Seminar Responses

Field Conditions
from Points + Lines by Stan Allen

1. In Lubbock one of the most prominent field conditions is the grid system layout of the roads. This orthogonal approach to travel flow uses a labeling system of numbers and letters to essentially map out an indefinite space. All streets running east to west are a number, and the number increases by one with each following northern street. All streets running north to south are given a letter or a name. They are in alphabetical order from starting from A and moving west to Z. Another field condition would be the grading of the roads; there is a constituent degree for water runoff.

2. The geometric relationships of classical architecture differ in many ways from the algebraic combination of the Cordoba Mosque. First the geometric relations utilized a hierarchal system in which the individual relationship of parts helped give unity to the whole, such as Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water. The algebraic combination of the Cordoba Mosque however multiplies a single unit to create the mosque. The layout of the Mosque is very precise and numerically calculated. In other words, the geometric relationships are constant—like a triangle always has three angle that add up to 180 degrees—while the algebraic relationships introduce a variable to a single unit.

3. On the campus of Texas Tech, there many examples of field conditions. The pavings that direct pedestrian traffic make up a field condition; each individual path combines with another to form a system that consistently leads to doors, and maintains a certain spacing for traffic. The football stadium is also a field condition. The seats are consistently spaced to provide a line of vision of the focal point, the field, for all spectators. In addition, the entrances are a field condition related by the paths and isles between seating and entrances. This relationship facilitates movement to the seating.
4. The figure-ground relationship demonstrates a level of information laid over another. For example Giam Battistanolli’s plan of Rome shows a direct relationship between Rome’s buildings and streets. The field condition introduces a new level of information or variable component showed in a diagram. For example, stop signs mark intersections to notify traffic to stop. A radial diagram of a city from all stop signs would be a field condition showing the distances between intersections.


For an Architecture of Reality
By Michael Benedikt

1. Benedikt begins by describing different degrees of reality to set up his definition of an architecture of reality: “architecture to be itself without being about anything else.” He is arguing against the post-modern era which used architecture as a medium of communication the way an author uses figurative language and rhetorical strategies. At the same time he warns against abstaining from inauthentic external décor or alluding forms simply to make a statement against them.

2. Benedikt gives examples of degrees of reality as an architecture of dreams, jokes, illusion, and enactments. For instance architecture of dreams would be the buildings like the castle at Disneyland. An architecture of illusion would be the Greek entasis technique of bowing the columns of the ancient temples to counter the effect of perspective and make them appear perfectly strait. An example of architecture of jokes would be Villa dell Ava’s random angled posts; they are meant to imitate the raising of the structure off the ground, like Corbusier’s Villa Savoy, but they are clearly placed to show they carry little to no load.

3. Symbolism is abundant in our environment from Catholic Churches, to legislative buildings, even college campuses. Here at Texas Tech the campus buildings aim to resemble a Spanish architectural style to demonstrate the history of the area, invoke a sense of tradition. Almost all athletic arenas are descendants of the Roman Coliseum with a field, court, or some area surrounded by a vertical array of seats. This installs a sense of competition, “battling” as a spectacle and form of entertainment in an attempt to gain glory. Legislative buildings are often built in classical architectural style associated with the democracy of ancient Greece.

As for non-symbolic places, areas or spaces of strict utilitarian uses are very non-symbolic. For example a parking lot is strictly a plane marked incrementally to park a vehicle. Sewers are spaces used to transport waste, and they convey little to nothing. The space under power lines is just space without any hidden message.

4. In the city of Lubbock there are many example of post-modern architecture. The Texas Tech library is a great example; the façades are meant to look like books turned and their sides. The English philosophy building is meant to mimic the brick structure of the administration building. Architecture of reality consists of buildings like the Texas Tech Administration building. It’s significant to most of the Tech students. Its materials are used purposefully. It does not attempt to hide or fade away. And its walk ways draw pedestrians to it especially on hot days. The Texas Tech rec center demonstrates an architecture of reality as well. Inside the steel trusses of the roof are shown instead of hidden, demonstrating an honest use of materials. It is a place of relaxation in a campus full of stressful students. It is not at lost space at the corner of Urbanovsky but remains strong, while at the same time it does not force its interaction into the students’ lives but becomes a part of the nature of the park, offering an indoor exercise are but respecting the outdoor exercise area as well. It is what it is: a recreation center.

5. Presence is a very important architectural aspect. In a sense a building requires presence for it encloses a space, fills a void. Without presence, a building fails to be a positive feature of the environment because it looks like it does not belong or have purpose. The Jones AT&T stadium has presence. It stands proud at the corner of campus. It does not push other buildings aside but remains rooted showing free way drivers not only its presence but the presence of Texas Tech. The Texas Tech Architecture building is a prime example of presence. Though many criticize it for being ironically bland, it remains unapologetically erect, and carries out its duty: providing students with the means, space, and facilities to learn about architecture.

Significance, in my opinion, is one of the most important qualities of a building. Buildings are an expensive use of resources, and made impact the environment. Therefore, to justly change the environment, for better or worse, and use a large amount of resources, a building needs to be purposeful, useful and truly important to those using it and affected by it. For example, the dairy barn on campus is an epitome of a significant building because its original use was to house livestock the students used to pay for tuition. Today it is no longer used, yet still stands because it is significant to student by providing them with a sense of tradition and pride. St. Elizabeth’s University Catholic Parish is also a great example of significance. The parish originally was a small church, and was very important to its parishioners. It was their place of worship and praise. Now a much larger church has been built to accommodate the ever growing body of people, and the old church is still very much used. The small church is used daily for mass, adoration, small worship events and more. It helps conserve resources the larger church would waste and is still as important to the St. Elizabeth parishioners as it was in the past. At the same time the large church draws significance as a place of weddings, funerals, Sunday mass and more.

How materials are used is also an important part of architecture. Benedikt argues that architecture of reality requires an authentic use of materials. For example, load bearing brick structures work only in compression, so for window in a brick wall an arch or lintel is required to keep the top of the window from collapsing. Benedikt would suggest showing the lintel or utilizing the bricks to create on arch. Authenticity certainly does give architecture a more natural, real, and honest feel. For instance, compare the English Philosophy building and the Foreign Language building of Texas Tech. The English Philosophy building attempts to mimic the brick structure of the Administration building. However, it is very apparent the bricks are simply veneer. First, one can tell because the bricks go all the way to the ground. Second, the bricks are in a pre-fabricated pattern and are simple put in place; the seams are very visible. The Foreign Language building has brick veneer as well, but unlike the English Philosophy building the brick are raised up enough to reveal its concrete foundation.

Lastly Benedikt discusses two types of emptiness. The first type of emptiness refers to nature as a model of architectural theory. Architecture should be empty of any ulterior motives, and like nature, be both “arbitrary and inevitable.” For example the choice to build Texas Tech in the Lubbock region in 1923 was somewhat arbitrary. It could have been built any were in west Texas. It was built here, and inevitable the town as well as the campus started to grow and today it is a place with presence and significance. It accommodates the student life style and provides an academic atmosphere. The second type of emptiness is Benidikt defines as “the space between stepping stones…the draw of a fireplace.” He talks about an emptiness that contains a gravitation to fill it. This is an important and hard to reach quality of architecture. Playgrounds draw children to them, and adults remember the playground of their childhood. The rec center contains large emptiness’s for people to fill—courts, gyms, pools. The shade of a tree creates an empty space with its overarching branches. Buildings with emptiness are buildings that have an innate purpose and timelessness.