P_Gordon

01 From Object to Field

In this first section, Stan Allen makes the claim that a field condition is “capable of unifying diverse elements while respecting the identity of each.” I believe that this concept of field conditions is important to take into architecture because it would allow for a project to complete without forcing every element into the same state or condition. In maintaining the identity of each element, one maintains the interest of the entire field.

02 Geometric vs Algebraic Combination

I personally find the comparison of geometric and algebraic combinations to be very interesting. Generally, Stan Allen makes the claim that geometric combination is based around a series of rules that dictates how the parts fit into the overall whole of the structure or composition. By contrast, algebraic combination allows the parts to simply be parts without a predetermined whole, thus allowing and anticipating growth without destroying or disturbing the current state or iteration. I believe that the algebraic combinations hold power in architecture because they can increase the longevity of the structure; this saves resources and limits the environmental impact of destroying the building by allowing the use to change as the users’ needs change.

03 Walking out of Cubism

When discussing the movement away from cubism, Stan Allen says that the choice and use of material grew to be as fundamental to the creation as the composition or subject. I found the quote, “the artist establishes the conditions within which the material will be deployed and then dictates its flow,” to be a very powerful way to look at the power the artist/creator holds over what they are making. This is particularly important in architecture due to the fact that architects rely on the materials to convey their vision and design.

04 Thick 2D: Moires, Mats

A moire is, according to Stan Allen, a “figural effect produced by the superposition of two regular fields.” This concept has huge implications in terms of architecture, specifically city planning and urban design. The overlaying of different purposes or building and public space types would allow for a much more unified and commingled community that could have less divides throughout. By creating more mixed use and multipurpose spaces, the city benefits and resources are better utilized.

05 Flocks, Schools, Swarms, Crowds

I found the boid experiment to be very interesting and a great display of the power of local relationships over an entire community or larger field. After reading about the bird droids, it would make logical sense that crowds of people tend to follow similar localized rules. Stan Allen makes the claim that field conditions allow for architects to “address the dynamics of use, behavior of crowds, and the complex geometries of masses in motion.” This is more specific to this topic, but I believe that what it says about the potential power of field conditions overall holds true and is something that I will keep with me when designing.