BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE

THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303)

SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2019)

Name: Hong SeoTaek ID No.: 0322045

Lecturer: Dr. Filzani Illa Ibrahin Tutorial Time: 4pm-6pm
Reader/Text Title: Urbanism as a Way of Life Synopsis No: 1 (B)
Author: Louis Wirth

An extract from American Journal of Sociology (1938), “Urbanism as a Way of Life” by Louis Wirth construe three
key characteristics of cities to reinvent modern sociology and discuss sociologically significant definition of the city.
Large population size, population density and social heterogeneity is discussed as factors contributing to the
development of “urban way of life”, clarifying personality differences between urban and rural society in terms of
functional responses of urban inhabitants to physical and environmental traits of contemporary urban milieu.
Wirth’s arguments on rapid growth in population are debatable. One of his arguments stating that increase in
population will lead to absence of cultural and traditional bonds of neighborliness is not agreeable from my point of view.
Fading of traditional characteristics in urban cities are distinctive from empirical observation on daily cycle yet the main
cause of the extinction is not on population growth, instead situated on functionality of it. Functional response of urban
society, traditional and old cultural practices fall behind, due to the introduction of modern technology of higher efficiency.
It is a human nature to seek for simplified method of solving problems to preserve time and energy to utilize them on
other desired activities. This trend is easily observed in our daily life, for example people living in an urban context will
fully utilize their washing machines for their laundry instead of handwashing even though handwashing may have been
an important tradition in certain culture.
On the other side, a theory of formation of pecuniary nexus leads to higher social tolerance and lose of personal
expression is agreed. The argument sharply related to Wirth’s theory of population density and heterogeneity. A point
was made to claim population growth and increase in density cause more frequent physical contact with non-related
individual yet distancing social interactions apart, individuals substituting emotional ties with spirit of competitions to
overcome friction and irritation from undesired contacts. In such process, heterogeneity is formed in individuals.
Limitations of expression and subordination of individuality traits for mass demand provokes internal disparity causing
high level of heterogeneity between communal identities to individual personals.
Wirth’s study on sociological definition of urban cities with three characteristics are mostly agreeable with
commonly observable evidences. However from personal perspective, certain portion of the paper did not consider
human behavior in terms of human nature associated with technological invasion and advancement in instinctive level
thus did not synchronize with the thoughts I personally had in mind on relationship between human behavior and
technology.

Word Count: 413 Mark Grade

Assessed by: Date Page No.
 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2019)

Name: Hong SeoTaek ID No.: 0322045

Lecturer: Dr. Filzani Illa Ibrahin Tutorial Time: 4pm-6pm
Reader/Text Title: The Geometry of Feeling Synopsis No: 3 (B)
Author: Juhani Pallasmaa

Juhani Pallasmaa questions about how unsuccessful modern architectures do not elicit and arouse our emotions
and consciousness. Author moves on discussing on how the inner meaning of architecture at fundamental stage.
Pallasmaa states that modern architecture have been constantly detaching itself from intentional background, turned in
to a specialist profession. The author attempting to tackle on approaches taken by numerous practitioners focusing more
on organization of forms and geometry, overlooking primary architectural feelings from symbols and experiences.
Pallasmaa articulates that such ideology of architecture focusing on visual construction of combinations of form and
spaces derived from Bauhaus school. In personal point of view on the article, the author is criticizing misinterpreted
trends in architecture practices, education and interpretation based of this ideology. The article describes architecture
as an imagery and memory in relation to phenomenology and art. Suggesting architecture is experienced not through a
physical form but the consciousness of people experiencing it through images and its emotions. These perceptional
images are built up based on memories. Especially the childhood memories which formed the spontaneous
consciousness of our mind.
He then talks about cases of “Architecture without Architects”. Mentioning the fact that architecture is not presented
by professional architects only but through different medium of art. Through poetry, novels, films, photography and
painting, producers of these mediums present architecture as a “pure looking” form of art to reinforce a setting, a place
or the character. These architecture are not regulated, hence allowing representation of purer form architecture
Furthermore, the author has listed out and elaborated primary feelings of architecture to bring up deeper
understanding of “basic vocabulary” of architecture (Pallasmaa, 1986) in relation to user experience and their feelings.
For an example “being in the room, a sense of security, a sense of togetherness or isolation” (Pallasmaa, 1986). In
addition, he suggests unique concept of basic feelings of architecture being experiencing loneliness and solitude, stating
how such emotional representation is only possible with buildings not natural landscapes. Claiming that practitioners
should take more account of this unique characteristic of architecture.
To conclude, the author is attempting to revive the intentional approach of architecture by creating awareness of
above accounts in general architectural field, potentially enriches emotional and perceptional experiences of architecture
apart from its beauty of form and geometry. Which is a new perspective in a student’s point of view, providing paradoxical
learning of way of architecture.

Word Count: 397 Mark Grade

Assessed by: Date Page No.
 BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (HONOURS) IN ARCHITECTURE
THEORIES OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM (ARC61303)
SYNOPSIS: REACTION PAPER (AUGUST 2019)

Name: Hong SeoTaek ID No.: 0322045

Lecturer: Dr. Filzani Illa Ibrahin Tutorial Time: 4pm-6pm
Reader/Text Title: Towards a Critical Regionalism Synopsis No: 4 (B)
– Six Points for Architecture of Resistance Author: Kenneth Frampton

Reading the reader “Towards the Critical Regionalism”, Kenneth Frampton explain the ideology of critical regionalism
with six key points in relation between architecture, technology and place. Frampton claims that critical regionalism is an
architecture of resistance, which he focusses on placelessness of universalization of architecture styles. In the
introduction of the reader, Frampton strongly tackles on issues of universalized architecture, which focus more on
scientific and technological rationality instead of spiritual and cultural identity of the place. Emphasizing and elaborating
on importance of national spirit in architecture.
Frampton discussed about spatial organization and form in terms of contextual response of the building in his point
“The Resistance of the Place-Form”. He advises the architects to apply the theory of critical regionalism into their
architectural production, mentioning the idea of unlimitedness of physical spaces. He quotes that physical spaces may
be defined with enclosures and boundaries, but the borders of the spaces created shall not be considered as ending of
the space, but a new beginning. Reading through this concept which twisted the ordinary thoughts of mine about spaces
and its boundary, this ideology seem to provide more flexibility to spatial design and definition.
Moving on to the next key point “Culture versus Nature”, Frampton theorizing the necessity of harmonizing local
culture and existing landscape in order to prevent the building being a randomly standing structure. To achieve “building
the site”. Frampton too display his reluctance on usage of universal technologies to control the climate of the spaces;
artificial light and air conditioning system. He analyses on resisting technology and respond to the local climate in order
to achieve variation of the appearances of the space. In this manner, hypothetically the spaces will display richer and
diverse appearances in response to natural lighting and climate conditions, gushing out sense of locality.
In “The Visual versus the Tactile”, Frampton mentions about how visuals and tactile should strongly interrelate. Using
Alvar Aalto’s Saynatsalo Town Hall as an example, he explains perception and idea of tactile comes from the experience
itself. Experiences targeting all senses of the user, and their blend is what make the architecture unique allowing rich
variety of emotional responses.
To conclude, Kenneth Frampton is seeking to bring back relationship between built structures and local context to
design a lasting architecture that only fits to the specific site. Such drives are agreeable and should be promoted as the
movement of modern architecture is heading towards direction of technological application and functional efficiency
instead of empowering the context and community.

Word Count: 418 Mark Grade

Assessed by: Date Page No.