Class Essay

 Part 1

   
       The union between experiencing spatial qualities and the expression of structural yields a wide array of overall building compositions. The Reichstag, located in Berlin Germany, is a fusion of new and old. It's key feature is a modern dome intervention in place of the twice burnt down structure. Designed by Foster, it is a wonderful expression of structure and form. The twisting labyrinth of walkways is a feat of engineering. The path is held only on one side for the entirety of the span except for the top and bottom.

        The Reichstag's formal language is a shape reminiscent of the of structure it replaces. The exposed structure of the shell creates the overall shape. The presence of a skeletal structure maximizes view and reinforces the contextual connection. Perched atop the historic structure, the Foster dome is visible from all around as a staple of the newly established government.

          To analyze the quality of a space one must observe how the formation of memories associate with active experiential qualities of space. There is a stark contrast between ones conscious mind and the procedural formation of long lasting memories that would characterize the space long after seeing it. They play by different rules and play off different previous experiences. The experiencing self has different qualities of satisfaction. The succession of steps that lead up to experiencing the Reichstag and each and every textural expression helps dictate moods. Structure as a conscious experience in space factors with ones experience with structure in the past. For the majority of people the Reichstag's structural beauty may go unnoticed. Buildings considered architecturally significant often are a great mix between tectonic expression and massing. That rhythmic formula allows for an interaction of the occupant with the building to go beyond just the physical manifestation. The experiencing self has an automated set of parameters that form memory based on peaks of interest or spatial peculiarity. The second system, the methodical formation of memory after the fact, focuses on several smaller details that the experiencing mind may overlook.


Part 2

"I am interested in minimal language not for its materiality but for its immateriality..."

How does the notion of minimalism correspond to a spatial experience for a specific item? Should it complement the item or should it contrast with context?

In the article he talks about creating an environment that is ambiguous. A museum needs to house an item and make people ask questions.



"Digital technologies facilitate the seamless combination of images from different sources"

How can the idea of digital technologies apply to contextual studies?

He describes this phenomenon as the atomization of an analog idea, giving identity to each part. Without the neighboring color information the image would not exist.