Art, architecture and the enviroment

1. for each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

     Architecture: the Science of Design is about skyscraper design and how it has been influenced by the use of new materials like steel and glass in order to avoid the impact of natural phenomena like winds, precipitation and earthquakes. The video explains how architecture has had to adapt to the changing society around it as the demand for new uses for buildings grows.

     Of all the risks that are discussed, it seems that skyscrapers are particularly susceptible to wind. To understand how this affects buildings, architects frequently use wind tunnels to measure its effect which in turn greatly influences how a building is designed. Wind tunnels also help to determine other things like snow accumulation and the quality of air around the building.

   With an increase in demand for taller buildings, civil engineers are starting to incorporate science and environmental considerations into their designs. Many modern buildings are nowadays computerized to regulate the environment inside them to make “greener” buildings. For example, energy consumption is regulated if the computer senses that the house is unoccupied and might then turn the air conditioning off. Or the vacuum cleaner will stop when the phone rings.

     The use of concrete in architecture and its importance over time is also discussed in the video. Concrete is very versatile because it is adaptable and can be used above and under water in almost any type of structure. Different types of concrete, (for example, plain, high-performance, reinforced, pre-stressed etc) and how they are changing the way we design buildings are also discussed. It seems, from watching the video, that concrete is here to stay and will always have a role to play in spite of the use and discovery of newer composite materials in building construction.

    The second video, Last Call for Planet Earth: Sustainable Development and Architecture, discusses the changes building designers are using to incorporate environmental awareness. The aim of the architects is to make buildings that are pleasing to look at, urbane and that are also part of a long-term solution to the problem of environmental degradation. Private companies in particular are beginning to be part of this trend of combing nature and man-made features into their designs. However, in certain places like China which is currently going through a construction boom, designers seem to be having a problem with this new concept. According to the video, private ownership is not viewed the same way as it is in the West and designers don't have as much leeway in what they want to do.

     The video also talks about the ways designers are managing energy consumption through different means like “integrated systems,” underfloor heating, cooling, ventilation and use of solar energy. Rooftop gardens which help to cool the building are starting to become more common. This is important because by creating green spaces on what was previously concrete, the building becomes more efficient and ultimately cheaper to maintain.

     The passive house concept is particularly interesting because structures are built specifically to have a “friendly” relationship with their environment. Widely accepted standards are also being put in place to make these types of structures easier and cheaper to build. These houses are made primarily using wood and glass with straw insulation to minimize heat loss and emissions generation.

     The designs used for these buildings are different from the designs used in office complexes because such complexes are usually significantly larger than structures used for non-commercial purposes.In bigger buildings, there are typically more people per square foot and the use of space varies to a much larger extent. There is also more exchange of air, which makes the problem of cooling more important than in buildings used primarily as dwellings.

     This video concludes by saying that the future of architecture depends largely on how we can better use air, water and the earth to create environmentally sustainable spaces. The process of making new designs is ongoing and the change will not be sudden or abrupt but rather, like art itself, will be slow and gradual its future can’t be easily mapped or predicted.

 2. How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

     Unlike the two videos that I watched, the text mainly concentrates on the different types of architecture available to humans over the past thousand or so years. For example, the text talks about loadbearing construction, roof arch and vault, domes etc. and goes into great detail about the various histories involved.

     Although sustainability and green architecture are mentioned, it does not go into as much detail as the videos do. Both the text and video do agree that environmental concerns are largely about the materials being used. Also, both agree that the new opportunities being opened up by environmental awareness will have to combine science and art working in tandem if the new movement is to succeed.

    The point is made by both that people are increasingly looking at the places where they live and work as “machines for living” i.e. things that were once considered inanimate are increasingly being looked at as living breathing organisms.

3. What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of Architecture?

     The videos are very detailed and present divergent points of view which when combined give a very clear picture of where the future of architecture is headed. I now understand that architecture is not simply about designing structures for work, living and leisure but also about building spaces which coexist almost as equals with the environment around it. This sort of planning, in which what we build gives back to the environment instead of just taking away from it, is very important as human population increases and the resources around us dwindle. Ultimately, the goal in all this is to create a balance between nature and our needs that is as sustainable as possible.

4. Why did you choose the films that you watched?

     I picked these two particular videos partly because the film on imperial Rome was unavailable. I picked Architecture: The Science of Design because I wanted to know more about how science is part of design and how the “internet of things” will affect us in the years to come. I wanted to see if the technological predictions of 1990 were accurate. I found out that while some of the predictions have come to pass, we are still a long way from the vision imagined in the video.

     

I picked Last Call for Planet Earth: Sustainable Development and Architecture because I am interested in how other countries, particularly in Europe, are moving away from designs that are only useful in providing shelter for humans while ignoring environmental needs. I wanted to get a feel for the level of development that is being sought after in the designs of new buildings. I also wanted to know if these new designs are just part of a fashion trend preferred by the very rich or whether they are something we all can afford, adapt and accept. I concluded that in a few decades, these new architecture will be the norm.