site investigations

i have finally narrowed my investigation to a site within downtown crossing in boston...

cranial thoughts

THESIS TITLE:

twenty-five to life

[architecture beyond the image]

THESIS TOPIC:

if ornament was a crime of modernity, then imagery is surely a crime of the contemporary. the "fetishization" of the image, or for architecture's sake aesthetics, has played a preeminent role within the contemporary architectural landscape. as this escalates without cultural critique, there will be nothing but seductive imagery and empty, contentless forms that define the architectural profession.

THESIS PREFACE:

over the past thirty to forty years, some will argue even earlier, society became consumed by consumerism. what grew out of capitalist entrepreneurial spirit turned into a pure infatuation for things. the new, the high-tech, the rare, the biggest, the best; people began to judge other people based on material possessions. while good for business, it has bred a culture of superficial beings whose perception of the world is based solely on appearance. on a daily basis, particularly within urban environments, the population is flooded with sensory stimulants to the point of over-saturation. while vision plays a vital role in contemporary society, the remaining senses have become desensitized, ultimately leading to an attitude of indifference toward the deeper understanding of the environment. 

programmatic exploration [cont.]

as of late i have been trying to think of potential program(s) which can be addressed by thesis...


in a nutshell, an art studio and gallery for the at-risk youth in Boston's community.

cranial thoughts

"i'd rather be good than interesting." -mies van der rohe

site investigations

over the weekend and into the early workings of this week, i have been developing ideas on potential site locations. what was presented were some semi-filtered selections of interest within the rural environment as well as the urban fabric. 


the critique was that if the architecture seeks to create an "escape" from the aesthetic and image obsessions prevalent in the contemporary profession, then why locate a site in an already removed, picturesque environment. with that said, this assignment needs reevaluation with more focus in the dense, urban environment.


BOSTON SITE 1:

BOSTON SITE 2:

IRELAND SITE:

programmatic exploration [cont.]

a brief narrative for the following collage...

"as the ordinary door gives way, which path do you choose? circulation runs amok, here then there, then back here again. initially disconcerting, yet somehow intriguing and itching to be explored.

this place, at first glance, is seemingly a place of many places. there is loud music and flashing lights in one direction, the ringing of church bells in another, and children’s laughter and men chatter in yet another…

there is an unexpected silence within. each sense is battling the next, trying to be first to identify what the Hell is going on here.

go ahead, turn around and see, there is still only one door within which this diversity coexists. continue down your chosen path, and when you are done, choose another. there are endless possibilities of experience and interaction."

programmatic exploration

i begin by trying to answer a not-so-simply answered question...


WHAT IS PROGRAM?
-it is not the architecture
-it is an event that occurs within space
-it does not have to adhere to a specific identity
-it is re-programmable
-it does overlap and initiate interaction
-it can be ambiguous
-it is the "arrangement of atmospheres"
-it should not remove itself entirely from form, but form should not be governed  by it


the following diagrams are my interpretation of the conceptual program (shown in previous post). the first example is a study of spacial adjacencies; looking at a singular whole then dividing, dispersing and juxtaposing pieces in an attempt to develop adjacencies between programmatic activities. the second, which is a study of spacial relationships, focuses on the development activities and circulation through section. Notice that each "platform" is cut with a different color section line; this denotes differences in activity. The secondary lines that move vertically from each "platform" begin to speak to ideas of circulatory connections between activities, especially when their are multiple paths to choose from.

cranial thoughts

i have been stagnant on this blog for some time now and i think it is about time i make my resurgence. since last post, topics have continued to evolve and readings have continued to be read. i still find myself thoroughly intrigued by the topic of imagery within architecture, but more importantly within our society. this is an attempt to explain my thoughts, beginning with the latter and transitioning to the former.


over the past thirty to forty years, some will argue even earlier, society became consumed by consumerism. what grew out of capitalist entrepreneurial spirit turned into a pure infatuation for things. the new, the high-tech, the rare, the biggest, the best; people began to judge other people based on material possessions. while good for business, it has bred a culture of superficial beings whose perception of the world is based solely on appearance.


it seems that i have stumbled upon an opportune segue into the study of cultural desensitization. on a daily basis, particularly within urban environments, the population is flooded with sensory stimulants to the point of over-saturation. while vision plays a vital role in contemporary society, the remaining senses have become dulled, ultimately leading to an attitude of indifference toward the deeper understanding of the environment. 


if i may digress for a moment in search of clarity...


imagine your usual day: an alarm(s) awakens you, the morning news greets you at breakfast, and a quick check of the email sends you out the door, do not forget your cell phone. the commute consists of honking horns, blaring sirens, and large crowds of people (most on cell phones). the day consists of working on a computer, surfing the internet on a computer, checking emails on a computer, and chatting with friends on a computer...or a cell phone perhaps. once back home, more of the same ensues as the nightly news plays through dinner, various programs watched shortly thereafter, and a quick check of the email tucks you into bed. (lather, rinse, repeat)


in this very simplified, and quite possibly exaggerated, synopsis of the day-to-day, one can begin to see the types of stimulants, or distractions i am referencing. 


there is a tension that lays within this argument between reality and virtual reality, essential and non-essential. the "fetishization" of the image, or for architecture's sake aesthetics, tends to play the preeminent role in the contemporary architectural landscape. as this escalates without cultural critique, there will be nothing but seductive imagery and empty, contentless forms which define the architectural profession.


my thesis is exploring the idea of escaping the hyperreality in which contemporary society resides through locating the user within a space, free from unnecessary sensory stimuli, which promotes reflectivity and utilizes the entire body for experiential interpretation.