BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303

SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (August 2017)

Name: Rhianna Mae Storey ID No.: 0325369

Lecturer: Mr. Prince Favis Isip Tutorial Time: 10.00am
Reader/Text Title: Urbanism as a Way of Life Synopsis No: 1(B)
Author: Louis Wirth
In Urbanism as a Way of Life, the reader focuses on sociological significance in defining the urban
environment and argues that the three fundamental characteristics of cities are the large population size,
population density, and social heterogeneity. Wirth believes these three factors are the main contributors in
making up the urban identity.

The written piece is not in any way an attempt to redefine the meaning of a city, but it is more of an emphasis
of specific urban characteristics that can be considered a form of human affiliation. The author attempts to
select aspects of urbanism which shows how it is an evident form of human group life and formulates theories
based on observation and research of the urban society.

Among the points elaborated by the reader are how the increasing number of individuals in the city establish
a higher potential difference between them. Relationships become impersonal and arise from selfish
intentions as there is a lack of emotional attachment. Secondary contacts are prominent in the city life and as
quoted on page 192, “Our acquaintances tend to stand in a relationship of utility to us...”. While a high
population density diversifies the social structure and exposes the urbanite to contrast and variety in many
aspects, it has created a circumstance where there is a physical closeness yet social separation.
Specialization occurs which divide the city according to function and exposure to contrasting backgrounds
produces a higher tolerance towards differences. Heterogeneity in the urban milieu builds various layers in
the social structure but gives rise to mass influence and depersonalization.

As a reader, it is intriguing how whether it be looking at urbanism from an ecological perspective or as a form
of social organization or an even an idea, the author has captured the sense and effect of social relations and
behavior in illustrating the perception of the city itself. He studies the good and bad of urban sociology which
determines what category the city would fall in based on the levels of impact. I agree to an extent on how
social engagement and differences make up an urban milieu but I would have preferred a stronger relation to
other urban elements to get a larger scope and understanding on the micro connections that lead up to the
formation of a city.
Word Count: 383 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.
 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (August 2017)

Name: Rhianna Mae Storey ID No.: 0325369

Lecturer: Mr. Prince Favis Isip Tutorial Time: 10.00am
Reader/Text Title: Body, Memory and Synopsis No: 2(B)
Architecture Author: Kent C Bloomer, Charles W Moore

The authors Kent Bloomer and Charles Moore give a different outlook on architecture as they talk about the
emotional and experiential aspects of buildings and spaces. This wittily written piece, a product of both the
authors teaching efforts, emphasizes on the significance of the human body and mind as the core of one’s
understanding of true architectural form.

“…Making a world that is a sympathetic extension of our sense of ourselves.” (pg71) is a statement that
summarizes Bloomer and Moore’s proposal of interpreting architecture from the boundary of the individual
body. They elaborate on how boundaries of the inhabited world, whether it be formed based on the human
body or memories or by natural landscape of our environment can be represented by the four elements -
places, paths, patterns and edges.

They question architecture today and argue that the lack of opportunity for transactions between the body,
imagination and environment is the cause of hollowness in modern dwellings in terms of relation with its
inhabitants. It is apparent that the more we invest our emotions and senses into the buildings we reside in,
the stronger the memory or impact of the place becomes. Choreography becomes a more vital term than
composition in architectural design as it indicates more clearly the implications of the human body and its
inhabitation as well as the experience of the place. What makes a place unique and increases the chance of
us remembering it is the extent of how it has affected our body and the level of association it has generated
for us personally.

This book is truly an eye-opening introduction to architecture and brings back focus to humanism in
architectural thought. I could not agree more that architecture is an experience. Good architecture is capable
of bringing out senses and memories that enhance the human connection to the building. It is evident that a
higher understanding and consideration of the relation of the body and the building dynamics should be
reintroduced into contemporary designs today.
Word Count: 332 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.
 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (August 2017)

Name: Rhianna Mae Storey ID No.: 0325369

Lecturer: Mr.Prince Favis Isip Tutorial Time: 10.00am
Reader/Text Title: Space, Place, Memory and Synopsis No: 3 (pg194-201)
Imagination Author: Juhani Pallasmaa
In this comprehensive written piece, Pallasmaa portrays architecture not only as an experience, but as a
combination of surfaces, textures and visuals that are able to connect to users on an emotional level and
produce associations with us through our own memories sparked from the product of conscious design
thought input. The author cleverly includes an abundance of quotes from great architects, philosophers and
writers that strengthen the messages he wants to come across to the reader. He also incorporates his very
own experiences in conveying thoughts and theories and this somehow creates a more intimate and relatable
understanding to his teachings.

Pallasmaa emphasizes on how we internalize our surroundings and project them onto us on a physical and
mental level, integrating them into our past, present or future self. He elaborates that memory is far more than
just an electrochemical process and that it involves engagement of the whole body, quoting Edward S.Casey’s
line “There is no memory without body memory” from his book Memorizing: A Phenomenological Study
(pg195). Architecture is capable of amplifying our emotions by reflecting them back onto ourselves as if they
were produced somewhere in our surrounding exterior. In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, speed and transparency
which are pioneering factors of modernity have reduced the activation of remembrance in users in terms of
experiential reality. Pallasmaa believes that from an emotional point of view, architecture is a low-energy form
of art which acts as a screen to project our memories and emotion. He quotes that what is perceived interacts
with what is remembered (pg 198) and agrees with Joseph Brodsky’s argument on how artists and architects
should be designing for their predecessors in order to create artistic novelty to move its current users.

I am intrigued by Pallasmaa’s ideas of the importance of collaboration of architecture and the past and the
role of remembrance in affecting user experience. As he talks about how speed and the growth of modernity
prohibit the user from fully associating themselves with the spaces or a building, I would have appreciated it
if he could have elaborated more on how we as future designers could merge the two together as rapid world
development is inevitable. Nonetheless, it is wonderful to learn the importance of emotional connection
between life and art that is expressed in architecture and to understand that it is not just about technicality
and structures that are built to shelter us.
Word Count: 402 Mark Grade
Assessed by: Date Page No.
 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (August 2017)

Name: Rhianna Mae Storey ID No.: 0325369

Lecturer: Mr.Prince Favis Isip Tutorial Time: 10.00am
Reader/Text Title: Towards a Critical Synopsis No: 4 (B)
Regionalism: Six Points for an Architecture Author: Kenneth Frampton
Resistance

In this written piece, Kenneth Frampton lays down applicable methods of tackling Critical Regionalism in order
to apply this approach in architecture and urban design to the fullest. He explains how this approach should
acquire elements from modern architecture and at the same time take geographical context and surroundings
of the building into consideration.

The fourth point that Frampton talks about is The Resistance of the Place-Form. When Critical Regionalism
is applied to a design, designers should understand that there is no physical limitation of space and the
characteristics of the place cannot be represented by an independent building alone. He proposes that we
look at borders of spaces as a starting point of a place instead of its ending. He also stresses the significance
of exterior qualification of a place is to its spatial organization. Frampton then explains the relation and contrast
between culture and nature. He quotes “Critical Regionalism necessarily involves a more directly dialectical
relation with nature than the more abstract, formal traditions of modern avant-garde architecture allow.”
(pg26). Only when architectural structures are built on the natural environment we can see the intertwining of
both these elements and it is easier to derive a relationship with its concept. The last point of architecture
resistance that the author talks about is the Visual Versus the Tactile. He argues that design experience
should not stop at only a visual standpoint but involve all the senses which can be activated by the use of a
variety of material.

Frampton’s thoughts and research forms a theoretical yet sensitive perspective of architecture. I appreciate
how he has separated the components into very clear parts, defining and highlighting the six conceptual
theories. It is very interesting how he breaks away from the idea that architecture revolves around technology
and history. I agree that we have to learn to analyze local character instead of adapting traditions without
question, protect our history and at the same time learn to adapt futuristic qualities in design.

Word Count: 333 Mark Grade

Assessed by: Date Page No.