Sunday, 24 May 2015

WK 10 Readings

Patrik Schumachers article “Parametric Patterns” discusses the use of the ornament, decoration and spatial distribution to create an atmosphere. “The human body was perhaps the first surface to receive designed patterns. Architectural patterns thus have a broad and deep lineage, and one should not expect them to have any well-defined, unitary function.”1 He relates the use of ornament and decoration to purposefulness of any building, considered from three key principals: purposefulness of spatial distribution, purposefulness of construction & purposefulness of ornament or decoration.

With what has been said so far, he is distinguishing buildings and structures by their decoration and ornament use, defying how the purpose of the building should relate to the ornament and decoration used. E.g. Grand decorations and structures would be used in a theatrical hall but would not be found on a war memorial; instead decoration would create an atmosphere.

Parametric patterns need to go beyond merely visual effects, they are to create atmospheres through artistic expression, reflect not only the nature of the building but become a functional part of the building itself.


John Frazers article “The Architectural Relevance of Cyberspace” highlights the effect of cyberspace rising in architecture. He sees the computer as a ‘evolutionary accelerant’ that is pushing architecture into a new realm where architects are able to explores theories and ideas with the ability to model environmental scenarios. He suggest that “the symbolic function of the new architecture is to make the invisible visible, not by monumentalisation and formation expression… but as an essential part of their function.”3


1.       R & R Oxman, ‘Parametric Patterns‘ in Theories of the Digital in Architecture, 2009, p.30
2.       R & R Oxman, ‘Parametric Patterns‘ in Theories of the Digital in Architecture, 2009, p.32
3.       M Carpo, ‘The Architectural Relevance of Cyberspace’ in The Digital Turn in Architecture 1992-2010, Wiley, New York, 2012, p.52

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