Form & Function II

Form and function, always a topic of architecture in every generation.At the time, technology, tastes and economics were diverse changing. The forms of late-19th century buildings were still being undetched, based on innovation going all the way back to ancient Greek and Roman architecture. It was clear to Sullivan that a new Form for buildings was needed, and he thought that form ought to come from the function of a building, not historical precedent.

“Form follows function - that has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union.” Frank Lloyd Wright

From and function should be separated ,it is not a same thing , but they are related and must have a connection between each other. The concept of form and function unity highlights that form is not only based on function, but also limits it, many times strictly. Form and function are bound together in a cause and effect relationship; function is the cause of the form, while form both facilitates function and limits it.

In every era of generation ,the concept of function are never changed , the changers is just the template of function ,not like the past is just only form follow function . No matter how much the template is changes the concept can’t run away from function , this is because function are design based on humanism and architect always design what human need .

Adaptive reuse / renovation

The changers of function is depend of humanism ,the influence of humanism change the function and initial design of the space. Adaptive reuse is changing the form and function based on the need and activity of humanism

Form and function change

Montegrappa Building Renovation

Milan’s modern architecture has always been characterized by inner courtyard buildings and the typical case di ringhiera. This consideration has led the Rome based studio Westway Architects to conceive an original renovation project of a building dating back to 1882, at the time intended for popular housing for rent, at Viale Montegrappa 16.

Double Soul On the perimeter of the demolished old building, the new building, intended for commercial and residential use, has been built ensuring sustainability standards ) and adopting advanced technological and design solutions.

The building has a new façade that, respecting the environmental and historic constraints, has been redesigned by keeping the original nineteenth-century aesthetic, changing just a single detail: the two upper floors, used to finally align in height the new building with neighboring buildings, are enclosed in a glass skin. "It’s an element that breaks the rigor of the nineteenth century façade and declares the contemporary intervention, outlining all aspects of design: internal distribution, construction features, materials, housing standards, high energy performance and transition to mixed-use" declares the architect Maurizio Condoluci.

Form maintain , function change

Sekeping Vitoria

Another type of adaptive reuse is , the form of historical building are maintain but the space and circulation are change .In previous time, before adaptive reuse Sekeping Vitoria in penang just a normal shop lot ,but after the human activity is changes the spaces will be changes. It’s maintain the front of the façade and structure but inside of the area have been change to an café and homestay. This concept is about the transformation of function of space but the initial design are still the same.