspirations has had a meaning to the community visiting. The great visual impression given by both its exterior and interior design offer a wealth of information to the visitors. This ranges from the 16 exhibition rooms, to the cityscape, the ceiling and the walls among the various components of the building. However, what do all these designs summed up communicate? Methinks, the building communicates reconstruction. When the pieces of the ruins are put together using ballast and built in to a wall that stands ones again especially given it was a mere ruin that existed in the particular place. It communicates the chance to reconstruct oneself and be able to stand on ones feet despite the challenges that breaks or tears down an individual. It inspires one to realize they can always make a difference and get up heir messed up past to become an attractive and successful person. Floor Plan https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVX_NuEiLdrSdFfUA0yD8zfS5IYKraCvcgK12qGLTNh0NdX95amLna2Hk In addition, the building communicates the value of the chapel to the community when the chapel location in the cityscape is seen to have been relocated to a safer place. It communicates how much reverence, respects and value they accord the chapel. It further depicts the community as a very religious one with a sentimental attachment to their worship places. This further communicates the continuity they expect to see in their chapel. The walls that have a monumental façade and metallic windows communicate serenity and cheerfulness (Kolumba, n.d). The building emanates a cheerful visual impression and serenity that relaxes the visitors and gives a disposition that is free from worries. This implies the freedom from further worries of perhaps demolition back to the ruins. The building communicates an absence of stress or anxiety and as such give a relaxed mood on to the visitors. This also communicates peace and ease of the heart signifying no troubles. What does this mean to the onlooker or visitors? The implication is that the storm is over and there is a new beginning which can be realized when one picks up the pieces and starts off. The reflection and thoughts that the building brings about enables a realization of oneself and finding a way to transform and rebuild oneself. The Kolumba building, designed by Azumthor is indeed a magnificent monumental structure that engages the community though communicating issues about the community ranging from its history where one is able to see the ruins and relate with the war period painting a picture of what existence in the early times (Yan, C. H. E. N. 2008). The ruins that have been sensitively preserved in a descent outlook communicate the history of the gothic church and give a connection with the past. This preserves the history that will be communicated to generations to come without having to read about them. Conclusion Architecture has been described in this paper as a term used to describe buildings as well as other physical structures. In addition, the term can be used to denote the science and art of designing buildings and other physical non-building structures. The essay has established that: Architecture in buildings seek to help provide shelter, however, it has morphed beyond the basic provision of shelter to providing information. Architectural designs communicate certain information to those who interact with them. Through these unique designs, we are able to distinguish between a commercial and residential building. Thus Architecture relates to the entire design of the building which in the end gives the unique visual impression that we can see. Further, the buildings architectural designs can also communicate their history, iconography, or the people who built them. Different emotions or feeling as well can be communicated by different architectural connotations. Amongst the above connotations, also context, flexibility, formality, function and simplicity are some of the aspects that can be utilized by architects to communicate through the building design (Karen Cilento, 2015). This essay has further found out that Kolumba building communicates: reflection, freedom, serenity, peace, knowledge, ability to reconstruct and religious community. Thus finally, the building means a new hope for an individual to be able rise above their warn out past and reconstruct, the peace that has been realized after the stormy war that destroyed everything leaving the town in ruins, the reflection that a person can have to reestablish their lost past as well as the power of knowledge and belief. Reference Karen Cilento. "Kolumba Museum / Peter Zumthor" 06 Aug 2010. ArchDaily. Accessed 24 Jun 2015. http://www.archdaily.com/72192/kolumba-musuem-peter-zumthor/ Chen, Y. (2008). Kolumba Art Museum in Germany. Time+ Architecture, 3, 106-113. Yan, C. H. E. N. (2008). Kolumba Art Museum, Cologne, Germany. Time Architecture, 3, 020. Zumthor, P. (2008). Peter Zumthor-Kolumba, Art Museum of the Cologne Archdiocese. A+ U-ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM, (451), 38-59. Wat, T. (2014). Moments of Spiritual Engagement in Architecture: A Search for Awareness of Life and Architecture. Kolumba. (n.d.). Kolumba. Retrieved June 24, 2015, from http://www.kolumba.de/: http://www.kolumba.de/?language=eng&cat_select=1&category=14&artikle=61 PE´TER KUN. (2013). Designing for Reflection. Retrieved June 24, 2015, from publications.lib.chalmers.se: http://publications.lib.chalmers.se/records/fulltext/183768/183768.pdf Tomaszewski, Z. (2003, May 15). Communication through Architecture. Retrieved June 24, 2015, from http://www2.hawaii.edu/~ztomasze/cis701/project.html WHYTE, W. (2006, May). HOW DO BUILDINGS MEAN? SOME ISSUES OF INTERPRETATIONIN THE HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE. Retrieved June 24, 2015, from http://www.readcube.com/: http://www.readcube.com/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1468-2303.2006.00355.x?r3_referer=wol&tracking_action=preview_click&show_checkout=1&purchase_referrer=onlinelibrary.wiley.com&purchase_site_license=LICENSE_DENIED Read More