Context & Building
Site context, is always a general terms in architecture field. Context, an external elements of the building, where is a term that including site, situation, location, place and etc. It plays an important role when comes to building design. It determine the architectural style of building, materials selection, site layout, passive design strategies and building form.
Building and context are correlated to each others simultaneously. Due to the fact that, building does not just a space for human activities, yet it is an architecture element that compliment the environment and nearby aspect. Context and building have an in-separate relationship which respond to each others and the users.
“Cities are an immense laboratory of trial and error, failure and success, in city building and city design.”
by Jane Jacobs, excerpts from The Death And Life of Great American Cities.
What is the role of context in architecture today?
Are context predominantly a physical, social, economic, or political issue; some combination of these; or something else?
In my point of view, context in architecture today is a combination of all physical, non-physical social, economic and political issue. Physical issue including topography, vegetation, landmarks and road path. In the primary stage of designing a building, all physical issue are important which it affect the urban planning and landscape design where will affects the first sight and sense of users experiences towards the building. For the non-physical issue, it including the local culture and weather condition. It helps to generate the sustainable design which can deal with the change of weather. Beside, the understanding of local culture and history helps to design a building with its own specific context, which establish a spiritual connections.
“Cities have the capability of providing something for everyone, only because, and only when, they are created by everyone”
by Jane Jacobs, excerpts from The Death And Life of Great American Cities.
From the case study Riverside Clubhouse by TAO (Trace Architecture Office) located along the riverside of Yancheng, Jiangsu, China. The extended horizon, sky, water, island in river, and reed, are the elements which defined the site as tranquil, pure and poetic atmosphere. With the understanding of the site, the architect avoid ruining the original sense of place, meanwhile create the close contact with the nature.
Thus, a building with glass as main materials on the riverside and in the trees, to integrate visitors, architecture and landscape. A new form with series of actions : stretch, loop and fold, create a following result. Smaller building depth with better views, introversive courtyard space offering more privacy, getting closer to water and accessible roof as extension of landscape.
Responding to the horizontal feature of landscape and trees on site, the building form is linear and folded.It zigzags and flows, sometimes approaching he ground, sometimes floating in the air. In the context of lack of local materials and craftsmanship, an abstract form vecomes a natural choice aesthetically.
Danish National Maritime Museum
The another case study is Danish National Maritime Museum by BIG Architect. The museum has its own unique historic and spatial context, which it proven itself with an understanding of the character of the region and especially the Kronborg Castle, like a subterranean museum in a dry dock. A series of double-level bridges span the dry dock, serving both as an urban connection, as well as providing visitors with short-cuts to different sections of the museum. The museum serves as a connection in between old and new, in the same time, it does not destroy the existing views of the site.
In conclusion, the theory of contextualism has play an important role in contemporary architecture. Different context will provide unique values towards the respective building. Therefore, architect should more concern about the context, understand the issue and provides a better solution which integrate both context and building.
