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    Architecture Vs Building by Eyuel Kokeb - Theory of Architecture

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    Eyuel Kokeb
    This document discusses the definition of architecture and whether a bird's nest can be considered architecture. It begins by discussing the "blind instinct theory" which states that living creatures are born with innate traits that allow them to behave naturally through instincts. It then argues that while bird nest building is guided by instinct, it is not considered architecture because architecture requires conscious planning and design. The document explores different views on what constitutes architecture and discusses examples from famous architects like Zaha Hadid and Louis Kahn to illustrate thoughtful design of space as the core of architecture.

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    Architecture Vs Building by Eyuel Kokeb - Theory of Architecture

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    Eyuel Kokeb
    36 views7 pages
    This document discusses the definition of architecture and whether a bird's nest can be considered architecture. It begins by discussing the "blind instinct theory" which states that living creatures are born with innate traits that allow them to behave naturally through instincts. It then argues that while bird nest building is guided by instinct, it is not considered architecture because architecture requires conscious planning and design. The document explores different views on what constitutes architecture and discusses examples from famous architects like Zaha Hadid and Louis Kahn to illustrate thoughtful design of space as the core of architecture.

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    Architecture vs Building by Eyuel Kokeb - Theory of Architecture

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    This document discusses the definition of architecture and whether a bird's nest can be considered architecture. It begins by discussing the "blind instinct theory" which states that living creatures are born with innate traits that allow them to behave naturally through instincts. It then argues that while bird nest building is guided by instinct, it is not considered architecture because architecture requires conscious planning and design. The document explores different views on what constitutes architecture and discusses examples from famous architects like Zaha Hadid and Louis Kahn to illustrate thoughtful design of space as the core of architecture.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    36 views7 pages

    Architecture Vs Building by Eyuel Kokeb - Theory of Architecture

    Uploaded by

    Eyuel Kokeb
    This document discusses the definition of architecture and whether a bird's nest can be considered architecture. It begins by discussing the "blind instinct theory" which states that living creatures are born with innate traits that allow them to behave naturally through instincts. It then argues that while bird nest building is guided by instinct, it is not considered architecture because architecture requires conscious planning and design. The document explores different views on what constitutes architecture and discusses examples from famous architects like Zaha Hadid and Louis Kahn to illustrate thoughtful design of space as the core of architecture.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 7

    20

    22
    Nov
    Bahir Dar University Architecture Department

    INTRODUCTION
    “Is a birds nest a w ork of Architecture?”, This was the first question that was
    asked on a lecture on our first year. The way in which a bird builds its nest, seem-
    ingly without instruction, thought, or experience, has been repeatedly brought
    forward as a convincing proof of blind infallible instinct governing it in its task.
    No more popular proof has been brought forward by the supporters of the blind
    instinct theory than that of bird-architecture. It is thought a wonderful thing
    for a bird to build a nest without any instruction, or without ever seeing a nest
    typical of its species ( Bird Architceture, 1885 ). Although that may still hold true,
    the word INSTICT still stands to deny the fact that this makes the structure archi-
    tecture. Architecture has many definitions. But none of them include the term
    instinct or unconscious planning in it. The thing that makes a birds nest and
    a buillding different is that, birds or any other orgnanism are genetically pro-
    grammed to do a certain routine which results in a nest or a certain structure.
    This cannot be called Architecture as one needs to know what it is that they are
    doing while designing. There is a certain freedom to understand and do things
    differently when it comes to this subject. Now let us go even deeper and ask
    what if the process of designing was conscious but was of a different exper-
    tise, for example a buillding designed by an engineer or any other field with
    the exception of the architectural field. Can that be referred to as architecture ?

    Blind Instinct Theory: states that living creatures


    are born with innate traits that allow them to
    behave naturally. These are instincts that drive
    a person’s decisions and behaviors. An instinct
    is a species-specific pattern of behaviors that is
    innate, not learned.

    FIGURE 1 A straw Constructed Birds Nest


    (Public Domain Pictures)

    THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE
    Bahir Dar University Architecture Department

    “A ‘Building’ in today’s society this is not a definitive deinintion


    satisfies basic requirements in to what architecture is. Ofcourse
    basic ways. A ‘Work-of-Architec- many architects have proven
    ture’ may go well beyond the time and time again that there
    limit of a rudimentary building are many ways of implementing
    in acknowledging and providing architecture, making the explana-
    for the loftier attributes and po- tion of what architecture is really
    tential of the human experience” hard. We could take the works of
    ( DwellRight, 2022 ) Although famous architets like Zaha Had-
    the argument stated before still id, for example and her unusual
    stands it is still not quite right. form development in which she
    Every conscious design of a work tries to give buildings a more nat-
    cannot be called architecture. ural look, or the work of the pritz-
    As architecture is the thought- ker prize winner Peter Zumthor
    ful bending and designing of a and his excrutiating attention
    space for a significant purpose to the materials of his buildings
    or with a certain goal in mind. due to his attraction of the tactile
    If you allow an engineer to de- feel of a building and even Tad-
    sign a building he will put the ao Ando, the renowned architect
    core of the organization, to all who had no architectural train-
    the requirements and standards ing prior to his career. Therefore
    learnt through out his years as a let us take the other route of ex-
    student without actually carin plaining what architecture is not.
    g on the why only on the how.
    Architecture doesn’t necessari-
    An architect is trained or is sup- ly mean that you should always
    posed to have the repertoire of follow a certain tenet of what ar-
    manipulating space inorder to chitecture is. My favorite way of
    convey a certain message or to describing it is as Louis Khan ex-
    create a sense of feeling while plained by saying “Architectuer is
    still thinking about how to actu- the thoughtful making of space.”
    ally make the edifice stand. The I think this is a beffiting defini-
    famous Roman scholar Vitruvius tion to the concept of architec-
    in his book stated that Architec- ture and what it is. It isnt just ar-
    ture has 3 ideas at its core. Utility, ranging certain rooms because
    Aesthetic and Strength. Athough a certain standard demands so.
    this was stated and theorized This is by no means to demean
    over 2000 years ago it still puts the importance of standards
    the whole idea into frame. But of course, but it is to be more

    THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE
    Bahir Dar University Architecture Department

    conscious and also care more about the feel of the space which
    sometimes allows the architect to break certain rules of it. The ar-
    chitect follows his own ideology and defines and invents and inno-
    vates space and tries to convey that ideology to the users. That is
    my take on the differences between a work of architecture and a
    certain building. Of course one can disagree but that is th beauty
    of architecture. We all have a certain philosophy of what it is and
    how it should be implemented which makes the discourse result-
    ing from the indifference really interesting. But i still stand by my
    statement of what it is not which i have yet to be proven wrong.

    Giving Meaning

    Bert Bielefeld, the editor of the book Basic Design Ideas states that
    “Every design begins with a search for an idea or for an intuitive un-
    derstanding of how an assignment should be solved. This design
    idea is the start of a long journey on which the designer defines the
    idea more precisely, modifies it, adds details and repeatedly rejects
    results.” This gives you a comprehensive look into the process of giv-
    ing meaning. Like most things in architecture there is no one way of
    describing it. But it is most certainly not just randomly arranging the
    spaces. Like the quote previoulsy described said it is a long journey
    in which architects search the identity of the buildings they are de-
    signing. Let us see a case building to get a more detailed look.

    Figure 2 National Assembly Building by Lous Kahn


    ( Pinterest, 2022 )

    THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE
    Bahir Dar University Architecture Department

    Kunsthaus Bregenz
    by Peter Zumthor

    and to assume the appearance


    of a large monolithic form of an
    almost sculptural character has
    been fully exploited. By this i
    mean that there is no cladding
    or any over pain that the
    architect deemed unnecessary.
    As previously mentioned the
    Zumthor is a firm believer and
    admirer of the tactile properties
    of buildings and believes they
    themselves convey a message and
    don’t need any extra eye candy
    to bring about arificial beauty.

    It is his distinct style to put first


    and foremost the materials
    and the materials alone. He
    Figure 2 National Assembly Building by Lous Kahn exemplifies and better conveys
    ( Pinterest, 2022 ) certain properties of the buildng
    by contrasting them from
    The art museum stands in the
    the context . Take this project
    light of Lake Constance. It is
    for example and his detailed
    made of glass and steel and
    attention to the front glass panels.
    a cast concrete stone mass
    He made sure that the reflective
    that endows the interior of the
    property of the panels is noticed
    building with textures and spatial
    by putting them at the front and
    composition. From the outside,
    allowing the surround scenery
    the building looks like a lamp. It
    to be reflected off of the panels.
    absorbs the changing light of
    the sky, the haze of the lake, it
    The building can be taken as
    reflects light andcolor and gives
    a chameleon which reflects
    an intimationof its inner life
    whatever the surrounding is
    according to the angle of vision,
    experiencing. The multilayer
    the daylight, and the weather
    facade also serves as an
    (Building Projects 1979 -1997, 1999).
    autonomous wall construction
    The ability of the cast concrete
    that serves as a weather skin,
    to flow into complex shapes, to
    daylight modulator, sunshade
    integrate technical installations

    THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE
    Bahir Dar University Architecture Department

    Figure 4. Kunsthaus Bregenz Museum by Peter Zumthor


    ( Kunsthaus Bregenz by Riccardo Bianchini, 2022)

    Figure 5. Inside Kunsthaus Bregenz Museum


    ( Kunsthaus Bregenz by Riccardo Bianchini, 2022)

    THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE
    Bahir Dar University Architecture Department

    CONCLUSION

    So in conclusion, Architecture is the soul of the building and is the further ex-
    emplification of th personality, philosophy or even methodology of the architect.
    Each architect has their own philosophy and methods on what architecture is and
    how it should be done, creating the need for the creation of theories which still,
    to this day have no definitive definition. A piece of architecture whethher you like
    it or not creates a certain discourse between the viewers allowing you to under-
    stamd the building and feel its spaces. But a building has none of these qualities.
    It is simply there to accomodate, it has no other motive. But an archiect conveys

    Figure 6. Jean Marie Tjibaou Cultural center by Renzo Piano


    ( Inhabitant, 2022)

    THEORY OF ARCHITECTURE

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