INTRODUCTION

In the modern world, architecture appears various styles and forms, and the architecture is more like pieces of visual art work rather than “merely buildings”, they are impressive and awesome, to make our world more beautiful. Thus, the modern designers like expressionism painters, express themselves thru their design. It merely like what Julia Morgan said, “Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves.” In recent years, each successful building has its own characters and identity, the famous piece of work is different and unforgettable. However, the artistic consideration and functional design would appear to be polar opposites, such as would emotional and rational, organic and technical, intuitive and feasible, that seem to obey “form ever follows function” this theory which suggested by architect Louis Henry Sullivan. This theory is more like a law that effect designers over a century, it is a principle that the shape of a building or objective should be primarily based upon its intended function or purpose. Yet, this theory seem too outdated already, people would praise a building when it looks different, but do not care what actually the building to serve for. Maybe like Peter Eisenman said once, “the best work is without purpose, who cares about the function?” It perhaps match to what people think today, that people are unlike critics, they only judge how beautiful the architecture is, but neglect the purpose of to build the building and is the form serve to function in a particular architecture.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe said, “I do not want to be interesting, I want to be good.” However, today, good is not enough for people anymore, people need something new, something special and being unexpected. Such as in Malaysia, people proud of Petronas Twin Towers because they are unlike other skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur, they have the stand out height, and impressive appearance that attract more people than other office towers. However, there is no difference between Petronas Twin Tower and other office towers base upon the function, but the former appears more successful and famous. So, what is a good architecture today? Obviously is form more important than function instead of “form ever follows function”, aesthetic value is the key value in modern design because people concern on this value. To follow this trend, designers more and more like expressionism painters to express their characters and inspiration on buildings, in order to satisfy modern people’s demand, to design more and more amazing architecture. But is it possible that can against “form follows function” this theory? Form over function is a correct way that for meet people’s demand or it is a crime?

Organic architecture is a new trend, task for designing buildings that emphasize form over function. “Form follows function” is a correct design theory but maybe no longer suitable for today. If all buildings follows
“Form follows function” this theory strictly, so most of buildings may look same and the city view may become boring for public, so how to talk about beautiful and aesthetic value upon it. Human beings are not machines, human senses are emotional and sensitive, would touch with any beautiful things in the world. If architecture is for decorate our world, obviously, buildings are no longer merely a place protect people from bad weather or animals. Modern people use the architecture after enjoy it. Moreover, there are many positive things happen after people and designers think form is actually more important than function, firstly, expressive architecture like pieces of visual art, that our country more beautiful, secondly, designers seek to save energy thru design the functional form, to make modern architecture more environmental friendly, also architecture become to an icon of a city, or even for a country, designers pay more attention to design good and representative architecture, that starting and leading some new architecture trend, such as green buildings, and lastly, the very important one is, as build more and more these “new” form buildings, it is an impetus to invent and improve new building materials and technologies, and as more materials and technologies invented and improved, that can build more awesome organic buildings in future. This dissertation is going to analyze the advantages, and thru some related examples to prove that form is more important than function today, and it is a right way that leads to come out greater architecture ever.