Individual Task

Architectural History and Theory

Classification Style of Public Building

2nd Semester 2010-11

Patricia G. Adelina-2010420214

CONTENTS

I A. Background of the Study....1 II A. Literature Theory..2 B. Process of Creating Building.8 III A. Classification Analysis..10 B. Critical Suggestion14 iV A. Conclusion..17 V Bibiliography... 19

I
A. Background of the Study What an architect wants to communicate will be different with others, so does building. The outlook of a building, born from design, is significant part for its the first thing we seat the first time. It communicates the building expression that differs it from another. And what cause the difference is medium used by building. So medium will lead us to know the building function by forming form. A form of one building will be different with another because an idea as a background. This idea, shortly, comes from function of the building. The prominent aspects above are keywords for us to give a label on a certain building, into before modern era, modern era, or post-modern era. In fact, therere almost 80% buildings in Indonesia that cant be labeled for people start to build something depend on their selfishness. We can see now buildings that compatible only in Europe are built here, in tropical climate place. By this assignment Im trying to give a classification on an urban building, that is a medical clinic. This assignment is made on purpose to fulfill a task in architectural history and theory subject.

II

A. Literature Theory Architecture is an art and science in designing buildings, including the process. Its started by needs that an architect must solve the problems which may appear. For short, architecture happens in order to provide mediums for human activities, to fulfill its aims. Architecture is the thoughtful making of space
(Louis Kahn)

Architecture is multidiscipline science that covers mathematics, science, art, technology, humanism, history and philosophy. So its made by consciousness and its work not only accommodates function but also has characteristics and meaning. In learning architecture, we divide it into three periods: before modern architecture, modern architecture, and post-modern architecture.

1. Before Modern Architecture Architecture before modern era is architecture grown by influences from certain regional geographic area. Unfortunately we mostly learn about western architecture as an approach, because its been written in succession periods of styles. In fact that eastern architecture is valuable to explore too. This classical architecture is generally divided into: a. Egyptian Architecture (3050 AD900 AD) Mostly known for its pyramid and another sacred building like sphinx. b. Classical Architecture (850 AD-476 AD) b.1. Greek Architecture The expressions of this style are influence by myth and sensitivity of nature. Greek people mostly built temples for worship activities. This ideology was being the basic thought of
4

aesthetics in creating building. They used three orders of Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. b.2 . Romans Architecture Romans style is nearly alike with Greek style, only that plan section had been improved. c. Christian Early Architecture (373 AC-500 AC) Christian Early style used three orders of columns from Greek and Romans order of proportion. d. Romanesque (around 4 AC) Architecture from this age had escaped from Roman style and became a simple Europe Vernacular Architecture e. Gothic Architecture (1130 AC) It spread from France. Salient characteristic from Gothic is the high ceiling far from human scale, especially in church and cathedral, and the pointed roof. This style is a symbol of illumination to humans and presented by lights arrangements. f. Renaissance (15 AC- 17 AC) This era was an enlightment period in architecture. Renaissance style emphasizes symmetrical plan as classic architectures have demonstrated, and usually based on module. Faades are symmetrical around their vertical axis. The columns and windows show a progression towards the center. For example: Cathedral of Pienza by Rosallino and Alberti.

There is a regular repetition of openings on each floor, and the centrally placed door is marked by a feature such as a balcony, rusticated surround. Renaissance architects used columns, pilasters as an integrated system. Ceilings are flat of coffered, and are not left open as in medieval time. Openings that dont have doors are usually arched. Windows are set within a semi-circular arch. g. Baroque Architecture (late 16 AC) Distinctive features of Baroque architecture are g.1. In churches, broader naves and sometimes given oval forms g.2. Fragmentary or deliberately incomplete architectural elements g.3. Dramatically use of lights g.4. Opulent use of colours and ornaments g.5. An external faade characterized by a dramatic central projection g.6. The interior is a shell for painting, sculpture, and stucco. Baroque is a symbol of high aesthetics. It took Renaissance vocabulary of architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion to express the triumph of Catholic Church. h. Rococo Architecture (18 AC) Rococo architecture is lighter, more graceful, and elaborated, ornate, and austere style than baroque. The different between baroque is that rococo emphasizes the asymmetry of form whilst baroque is the opposite. Rococo used pale colours include numerous curves and decorations. It also brings significant changes of privacy placement, and improved structures in order to create a healthier
Mafra National Palace Portugal

environment. Rococo architecture is symbol for art education.

6

i.

Victorian Architecture (19 AC) Victorian style refers to several predominant styles in late 19th century. This style represents British and French custom of naming architecture style. It combines some architecture style with materials and scale made possible by the industrial revolution.

2. Modern Architecture Background of the emerge of modern era was technology development when science was growing up so quickly along industrial revolution. It didnt emerge by immediate revolution in architecture but step by step happened. Modern architecture was growing around 1920 to 1960 because of the end of World War II in 1919. In order to rebuild the infrastructures, modernist tried to apply efficiency, economical technique, and rationality in building. Walter Groupius, a modernist, formed an institution named Bahaus where its architects rejected overdone detail. They used the principles of classical architecture in their purest form without ornamentation of any kind. Bahaus building have flat roofs, smooth facades, and cubic shapes, with white grey, beige, or black colours. Architect in this age thought that building with ornaments, using local materials, and made in configuration of shape based from local culture was not efficient along with industrial movement. Modernism wasnt just another style, it presented a new way of thinking about architecture. Modern architecture emphasizes function, attempts to provide mediums for specifics needs rather than imitate nature. All inefficient things should be left. Architecture happens when function has been achieved, and its supported by advanced materials from industrial revolution. For example: glass, concrete, steel. To gain efficiency in process of architecture, people created mass materials production so that architecture would be able to penetrate culture and geographic barriers. For its impacts were uniformity buildings around the globe. Ornaments and details were thought as a crime. Building should be cleaned. Basic of modern architecture is geometry shape.
7

Features from modernism are: a. International style Modernism has idealism of egalitarian. b. Functionalist (Form follows function) c. Less ornament, monotone, economist d. Simplicity For it emphasizes geometrical shape, it produces simple design large glasses. e. Purist, honest f. Utopian g. Industrialist For short, we can define modern architecture as the universals, international style stemming from the facts of new constructional means, adequate to a new industrial society, but in its taste and social meaning. (Charles Jencks)

Groupius House

Kauffman house

3. Post Modern Architecture Since modern architecture failed to accommodate the essential of human senses, the new movement in architecture named post-modern architecture emerged. Post-modern architecture tried to escape from tight boundaries of efficiency from modern era. Though it appeared in some styles, but all the style referred to one idea of freedom to express and to explore local values.
8

Charles Jencks stated that post-modernism came up by tendency of going back to traditional values. He defined post-modernism as double coding: the combination of modern techniques with something else (usually traditional building) in order for architecture to communicate with the public and a concerned communicate effectively with its ultimate users. To understand post-modernism, he gave us the features: a. Ideological of post-modernism is used to give direction in understanding it. a.1. Double coding style Post modern building is combination from two style, those are modernism and another style. a.2 Popular and Pluralist Post-modernism gives the flexibility in designing so it can adapt within environment. a.3. Semiotic form Shape in post-modernism has meaning and aim so its look is easy to understand. a.4. Tradition and choice Post-modernism shape contains values adjusted by the designers aim and intentions. a.5. Elitist and participative Post-modern architecture does salient togetherness and reduces selfishness. a.6. Piecemeal Theres an application of history, vernacularism, locations, etc. b. Style in post-modernism b.1. Hybrid expression This is a combination between modernism with vernacular, local, metaphorical, revivalist, commercial, and contextual values. b.2. Complexity b.3. Conventional and abstract form b.4. Variable space with surprise
9

b.5. Eclectic A mix of certain style in continuing integration to crate unity b.6 Semiotic b.7. Pro-metaphor, pro-historical reference, pro-humour, prosymbolic

c. Design ideas c.1. Contextual urbanism c.2. Functional mixing c.3. Mannerist (tendency to be salient) c.4. Meaning design c.5. Ambiguity c.6. Trends to asymmetrical symmetry c.7. Skew space and extensions c.8. Collage (combination of different elements)

B. Process of Creating Building

This is a comparison between modernism and post-modernism:

Modern Ideologicalism: Attitude toward nature Attitude toward thought Attitude toward culture Typological physical/character: Attitude toward basic form Attitude toward character of form Attitude toward technology Communication/language: Attitude toward pragmatic sign Attitude toward syntax sign Attitude toward semantic sign

Post Modern

Functionalist Rationalist, economist Monotone

Contemporer, contextual Methaporist Symbiosis

Purist Abstract, straight, forward Simplicity

Eclectic Abstract, hybrid Complexity

Structuralism Straight to the point Gives efficiency of space 10

Deconstructism Representative Gives experience of space

11

III
A. Classification Analysis

Kiara Sehat Medical Clinic is located at Jl. Kiara Condong 399, Bandung. The building area is about 241.5 m2. This clinic is set in two level floors plan but the second floor is not ready to use yet. These building materials are bricks and concrete. Floor is covered by ceramics. There are eight rooms on the first floor: examination room, dentist room, medicine room, receptionist room, two rooms which are not used yet, and two waiting rooms.

1. Process of Creating Building Analysis a. Ideological analysis Ideology refers to concept that leads to the function in architecture. It brings directed and systematic understanding of ideas. The function of this building is medical clinics where people can do some medical checks, consultate, with health professionals, or buy some medicines. This clinic was built in order to accommodate the needs of health facility today. For short, to answer the urban needs.

12

For its located right beside the major road, we can say that it is a street building. In the way of acting the attitude toward nature, this is one of the characters we mostly find in post-modern buildings. It seems that this building was made in cover of double coding as its attitude toward culture. The reason I give my statement is related with its faade and Ill explain it later in character analysis. Moreover, its size was arranged for it can be fixed with the environment. Besides of the building functions, it was designed to be able in developing basic form; for example an addition of space. This aspect makes the building becomes flexible in use or has functional mixing.

13

b. Typological Physical or Character Analysis When we are going to analyze a building, we must know how to describe its part. To name is to understand. By analyzing its medium and form, well understand its character. Mediums that form a building differ one to another. Talking about mediums is talking about materials that have important plays in shaping the building form. Basic form of Kiara Sehat Medical Clinic is a box with some additions on the right and front side. So I assume we can say that its basic form is not pure geometrical form. Basically, the buildings
14

attitude toward the form character is hybrid. It combines a classical style with local elements. For example local clay roof tile for window shades and local bricks for walls. Though this building has double coding style from classic era, its technology comes from modern era. When I entered the main room, I saw some reinforced concrete columns which were not available in classic age. Nevertheless, the dominant classic style as a outlook still leads us to the formal development of the building program. If we look back at its basic form, the eclecticity from this building is referred to rococo faade from classic style. This mixed style is continuing integrated as unity. As we know that rococo architecture emphasizes asymmetrical symmetry form, this building applies the same attitude as well.

Rococo building

Kiara Sehat Medical Clinic The judgment I mentioned above will be explained later in the

next point. c. Communication or Language Analysis Architecture has high flexibility to be a toll of communication, though it doesnt always successfully happen. The building of language are vocabulary and grammar with materials, size, even location which do play roles in how community interpret a building. In fact we read a wood differently than a concrete wall. So I assume that building language is related with expression and meaning, for short the style. First thing I have to do in analyzing this building language is to analyze its faade.
15

If we intentionally pay attention on its faade, itll appear that Kiara Sehat Medical Clinic trends to rococo style (as Ive mentioned before). The arrangement of its openings shows progression to the centre, in this building is its main entrance door. The windows have been made symmetrically to it. But I have to note that this axis does not shape a symmetrical axis, for the building has two additions on the right which mostly like a garage and on the front side which is used as public pharmacy. Remember that rococo style applies asymmetrical symmetry faade. The repetition of its opening and entrance placement under a shelter, used as terrace too, gives strong impression of classic style. Yet to achieve the main entrance we have to pace through stairs that show the hierarchy of space. From analysis of its faade, I say that this building expression is nearly close to classic style with some simplification in details. The interior is made clean from overdone ornament so it may not mess the function.

B. Critical Suggestion

1. Analysis of Need, Context, and Form

16

Need is situation when something is necessary or must be done. This clinic was built in order to answer public need of health facility. As a small medical clinic, this building has achieved all important function to fulfill the needs. It has examination room, waiting room, dentist room, small pharmacy, receptionist and administrative room, and public toilet, while the activities which may happen are examination process, administration process, and waiting. The rooms arrangement is quiet effective with the receptionist area right across the entrance. People can directly walk toward the receptionist area for doing some registration activities after entering the clinic. After that, while the officer arranges the information, people or patients can wait in the waiting area. For dentical check up, there is a certain waiting area behind the receptionist through a small all. Rooms efficiency is gained from its geometry like shape applied on each room. So does its form, efficiency is achieved by its nearly like box shape. Since its built as two floor-level building, I assume the need of hospitalization will have been answered by making hospitalization area in the second floor as soon as the renovation finished.

2. Suggestion Medical clinic is place where people are looking for health service. So it requires a healthy environment too. Though this building is able to accommodate the medical process, still there are some lacks need to be improved. Started from the interior, I noticed that the floor corners havent been designed properly. The room floor corners still have pointed angle where as a medical place isnt fixed to. For improvement, I suggest to redesign the corner floor with a not pointed corner that usually used in hospital.

17

In waiting area in front of the dentist room, theres still a lack of light. The light source comes only from hall that transfers the light from entrance. There are made some openings on the upper left side of the wall, but ironically they are made from blurred glass that blocks the light. Its better to use material that can be penetrated by light. Moreover, this place needs more ventilation. More improvement can be applied in front yard area by making small garden and replace the wire fence into proper fence like bricks or concrete to avoid dirty effect.

18

19

IV
A. Conclusion

After analyzing the process of creating building toward ideology, physical character, and language, these are some points Ive arranged: 1. This clinic was built in order to answer the urban need of facility 2. It is a street building 3. It uses double coding, and hybrid style 4. Its flexible building which is able to improve 5. Theres a trends to asymmetrical symmetry shape 6. It has a functional mixing

Since the six points above are mostly found as characters of post-modern architecture according Charles Jenks, so I classify this building into post-modern architecture building.

End

20

V
Bibiliography Jencks, Charles., Keswick, Maggie. 1987. What is Postmodernism? New York: St. Martin Press. OGorman, James F. 1998. ABC of Architecture. Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_architecture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_architecture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_architecture

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rococo_architecture

http://damarkawe.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/periodisasi-arsitektur-klasik-wilayaheropa-dan-mesir/

21