Notes

Throughout the book, which talks about the exploration of tectonics in architecture, made me aware of the prevailing architectural trends, emphasizing the need to reevaluate and reintroduce depth and meaning into the built environment. The thesis defined tectonics in architecture as both a science and an art at the same time which made me think that architecture is not just design or about functional spaces but instead a medium for storytelling and expression. It made me aware that the architect’s role is beyond what I thought; designing structures. It also involves crafting narratives that bring buildings and architecture together and to life. What intrigued me the most is the concept of tectonic expression. It made me think and reflect on the building’s ability to tell its own story. Any building has many layers such as their physical structure/elements, the materials, the physical features, organization and even the way it is assembled to contribute to its own narrative. By doing so, tectonics plays a huge role to elevate a building from being just a sign or symbol to instead being a tangible “thing” that has a unique identity and a sense of purpose and history or “own self-consciousness”. This book has challenged me as an architecture student to approach architecture with a renewed sense of purpose to go beyond and think out of the box while embracing and emphasizing on its intrinsic qualities that make a building unique. There was a theory that also struck me the most on design philosophy and priorities within architecture. The notion of the “decorated shed” versus the integration of space, structure and ornament raises so many questions about the importance of architectural design. It made me think about whether buildings should primarily serve functional purposes and then later the application of aesthetics. In accordance with the principle, how architects approach their design has ramifications for the idea of separating construction and image. It emphasizes the need of having a clear design goal and separate budgets for the various architectural components. This can lead to streamline decision-making but at the same time necessitates a deep understanding of the roles that each layer creates and contributes to the building’s overall story or identity. It also mentions three interesting architectural layers; pragmatics, technics and semantics which causes architects to reevaluate how they distribute resources and rank design components. It emphasizes how important it is for architects to strike a balance between practicality, structural soundness, and symbolic significance—each requiring its own budget. It invites me to reflect on the principles of my design and focus on practicality and aesthetics according to the building’s meaning. It also reminded me that architecture is not just about structure but it is about the narrative and the experiences they convey. Part two of the thesis redefines a building as a tangible entity or “thing” with a unique presence. It is explored in two dimensions which resonated with me. First is the inner-consciousness which is how the building interacts and communicates with its external environment while the inner-consciousness is how the building itself acts as a repository of unique properties and characteristics. What also increased my understanding of the built environment is the idea of “place” and “space” and “character. In the book, it states that space is how it's structured-centralized, clustered, etc. while emphasizing the perceptual aspect of it and how we experience it. It was very intriguing to observe and see how our persistent use of “space” instead of “place” reflects our struggle to grasp this concept. According to the concept of “place” it has the role of engaging with the public sphere, something that the abstract notion of “space” cannot accomplish. Instead, “place” embodies collective experiences both in representation and physical existence. This made me think that architecture is not just a space instead it is about creating a meaningful and unique experience that resonates with the community. The book also highlights the distinction among three object conditions; the scenographic, technological and tectonic. Speaking of tectonics, tectonic objects possess a unique and a different quality that bridges and connects the gap between image and technical reality. What was interesting about that is the interplay between structure and enclosure that is considered the tectonic expression that adds depth. It made me think how different and famous architects manipulate these elements to convey different meaningful messages. A range of design options are available depending on whether the enclosure is changed to indicate the existence of a structure or is left exposed.