Context & Building II

Is context today more important, less importance, or of the same importance as it as a century ago?

Compare one contemporary case study and one case study from roughly a century ago.

From the study of three articles, we understand the various meaning and option of “context”. Which,

Vitruius, discuss on the consideration of every aspect that will affect the site. Every aspect especially local geography and climate on the site have the potential to affect the relationship between the building and site.

Venturi, he stated that aesthetic and space are the essential factor, compared relationship between public and private space, as well as exterior public and interior public space. Besides, they saw cities as “archetypes” rather than “prototypes”.

Roger & Forty, “architecture as a dialogue with its surroundings, both in the immediate physical sense ans as historical continuum.” They view context as historically and stylistially motivated.

From this all, we understand that building design are based on the local needs, availability of construction materials, traditional and culture of local and also the visual aesthetics. As the result, the changing social, technological, economic, environmental, political, and legal factors transform the way architects shape the cities.

In late 20th century, majority of the building are just consider the context as “site”, Which mean the physical of the building. The context just to refer the historical background of the existing site, and the analysis of the site physical condition (contour, weather and function). In the others hand, 21st century not only refer context as in physical, but also the reflect of the environmental, technological, economic, and social to the context.

In my opinion, I think that context today are as important as the century ago. While, the context of a century ago is more to the integration of building with site, but nowadays the building can be iconic with design based on context.

Falling Water

(1935) by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Falling water is one of the most notable classical example for type of contextual building in early 1900s. The house is built over a waterfall in southwest Pennsylvania, which among the wood area, with a river over flowing through the site.The building named as organic building, as it reach the condition which “forgetting the presence of the building while you are with nature”.

Besides, the used of materials such as terraces echo the pattern of the rock ledges, reflect the site material and also glass is used and opening are everywhere, so there is a relationship in between user and site. The space planning of the building designed to bring the nature into the four walls. As we can understand that the architecture in 20th century has apply the context by integrates the building through the site.

Danish National Maritime Museum

(2013) by Bjarke Ingels

The museum is located in between Denmark’s most important building, Kronborg Castle and a new ambitious culture centre, where it had to find its place in a unique historical and spatial context. As a result, a subterranean museum in a dry dock is formed. The galleries are placed below ground and arranged in a continuous loop around the 60 years old dry dock walls. The dock become a centerpiece of the exhibition and an open, outdoor area allow visitors to experience the scale of ship building.

As a result, this 21st century contemporary building has serve a good example of the context and building, as a connection in between old and new (in terms of materials, technology, culture and history), in the same time it does not destroy the existing view of the site.

In conclusion, context has a wide possibility in either 20th century and till this 21st century. It depend on the way of architect to integrate the building and site. It is important to understanding the site not only in a physical analysis, but also the measurement and judgment on tectonics and user’s convenience. As a result, different context will provides unique value towards respective building. Therefore, urban planners, designers, and architects will continue to debate which issues are relevant and irrelevant to contemporary and future architecture.