Tectonic Discussion Questions

1. The readings refer to tectonics in a variety of settings; tectonic/stereotomic, tectonic/atectonic, topos/typos/tectonic, representation/ontological, rhythm, corporeal metaphor, ethnography, and technology. Briefly define each term and provide an architectural example that embodies the condition.

_ Tectonic/stereotomic - light structure, timber/thicker structure, earth based or masonry

Tectonic/atectonic - structure that is visually understandable and works as you expect it to/structure that does not work like you think it would; or visually plays trick on your mind with use of materials or structural systems; goes against the norms

Topos/typos/tectonic - site/type/structure

Representation/ontological – the heart of the building; the significant spaces to the inhabitants/ the technical, framing, roofing, structure

Rhythm – repetition and harmony within a design or structure

Corporeal metaphor – how the body understands space without having to think about it

Ethnography – how culture and human society influences and is integrated into architecture

Technology – has a huge impact on the way humans see and understand the world, including our views on architecture and tectonics

2. Kenneth Frampton writes that this study of tectonics "seeks to mediate and enrich the priority given to space", what is a dominant trend in Western architecture of today and how does tectonics relate to this trend?

_ A trend in Western architecture is to be very program driven and have that define the spaces, such as how OMA works much of the time. Certain spaces are given priority over others and that usually revolves around what the space is going to be used for.

3. "Greek in origin, the term tectonic derives from the work tekton, signifying carpenter or builder". How has the impact of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity and other space-time models altered tectonic etymology?

_Einstein’s theory has altered how humans look at their place in space and time; this has had a direct impact on what tectonic means and how we understand it. Tectonic has changed from its roots of being based around the structure and building of a space, because humans understanding of our place in space has changed. The way we orient ourselves in space is different because of Einstein’s theories.

4. Vittorio Gregotti states in 1983, "(t)he worst enemy of modern architecture is the idea of space considered solely in terms of its economic and technical exigencies indifferent to the ideas of the site". If the intention of site is to situate human in the cosmos, how then does site infer from a contemporary landscape that has been graded, conditioned, tamed, treated, sculpted, mapped, engineered, essentially re-created by humans?

_ Our site still is there to situate humans in the cosmos; we are just in an environment or atmosphere that has been changed. Our surroundings are now composed of a contemporary landscape shaped by humans, but we still need to understand our place in the space around us.

5. Is architectural tectonics applicable or relevant in a world of global mobilization? State and explain your position.

_ I believe it is still applicable and relevant. We can still design spaces that people can move through; and moments can be created by spaces that cause people to stop and take note of their place in space. Spaces can be developed that take people remove them from their busy lives; even if it is just for a short time, such as walking through such a space to get where you need to go.