The Architectural Association Unit System - Literature review Example

Summaries of Stories’ Articles Name Institutional Affiliation Date 1. Summary of Acadia et al (2013) Article on A Thesis on Communication Space in Relation to High-rise Premises of Residence This thesis was written with the intent to investigate the critical reviews that have been done with regard to the high-rise types of buildings that have been put into utility by providing residential places that are characteristic of modern trends with close reference to the manner in which they have been found to exist at the expense of the human social interaction as well as seeking understanding of the form of space that these buildings use in order to ensure maintenance of the environmental and social contacts. This is the type that was intended to be applied in the form of construction of high-rise with the urban type which has reduced density during the CIAM conference, whose objective was to attain reduced health complications as a result of industrialization. In opposition, however, team 10 challenged the high-rise buildings that were used as places of residence, with their strong arguments putting a lot of emphasis on street disposal and failure of unifying individuals by way of green locations (Acadia et al, 2013). This read therefore extensively studies environmental and social space of communication from varying viewpoints as supported by the different urban settings based on the particular organizations of space. Height, coverage and density were used as approach to matrix study. The study of space of communication in these high-rise structures of residence was done with regard to design of urban areas with their architectural measurements. 2. Summary of Wilson et al (2013) Article on Connection of the Beaux Arts School and the French School in Athens The connection between these two institutions is seen as a failure, since the two hold different views towards ancient practice of architecture (Wilson et al, 2013). While the French School seemingly utilizes the new approach in science with the starts of the 20th century, the Beaux School of Arts Architects have been applying a trend that is opposed to the French counterparts. A close study of the actions which took place during this time reveals other contributing factors to this divergence. Such realities as the world wars had adverse effects to the profession and practice of architecture. The wars lead to deaths of a number of upcoming architects, such as Martinaud, Adrian. Merging with other institutions of architecture also led to changes in this profession, and such was the collaboration between the French school and the Danish Architects. Their study also gives attention to the contributions of the 19th century architects whose works were recognized in Greece. Such individuals include Julien David, whose Ruines des plus beaux monuments was a piece of outstanding architecture work. Choiseul also rates among the earliest travelers to have possessed drawings depicting the great ruins of Greece. According to Wilson et al(2013), the French revolution saw the mode of instruction in architecture was isolated from the curriculum in universities as it had been associated to arts. Viollet was once a teacher in the Beaux School of Arts, though he later was dismissed as a result of a staged riot for contempt against his ideas of reason as opposed to religion and emotion. The Danish architects are assumed to be existent as a result of reduced interest of the French architects in Greece, while the contemporary classicism in Scandinavia is giving a new breath to Greek architecture through Danish professionals. 3. Summary of Sunwoo (2012). Article on The Architectural Association Unit System The unit system follows the model of instruction that emerged after the advent of contemporary polemics in the architecture school. The unit system underwent enormous revival during the chairmanship of Boyarsky of the Architectural association. The unit system is known to have overturned the Beaux Arts study course under the leadership of Rowse who served as the schools of planning and architecture (Sunwoo, 2012). With great signs of links to the sociological theories, analysis of projects, group activities as well as research methods were the basic modes of approach in studying urban planning and emergent architectural practice. This move of approach thus led to consideration of individualized work outdated. Seedhouse further says that close scrutiny of the syllabus used in the years 1963 and 1964 reveals that students had to cover programs characteristic of high complexity and scale levels due to the implications felt in the unit systems after the great world wars. Issues revolving around modernism in the top schools in Britain argued along the same line with the propositions put forward by Allen. However, contemporary publications carried a divergent view from modernism as seen in such writings as Complexity and Contradiction by Robert Venturi. Fragmentation became an inevitable happening. As a tutor to the fourth year students, Boyarsky grew skeptical with regard to the merger attempts. Falling out ideologically with his seniors saw him sacked. Later, the concerns relating to theme of the city and buildings showed that the unit had indeed admitted a very big number of students, close to 100 just in a single term in summer. Postmodernism was introduced in addition to fragmentation. In this, the consumer behaviour is critically looked at and its effects to British Architecture. 4. Summary of Fletcher & Grose (2012) article on Tension between Design and Sustainability Fletcher & Grose (2012) argue that tension is building up with regard to sustainability and design as heated debates are becoming a common phenomenon as changes in climatic patterns are becoming more pronounced. It is critical to note that debates regarding the design on the environment were major topics of concern up to the 1990s, and among the basic approaches of analyzing the situation currently is by coming up with a comparison of the present-day of the design and accountability of environmental changes with those of the past. This essay has the objective of presenting the vital background to both the efforts of experiments that are small scale in measure and the sustainable form of production design that is large scale, as shown in the ‘contemporary design, Sustain Me’. This approach to contextualization of the exhibition presents the points of convergence and divergence between the inhibitors of design that meets sustainability in design, as was the case in past times. Material and cultural sustainability were issues best handled at Global Tools, an architectural school. Therefore, seminars to educate young designers were held. The Global School manifesto further discusses the strong viewpoints against practice of unsustainable design. Thus, Italian design has been greatly influenced by this argument. There is a connection between accounting and design. Asceticism is seen to have been given emphasis by the Global school as opposed to creativity. This as a result of a higher number of individuals identify with a mentality of accounting as they express their consumer cultures. Branzi’s assessment of the Global School, and suggests that sustainable design reforms take a moralistic approach (Fletcher &Grose, 2012). 5. Summary of Costa et al (2002) article At the Universitario di Architettura di Venezia (IUAV) After the Second World War, instruction aimed at equipping students with the history of architecture was of great significance. According to Costa et al (2002), organic architecture was an idea opposed to academics, originating from America and supported by Bruno Zevi, the father of history of architecture. Leonardo Benevolo also contributed to this subject, and as a tutor at UIAV he published on modern architecture in line with social history. ManfredoTafuri wrote on the history and theories of architecture. This publication in a way was an opposition reaction to operative criticism, in which he suggests that histories had signs of biasness regarding given architects and ideologies in architecture. Tafuri is remembered for having successfully held meaningful conversation over architecture in a period that viewed talks on architecture a hard task in European and Italian schools of architecture. He did compile a number of issues that were causing discomfort to the minds of architects at that time. His topics can be said to have had reasonable effects to great personalities, and the advent of the Venice school was coming, and it managed to combine elements of city architecture with radical analysis and criticism of ideologies of architecture. 6. Summary of The IAUS and the New York Five Article The efforts of Colin Rowe and Peter Eisenman help show the discontent showing itself in polemically active years. Rowe, while a student, wrote an essay that helped popularize the Le Corbusier style in the country that soon become his obsession as an architect. As a friend to Eisenman Rowe managed to guide him on summer architectural tours of the continent during which he got to write his dissertations based on ideas by Rowe. Rowes transparency earlier fashioned with Robert Slutzky had effectively minimized the semantic dimension of architecture favoring a more abstract and conceptual analysis of the visual form. Eisenman saw the development of the Institute of Architecture and Urban Studies serving therein as a director. Its aim was to be a non-profit think tank that solicited money from private and governmental agencies in order to foster the study of the urban environment. It also served as a center for theoretical research and planning besides having to host symposia and exhibitions. This way these two characters with Eisenman being at the forefront fostered the development of the IAUS as an important architectural hub to promote the research activities of the New York five. 7. Summary of Pars Destruens 1968 to 1973 The years surrounding 1968 saw a lot of political and cultural activities go on over the North America and European theory on the current status quo of the architectural crisis confidence (Pars Destruens, n.d.). This article reviews two stories told by Robert Venturi and Aldo Rossi who as dissatisfaction with the current level of things they both tried to speak out their minds. Venturi presents his case with a special focus on the mannerist phase of modernism with a literary aplomb which to some degree betrays what can be termed as his evolving thoughts. He justifies incorporation of such themes as formal ambiguity and other conjoined subthemes like that of rhetorical fondness drawn from the popular culture as a gesture of protest against the political system currently involved in an unpopular war. On the other hand, Rossi's thought over the same period shows a similar antipathy towards the modernist ideals but from a very contrary perspective. His argument is based on concepts like topology and the reasoning that there is a need to return to these timeless urban types. Tafuri supports more of the polyvalent images of Venturi as it is for the silence of geometrics for Rossi in this case. These polarized actions of the people were characteristic of the changes that steered the growth of architecture. 8. Summary of Ellen (2013)’s Article on the Irrational Exuberance of Rem Koolhaas This story tries to explain to us the success story of one Koolhaas, who made it in the architectural field. It also tells us how and when things were just subject to doom by the new form of existence created by the end of the cold war (Ellen, 2013). After the end of the cold war 1990s and the collapse of the Soviet Union, there followed the advent of various innovations and mile steps including, but not limited to, the rise of China, expansion of neoliberalism, the internet, new economy and the dot-com generation boom. To the architectural sector the era saw the end of welfare and acceptance of the gap between the rich and the poor. Rem Kool has managed however to go through this social, economic restructuring and came out as a leading avant-gardism while the same moment is celebrating the concept of capitalism that had taken route as a modernization idea. From the story, we see how Koolhas managed to brave the unfavorable conditions of the time to become a star in his field. The idea of irrational exuberance coming a short time after the booming of the dot com generation served Koolhas as a catapult to his success. This is the concept that gives an apt introduction into who Rem Koolhas posed to be. 9. Summary of Aric Chen (n.d.) Article From this architectural short article, we learn a lot about characteristic game changer solutions in architecture that would help steer its advancement. The notions of creative independence rather than relying on governmental support for innovation embedded deep into the American culture will see architectural growth in Chinese designers upon its introduction. As a result of the introduction of capitalism following the end of the error where communism was the order of the day, architecture as a subject has seen many exploits becoming one way in which countries express their might (Aric , n.d.). This article tries to explain how the Chinese Architecture has changed over time forcing the exploration at international mainstream level. However, China is still yet to be understood its architecture based on its originality of culture. Many architectures are still studying it including Wang Shu, a renowned Chinese architect. The article further gives us insight about two graduate scholars Troy Thierren and Christopher Barley, who shared a special topic of interest about youth and architecture. This idea of theirs is expected to be a game changer for the modernized community. They moved on to create various organizations to facilitate these activities such as research studios for architectural studies. 10. Summary of Arata Isozaki (2004)’s Article on the Japanese Architect Isozaki is a Japanese architect who developed an architectural style that reflected both Japanese and Western post-modern mannerist traditions. Isozaki has succeeded in his unique design at a time when focus was shifted to ensuring that such existence of an architectural feat was present. As a self-principled graduate student who mostly worked for his employer and mentor professor Tange, he grew his ideas focused on the quality of design rather than completion in a country where focus was on the quality. His work includes the Fujimi Country Club constructed in the Oita city which displays love for pure form characterized by the French neo-classism which is a French be spoken architecture (Arata Isozaki, 2004). Arata was one of the few whose fascination involving Robert Venturi’s principle of complexity and contradiction had an impact that was felt in the western architecture. He has achieved a lot in Europe and the US one of which he was part of exclusive architects enlisted to design buildings throughout the US by Disney. His excellence is a thing to reckon with as one of the outstanding architects of the time. This article features the whole history about this architect with a special focus on the unique contributions he made to the face of architecture both for his Japanese culture and for the world over. 11. Summary of Zaeh (2013) Article on Generic Architecture. The thesis on generic architecture is basically a review on that which is generic in terms of the group of political architecture, which is part of and yet opposed to the absolute production equipment, and viewed as a project designed as an effort destabilize the internal system abilities which has been found to stretch past the public reception of the negative air created in relation to generic architecture. Zaeh (2013) is of the view that the process of production with a generic touch is likely to be incorporate an effective and reliable platform for the explanation of the output design that relies on the emergent arguments of utility and everyday processes of production, income and efforts of residence and housing in case mental capitalism does not recognize any difference existent in life and labour, ones’ income against their salary, activity revolving around politics and work as well as consumer action and the production process. Taking up of the approach from Opera, which argues for development after struggle that recognizes struggle in terms of labour as the strong point for evolution of capitalism as opposed to its implications, there are chances of conception of the advanced capital production architecture as an effort intended to abate the severity of the labour market which is noted for its slogan of increased income for reduced service delivery, that compels capital to review its exploitation patterns while decreasing its equipment to the extreme ends which define possibility. References ACADIA (Conference), In Beesley, P., In Stacey, M., In Khan, O., & University of Waterloo. (2013). ACADIA 2013 adaptive architecture: Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Conference of the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture. Arata Isozaki . (2004). Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved from http://www.bookrags.com/biography/arata-isozaki/ ARIC CHEN. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cmu.edu/interdisciplinary/graphics/ChrisBarleySurfaceMagArticle.pdf Costa, X., Institutfrançaisd'architecture.,Berlage Institute., Exposition internationaled'architecture, &Fundació Mies van der Rohe. (2002). New working and living conditions in cities: Forum et Workshop Venice September 2000, IstitutoUniversitario di Architettura di Venezia, La Biennale di Venezia. Barcelone: Actar. Ellen Dunman-Jones. (April 2013). The Irrational Exuberance of Rem Koolhaas - Places Journal. Retrieved from https://placesjournal.org/article/the-irrational-exuberance-of-rem-koolhaas/ Fletcher, K., &Grose, L. (2012). Fashion & sustainability: Design for change. London, England: Laurence King. SUNWOO, I. (2012). From the “Well-Laid Table” to the “Market Place:” The Architectural Association Unit System. Journal of Architectural Education. 65, 24-41. WILSON, C. H. A. R. L. E. S. R. E. A. G. A. N., BONNER, J. U. D. I. T. H. H., & PENNINGTON, E. S. T. I. L. L. C. U. R. T. I. S. (2013). The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture: Volume 21: Art and Architecture. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press. Zaeh, M. F. (2013). Enabling Manufacturing Competitiveness and Economic Sustainability: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Changeable, Agile, Reconfigurable and Virtual Production (CARV 2013), Munich, Germany, October 6th-9th, 2013. Dordrecht: Springer. Pars Destruens. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://media.johnwiley.com.au/product_data/excerpt/25/14051806/1405180625-149.pd f Read More