THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE DESIGN
Context in architecture have been a very important factor and have been consider as inseparable when it comes to architecture design in the second half of the 20th century. However, the ideas behind the concept, have existed long before. I think context have always and will forever be as important as it has been no matter what. Even when times went by, and even if the importance of the context to architecture have changed, it will only differ in the types of context that the architect uses compared to the past, while the value of importance, however, will always be as it is.
As Adrian Forty stated''every design problem begins with an effort to achieve fitness between two entities:the form and its context, which context is formal ,marked by its study of figure /ground relationships.'' Context can be hidden elements to the building , not necessary to be applied in the outlook, but its is essential to be considered when site planning .
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Falling water is a classical example for the type of contextual building is early 1900s.Frank Lloyd Wright fully applied the concept of CONTEXT in those days , diffusing the concept of him into the site ( As the floor plan provided , the falling water is located in a natural area with the intention to design an extraordinary house that redefined the relationship between man, architecture, and nature., Differ from the material used , the space planning of the site is also related closely to the site condition .
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The ceilings of the rooms are low to provide the vision of beauty of these spaces is found in their extensions towards nature, done with long cantilevered terraces. Shooting out at a series of right angles, the terraces add an element of sculpture to the houses aside from their function. The housetook on "a definite masonry form" that related to the site, and for the terraces they decided on a reinforced-concrete structure. It was Wright's first time working with concrete for residences and though at first, he did not have much interest in the material, it had the flexibility to be cast into any shape, and when reinforced with steel it gained an extraordinary tensile strength. Fallingwater is the physical and spiritual occurence of man and architecture in harmony with nature. All you have to do is listen.
NEW YORK CITY CHICHAGO
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In contrast, we can see the difference of how context affects the design of a building compared to the previous project by Frank Lloyd wright. The world today is definitely different from the world a one century ago, and there are more and more concerns of the environment submerging.
Historical continuum:
The building materials mirror its neighbors in which the design communicates its relationship to building around it. The tower is design with three setbacks
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Physical sense:
The building shape reflects its orientation along the water so could change the way people experience the Chicago River. The South side of the tower parallels to riverbank, with its base engages with dynamic three-level walkway that anchors the waterfront and enlivens it with restaurant and shopping. In order to withstand strong wind loads of Chicago, the building used a concrete structural system.
In a comparison,we can find the contrast of thse 2 building in a different century that differ the importance of context of a building. Although there is a different meaning of “context” behind the building in different century but it,s no right or wrong, it,s just due to user convenience. At least it can serve to resolve the issue that the building may concern.
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