ARCH 507 – Sustainable Theory and Practice – Week 1

Deconstructivist Architecture

After reading the piece on deconstructive architecture I feel that I can fully understand it and appreciate it more than I have before.  It has always been a confusing term to me but the reading helped me understand the background of deconstructivist philosophy, constructivism and how it evolved into deconstructivist architecture.  Also, while reading the piece I could not help but think of the building designed by Frank Gehry in Seattle, the Experience Music Project.  I had the chance to visit this museum last month and even before reading this piece, I found myself admiring and being somewhat frightened by the alien forms and the unpredictable shapes the structure made.  I used to despise that building, but I now have to admit I can appreciate it a little more now.  Being inside the building and looking up at the undulating steel structure seemed unsettling to me and yet at the same time it felt like a solid structure over my head.

What is your striving as an Architect?  What do you want to do in your work and why?

Simply put I like that architects have the creative ability and capacity to solve solutions to improve communities and help shape them to be stronger.  In one of my classes there was a discussion about whether socially conscious architecture is more of a responsibility or an opportunity.  I feel that the answer is both.  Our field demands that we develop the knowledge, ideas and problem solving skills to find solutions to any design problem put in front of us.  When we get the chance to design something to help those in need it becomes an opportunity for both the architect and community.  I find I like hearing stories about buildings that include the community and end users in the process and design.  When the project is completed and the feedback from the users comes back it is almost always positive making it a successful project.