Architecture Vitruvius, Le Corbusier, Loos

Architecture

Vitruvius, Le Corbusier, Loos

Vitruvius: from Book I of the Ten Books of Architecture

What sorts of information do we learn about Vitruvius and his career from the Preface? How does he come across as a person to you?

Vitruvius has had a long career in architecture. It is a subject that he has been interested in for a long time. He has been a loyal supporter of Caesar and his father before that. He kept his writings about architecture to himself for a long time in fear of not being received favorably by Caesar, but has now seen a good opportunity to reveal them to him. He wrote down his ideas on architecture in order for Caesar to have a plan to be more successful and he is happy to finally be able to share these with him.

What is Vitruvius's formula for a successful career as an architect? Is this formula valid for architects, or for other types of professions?

Vitruvius's formula for a successful career as an architect is one of education. He feels that an architect should be equipped with knowledge in many different subjects. He feels that knowledge is broken down into practice and theory. Those who have the natural ability to carry out the practice can not do so successfully without the understanding of theory. Theory, he says is the ability to demonstrate and explain things that can only be done by way of education.

3. What are Vitruvius's criteria for good architecture? Do they still apply today? Are they all equally important, or do you think some deserve a higher priority than others?

Vitruvius's criteria for good architecture includes: order, arrangement, eurythmy, symmetry, propriety and economy. Order has to do with making sure that the separate parts all fit together to make the whole. Arrangement is putting things in their proper place. Eurythmy is the beauty and fitness. Symmetry is a proper agreement between the different parts and the whole scheme. Propriety is the perfection of style and economy has to do with the proper management of the materials involved. All of these criteria still apply today, as they are all important to the success of the overall project. Some of these criteria are more important than others. For instance, in today's world economy would be a top priority with arrangement not being far behind.

Le Corbusier: "The Engineer's Aesthetic" from Towards a New Architecture

1. Why does Le Corbusier think it's bad for people to live in old-fashioned houses? Do you agree? How does he see houses as a sort of "tools" and why is it important to throw away "old tools"?

Le Corbusier sees houses as tools because they were one of the first things that people built for themselves. Man's tools are seen as stages of civilization. With each progression in the tools that one has the more progress they have made for themselves. He says that old tools should be thrown out and replaced with new ones in order to manifest ones health. He feels that people should waste their energy and health on bad tools and to him old houses are bad tools.

2. Why does he think Architecture can be found in the telephone and in the Parthenon? Explain what this might mean, and whether you agree.

He thinks that these things are architecture because they are things that are contained within a house and to him are extensions of the house. He says that engineers produce architecture because they invent things that have personality and thus take on the characteristics of the person (architect) that built them. I agree with this that when people invent or design something it often has the characteristics of the inventor in it. Most new things come to fruition because of a need or want that the inventor had so why would it not be logical to think that ones invention would be an extension of them.

3. When he says architecture to-day is no longer conscious of its own beginnings, what does this seem to mean? What is his problem with architects, and do you think it is a problem?

What he means by this is that when architecture first came about it was born from someone's imagination and their viewpoints. There was nothing to compare it to and thus was original and novel. Le Corbusier is saying that now everything that is built is based upon some pre-existing style or idea and that no one is doing anything original. It is all about following in what is tried and true. This is a problem in the fact that without imagination and invention, things will become stale and tired and no new ways of doing things will ever be discovered.

Adolf Loos: "Ornament and Crime"

1. What does Loos' comparison of human cultures, especially Europeans and the Papuans (from Papua New Guinea); say about how he sees different groups? Is this an accepted view today, and why or why not?

He sees these groups as having different cultures. Although both groups have the same practices, these are seen as complete opposites between the groups. What is perfectly acceptable and normal in one is seen as bad and degenerate in the other. This is not really an accepted view today. There are many groups that are different from the mainstream and suffer ridicule and persecution on a daily basis. The culture in which we live is very homogeneous and one is which everyone wants everyone else to behave and assist in maintaining the status quo.

2. Why does he think modern ornament is "inauthentic" and that decoration reduces the life span of a consumer good? Is this true today?

Loos feels that modern ornament is inauthentic because it is nothing more than decoration and is in no way necessary for the function of the object. This decoration reduces the life span of a consumer good because people get tired of the product and discard it because of the way it looks and not because it doesn't function anymore. This is something that very much happens today. People get tired of the car that they are driving and trade it in every two years or so not because there is anything wrong with it, but just because they don't like the way it looks any more. This can also be seen when new technology hits the market. Just like with Apple's recent release of its new i-pad. Thos who owned older versions, even though there was nothing wrong with what they had, dumped their old ones just so that they could go out and buy the new one.