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 Yet, this theory seem too outdated already, people would praise a building when it looks different, but do not care what actually the building to serve for.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.
Scope of studies:
• Petronas Twin Towers, because it is icon architecture of Kuala Lumpur, even for Malaysia. Yet, it also is an architecture that its form over the function.
• As well as the architecture in Dubai, because Dubai came into people’s sight and it became to famous due to those awesome architecture. And one thing in common among those buildings is form over function.
• Some other representative buildings like Beijing National Stadium, the bird’s nest, etc.
• Some future concept architecture which will or under construction, to shows that to form is more and more important than function in future.
• Some examples of impractical construction, such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, and the Stata Center at MIT in Cambridge. And also some architecture considers both whimsical and practical, such as Antonio Gaudi’s Casa Batllo in Barcelona and Jorn Utzon’s Sydney Opera House. To prove that building can be famous without follow “form follows function” this theory.
• Some green buildings.
The data gathering for this dissertation will thru case studies on local and foreign organic architecture which form over function, interviews local people, as well as to get information from the secondary source, such as books, internet, and magazines, to find more evidence and examples to support the thesis of dissertation.
2.0 A brief comparison of architecture and architects at past and at present
The way of looking beauty of our society has been changed. How do we judge beauty was transformed since the past. People do not stop replacing their perception and judgment because of the changing of technology allow it to happen. The modern high technology makes impossible to reality; people also become numbed since they see such much unbelievable new things.
In the old era, building was merely a place for provide a place for people living or working, and for the architects, they just seek to built the buildings safer, at that time, there is no a clear boundary between architect and handicraftsman. Later on, when time turn to modern period, people still can sense the function and purpose form the initial skyscrapers. And architects were still have the brief that form serve to function, they believe that architecture and design for the masses must be functional, in the sense that they must be acceptable to all and that their well – functioning is the primary necessity (source
However, at the current time, public aesthetic standards and how are they analyze “beauty” is much different from the past, that is also one of the reasons to prompt architects to change their beliefs, as well as the media. Modern architects are no longer the handicraftsman; they are alike to the expressionism painters, express their inspiration on architecture. And the other reason make architects so courageous are the development of building materials and technologies. Thus, the architecture world absolute changed, form separate from its function and purpose, and become to a main selling point for architecture. People definitely would praise how beautiful a building is rather than praise its function, which gives a wild stage to architects build more and more organic and bombastic architecture.
3.0 Positive of the new architecture
3.0.1 The impressive architecture like pieces of visual art work that design the world more beautiful
Architecture actually originally was inseparable from art, it is a creative art which the final result can appeal or conflict by public sense. But nowadays, architecture looks more similar to the visual art, impressive and awesome. Some future concept architecture, are presented merely through drawings to show their concepts, they will create new visions of human life potentially, and they will become to the art work that stand on the earth, if technologies allowed to build these architecture one day. For example, the concept urban farm designed for New York City which will reduce the problems associated with food shortage, mileage and connection between the producers and consumers (http://www.tuvie.com). The shape of building is like dragonfly wing, but the form does not link to building’s function. The building itself is complex which includes housing, offices, research labs and communal areas separated from farms, orchards and production rooms. This is a real good idea to build such an eco building in the city centre, it breaks the tradition image of farms in people mind, no matter it functional and practical or not, but it is wonderful, and attractive enough to catch people’s attention. It is also a success, it shows the passion for stay friendly to environment from architects, and indeed, it is a unique awesome art work on earth if it can be build. Moreover, another future concept building, the famous lily pad floating city, a water city being built in Dubai, it takes the advantage of green technologies. It appears pretty and fantastic that hardly to think this is the housing. The future concept architecture indeed like expressionism art work, public cannot know what they are if merely from appearances. And actually, the function is not important for people, because they already marvel at the fantastic forms and the great achievement from architects from the first impression.
3.0.2 New forms can bring out new uses
Today, “saving energy” become to a popular topic in everywhere which also includes in architecture filed. Hence, more and more designers tend to find out design inspiration base on how to save energy, that to make modern architecture more environmental friendly. And now, the popular way to design a building for energy saving is to change the form of an architecture. For instance, the London city hall, designed by Foster and partners, besides its modern appearance, the genuine purpose of this design is for save energy, and indeed, it can save over ¼ energies more than other office towers. It built as a headquarters building for London's mayor and the Greater London Authority that became to a new landmark for the city, attract a lot of tourists every year. When at the first glance to London city hall, people would difficult to believe it is a public service building. Because it looks more like a moon base upon the land rather than a city hall. This building has no front or back. Its shape is derived from a geometrically modified sphere, designed to minimize the surface area exposed to direct sunlight, it can save 75 percent energy than a typical air-conditioned office building. Moreover, the north facade, which will receive minimal direct solar heat gain, has unshaded glazing, which minimizes unwanted solar heat gain, insulated panels further reduce this gain, and they reduce heat loss to half that of a typical office building. And the south facade inclines so that each floor shades the offices below, these design methods are actually can reduce the use of electricity. Ventilation air enters offices through grilles in the floor. When the vents in the facade are open, local cooling and heating systems are deactivated to minimize energy waste. Moreover, during the winter, heat and moisture are recovered from the outgoing air, and hygroscopic thermal wheels condition incoming air. The water circulates through hollow structural members, and, without the need for mechanical chillers, the system uses far less energy than air conditioning units. After circulating, the groundwater is used to flush toilets, reducing the building's demand on the conventional city water supply. (Description based on an article by
The main feature of the interior is a spiral ramp/ staircase, open to the public, curving to the top of the building.
3.0.3 Icon of cities and countries
Several years ago, Dubai is an inglorious country. But since 1994, suddenly the people from all over the world start to pay close attention on Dubai, because the first amazing and fantastic modern luxury hotel in the world started built. The Burj Al Arab, It was doubted by many people at that time, it is unbelievable to them build such an organic shaped building; especially a part of the building was built underwater. However, Burj Al Arab as a starter, designers and architects started to turn their inspiration into reality bravely, and public began to unsatisfy to the box shaped buildings. People shocked by the form and the luxury ornamentals of the building but do not care how functional is it. Yoshio Taniquchi once said, “architecture is basically a container of something. I hope they will enjoy not so much the teacup, but the tea.” Obviously, people no longer only enjoy the teacup so much, their demand also much than before, they require the teapot should be beautiful, as well as it should be unique, attractive, luxury and organic. Later on, the Burj Al Arab become to an important landmark and tourist resort in Dubai after it built, and it is an unforgettable icon represents Dubai. After Burj Al Arab, Dubai government continues to build other buildings in order to bring more economic benefit to the country and make the country more famous. (Will give further examples)
• As build more and more these “new” form buildings, it is an impetus to invent and improve new building materials and technologies. (will find examples that what are the new materials or technologies invented because to achieve engineers requirement when build the modern architecture)
• If every buildings follow “form follows function” this theory strictly, so most buildings may look same and the city view may become boring for public.
Since thousands years ago, the buildings present in geometric shapes, no matter in eastern or western countries. Even though the first skyscraper, the Wainwright building also formed as a box. Due to the limitation of using materials and technologies, people designed their gardens or the surrounding to make the buildings is different from others, like the landscape garden in China. But for today, designers adopted the greens blended into architecture, to make architecture much differ to before.
• Suit the modern society, and suit the modern people needs as well, that want to be different, and willing to be standout. (fashion+architecture) Fashion and architecture grew out of the conviction that something was afoot in the relationship between fashion and architecture. To give an example is the museum Guggenheim – SoHo, New York (a museum, or a shop?)
4.0 Do we really need to follow “form follows function” strictly?
That would lead architecture to death and kill architects’ creativity. We are living the modern world, we ought to look forward to future but not regress to the past.
5.0 Conclusion
Summarize positive of new architecture, meanwhile, will analyze some negative points of them. No matter “form ever follows function” or some other opposite critical, the people, the architects and, the architecture, should be develop follow the time and suitable for different period of history, that can be called as a good architecture. For example, we define some architecture as a great one, but it may not acceptable by public at the era it was built.
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