Exercise 1a
Paragraph 1: geometric vs. algebraic combination
One sentence really stood out to me here, so much so that I opened this document so I could start writing on it. The two themes of building either in parts which make up a whole and parts that have the ability to stand alone are very interesting because of the possible traditions that they arose from. The first theme is introduced with the Great Mosque of Cordoba in Spain. What started out as a small place for prayer slowly grew into a huge structure; the theme of repetition remained however. Each addition complemented what already stood and further expounded upon the building. The second theme, independent parts coming together, was introduced with the Venice Hospital designed by Le Corbusier. In his design the hospital has “no single focus”, it simply expands in all directions, repeating forms of wards for the sick to be housed in. Both buildings highlight repetition in different ways, but still manage to use the methods effectively.
Paragraph 2: walking out of cubism
A stand out sentence from this section for me was: “Local relationships are more important than overall form.” This idea has many applications, to real world communities to pieces of art. To me, this implies that if there is harmony in small relationships, then the overall piece will be more attractive. A common fear is that a piece of art will look bad once someone is finished working on it. The drive to make the final, whole product look good can distract from the finer details in the piece. In communities too, if on a national scale people are worried about appearance that there is a push to create unity it fails if the local communities are not unified. To create something large and robust, one has to focus on the details and small relationships before the final product.
Paragraph 3: moirés, mats
Unexpected patterns and chaos coming out of the combination of two orderly and systematic patterns is an interesting phenomenon. One would think that ordered systems coming together would create more order. The opposite happens however, because ordered systems do not take into account interacting with other systems. An ordered system is a closed system, where patterns do not deviate. So by introducing a completely new system, lines are crossed and new and exciting interactions can happen.
Paragraph 4: Flocks, schools, and swarms
This section reminded me of the walking out of cubism one with the idea that local relationships are more important than the overall form. In the context of flocks, with no focus on creating a large singularly moving form, birds are still able to create a pattern and flock by keeping local relationships in their minds as they fly. With each bird following a set of rules, a ripple like effect occurs, having each bird’s decision hinge on the ones around it, no bird is left out of the flock and they all end up moving together with no idea what the larger image is.
Paragraph 5: distributed institutions
It seems that like most things in America and more so the Western world, age old institutions and precedents are being rendered aged and rigid. The inability to adapt with change and new standards have left American politics, ideologies, and architecture in the false golden age. Those clinging to the past as a better time, are keeping these things they hold dear from evolving into something that can stand the test of time. Political and educational buildings were once designed with longevity in mind, by Western standards, but now what was once classic shapes and structures are viewed as archaic and uninspired. At a time where building and drafting has limitless possibilities, why do some people hold on to conventions that do not reflect the present times and ideas?
