Contemporary Interiors and Architecture Final Test Review

Deconstructivism

  • Timeline and Context: The movement started in the 1970s and is categorized as part of the Postmodern era.
  • Core Philosophy: Unlike traditional Postmodernism, "decon" (deconstructivism) utilizes little or no historical references.
  • Major Designers (V.I.P.s):     * Frank Gehry     * Peter Eisenman     * Bernard Tschumi     * Daniel Liebeskind     * Zaha Hadid

Peter Eisenman (V.I.P.)

  • Project: House III (V.I.B.):     * Identified by the term "DENPLATZ".     * Structural Design: Features two physical structures overlapping at various angles.     * Architectural Value: Eisenman believed that the finished physical structure was unimportant.     * Definition of Architecture vs. Building: Eisenman stated, "The ‘real architecture’ only exists in the drawings. The ‘real building’ exists outside the drawings. The difference here is that ‘architecture’ and ‘building’ are not the same."
  • Project: Wexner Center for the Visual Arts:     * Location: Columbus, Ohio.     * Timeline: 1985−891985-89.     * Design Elements: Utilizes overlaid grids.     * Impact: There are rumors that the design caused disorientation in the building's occupants.

Frank Gehry (V.I.P.)

  • Project: Gehry House (1979) (V.I.B.):     * Location: Santa Monica.     * Methodology: An experimental deconstruction of an existing house.     * Materials: Construction involved salvaged materials and industrial refuse.     * Inspiration Quote: "We were told there were ghosts in the house… I decided they were ghosts of Cubism."
  • Project: Walt Disney Concert Hall (V.I.B.):     * Location: Los Angeles.     * Timeline: 1989−961989-96.     * Acoustic Engineering: Gehry created a 1:101:10 scale model to test the acoustics for every single seat in the venue.     * Social Design: The hall features no boxes and no balconies; this choice was made to ensure there was no social distinction among the audience members.
  • Project: Jay Pritzker Pavilion:     * Location: Chicago.     * Timeline: 20042004.

OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture)

  • Background: Design firm co-founded by Rem Koolhaas.
  • Project: CCTV Building (Beijing, 2004):     * Functional Design: The building was designed as a loop to facilitate a linear work flow.     * Structural Symbolism: The density of the grid used in the design reflects the complexity of the work performed inside.     * Associated concepts include "ELEMENTS" and the Chinese term "元素图".

Zaha Hadid (V.I.P.)

  • Project: The Contemporary Arts Center (Cincinnati, Ohio, 1998):     * Design Concept: Characterized by independent spaces and described as a "3-d puzzle".     * Historic Milestone: Hadid was the first woman to design an American art museum.
  • Project: Eli & Edythe Broad Art Museum (Michigan State University, 2009 Proposal):     * Conceptual Basis: The forms were inspired by pedestrian traffic patterns.     * Thematic Elements: The contrasts in the design represent the interplay between the city and campus grids.
  • Subdivisionism Connection: Associated with responsive geometries and futuristic, fluid shapes.

Daniel Libeskind (V.I.P.)

  • Project: Villa Homes (2009):     * Commercial Model: These are made-to-order houses designed to be delivered and assembled anywhere in the world.     * Eco-Friendly/Functional Features:         * The skin is made of Zinc, which collects heat.         * The structure uses photo-sensitive film to collect electricity.         * The roof is designed for rainwater collection.

S.O.M (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill)

  • Project: "1776" Freedom Tower (One World Trade Center):     * Location: Site of the former WTC in New York.     * Height context: Scaled against other New York landmarks including the Empire State Building, Bank of America Tower, Chrysler Tower, and New York Times Building.
  • Project: Burj Khalifa (UAE, 2009):     * Status: World’s tallest building.     * Statistics: Minimum height of 2,275 feet2,275\,feet with 160160 storeys.     * Inspiration: Influenced by the Great Mosque of Samarra.     * Structural Features: Design includes a "Y" shaped base and staggered setbacks.

The New Styles: Cybertecture, Organitech, and Subdivisionism

  • Cybertecture: defined as the merger of architecture and digital technology. These buildings possess the ability to monitor and adapt.
  • Organitech: defined as the merger of architecture and nature, focusing on natural forms.
  • Subdivisionism (MAD Architecture):     * Project Example: Absolute Towers.     * Aesthetics: Rounded, curvaceous, and aerodynamic.     * Technical Approach: Relies on responsive geometries and analytical knowledge of circulation and the environment.     * Visual Quality: Described as futuristic shapes that remain fluid and elegant.

Additional Notable Contemporary Works

  • Austin City Hall (2004): Located in Austin; modern municipal architecture.
  • Austin Federal Courthouse (2006): Regional contemporary judicial architecture.
  • Rotating Skyscraper Proposal: Proposed by David Fischer for Dubai; represents a new direction in dynamic architecture.