Class discussion on Critical Architecture

Todays lecture defined several key terms as used in design theory. Tectonics are defined as how things are put together, or how things are constructed. Construction methods are related to types of production, which is a component of design theory. One type of production is mass production, which uses an automated construction process to make a high volume of identical items, from chairs to houses. The opposite of this process would be a craftsman that makes a single unique item. The example given in class was a designer chair for $2500 or a mass produced chair for $15. Most people would opt for the mass produced chair based solely on economics. In our group discussion we decided this could be compared to a house built in a suburb for anyone, and a house designed for a specific person on a specific site. The house in the suburbs lack craftsmanship. It is built using processes that reveal the intention of the builder: to construct the house as quickly and cheaply as possible. This creates a house that is not well suited for anyone.  In comparison, the buildings of Richard Kroeker use a type of building technique that was used by the indigenous people of the area that the building is situated. By doing this, the culture of the indigenous people is embodied in the building through it’s construction. This creates a unique structure that is linked to the cultural context of the site.

Another topic discussed was the differences between modernism, post modernism and post post modernism. One characteristic of modernism is that it has exact definitions of what architecture is. This creates boundaries, which leads to suppression and discrimination. In our groups opinion, the work of Mies van der Rohe has these same characteristics in the clean lines of his black glass buildings, they seem to have an authoritative feel to them that is strongly influenced by the technology of the day. The analogy of modernism having strict definitions and postmodernism being more vague and having blurred boundaries was useful in differentiating between the two styles.