Peter Zumthor Questions

1. How does Peter Zumthor talk about the "Magic of the Real" and explain how this compares, in terms of the subtleties, to Michael Benedikt's "Architecture for Reality"?

Zumthor talks writes about how to create certain atmospheres that affect ones mood and that can be affected by ones mood, but Benedikt only talks about the how ones moods can be affected by atmospheres.

2. Material Compatibility, Temperature of a Space and Levels of Intimacy are some conditions that both Peter Zumthor, and Richard Serra, in “Weight and Measure”, make a point of articulating when consider space. Where in their explanation of these overlapping conditions are they similar and where do they differ?

Both deal with the weights of certain structures and how it make people feel about that space and how they relate to it. Where both of these differ is the want of notice by the person experiencing the space.

3. Zumthor looks towards experiential conditions when creating architecture, what are other methods architects use when generating architecture and what is the corresponding building?

Other methods architects use when generating architecture is 3d modeling. Last year an architect from hks came and showed us his digital model of the new cowboys stadium that they built. This helped them in the design process and ended up being very close to the building that was built.

4. For Zumthor at the end of the day, after figuring use, sound, place, light and the other listed conditions, if the coherence isn’t beautiful the process is started again. Beauty is simultaneously subjective for the individual, as held “in the eye of the beholder”, and universally recognizable. Define your subjective understanding of what beautiful architecture is.

My understanding of what beautiful architecture is, is hard to define. I believe that it is also in the eye of who is looking and it or judging it. I think that if you are the architect of a building and you think its a beautiful piece then you have successfully built beautiful architecture. NO matter what you building it there is going to be someone that disagrees with at least one thing about it so thats what means to me that it is up to a certain individual to decide if that work is beautiful to decide. In my opinion something that is green and has less impact negatively on the environment the more beautiful it is. Also pleasing to the eye never hurts.

Book Topics

- Openings That Frame

- Shapes That Recur

Memory Section With Grid

Memory Plan With Grid

Shoe Two Part Model

Shoe Negative

Shoe Cast

Memory Plan

Shoe Plan

Seminar Questions

Stan Allen describes field conditions as “bottom-up phenomena: defined not by overarching geometrical schemas but by intricate local connections.” What are some field condition examples that can be found in the road systems of Lubbock?

Grid Highway, Labeling of Streets, Stop Signs, Grading of the road

In part 1, Allen distinguishes a geometric relationship of classical architecture from an algebraic combination of the Cordoba Mosque. How do these two architectural examples differ?

Geometric. Was built in units and replicated over and over.

What are some other examples of field conditions that can be observed around campus?

Sidewalks, Football games, Parking lots, and bathrooms.

How does a field condition stand to redefine the relation between figure and round?

It adds another element

What is the reality Michael Benedikt writes about?

Differences in types styles and realities of architecture.

Benedikt describes degrees of reality in architecture as: Architecture of Dreams, Architecture of Games, Architecture of Illusions, Architecture of Enactments and Architecture of Jokes. What are some example buildings that fall under these categories?

Modern housing, English building,most buildings on tech campus

Benedikt describes “direct esthetic experience of the real” as being moments without symbolism. Where in our environment does symbolism occur and where in our environment is symbolism absent? What is an example of this situation?

Symbolism - Catholic Church, Campus, Chrysler building, Home Depot

Without - Parking lots Space under power lines

Although Benedikt’s position pulls examples from the 70‘s and 80‘s to illustrate that an architecture of reality is polar to the post-modern architecture movement, this condition continues to exist today. Where in the city would be examples of an architecture of reality and post-modern architecture?

Toilet Pot by Duck, Suburban Architecture, and Las Vegas

The four components that define the “realness” of an architecture for reality are: presence, significance, materiality, and emptiness (in two categories). How do these components relate to architecture? and What are some examples of architectural elements that make up these conditions?

Presence - Speaks for itself. Feeling achieved from being in a certain space.

Significance - Meaning to the people. Collective value

Materiality - how a material is used. Not in a jokingly manor.

Emptiness - sometimes implied. Can be a place to warm you up to enter the next space.

2 Hand

4 Plan

4 Elevations

Field Drawing #2

Field Drawing #1

Combination #2

Combination #1

Planes Drawing

Lines Drawing

Point Drawing

Base Photo #2

Base Photo #1