Grinder_ Amanda_Exercise 1.1a

Geometric vs algebraic combination:

There were two types of adding to an existing architecture that both use a systematic way of creating a united field through different units. The Great Mosque of Cordoba used the past shapes to add it and you can see in plan how the field breaks down mathematically into smaller sub sections that are their own unit that combine to make the field. At St. Peters in Rome, they have also added to the building over time by using basic geometry and adding similar units on working with figures not mathematically breaking it down. I conclude that both are acceptable ways of adding on to a space but it depends on the original space how to move forward but change is going to happen either way, its how the architect chooses to build on it.

Walking out of Cubism:

When discussing the rise of minimalist work, I found a certain point intriguing: that when you remove the decorative or anything that is not necessary for the specific design, it allows that design to stand out. It not only allows certain aspects to stand out but it opens the field from just the units being in the painting and making the field limited to the frame, but bringing the field to the viewer and the space between the viewer and the painting. It make you a unit in a larger field which interacts with another part through a minimal and uncluttered field.

Figure Ground:

The opening idea for a section was that “All grids are fields but not all fields are grids”. This was a strong point I believe because there is some form of order and organization of geometric shapes within a grid but there can be other ways to represent a field. The idea of figure and ground was brought up in an interesting way of combining the two as part of one dynamic field. The figure is not completely separate from the ground but rather a moment of intensity within the field and the ground as a point of calm. An example of a figure or a point of intensity on a field is a moire which show the emergence of a figure or where hidden points of intensity are in a field. In a way a two dimensional diagram is capable of depicting moments of intensity in a certain place of a field over time.

Flocks Schools Swarms and Crowds:

The fact that without specific rules on a general shape to be form, a flock is formed every time when given only local rules to mimic that of the surrounding units. I find this phenomenon very interesting because this is shown in many different types of units when given the same restrictions, whether it be birds in a flock or any other group of units. Crowds are somewhat similar in that a group of smaller units are together and create patterns through interaction. The patterns are not as distinct because there are more components to go into it, however patterns emerge just the same. When a units acts in singularity it does not have an effect of when a large group of units are acting at the same time creating a beautiful pattern to be displayed.

Distributed Institutions:

There is an idea put forward that relationships between parts is critical. This is displayed throughout classical architecture through rules of axiality, symmetry, and hierarchy. One way or another there must be a way of organizing the units within a field and this may change throughout time because of changing expectations as well as different systems are organized differently and therefore have a different way of organization of the system.