Comparing to other forms of human creation, architecture is often slow and passive. It takes year... more Comparing to other forms of human creation, architecture is often slow and passive. It takes years, if not decades to complete a public building. From the initial competition entry by Asplund to the actual building, the Gothenburg Law Courts took 24 years to complete. During this time, the shift of aesthetic culture in Sweden from Neoclassicism to National Romanticism and finally to Functionalism has influenced the building’s architectural style. Besides stylistic influences, the paradigm of existing political and social structure in Sweden is undergoing tremendous change. With the Swedish Social Democratic Party (SAP) winning the general election and the majority of parliament in 1932, the country’s policy has become more liberal. A great number of bold economic stimulus schemes were launched to develop better infrastructure for the country. The Gothenburg Law Courts was finally conceived under this stimulus scheme led by the Swedish Social Democratic Party. This essay took interest in the most significant and controversial work of Gunnar Asplund, the Gothenburg Law Courts (1937). The following analysis will focus on different parties’ reactions and interpretation of a Gothenburg Law Courts in an attempt to understand the influence of the building socially and politically.
Critical regionalism seeks to counter the placelessness of Modern Architecture by shaping place a... more Critical regionalism seeks to counter the placelessness of Modern Architecture by shaping place and expressing meaning through the vocabulary of architecture. This essay will focus on the question of the use of material in exemplary contemporary chinese architecture dealing with the issue of critical regionalism.
Architects and Philosophers have long been interested in the idea of autonomy through the act of ... more Architects and Philosophers have long been interested in the idea of autonomy through the act of play. This essay studies how the notion of play contributed to the possibility of autonomy throughout history and why is its architectural reification of the play notion problematic?
Carlo Scarpa’s work is well received by eminent modern architect of his time. However, he remaine... more Carlo Scarpa’s work is well received by eminent modern architect of his time. However, he remained an enigma of modern architecture because his work is more than what meets the eyes. This essay does not seek to define or understand Carlo Scarpa, but rather to find the various connections of structure and ornament in his work or architecture. Critics always said that Carlo Scarpa transcends meaning in his work. In this essay, I am going to observe how Scarpa makes it meaning perceivable by the expressions seen in the structure of the building. The important question here is to ask, ‘How do the two inform each other?’ Structure changes from project to project and varies from material to material. How does ornamentation respond to structure, and in turn, how does structure accentuate ornament? I chose three structural details in three different projects to illustrate the interplay of structure and ornaments in Carlo Scarpa’s work: Aula mario baratto restoration in Venice, Banca Popolare in Verona and Catlevecchio in Verona.
Comparing to other forms of human creation, architecture is often slow and passive. It takes year... more Comparing to other forms of human creation, architecture is often slow and passive. It takes years, if not decades to complete a public building. From the initial competition entry by Asplund to the actual building, the Gothenburg Law Courts took 24 years to complete. During this time, the shift of aesthetic culture in Sweden from Neoclassicism to National Romanticism and finally to Functionalism has influenced the building’s architectural style. Besides stylistic influences, the paradigm of existing political and social structure in Sweden is undergoing tremendous change. With the Swedish Social Democratic Party (SAP) winning the general election and the majority of parliament in 1932, the country’s policy has become more liberal. A great number of bold economic stimulus schemes were launched to develop better infrastructure for the country. The Gothenburg Law Courts was finally conceived under this stimulus scheme led by the Swedish Social Democratic Party. This essay took interest in the most significant and controversial work of Gunnar Asplund, the Gothenburg Law Courts (1937). The following analysis will focus on different parties’ reactions and interpretation of a Gothenburg Law Courts in an attempt to understand the influence of the building socially and politically.
Critical regionalism seeks to counter the placelessness of Modern Architecture by shaping place a... more Critical regionalism seeks to counter the placelessness of Modern Architecture by shaping place and expressing meaning through the vocabulary of architecture. This essay will focus on the question of the use of material in exemplary contemporary chinese architecture dealing with the issue of critical regionalism.
Architects and Philosophers have long been interested in the idea of autonomy through the act of ... more Architects and Philosophers have long been interested in the idea of autonomy through the act of play. This essay studies how the notion of play contributed to the possibility of autonomy throughout history and why is its architectural reification of the play notion problematic?
Carlo Scarpa’s work is well received by eminent modern architect of his time. However, he remaine... more Carlo Scarpa’s work is well received by eminent modern architect of his time. However, he remained an enigma of modern architecture because his work is more than what meets the eyes. This essay does not seek to define or understand Carlo Scarpa, but rather to find the various connections of structure and ornament in his work or architecture. Critics always said that Carlo Scarpa transcends meaning in his work. In this essay, I am going to observe how Scarpa makes it meaning perceivable by the expressions seen in the structure of the building. The important question here is to ask, ‘How do the two inform each other?’ Structure changes from project to project and varies from material to material. How does ornamentation respond to structure, and in turn, how does structure accentuate ornament? I chose three structural details in three different projects to illustrate the interplay of structure and ornaments in Carlo Scarpa’s work: Aula mario baratto restoration in Venice, Banca Popolare in Verona and Catlevecchio in Verona.
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