TJones2501: September 2010

Stan Allen describes field conditions as “bottom-up phenomena: defined not by overarching geometrical schemas but by intricate local connections.” What are some field condition examples that can be found in the road systems of Lubbock?

The Grid system of Lubbock, the streets going from East to West and North to South

The stop signs are the solution to dealing with people coming to the intersections

There is a consistent degree in the roads.

In part 1, Allen distinguishes a geometric relationship of classical architecture from an algebraic combination of the Cordoba Mosque. How do these two architectural examples differ?

The mosque has a set condition that can be replicated, that has the same spacing.

It can be compared to a Car dealership with the spacing in the line of same cars.

What are some other examples of field conditions that can be observed around campus?

The sidewalks that connect all of the buildings entrances and exits to each other

People cycling through the doors of the Stadium

Empty seats are one and another being people filling them

Parking lots

How does a field condition stand to redefine the relation between figure and round?

Giambattista Nolli's poched map of Rome with its lights and darks

What is the reality Michael Benedikt writes about?

It's the ability to imitate other things

For dreams Reality is temporal

Dreams are not really a tangible reality

Reality is Physical in a sense

Benedikt describes degrees of reality in architecture as: Architecture of Dreams, Architecture of Games, Architecture of Illusions, Architecture of Enactments and Architecture of Jokes. What are some example buildings that fall under these categories?

Architecture of illusions can be seen as the English Philosophy building on Texas tech campus because there are false balconies as well as false doors leading to these balconies.

Architecture of games can be seen as the Manhattan transcripts

Benedikt describes “direct esthetic experience of the real” as being moments without symbolism. Where in our environment does symbolism occur and where in our environment is symbolism absent? What is an example of this situation?

Church's have symbolism- specific churches such as Catholic ones

Flags have symbolism in the sense of battles or wars

shopping malls have it because of all the materials that are involved and the media that is present

Non symbolic would have to be the parking lot because it's a utility space

another would be the space underneath power lines

Although Benedikt’s position pulls examples from the 70‘s and 80‘s to illustrate that an architecture of reality is polar to the post-modern architecture movement, this condition continues to exist today. Where in the city would be examples of an architecture of reality and post-modern architecture?

Post modern can be seen as suburban houses and Vegas post environment

The 70's and 80's are illusion types

The four components that define the “realness” of an architecture for reality are: presence, significance, materiality, and emptiness (in two categories). How do these components relate to architecture? and What are some examples of architectural elements that make up these conditions?

Presence- feeling the presence of making itself known feels like it has the right to be there

Significance- embodies its worth with others views, symbolic to people amount of value it has to some people has an immediate impact

Materiality- how it is used also what is given while managing space. There is a difference in structure making things that they are not.

Emptiness- is a containment of space, and example is the Kimble Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas

Other embodiment, emptiness that has gravitation to it.