Reading response 1

1. According to Wotton in order for a piece of architecture to be successful it must achieve the concepts of commodity, firmness, and delight. When recalling past buildings studied the TWA terminal quickly comes to mind as a structure that happily meets these three requirements.
Commodity asks the question, “does the building serve its purpose and serve it well?” In the TWA Terminal the architects implemented a series of staircases and bridges, which helps the flow of a large volume of traffic. The traveler is able to successfully navigate from point a to point b in order to arrive at their destination efficiently. This shows a sense of empathy on the behalf of the architect, allowing for a design thats form is cohesive with its function.
Firmness is the idea that the building must be able to stand safely and effectively, protecting those who occupy it. The TWA terminal uses a shell style structure. As reinforced cantilevers and curved steel beams support the mass of concrete that makes up the shell. (Roth 42)
The final piece of the puzzle is delight. The building must be pleasing to The senses of those who inhabit it. According to Nikolas Pevsner it is up to us as architects to shape the space that we must live in. (Roth 55) At the TWA terminal the mind is able to enjoy a space with virtually no 90 degree angles. With long vaults and endless curves the space is symbolic of the technology and freedom that flight encompasses

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2. Throughout time man has constantly been looking back to past people for inspiration in architecture. Time and time again we see classical buildings echoing the glory of the now fallen Greek city-states. This idea of searching our past applies not just to architecture but all forms of arts.. In Chinese society unity harmony and balance govern the arts. (hardwood 17) Also religious influence makes the use of yin and yang a tradition. In the textile seen below we are able to see a marriage of ancient Chinese design and a more modern thought about design. The flowers can been seen as a symbol of purity as they often were in Chinese design. The white spirals contrast with the turquoise background providing a sense or yin and yang, or balance while also using lines of a more modern art nouveau style.

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3. According to hall the way one man perceives his surroundings can differ greatly to that of another’s based solely on the language he speaks or the culture he comes from. When evaluating the space that our classroom is held in I am forced to as the question, “who did this?” It is clear to me that if what Hall is saying is true the one who designed this space and I must not speak the same language. The seats sit so low and close together that a fifty-minute lecture is trumped by frustrating thoughts of discomfort. I understand that as an American we enjoy more personal space than most of the eastern world and I am sensitive to this fact. However this space has been designed for American students.

4. De Bottons writings ask the question, “can architecture provide happiness?” As a young and consequently naive designer I am quick to say yes. Architecture is such a part of our day-to-day lives it is impossible for us not to be affected by it. De Botton writes, “Earlier today, the house rang with the sound of children’s cries and adult voices, but since the last occupant took off a few hours ago, it has been left to sample the morning by itself.” In this personification of architecture it is almost as if the house is just as much a part of the family as those who inhabit it. It is not architectures job alone to secure our personal happiness. Many other aspects of our life make significant contributions as to weather we are happy or not. Through good design principles a space is able to slip into our subconscious and bring us to a state of ease and tranquility. Yet in the same stroke a bad design will create negative emotions without us even realizing it. With a flood of natural light and an organic blend of natural and man made materials composed spatially in a logical fashion the Eames house screams happens from floor to ceiling. Through this design positive feelings and emotions are able to be reinforced in the occupants hearts and minds

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