Session 1 - June 7

[Betsy Ures]

I appreciate your description and images of the two different types of roof tiles. The butterfly tile reminds me of the spanish style roof of my school. I have never talked to students about the justification for the overall style of our school nor the materials used. In order to help students develop an interest in architecture and design, we could do a architectural tour of school campus.

[Betsy Ures]

The tweet from BART is so interesting! Public infrastructure has to be invested in during population growth, but that doesn't seem to happen at an appropriate speed. I liked looking at the cities in the lecture that were designed around water. The spine of the city became a canal system, which I'm sure has become crowded with boats and people during population booms. I would love to hear case studies about cities repsonding to population growth in a different way than in the west. 

[Joanna Bourque]

I am going all the way back to the first discussion week to comment, because I recently visited the Robie House in Chicago and was I struck by how evident the influence of Japanese architecture was on Wright's design for this and other structures. Prior to entering, you are met by a tiered structure with multiple eaves reminiscent of a pagoda, which is built utilizing both traditional and modern building materials: wood, brick, concrete, and steel. Once inside, the impressive use of wood throughout the home unifies the space. Wright incorporates wooden lattice elements, similar to those of Japanese window and door screens, in his light coverings and wall openings, and even extends this design to his iconic art-glass window designs. Wright also includes fixtures that are specific to the design, which progress harmoniously throughout the home.

On the second floor of the home, the simple and open floor plan and the indoor-outdoor concept characteristic of traditional Japanese architecture is found in the two rooms separated by only the central fireplace. The rooms are adjoined on each side of the fireplace and the area above the fireplace is open allowing views extending to the opposite end of the home. Each wall is a window to the surrounding landscape with art-glass windows and doors that can be fully opened inviting the outdoors indoors. 

Wright also incorporates concepts of geomancy in his design which is significant in Asian architecture and urban planning in order to maintain harmony between the human and heavenly realms. Spaces can be defined as sacred based on careful site selection, planning based on cardinal directions, and the axis mundi. The Robie House is in fact situated purposefully, unusual for the time in American architecture, so that two of its opposite walls face to the east and to west, with clear views of the sunrise in the morning and the sunset at night. Wright also makes use of the axis mundi and symbolism of the center of the property in the house design. Before entering the living spaces within the house, you must take steps to the next floor. The light fixture above the first step of the staircase is aligned with the center of the property, which you must cross in order to enter and progress through the rest of the house. 

I am so glad that I took this course to better understand East Asian design and architecture. Much of what I have learned has intersected with other experiences I have had. I recently was part of a book club reading Ai Weiwei's memoir, in which he discussed his initial part in helping to design the Beijing Olympic Stadium. I recently took a course on Korea, which delved a lot more into the exact nature of the cultural exchanges throughout the region and their influences on Korean cultural identity. And, finally, I was able to visit Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House and see first hand the result of the confluence of different styles and traditions in architecture coming together so harmoniously. 

[Miguel Diaz]

Video 2

I found professor Bharne’s explanation of water towns in East Asia quite interesting. I’ve been to Suzhou, as well as a couple of other Chinese water towns, but I haven’t been to Venice. I think that the topic of water towns would make a great research project for students. They can start by tracing the development and importance of water towns in ancient civilizations, then they can move on to the water towns of major cosmopolitan cities like Bangkok.

[Miguel Diaz]

I'm looking forward to assigning a unit to my students on architecture’s relationship to climate and context. What types of materials and what kinds of forms are chosen as a response to climate and context? Why are some structures built of wood while others are built of stone? I plan to ask my students to choose two different countries in East Asia so that they can make a comparison on their architecture’s relationship to climate and context.

[Miguel Diaz]

Hi Ben,

The butterfly tile looks very similar to those that are still used in many parts of Europe and Latin America. A comparative study of Chinese tiles and Italian (or Spanish tiles) Would make an interesting research topic for students. What types of materials were used to create these tiles in different regions and throughout different times in history? What types of buildings were they used on?

[Author]

Posts