Architecture as a career.

PROFESSION GOALS:

• Deliver a life with aesthetic and functional style.

CAREER DESCRIPTION:

Architecture encompasses both aesthetics and functionality of a habitat (home room, library, office buildings, hospitals, etc.) as well as an urban space.

Serves the overall design of the structure, and determining the size, location and shape of the volumes of its interior spaces.

Study spaces that satisfy the functions of the human being and at the same time are the expression of the feeling of the people who inhabit them, the expression of his way of being, their way of seeing life, his fantasy; dignifying and improving their quality of life.

The architect acts as a psychologist who interprets the needs of a group or an individual to receive their performance requirements and their way of express themselves, then carry out the work.

In urban planning, plans and project management of land for parks, schools, institutions, airports, roads and commercial, industrial and residential areas, projects avenues, neighborhoods, public transport and urban routes together with engineers, geographers and sociologists; giving and always taking aspects of functionality and aesthetics considering economic, social, physical aspects and other factors that influence the development of the area.

The architect must make their works represent a contemporary language.

In the landscape sense and has plans to work aesthetic management of land for parks and other recreational areas, roads, etc. Another part is managing to meet in Architecture, which internalizes the scope of Law and Municipal Urban Management. This is related to the demands for approval of a project in the directions of work of municipalities.

But to structure architectural projects both art and science are  required; because the architect art seeks beauty in the expression of his work through form, color, light, etc and science because this form must be constructive and stability conditions necessary to materialize. It is intended that the professional knows opt architectural project by the most suitable type of structure. 

   

How long it takes?: Usually 5 years.

CURRICULUM:  

• Composition I and II.
• Methodology.
• Visualization and media.
• Architectural drawing.
• Construction materials.
• Design Studio I, II, III, IV, V, VI and VII.
• Architecture History and the City I, II, III and IV.
• Materials resistance. 
• Passive systems. 
• Computer aided design.
• Structural systems I, II and III.
• Construction procedures. 
• Systems installations in buildings.
• Architecture theory.
• Construction studio I and II.
• Seminar of the history and theory of Urban Planning.
• Building technology.

Favorite Architects.

LE CORBUSIER.

Charles Edouard Jenneret-Gris, best known as Le Corbusier was born  in Switzerland on October 6, 1887. In 1917, he moved to Paris and assumed the pseudonym Le Corbusier. In his architecture, he chiefly built with steel and reinforced concrete and worked with elemental geometric forms. Le Corbusier's painting emphasized clear forms and structures, which corresponded to his architecture. He belonged to the first generation of the so-called International school of architecture.

RELEVANT WORKS:             

                                Notre Dame du Haut, France,1954.       Villa Savoye, France, 1931.

                                                

                                     Heidi Weber Pavilion-Center Le Corbusier, Zurich, 1967.

FRANK GEHRY.

Frank Gehry is an American-Canadian architect known for postmodern designs, including The Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.

Was born in Toronto, Canada on February 28, 1929. He studied at the University of Southern California and Harvard University. Gehry, based in Los Angeles since the 1960s, is among the most acclaimed architects of the 20th century, and is known for his use of bold, postmodern shapes and unusual fabrications.

RELEVANT WORKS:         

                              Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA, U.S        Guggenheim Museum, NY, U.S.

                                             

                                    "Fred and Ginger", Prague.        Biodiversity Museum in Panama.

ANTONI GAUDÍ.

Antoni Gaudí was a Barcelona-based Spanish architect whose free-flowing works were greatly influenced by nature.

The son of a coppersmith, Antoni Gaudí was born on June 25, 1852, and took to architecture at a young age. He attended school in Barcelona, the city that would become home to most of his great works. Gaudí was part of the Catalan Modernista movement, eventually transcending it with his nature-based organic style. Gaudí died on June 10, 1926, in Barcelona, Spain.

RELEVANT WORKS:         

                                       Sagrada Familia, Barcelona.       Casa Batlló, Barcelona, Spain.

      

Teresian College, Barcelona, Spain.

Park Güel, Barcelona, Spain.

Architectural Design Styles Through History. Part 3.

BRUTALIST.

It is an aspect of the International Style of architecture that demanded a functional approach to architectural design. It advocated a return to the functionalist principles (both services and materials and structure).

This is characterized by the construction of monumental sculptural forms with cold materials such as reinforced concrete. Hence its name Brutalism, which opposes the use of glass and steel used by Mies van der Rohe.

The name was applied to the architecture of Le Corbusier, who was in later years to 1930.

The buildings constructed at this time, rejected the refinement and elegance. The structural elements like steel beams and concrete slabs were visible (bare material) conferred an austere and rigid linearity.

Both structures are settled in Yugoslavia.

   

Robarts Library in Toronto, Canada.      Institute of Education in London.

GOTHIC.

It's an architectural style that took inspiration from Medieval architecture. It flourished in Europe from the XII to the XVI century. Its generator principle was in the Gothic structure (arcs with tip) of the dome:  founded on the principle of the vault or ribbed edges.

The Gothic vault was born of the need to increase the height of the ships and reduce the thrust of the vaults and better weight distribution. These results were obtained with the use of buttresses and truncated domes. With the passage of time were giving some changes such as decreased window width, predominance of horizontal, etc.

                          

Reims Cathedral, France.               Oudenaarde Town Hall, Belgium. 

                        

Church of San Pablo, Spain.           The Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, Italy.

RENAISSANCE.

It's characterized by the renewal of the ancient doctrines, manifested in Italy in the late Middle Ages and from there  spread to Spain and France. Its heyday was in the XVI century.

Emerges from the interest in classical learning and values. The Greek and Roman world was discovered. 

The Renaissance witnessed major changes in the world as the discovery of new continents, the emerge of trade, the invention of paper, printing and gunpowder. 

Residential Building in Italy.

MANNERIST.

Is a term applied to certain aspects of an artistic style, mainly Italian,  in the period between the High Renaissance of the XVI century (1520) and the beginnings of Baroque art of the XVII century (1590). This style originated in Florence and Rome, then spread to northern Italy and from there to Europe.

The resulting tension of the confrontation between Christianity and humanism, resulted in this style that reneged on the early Renaissance. Instead of being clear, harmonious and restful; It was characterized by extreme complexity and sophistication.

The Mannerist style was characterized by artificiality, a conscience for the cultivation of elegance and technical ease. They are seeking refinement of form and concept, taking exaggeration and contrast to unexpected limits. This resulted in an irrational mix of classical motifs and other references to the ancient.

Aldobrandini Ville, Italy.

Palazzo Chierati, Italy.

Now this is a complementary video about the architecture in the early XX's. 

Architectural Design Styles Through History. Part 2.

ART DECO.

It is a movement that occurred in the decorative arts and architecture and was developed between 1920 and 1930. Its name derives from the "Exposition Internationale des Arts et Industriels Modernes Deccoratifs" which was held in Paris in 1925.

The Art Deco uses pure and uncomplicated lines, regular and disciplined, harmonious and simple to create soft elegance. Using geometric figures as ornaments, generally repetitive, using materials suck as steel, plastic, Bakelite, jade, chromium and rock crystal.  and 

Art Deco attempt is to represent elegance, sophistication and wealth. The characteristics of this style reflect the admiration for modernity of machine and by the inherent design of industrially made objects. It's a style that left it's mark through the centuries, both in architecture and arts either in ceramics, sculpture, interior design and others. 

                                                    

Glam Gold Detail in Wall Street, New York.       The Chrysler Building, New York.

INTERNATIONAL STYLE.

It's an architectural style that developed in Europe and the United States between 1920 and 1930. Then between the 30's and 40's expanded from it's base in Germany and France to Scandinavia, England and Japan.

Key features of this styles are the buildings with pure forms, light and flat surfaces without any ornament or decoration, open interior spaces and oblong windows. 

The most commonly used materials are glass, iron, steel and concrete among others. The technology was a crucial factor  because the economic and mass production resulted in the use of iron and steel as structural elements. This development a harmony between artistic, functional and technology resulting in a more austere architecture. 

        

Villa Savoye in Poissy, France.        Frame House in Florida, U.S.

ARTS & CRAFTS.

It's an aesthetic movement from the second half of XIX, represents the beginning of a new appreciation of the decorative arts in Europe. Emerge as a reaction to the "Industrial Revolution" and the mass production. Valued as the art of the "handmade".

Among it followers was the English and reformer designer  William Morris, the architect Phillip Webb and the painter Madox Brown. They believed in the art of handmade printing and they preached the little difference between fine arts and decorative arts. Metal works were produced in handcrafted, jewelry, paper to paper, furniture and design and upholstery fabrics.

An English-derived version of a house in New Jersey, U.S.

House in Ontario, U.S.

BAUHAUS.

Joined art with architecture and industry. A lot of the activity was focused on handmade items such as ceramics, textiles and glass work. Explored and investigated the design in 2D and 3D, using materials such as wood, wire and paper. Also he emphasized geometric shapes, soft and smooth surfaces, the primary colors and modern materials.

            

Bauhaus Design School in Germany.        Bauhaus inspiration in Tel Aviv, Israel.

ECLECTICISM.

Represents a XIX century phase of architecture where coexist different styles such as medieval and renaissance. Minimalism arises from its influence. 

It's an eminently American movement, originated in the late 60's and occurred in the visual arts as well as interior decoration. It' characterized by extreme simplicity of form and a literal approach and objective. It was thought that a "piece of art" should refer to itself.

POSTMODERNISM.

It's a movement that occurred between 1970 and 1980 in United States in response to the strict precepts of modern architecture and architects criticized her for lacking the complexity that enriches the historic architecture. 

They were reintroduced to architectural design historical and humanitarian elements trying to reassure people that they shouldn't feel their cultural identity threatened by modern architecture. Thus, the historical eclecticism is characteristic of this era. 

                     

The Sydney Opera House in Australia.     "The Gherkin" in London.

Architectural Design Styles Through History. Part 1.

     

     In this post we'll learn about the architectural styles trough history and the architectural styles from the early XX's. 

NEOCLASSICISM.

Classicism bloomed between 1750 and 1830, is known as "neoclassicism" to distinguish it from the classical architecture of ancient Rome of Renaissance. 

     

This period is characterized by the grandeur scale, very strict organizational geometry, simplicity of geometric shapes, using Greco-Roman designs,  the dramatic use of columns to articulate the interior spaces and a preference for the bare walls of ornamentation and formal contrast of volumes and textures. 

Classicism settled in Italy, Greece and Asia Minor.

US was very influenced by neoclassicism in the early XX's, some examples: 

   

                     US Supreme Court, Virginia.                  The "White House", Washington D.C.

 Here we can see pictures of ancient (and famous) buildings in Italy and Greece.

                       
Temple of Canova in Possagno, Italy.             Temple of "Hera II", Greece.
                  
The Colosseum in Rome, Italy.                  The Parthenon in Athens, Greece.

BAROQUE.

The term baroque appliques to the European art of the period from XVII to the until the mid XVIII.  Baroque art was involved with the drama and illusion, with bright colors, with luxurious and processed materials and surfaces contrasting textures that were used to offset sensuality. 

Through architecture they propagated faith in the state and church. Baroque was developed in two different streams depending on the prevailing religions: Catholic and Protestant. They were found in countries like Italy, Spain and Portugal.

                           

 Baroque Church in Porto, Portugal.           Baroque details in columns. Lecce, Italy.  

Rationalist.

Rationalist was born from the ideology of finding the solution to all the problems of contingent reality through reason.

One feature of this period is the remoteness from nature, the free distribution of enclosures from functions, resource economics, etc.

On the other hand, breaks with the past, it promotes spatial configuration linked almost exclusively to the functional value of the enclosures and comes to getting the image from the function. It is the age of technology in which cars, airplanes, ocean liners, the typical artifacts of modern times.

According to the author Argan. G.C., "Modern Architecture" follows general principles:

• The priority of urban planning on the architectural project.
• The increased use of land use and construction to solve the housing problem.
• The rigorous rationality of architectural forms, understood as logical deductions (effects) from objective requirements (causes).
• The systematic appeal to the industrial technology, standardization, prefabrication in series, in other words, the progressive industrialization of the production of goods related to daily life (industrial design).
• The conception of architecture and industrial production qualified as determinants of social progress and democratic education community. 

                           

 Palazzo of the Italian Civilization.              Steimel House, Hennef, Germany (1961).

                                           

                                            Apartments and shops in Amsterdam (2010).

DECONSTRUCTION.

Formal strategies adopted by the deconstructionist, begin from a Russian avant-grade movement called "The Constructionist". Exalting the political and technological commitment,  preferring the art technique. Strengthening the "revolution" through architecture.

Is very committed with society for they functional characteristics. An example of this is the monument to the Third International  created by Tatlin in 1919. Consist in three huge glass environments: a cube, a pyramid and a cylinder trapped by a twisted frame. Thus Tatlin revels himself against the classic rules of composition: breaking the structures of hierarchy and balance. This monument symbolizes revolution, mechanization, dynamism and symbolism. 

The problem is that constructionist were unable to alter the traditional status of the object and confine themselves to the aesthetic of instability. 

                                            
Monument to the Third International.           Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao Spain.

                                           

Heiday Aliyev Center in Baku. 

ART NOUVEAU.

It is an ornamental style of art that flourished between 1894 and 1914 in Europe and in the United States. One of its salient features is the use of long, sinuous organic lines. They are asymmetrical, undulating lines that take the form of flowers, blossoms, butterflies, insects and other elements related to nature and women (for its sinuous lines).

It is a style that used various types of materials (stone, brick, glass, ceramics, wood, iron, etc.) made that contributed to the clustering of different production sectors.

In architecture, a fusion of structure and ornament is created and freely combines materials such as glass and iron. It is a style that contrasts with the traditional architecture of balance and structural clarity.

It is most commonly used in architecture. But also it occurred in interior design and glasses, jewelry, posters and illustrations.

              

 "Casa Batlló" in Barcelona, Spain.    City Hall in Prague, Czech Republic.

            

"Céramic Hotel" in Paris, France.     "Prusa" in Wroclaw, Poland.